The iPhone XR is one of the most popular phones on the market. Allowing all the features of the iPhone X and XS at a more affordable price, it’s a great deal. But for many people trying to purchase one used, they run into issues trying to use the device with their own carrier. This is because they have yet to have their iPhone XR unlocked.
In this article, we’re going to break down everything you need to know about having your iPhone XR unlocked including whether it is legal, why you should have your phone unlocked, and how to do it.
Is It Legal To Have My iPhone XR Unlocked?
Although there was a lot of controversy about this in years past, the federal government is very clear on this subject today. In 2014, former President Barack Obama passed the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act. This mandates that no carrier can prevent consumers from unlocking their phones.
It is important to note here that there are a few requirements to unlock your phone legal. A few of these include:
- You must have fulfilled all terms of your contract with the service provider
- You cannot have any outstanding bills or payments with your previous network
Meeting these requirements makes it legal to unlock your phone. Keep in mind, there are some scenarios where may have issues unlocking your phone due to the actions of a previous owner. For instance, if you buy an iPhone XR used online, the previous owner may not have fulfilled the terms of their contract.
That would put the phone on the ‘blacklist’. Unfortunately, you can’t use it so long as it’s on that list. If you are having issues getting your phone to work, you can use an online blacklist checker to see whether your phone has been blacklisted or not.
If it has, you would want to contact the seller to see if they know why this is the case. An unpaid bill is an easy enough fix. However, if the phone is reported lost or stolen, it will need to be taken off the blacklist.
Why Should I Get My iPhone XR Unlocked?
There are lots of reasons to have your iPhone XR unlocked beyond just wanting to switch carriers. Oftentimes, if you purchase a used phone, it will come already locked to the previous carrier. If that carrier is different from the one you currently use, you will be unable to use your new phone. An iPhone XR that’s unlocked, will not have this problem.
There are other scenarios where you would want your iPhone XR unlocked, too. For example, if you are someone who often travels internationally, an unlocked phone can save you a lot of money. With an unlocked device, you can use local SIM cards. This helps you to avoid roaming fees and other costs associated with traveling internationally.
Lastly, some people just want their iPhone XR unlocked to know that they have the freedom to do what they want with their own device. If this is you, know that this is just as important as any other reason.
How Do I Get My iPhone XR Unlocked?
In some cases, a quick phone call with your service provider will do the trick. They can have your iPhone XR unlocked as long as it is eligible. In some cases, however, this will not work. Even if you have met all the requirements, many carriers will give you a hard time about unlocking your device.
AT&T and T-Mobile are notorious for this problem. So, if you try to have it unlocked through the carrier, and they are unable to, there is another option.
Many online services will help you get your phone unlocked if the carrier is unable to do so. For instance, you can get your iPhone XR unlocked at CellUnlocker.net. CellUnlocker can unlock your iPhone so that you can use it with any carrier you wish.
You just have to provide them with your phone model, the carrier associated with the phone, and its IMEI number. You can locate the IMEI number in your phone’s settings. Find it listed under ‘General Settings’>About.
After you do this, they will be able to unlock your iPhone XR. From there, you are free to take it to any carrier of your choice, as long as it is compatible with the phone. Most iPhones are compatible with both GSM (AT&T, T-Mobile) and CDMA (Verizon) networks.
If you have any issues getting your iPhone XR unlocked along the way, CellUnlocker has lots of free resources and guides on their website to help walk you through the entire process.
