Carrier-subsidized iPhones purchased from Apple will soon be locked to the carrier, ending the process for customers to buy an unlocked iPhone on a payment plan.
Until the law was changed, buying an iPhone from Apple and choosing to finance through Verizon or T-Mobile meant you’d get an iPhone unlocked on any carrier’s network. That’s no longer the case, and now iPhones sponsored by Verizon or T-Mobile cannot be used with a different network. AT&T-financed smartphones are always locked to the AT&T network.
Apple’s new policy was highlighted on Reddit after a user saw a new “Will my iPhone be unlocked?” FAQ item.
In most cases, yes. An iPhone purchased from Apple is unlocked. Once your new iPhone is activated, it stays unlocked, meaning you can use it with any carrier that offers iPhone service. However, if you choose to finance the iPhone through the AT&T Installment Plan, the T-Mobile Equipment Installment Plan, or the Verizon Device Payment Plan, your iPhone will be locked to the carrier until paid in full.
An unlocked smartphone means it can be used with any carrier, while an unlocked smartphone is limited to the carrier it was purchased with. Locked smartphones can be a problem when traveling internationally, because unlocking a second eSIM on another network is blocked.
Apple hasn’t said why it’s making the change, but consumers have been able to use carrier trade-ins and promotional discounts to get an unlocked iPhone. Some buyers may have bought iPhones and sold them without making carrier payments, and carrier locks are a common practice to prevent unpaid devices from being resold.
Apple’s billing process still means that iPhones supported by T-Mobile and Verizon are unlocked, so the new policy may not have gone into effect yet.
iPhones purchased outright or with monthly Apple Card installments remain unlocked from the time of purchase. When iPhones are purchased through premium carrier plans, they are unlocked.
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