Unlocking a Sprint phone (and iPhone) is a topic that confuses a lot of users since Sprint merged with T-Mobile. Fortunately, it is still possible to unlock a Sprint phone officially.
Sprint USA merging with the T-Mobile network did not affect the unlocking procedure, especially if you want to do it through the carrier.
In this post, we will show you how to Unlock a Sprint phone (and iPhone) and analyze the following topics:
- Unlocking a Sprint phone through the carrier
- Requirements for Unlocking a Sprint phone successfully
- Which Sprint phones are eligible for unlocking?
- Differences between Domestic & Sprint worldwide care unlocks
- Sprint Worldwide Care team method – International unlock
- Calling Sprint support method – Domestic unlock
- Requirements for Unlocking a Sprint phone successfully
- Unlocking a Sprint iPhone through third-party services
- Sprint Unlocking with an Unlock Code – Android devices
- Sprint Unlocking with IMEI Method – iPhones
- What should you do before ordering a Sprint IMEI Unlock or Unlock Code service?
- FAQs for Sprint Phone & iPhone Unlocking
- Will my Sprint phone be compatible with other carriers?
- What is the best US network to get after unlocking my Sprint phone?
- I have a Sprint prepaid plan – How do I unlock it?
- Can I unlock my Sprint phone/iPhone by jailbreaking it? Is unlocking and jailbreaking the same thing?
- Is unlocking my Sprint phone legal?
- Is Sprint legally obligated to inform me if my phone can get unlocked or if it already unlocked?
- SUMMARY: Which method should I use for Unlocking a Sprint iPhone?
If you already have tried to unlock your Sprint phone / iPhone through the carrier and your request was rejected, you can get an iPhone IMEI Unlock check to find all available unlocking options specifically for your device.
Unlocking a Sprint phone through the carrier
Sprint is not the only company that locks its phones, it is a very common tactic among most mobile networks. However, the FCC ruled out that ALL mobile networks should offer a way for their customers to request an unlock.
Having said that, it is not illogical for the carriers to lock their phones since they want to be protected from a few loopholes a user might exploit. Phones that are being sold by carriers, often come with a large discount (even for free) when they are bound to a 12-month contract.
In those cases, Sprint (and all other carriers), lock its devices until the contract is completed. They are trying to prevent people from getting a brand new phone with a contract without paying the full price and then stop paying their bills.
So, unlocking a Sprint phone is possible but there are a few unlock eligibility requirements.
Requirements for Unlocking a Sprint phone successfully
Sprint is very strict with its unlocking policies, so make sure you tick them all off before requesting an unlock:
- The phone must be activated with the Sprint network for at least 90 days
- 12 months for Prepaid Sprint phones
- The phone must not have any outstanding financial balances, such as unpaid bills
- The phone should be paid off, in case it was on a lease agreement
- The phone must not be reported as lost, stolen, or fraud
- A request for unlocking should not have been made within the last 12 months
- The phone should be able to get SIM Unlocked
If your phone does not meet all the above requirements, the only available solution is to find an IMEI Unlock (for iPhones) or an Unlock Code (Android) service.
Which Sprint phones are eligible for unlocking?
The last requirement for successfully unlocking a Sprint phone is “The phone should be able to get SIM Unlocked”. The statement itself sounds weird, but there is a reason behind it.
If you bought a phone that was manufactured after 2015 then you can be 100% sure that it can get SIM unlocked. The problem lies with the older phones. Even though Sprint is a CDMA carrier (you can read more about CDMA unlocking), some older phones supported SIM cards.
Those models cannot get unlocked through an IMEI Unlock method or Unlock Code. You need to use something that is called MSL unlocking code, which will basically reprogram your device’s ROM. You can read more about the MSL code from techjunkie.
Here is a list of some of the most popular Sprint devices that are eligible for domestic and international unlocking:
- iPhones 5s, 5C, 6 and 6s series, 7 series, 8 series, X series, 11 series, and 12 series.
