Every day, we get dozens of emails like these:
- Hey, I bought an unlocked iPhone from an online market as unlocked but it was SIM locked after all…
- I used a factory unlock service but my iPhone remains locked…
- I purchased a SIM unlocked iPhone from a pawn shop but it got locked after a month without any obvious reason…
- …The IMEI unlock provider told me that my iPhone was blacklisted and paid more money for the factory premium unlock but the wireless network informed me that my iPhone was never blacklisted
I could write a book about what our visitors send us but all these situations and more could be avoided with a simple online iPhone IMEI check tool.
Any kind of iPhone Unlocking or used iPhone purchasing should be always combined with an IMEI Check in order to maximize your success chances.
In this article, I will show you:
- How an online iPhone IMEI check works
- I will explain all the info of the report you will get
- Why IMEI lookup is so important
- Why not use Free online IMEI Checkers
What is an online iPhone IMEI Check?
There are three ways to check if an iPhone is locked or unlocked but checking your iPhone online is by far the best option.
Knowing just the SIM Lock status of an iPhone is not good enough and I will show you exactly why.
How it works
Every iPhone has a unique IMEI number (aka International Mobile Equipment Identity)
The IMEI number is stored inside GSM and GSX databases and they are used by Apple, Mobile Networks and official third-party partners to verify iDevice’s authenticity, functionality & unlocking eligibility.
A certified provider will use the IMEI number of the iPhone you want to inspect and access GSX and GSMA servers in order to track it down and hand over an accurate report.
iPhone IMEI Check Requirements
The IMEI is the only thing required of you and here are all the ways to find it.
- Call *#06# with your dial pad
- Go to iPhone Settings > General > About
Find more methods from “What is an iPhone’s IMEI number – How can I find it“
source: Apple Support
Explanation of IMEI report results
The report exposes the iPhone’s overall lock status and all hidden issues you couldn’t find out otherwise!
- SIM Lock Status:
Many times, people try to unlock already unlocked iPhones. When you get the SIM invalid message, it doesn’t necessarily mean the iPhone is Network locked. - Mobile Network Identification:
Knowing if an iPhone is locked is one thing. You will need to identify the locking network in order to be able to pick a proper SIM unlocking method. - Blacklist Status:
– Shows if an iPhone is CLEAN or Blacklisted,
– Why it was Blacklisted (stolen, lost, pending contract bills, replaced, fraudulent activities)
– Which Cellular Network Blacklisted it (it is possible for an iPhone to be simlocked to one Carrier but blacklisted by another)
– In which country it is blacklisted - Find My iPhone Status:
Is FMI “ON or OFF”? - iCloud Status:
– Shows if an iPhone is CLEAN or LOST
– Do not confuse the iCloud Status with the Blacklist Status. An iPhone can be blacklisted but not iCloud locked and vice versa. - Contract Status:
As long as an iPhone remains under contract, the rightful owner can report it as stolen or lost or stop paying the monthly bills.
Any of these moves will blacklist the iPhone - Financial Balance Status:
iPhone Carrier Check reveals if there are pending contract bills by a previous owner and in which Telecoms Network. - Warranty Status:
As long as an iPhone is protected by Apple Warranty, AppleCare+ or an Insurance Plan, the original owner holds the right to ask for a replacement.
As already explained a replaced iPhone becomes blacklisted. - Replaced IMEI/Serial number Status:
IMEI Carrier Check shows the original Serial and IMEI number and if they were replaced. As I said every iPhone has a unique IMEI and Serial number. Only Apple and Cellular Networks hold the right to change them. There is an illegitimate iPhone Unlock method where you change the logicboard of an iPhone in order to create the illusion of an unlocked iPhone.
When Apple or a Carrier tracks down the ΙΜΕΙ’s irregularity, the iPhone is flagged as replaced and becomes blacklisted. It may take a while (even a couple of months) but they will find it out. - iPhone Specifications:
Model, color, storage, RAM, etc…
We constantly test the best iPhone check providers in order to recommend solid IMEI Checkers.
