How to unlock blocked iphone & Why IMEI Block Check should always be our first move

Many of you mistakenly believe that a blocked iPhone is the same as a blacklisted. Despite some similarities, the truth is completely different.

So let’s see when an iPhone IMEI becomes blocked, what are the consequences and of course, how to unlock it.

iPhone IMEI Block: What it is

An iPhone will be blocked by the Mobile Network as soon as more than 2 contract bills are not paid off. The same goes in case of unpaid device installment plan though it’s usually included in the monthly tariff.

So, the IMEI is immediately blocked and this means you can only use this iPhone as a WiFi entertainment device until the outstanding financial balance is paid off.

Blocked iPhone = Barred iPhone

To avoid misunderstandings as the term blocked iPhone is also used when someone blocks your phone number, it is common to refer to an iPhone with unpaid bills as barred.

How to unblock a network blocked iPhone

Every year, Carriers make our lives increasingly difficult while trying to stop any service that is capable of freeing us from their contract ridiculous demands. And to a certain extent, they have accomplished it.

Although there are several services for barred iPhones, we must be absolutely sure that our device meets their requirements.

Method 1: Unlock Blocked iPhone by paying off the outstanding finance

This is the most obvious choice, however, it is available only to the original iPhone owner, the person whose name is in the contract.

If you bought a used iPhone and proved to be blocked for unpaid bills then you won’t be able to pay the debt even if you are willing to do so.

Of course, in many cases, paying off the outstanding finance is too costly and so many original owners use the unblock/unbar services which follow.

IMEI Block Check

Α good start is half the job. I wish I could promise you that the barred iPhone in your possession will be unlocked no matter what but unfortunately I can’t.

You see we have to be 100% sure that:

• the IMEI is barred for outstanding financial balance
• which network has blocked it
• the service we need is available since it is specific to each network
• the iPhone meets specific requirements that are only visible through GSMA and GSX databases such as SPCS (Sprint Personal Communications Service) Status on an iPhone that is blocked by Sprint

An IMEI Block Check is the only way to ensure device eligibility, availability of services as well as unlock success.

You have been warned so now we can continue with the actual services.

Method 2: SIM Unlocking a blocked iPhone

A Semi Premium IMEI Unlock Service will get the job done and remove the SIM Lock from a barred iPhone.

From there on, you will be able to use all GSM Networks worldwide but not the Carrier which blocked your IMEI since the outstanding finance remains.

Now, this is the biggest difference with blacklisted iPhones because SIM Unlocking one won’t let you use it inside the country it was blacklisted with any local network unless the blacklist status is removed. 

Semi Premium IMEI Unlock Services are not available for all Carrier but in several cases, there is another way around.

Method 3: Unbar iPhone with unpaid bills

So if you desperately want to use the blocked network or method 2 is not possible, then iPhone Unbar Service is the next choice.

In this case, the blocked status will be removed which means you will be only able to use SIM Cards from the Carrier which barred your device since it remains SIM Locked.

Despite the fact that the outstanding finance still stands, unbarring a blocked iPhone gives us the opportunity to use special IMEI unlock services for iPhones with outstanding financial balance.

A typical example is US T-Mobile. While there are no Semi premium IMEI Unlock services, right now you can easily unblock the iPhone with an Unbar Service and then SIM unlock it with a special IMEI Unlock Service for outstanding finance.

Availability of Outstanding Financial Balance iPhone Unblock services

I avoided talking about specific services since they can be activated or suspended at any time. Unfortunately, this is the most important issue today for iPhone Unlocking in general.

On the one hand, all IMEI Unlock services have permanent results but no one knows whether, and for how long, they are available.

This is another reason for an IMEI Block Check prior to any purchase since you are notified as soon as the service you need is restored in case it was not initially available.