- Samsung Galaxy S8 / S8+, S9 / S9+, Note 8, and all the models that came after them.
- LG G5, G6, V30, and all the models that came after them.
iPhone 5 can get unlocked for international use, but not for domestic.
Differences between Domestic & Sprint worldwide care unlocks
Sprint allows its customers to request a Worldwide (international) and/or Domestic unlock.
The “interesting” part is that if Sprint accepts your worldwide unlock request, you will normally be able to use other networks outside of the USA without any problems.
However, if you try to use a USA carrier, you will get a SIM Not Supported error. You will need a Domestic unlock to start using USA carriers, which means that you will have to contact Sprint again and send them a domestic unlock request.
Domestic and Worldwide unlock requests have also a few requirements which are similar to the general unlock eligibility requirements.
For a Worldwide (international) unlock request, you will have to contact Sprint Worldwide Care.
For a Domestic unlock request you will have to contact Sprint Customer Care.
Sprint Worldwide Care team method – International unlock
Sprint was kind enough to build an International Support Request Form to make the whole process quicker and easier.
All you have to do is to go to the Sprint Worldwide Care page, fill out the form, and wait for their response. They might also contact you for further information.
Note: Pick the “Enable International Service” option from the drop-down menu.
TIP: You can also attach a few documents, which is optional. However, we highly recommend attaching a few that prove that you are the owner of the device you want to unlock (the contract or a bill). It will make the process go faster since the Sprint agent might not need to contact you for further information.
Calling Sprint support method – Domestic unlock
For a Domestic unlock you will have to call Sprint support, which means that you must be ready to give some information about you and your device through the phone.
Some of them are:
- The account number of your phone
- The account password, or last four digits of your social security number
- The IMEI number of your phone (dial *#06# and note it down)
- The phone’s number
It is also good to have all the available documents that are related to your Sprint phone near you.
Phone numbers of Sprint support:
- 888 211-4727
- 855-639-4644 (for prepaid phones through the Sprint forward program)
- 888-226-7212 (for U.S. military deployed overseas) – Have your deployment papers near you
Unlocking a Sprint iPhone through third-party services
In the unfortunate event of an unlock request rejection from Sprint, there is no reason to despair. The next step is to find a third-party unlocking service provider to remove the SIM-Lock from your Sprint phone.
The company and service you will pick depends on the Sprint phone you own. For instance, an Android phone uses the Unlock Code method, and an iPhone uses the IMEI Unlock method.
Sprint Unlocking with an Unlock Code – Android devices
Android devices require an Unlock Code to get SIM Unlocked. This Unlock Code is being generated by a third-party company using software.
The mobile networks and manufacturers own a database of all unlocking codes based on the IMEI number of the phone. So, when a customer buys a phone from Sprint and then requests for an Unlock Code, it is very easy for Sprint to locate the code using the phone’s IMEI number and send it to the customer to fully unlock the phone.
The same procedure applies to third-party unlocking companies. They do not have access to these databases, but they can reproduce them using software with similar algorithms.
Once you purchase an unlock code specifically for your phone model and carrier, the unlocking procedure is straightforward:
- Turn on your Sprint phone and insert the SIM-Card you want to use
- You will be asked to type the “SIM Network Unlock PIN” or the “Network Lock Control Key”
- Type the Unlock Code you received from the third-party company and get your phone unlocked
NOTE: Sometimes, the phone might ask you for the MCK (Unfreeze Key) before the NCK (Network Code). If you do not have the MCK you should ask it from the third-party unlocking company.
Sprint Unlocking with IMEI Method – iPhones
The iOS devices cannot get unlocked with an unlock code, they need an IMEI method.
All available information about iOS devices can be found in Apple’s GSX databases. Within these, you can check if a device is locked, blacklisted, iCloud locked, is under contract, has unpaid bills, has the IMEI/Serial replaced, and much more.
