What happens when you purchased an iPhone but you can’t use your SIM Card. A quick online search might show that it is very easy to unlock it but it’s not like this at all. Leave your frustration aside and take a breath because, in the next lines, you will learn about all the ways to SIM unlock iPhone on iOS 12 with success.
How to SIM Unlock iPhone on iOS 12 – Testing all available methods
With every iOS update, people wonder about iPhone Unlocking but the SIM Not Supported message remains the same and you need the best way to deal with it.
I know how much it hurts when you buy a refurbished iPhone and despite the product’s Unlocked description, you can’t use your SIM Card (I’ve been there before) or in my case, when you buy a brand new iPhone XS Max with €1399 but you need more money to Carrier Unlock it.
All the ways to SIM Unlock iPhone on iOS 12
It makes no difference if you are the original owner or you bought a used iDevice when you want to SIM Unlock an iPhone on iOS 12. There are 3 ways to SIM-free your iPhone, so we tested all of them and here are the results.
1. Using iPhone Unlock Hardware on iOS 12 (R SIM 12 & Turbo SIM)
I must tell you from the beginning that I am not a huge fan of iPhone Unlock Hardware but I am also not prejudiced against it. If you read the link I provided, you will see that I tested all kinds of SIM Interposers, just one month ago on various iPhone models and iOS versions.
At that point, I tried to unlock a T-Mobile iPhone X on iOS 12 using:
- R-SIM 12
- GPP SIM
- Turbo SIM
- Gevey
- Heicard
- Xsim
Only R SIM 12 & Turbo SIM claimed to be able to unlock iPhone on iOS 12.0.1 but neither of them worked for me.
Yesterday (Oct 22, 2018), iOS 12.1 Beta 5 was released and suddenly I read that R-SIM 12 and Turbo SIM can be used to network unlock your iPhone on various trusted sites. So, I had to repeat my testings.
The T-Mobile iPhone X I used was not mine but as I told you last week I bought an iPhone XS Max locked to Vodafone and I already got the latest R-SIM 12 (I paid €27.9) and Turbo SIM (€12.99).
If you are not familiar with iPhone Unlock Hardware, these SIM spoofing tools are custom SIM Interposers which are squeezed between the SIM tray and the SIM card you want to use.
- So, you insert your SIM Card with the R-SIM 12 into your locked iPhone’s SIM Tray
- Then, launch the Phone app and type *5005*7672*99#
- Tap “edit ICCID”
- Type 8901-4104-2778-0604-3133
- Restart and setup your iPhone and you are done.
R-SIM is the most popular iPhone Unlock Hardware
So, I borrowed my girlfriend’s SIM card and tested R-SIM 12 and Turbo SIM.
- Turbo SIM Unlock Results: It didn’t work
- R SIM 12 unlock Results: Worked! But…
I insist on reading more about iPhone Unlock Hardware because it has only a 40% success rate, it will void the warranty and there are serious or even catastrophic after effects. In my case, the signal was lost. I repeated the process and there was still no signal.
My biggest worry though was damaging my new iPhone’s SIM Tray (yes, this is one of the after effects) but thankfully, I removed R-SIM and inserted my Vodafone SIM Card and everything was OK.
Should I use R SIM to unlock iPhone on iOS 12?
Ok, iPhone Unlock Hardware is cheap, costing below $30 but it is an extremely risky option which can even destroy your iPhone or your SIM Card. Moreover, in a few days, Apple will release an iOS 12 update and R-SIM will be useless again. I also forgot to mention that if you are one of the lucky few that R-SIM 12 will work, you will never be able to update your iPhone again, at least not without ruining the unlocked status.
I wouldn’t use iPhone Unlock Hardware to SIM Unlock iPhone on iOS 12
As you already understood, I do not recommend this approach so, let’s find out about our other options.
2. SIM Unlock iPhone on iOS 12 using Official iPhone Unlock Services
Some of you know it as Official iPhone Unlock, others like IMEI Unlock and another popular name of this service is iPhone Factory Unlock.
Unlike the previous SIM Lock Removal method, IMEI Unlock is the supreme solution because there are no iPhone model or iOS version restrictions. The IMEI number of your iDevice is the only requirement to unlock iPhone on iOS 12.
Find out everything about Factory Unlock
A certified Factory Unlock Provider can access GSX and GSMA IMEI Databases and change the SIM Locked Status of your iPhone to Unlocked. This is an online process, so all you have to do is to provide your IMEI and wait. You will be notified when the procedure is completed and all is left is to restore your iPhone in iTunes.
There are no after effects, all iPhone features work completely fine after the unlock and of course, you can update to any future iOS version without worries.
Should I use Factory Unlock to SIm unlock iPhone on iOS 12?
iPhone IMEI unlock is great but it is a quite expensive procedure, costing around $170 and sometimes it might take more than 10 days.
Since I talked about certified iPhone IMEI Unlock providers only a few are legit and if it happened to find a Factory Unlock Service which costs only a few dollars, usually around $30-$100, you are dealing with a scammer.
Let me add it will cost even more to unlock a Blacklisted iPhone but at least, in this case, there is no other way.
Don’t get me wrong here, Official iPhone Unlock kicks apps but it should be used as a last resort for CLEAN iPhones because there is also another SIM Lock Removal option.
3. How to unlock iPhone on iOS 12 with a SIM Lock Removal Request
Since 2017, it became easier to network unlock an iPhone using the Carrier’s SIM Unlock Services and most of the times for free. The only obstacle is the Cellular Network’s iPhone Unlock Policy.
I said easier because before 2017 it was almost impossible but this doesn’t mean that it is actually easy. iPhone Unlock Policies are crafted in such a way to be a SIM unlock expert in order to use them. Imagine that even original owners have problems even when they meet the requirements.
Find out how to make a SIM Lock Removal Request and SIM unlock iPhone on iOS 12
So, I found a unique iPhone Unlock Service which:
- First, IMEI Checks your iPhone and verifies it can be unlocked
- Handles the Mobile Network’s SIM Unlock Request on your behalf
- Suggests the best and most economical iPhone IMEI Unlock Services only if the Carrier’s SIM Unlock Services are not available because the iPhone doesn’t meet the conditions
- Helps you sell the locked iPhone if it can’t be unlocked
Should I SIM unlock iPhone on iOS 12 with a SIM Lock Removal Request?
In my opinion, this is the best solution. If you have the technical expertise you can do it on your own but if you don’t or you simply don’t have the time to deal with the locking Mobile Network’s SIM Unlock Policies, this service is ideal.
It costs around $30 and what makes it so special is the IMEI Check part. In 8 hours max, you will know if your iPhone can be unlocked through the Mobile Network and it will be unlocked automatically if you chose the manual handle.
If it can’t, you will get an Official iPhone Unlock solution without worrying if the IMEI Unlock provider you chose is solid or not or paying too much.
Finally, you will immediately know if your iPhone can’t be unlocked at all. Instead of trying service after service, losing money in the process. It might happen but you will know it from the start and finally, you can get rid of this problematic iPhone making the most money you can possibly earn.
I tried to find some flaws in this iPhone Unlock Method and the only one that comes in my mind is to pay for a service when you could do it on your own for free. But on the other hand, no one stops you from contacting the locking Carrier (if you know which one is it) and try. In fact, this should always be your first move after all.
In Conclusion
I hope you’ve read the whole thing because everything you can do to SIM Unlock iPhone on iOS 12 is here.
- The Unstable and Risky iPhone Unlock Hardware
- The solid but rather expensive Official iPhone Unlock Service
- The thorough SIM Lock Removal Request