You should check your iPhone for many reasons but most importantly because an iPhone Unlocking expert will advise you how to proceed with the right solutions depending on your situation.
The Benefits of IMEI checking
Just by looking at the provided IMEI info of the report, anyone can do the math and understand the importance of an IMEI Checker.
Before buying a used iPhone
You can’t just trust the seller that the second-hand iPhone you are going to buy is ok. Every day thousands of people are getting scammed in online markets and local retailers.
So with an IMEI check report:
- No one can scam you into buying a Network Locked, iCloud Locked, Blacklisted or otherwise problematic iPhone
- You will be totally sure if you can use your Mobile Network with this iPhone you are interested in buying
- Maybe you can find a SIM-locked iPhone by your Carrier and save more money (locked iPhones are cheap)
- There is no way your unlocked used iPhone to get relocked or blacklisted after you purchase it.
Before unlocking an iPhone
A successful iPhone Unlocking begins with an IMEI Carrier Check.
First of all, you need to know which Carrier locked the iPhone and why. But most importantly, you need to be sure that nothing will void any iPhone Unlock procedure or relock your iPhone after a while.
For starters, the iPhone IMEI Check Online Report will show if your iPhone is eligible for a SIM Lock Removal Request to the Mobile Network that is blocking it.
Since Dec 1, 2017, many Carriers stopped charging you for SIM Lock Deactivation Services or decreased the iPhone Unlock Prices (usually to $10 maximum).
But even if you try a third-party iPhone unlock service, like Factory or Hardware Unlock, the IMEI Check report is necessary.
Free iPhone Carrier Check Tools
iPhone IMEI Checking is mandatory before buying or unlocking an iPhone.
But many companies claim that they offer their services for free. Why should I pay for an IMEI lookup?
Unfortunately, free online IMEI checkers don’t have access to GSX and GSMA servers. If they did, they would have to pay for using them and as you understand, they don’t.
Instead, they rely on private databases of doubtful origin and get you fake IMEI info.
On the other hand, there are a few free national Blacklist IMEI checkers like AMTA in Australia & devicecheck in Canada which are official government sites but they will only show if an iPhone was lost or stolen.
If you still have questions about iPhone IMEI check service, I will be more than glad to help you with them!
Just ask a question or leave a comment below. Until next time, take care!
10 comments
Hello, my name is Reuben in Malawi, my iphone is blocked and I don’t know what to do please, help me what to do to unblock my iphone.
An IMEI Check will determine the problem and show you if it can be unblocked and how to unblock it. Do you know more about your iPhone?
I have two iPhones that I bought under StraightTalk. Can I unlock them without activating them with StraightTalk first?
If you have used an IMEI Carrier Check it would show you that both of them are under contract but not activated yet.
StraighTalk SIM Unlocking policy clearly states that at least 12 months under contract should be spent before you can unlock the iPhones with Carriers SIM Lock Deactivation Services.
You can read more about StraightTalk SIM Lock Removal Request here.
iPhone 5s iCloud activation Unlock
Eeeeeeeeee, yes. iPhone Carrier Check will show if an iPhone 5s is iCloud Locked if this is what you mean. Right?
But if iCloud Activation Lock is your issue, skip to this iCloud Lock Removal Guide.
Hello, is there any way I can enable a disabled iPhone 4?
Hey Kimberly
Yes, there is but without an iPhone Carrier Check you will never know the exact problems of your disabled iPhone 4… and trust me it is not only iCloud Locked for sure.
Send me an IMEI Carrier Check Report to help you further.
Take care
Hi, is there a way I can unlock my iPhone for free?
If not, how do they do it?
Do they send an email to Apple?
Thanks
Dear Naz
1. This article is for iPhone Carrier Check
2. Maybe you can unlock your iPhone for free after the IMEI Carrier Check
3. No they don’t email Apple
4. Apple doesn’t SIM Lock iPhones. Cellular Networks, do that.
Take care