The IMEI method can change the SIM-Lock status of an IMEI number inside GSX, from Locked to Unlocked. This will allow the device to use any network its owner wants.
Each iOS device requires a specific IMEI service to get unlocked, there is no “one-solution-for-all”.
Once you pick the right service, you simply need to provide your iPhone’s IMEI number and wait for a few days for the unlock confirmation.
NOTE: We highly recommend doing an iCloud backup before starting the unlocking process.
- Once you receive the unlock confirmation notification remove the old SIM-Card and place the new one you want to use
- You will have to follow the on-screen instructions which is the normal setup process
- You should sign in with your iCloud account and then pick how you want to set it up
- If you have a recent iCloud backup (as we recommended) do that, else set it up as a new iPhone
After completing all the above steps, your iPhone should be able to use any SIM-Card you want.
What should you do before ordering a Sprint IMEI Unlock or Unlock Code service?
In order to pick the right Sprint IMEI Unlock and Unlock Code service, there are a few things you should know before making the actual order.
The reason why it is important to pick the right service is that in case of a wrong order, you will not be eligible for a refund. It is a common refund policy for all third-party unlocking companies.
You will need to know:
- The IMEI number of your phone / iPhone
- The phone model and manufacturer / the iPhone model
- The mobile network that is locking it
- The blacklist status of the device (the reason, the carrier, and the country as well)
- The contract and financial status
- The iCloud status (for iPhones)
- The IMEI/Serial replacement status
With a Phone / iPhone IMEI Check report, you can instantly get accurate and up-to-date information for all the above.
FAQs for Sprint Phone & iPhone Unlocking
Below we gathered a few questions from our users and from other websites which we believe will answer most of the questions you might have about Sprint phone unlocking.
Will my Sprint phone be compatible with other carriers?
It really depends on which carrier you plan on using after successfully unlocking your Sprint phone. Generally, you might encounter some issues between GSM and CDMA carriers. Since Sprint uses a CDMA network, it might have a few issues with GSM network carriers.
Cell phone carriers use two types of technology to connect your phone to their network: GSM and CDMA. Sprint phones use CDMA technology, which means they sometimes don’t play as well with GSM networks.
What is the best US network to get after unlocking my Sprint phone?
Since Sprint uses a CDMA network, the best network to use is Verizon (which also uses CDMA). However, this is not always true because the phone model plays a role as well. We suggest ALWAYS check with the network you want to use before switching networks.
I have a Sprint prepaid plan – How do I unlock it?
Normally, Sprint will automatically unlock your phone after being activated for 12 months with them and is fully paid. For the prepaid Sprint phones, you need to contact them, they will not do it automatically. You can use the phones that we already listed at the top of that post.
Can I unlock my Sprint phone/iPhone by jailbreaking it? Is unlocking and jailbreaking the same thing?
Unlocking and jailbreaking are two completely different things. You can jailbreak a phone or iPhone, but in order to use an app for unlocking it, your device needs to be very old (manufactured before 2010). So, unlocking a new phone or iPhone, like iPhone 12 or Samsung S20, via jailbreaking, is not possible.
Is unlocking my Sprint phone legal?
Using IMEI Unlock methods and Unlock Codes is 100% legal. Also, mobile networks are obligated to have an easy procedure for their customers to request a SIM-Unlock (FCC rule). Once a contract ends, Sprint MUST remove the SIM-Lock automatically or after a customer request.
Is Sprint legally obligated to inform me if my phone can get unlocked or if it already unlocked?
If you do not own a prepaid phone, then Sprint should automatically unlock it, but they will not send any notifications. For the prepaid phones, you need to initiate the unlock request process, Sprint is not obligated to do anything.
Now, if you own a very old device that is not SIM unlocked-capable, Sprint MUST send a notification to you when your phone is eligible for an unlock (at the end of your contract). The process is a little bit different since you need to use an MSL unlock code process, but they will provide you a detailed step-by-step guide.
