Understanding the Top US Carriers Unlocking Policies

If you have a cell phone that you would like to have unlocked, there’s a good chance that it is on a Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon network. Fortunately, unlocking a phone on any of these networks isn’t as difficult as you might think.

Sprint Unlock Policy

• You must be current on all payments
• You can’t have a write-off balance associated with the phone you want to unlock
• Your contract has been fulfilled
• If your contract isn’t fulfilled, you can pay an early termination fee
• Phone cannot be associated with a bill sent to collections

AT&T Unlock Policy

• Phone must be currently locked to AT&T network
• Phone cannot be reported lost or stolen
• Phone cannot be connected with any type of fraudulent activity
• Contract must be fulfilled or an early termination fee must be paid
• Phone must be associated with only one AT&T account

If phone was obtained through an early upgrade, the unlock cannot take place until 14 days have passed since the phone was activated. And finally if you own a prepaid/GoPhone AT&T phone, it must be active for 60+ days before it can be unlocked, and there can be no unpaid balance.

T-Mobile Unlock Policy

• Phone must be a T-Mobile device
• Phone cannot be reported lost or stolen
• The account the phone is connected to must be in good standing
• You can request only two unlock codes within 12 months
• All postpaid and/or prepaid balances must be paid in full
• The phone itself must be completely paid for
• Early termination fees must be paid if the account is canceled early

Verizon Unlock Policy

Please keep in mind that most devices obtained through a postpay service account with Verizon are not normally locked.  Also, 4G LTE Verizon devices are not locked, meaning there is no unlock code needed to use them on a different carrier.  3G devices are not locked either, except for Global Ready 3G phones.  To unlock these phones, either of the following unlock codes will work:

• 000000
• 123456

If you do not know how to access the unlock menu on a Global Ready 3G phone, simply give us a call and we can walk you through the process.

*Bonus Tip

Almost all carriers have special processes you must go through to unlock a phone for Deployed Military Personnel reasons.  View the features of UnlockBase today and learn more about the cell phone unlocking services that we provide.