However, if you are a Sprint Forward customer with an old device (which requires the MSL unlock code process), Sprint will not notify you when your phone is eligible for unlocking. You need to initiate the unlock request by calling them.
SUMMARY: Which method should I use for Unlocking a Sprint phone / iPhone?
Unlocking your Sprint phone through them should be your first step.
- Verify that your phone meets Sprint’s unlock eligibility requirements
- Decide if you want to unlock it for Domestic, or International use (you can do both)
- Contact Sprint Support or use the Sprint Worldwide Care form
- Get your Sprint phone / iPhone unlocked
If your phone or iPhone does not meet the requirements for unlocking it through Sprint, then you will have to pick either an IMEI Unlock or an Unlock Code service.
- Perform a full IMEI check to be able to safely move to the next steps
- Find a third-party unlocking company that can unlock your Sprint phone
- Pick the right IMEI Unlocking or Unlock Code service (iOS or an Android device)
- Type your IMEI number (dial *#06#)
- Pick your phone / iPhone model
- Pick the network that is locking your iPhone
- Pick the blacklist/financial/contract status (for iOS devices)
- Get your Spring phone / iPhone unlocked
If you are unsure of one or more of the above steps, then you should check your phone / iPhone with an IMEI Unlock check service. This service will also suggest guaranteed and permanent available unlocking solutions from verified third-party unlocking companies.
47 comments
[…] You can read more on Unlocking a Sprint phone & iPhone from this post. […]
I have an iPhone 7 Plus still under contract with Sprint and I just don’t want to wait all that time to have it unlocked.
I travel sometimes and just don’t want to pay the roaming fees.
Can I unlock my iPhone 7 with you?
If yes, can Sprint lock it again? Will it stay unlocked? Can I still use the iPhone with Sprint without any issues?
Thanks for your time
The issue I have, is that I switched over to Sprint, and traded in an iPhone 4s for this iPhone 6s Plus.
When I received my bill it was outrageous, so I called Sprint and turned it off.
They asked me to return the phone, and I said only if they give me back my phone plus the deposit. They refused too, so I kept the iPhone.
Is unlocking my Sprint iPhone possible to use with AT&T?
How can you find out if my iPhone 6s Plus with Sprint is blacklisted? Also, is it possible unlocking a blacklisted Sprint iPhone?
I bought two iPhones from boost but one came with a sprint sim lock and the other didn’t have any sim. Is it possible to factory unlock both iPhones?
Hi, ayw!
Of course! Our post includes all possible ways to unlock your Sprint iPhone. You can start by contacting Sprint and, if you get rejected, then you can proceed with the paid methods.
I hope, I’ve helped!
Take care and come back to tell me how it went!!!
Hi, Daniel!
First of all, Cricket is a CDMA Network.
Premium IMEI Unlock Service can be applied to Cricket CLEAN iPhones.
Keep in mind that if your iPhone is Blacklisted for any reason besides pending contract bills, it will still be locked to all GSM networks in the USA, Canada, Mexico & Puerto Rico!
I Hope I’ve helped
Hey, I got an iPhone 6 and it is blacklisted from sprint.
I want to know if I can unlock it and use it with cricket
My Sprint iPhone 5c carrier 24.0 is network locked and it is blacklisted. Is sprint unlocking possible in my case? It has an updated iOS version 9.3.4.
I used my iPhone 5 with sprint/ting network in USA (Ting is a wireless service provider launched in February 2012 by Tucows. Ting provides service in the United States using Sprint’s CDMA, EV-DO 3G, 4G WiMAX, and 4G LTE nationwide network ). On my phone, it’s showing Sprint. Now I am in India and want to permanently unlock my iPhone 5 to use with Indian networks. It is not under contract/contract expires. It’s clean and no past dues. I know my IMEI number, icloud lock, and iPhone passwords.
How much will it cost and how much time it will take for an Unlock?
And can it be done from India while the iPhone is with me in India?
I have an iPhone sprint carrier 23.0 Model MD378LL/A, and I cannot make use of it here in my country Nigeria. Can you help me unlock my Sprint iPhone?
Hey Daniel,
Yeap, it is possible to use it with any GSM network in your country Nigeria.
First, try contacting Sprint and see what they have to say about your case. You might be lucky and unlock it for free.
If not, you will have to use an IMEI Sprint service. Before ordering one, you must be 100% sure of its status.
I suggest reading our post (we updated it!), and you will find exactly what needs to be done!
Can you open this iPhone 4s, locked by sprint usa? And how much?
990001********* imei.
Hello Baki.
We do not offer any iPhone unlock services, but we know a few unlocking providers that unlocking a Sprint iPhone is within their services.
However, I highly suggest reading our post first, because you might be able to unlock it for free!
I have an inactive off contract LG LS 980 handset on the Sprint network. Can you recommend the best way to unlock for use in Australia
How much does the iPhone Sprint unlocking cost?
Hey Erik,
The final cost depends on your iPhone model and your iPhone’s status (blacklist, financial, etc..).
However, I highly suggest reading our post first, because you might be able to unlock it for free!
hello, I bought a Sprint iPhone from a friend which was locked. I tried some iPhone unlocking sites but they couldn’t because they claim the iPhone is blacklisted and I didn’t state that. Now I’m more skeptical about sites that claim they can unlock it. What do you suggest? Is unlocking my Sprint iPhone possible?
Hi,
I just wanted to know if my Sprint iPhone 6 is Carrier Locked.
Can I use this iPhone in India without jailbreaking?
Hello Adnan,
Your iPhone cannot get unlocked by Jailbreaking it. Unlocking a Sprint iPhone is only doable with a Sprint IMEI service.
We updated our post with new methods for unlocking it through Sprint, which is completely free if your Sprint iPhone is eligible.
I reported my iPhone 6 plus lost because it really was and I got the replacement phone, paid the deductible but then I found the phone. The insurance company wants me to turn it in without refunding the deductible paid amount but I find it unfair. My question is, can I unlock or free the iPhone 6 plus and still use it under my Sprint US account?
Thank you.
Hello Jake,
You can unlock your Sprint iPhone with an IMEI Unlock service, not through them (obviously). Also, you will not be able to use it with your Sprint account (It will be blacklisted).
However, premium Sprint IMEI unlock services are not very stable, so you will need an iPhone IMEI Unblacklist Eligibility check first. Read our iPhone IMEI Check post for more info.
Hi, I bought an iPhone 6s plus from the USA and brought it to india.. the shopkeeper said that they unlocked it.. but I can’t use the iPhone in India… It is from USA’s carrier Sprint.. how can I unlock it now.. its IMEI No- 35333xxxxxxxxxx. please help…
Hey Suman,
I highly recommend trying to contact Sprint USA first. Maybe they will unlock it for free.
Also, make sure that the network you are trying to use in India, is compatible with your device (there might be a conflict between GSM and CDMA support).
IMEI 99000xxxxxxxxxx could you unlock my Sprint iPhone? how much if you can unlock my iPhone? thanks
Hello Hendrik,
From the IMEI number, your iPhone is an old one, which means that it might need an MLS unlocking code.
This is something that the Sprint USA network can do for the time being.
To be 100% sure of which service your iPhone needs, you need to get a full iPhone IMEI Check report.
I want to unlock my iPhone 6 from Sprint but I don’t have a computer. Is it possible?
Hello Bre,
Yes, you can Unlock your Sprint USA iPhone 6 without a computer, because you can complete the procedure through WiFi or 3G/4G using any device you want. The procedure is very simple!
my iPhone 4S is locked to sprint 16.0 and it has no simcard slot. Help me on how I can use it on local carriers in Kenya?
Hey Dered,
Since your iPhone does not have a SIM-Card, it will not have an IMEI number. This means that it cannot be unlocked with the Official IMEI Method.
Try contacting Sprint USA Network, they might be able to help you!
Hallo , bitte ich möchte dass mein Sprint iPhone 5 freischalten auf alle SIM Karten
Hey,
I translated your message: “Hi, I want to ask that unlock my Sprint iPhone 5 on all SIM cards”.
First, you will have to learn if your iPhone is CLEAN or BLACKLISTED (Blacklisted means that your iPhone is reported as Lost or Stolen and if it has pending contract bills/In-Contract).
After knowing all the above, you can start trying all the methods that we listed in this post!
I have a large number of Blacklisted iPhone 6 Sprint phones I need to unlock. They are under contract not paid.
Who can I contact for immediate help and pricing?
Hey Richard,
You can go to the iPhoneUnlock.Zone, a tested and verified iPhone Unlocking Company. Contact them (I will inform them as well) and you will be able to talk about your Blacklisted Sprint USA iPhones.
Using this service, will allow me to update to any iOS anytime? there won’t be the risk of locking again? I had this problem with another service, I paid almost 100$ and my Sprint iPhone was locked again when I updated it to IOS 8…
Hey Andrea,
It looks like you ordered a non-permanent IMEI Unlock service for Sprint iPhones. The Official IMEI Method which is being used to unlock Sprint USA Network allows your iPhone to upgrade to all future iOS versions and keeps it permanently unlocked.
There are two services, one is for CLEAN Sprint USA iPhones (Not lost, stolen, pending contract bills) and one for Blacklisted Sprint USA iPhones (All IMEI numbers).
However, I suggest trying out the free Sprint unlocking methods first and then move to the paid ones.
how to unlock my iPhone 4s Sprint network? how much am I paying? many plz plz very urgent plz ublock this iPhone 4s. I will pay the amount.
Apple iPhone 4s IMEI NO:99000xxxxxxxxxx
Hey Arulraj,
The price depends on the status of your iPhone.
However, I suggest trying contacting Sprint USA, since you might be able to unlock it for free!
I have an iPhone 5c. How do I check if it is blacklisted and how do I unlock it from Sprint so I can use it overseas?
Hey Emmanuel,
You can order a full IMEI Check Report. The report will include all the details that Apple’s GSX servers have. Network, Lock Status, Blacklist Status and iCloud/Find my iPhone status (The report includes much more information and I cannot list all of them!).
I have a sprint iphone 5c 20.1 , and I want to release it for use in Mexico where I recommend release product and is safe thanks
Hi Eduardo,
Unlocking Sprint USA network is possible through the Mobile Network or an IMEI Method.
Please read carefully our post and follow our methods to successfully unlock your Sprint iPhone (start with the free methods first).
Hello. I have iPhone 6 Sprint, it is now blocked and I cannot use it in Brazil. How can I unlock it?
Hey Karla,
First, you must check if your iPhone is blacklisted or not. If your iPhone is CLEAN then you can unlock your Sprint USA iPhone from iPhoneUnlock.Zone. We already tested and verified them, and they are legitimate.
I have a USA Sprint iPhone 5. will I be able to connect it in u.s. with t-mobile after the Carrier unlock?
Hello Luis,
There is a myth around the Sprint USA Network. Most people say that even if you unlock it you will not be able to use it with other Mobile Networks. This is not entirely true! There are some cases that you will not be able to use your Sprint USA iPhone to other USA Mobile networks.
If your iPhone is blacklisted, then even if you unlock it, you will not be able to use it inside the USA (With any Mobile Network). The only way to know 100% that your Sprint USA iPhone can be used by other US Mobile Networks, is to contact with T-Mobile and ask them. Make sure to know your iPhone’s model so you can help them to provide you a quick and accurate answer!
If you have any questions, feel free to reply to my comment!
Hello,
I read on T-Mobile’s website, that they support Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T iPhones since they support GSM.
You can unlock your Sprint iPhone and then use it on any mobile network you want.