How to Unlock SIM Card on iPhone [4 Proven Methods]

Why Is My SIM Locked on iPhone

If you see a message like "SIM Locked" or "SIM Not Supported" on your iPhone, it usually means your SIM card or device is restricted by either a carrier lock or a SIM PIN lock. There are two main types of SIM locks on iPhones:

• Carrier Lock: Your iPhone is tied to a specific mobile carrier, often due to a contract or purchase bundle. You won't be able to use SIM cards from other providers unless the carrier officially unlocks it.
• SIM PIN Lock: A personal identification number has been set on your SIM card. Entering the wrong PIN multiple times will require a PUK code from your carrier to unlock it.

Whether you want to switch carriers, sell your iPhone, or use a SIM card from another country, you'll need to remove these restrictions and unlock​ SIM on T-Mobile iPhone. In this guide, we'll walk you through three practical methods to unlock your SIM card on iPhone, no matter if you're dealing with a carrier lock or a forgotten SIM PIN. The unlock steps differ according to your service providers, like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, and more. Keep reading to find a proper method to unlock SIM locked iPhone.

Method 1. Unlock SIM Card on iPhone from Any Carrier with an iPhone SIM Unlocker​ Tool (Even If Contract Locked)

If your iPhone is carrier-locked and you're unable to switch SIM cards, EaseUS MobiUnlock offers a free SIM unlock feature that may help. This iPhone SIM unlocker doesn't require carrier approval and can be a quick solution for eligible devices.

However, please note the following important limitations before proceeding:

1. ✅ 100% Free to use the SIM unlock feature
2. 📱 Supported Devices: iPhone 5S to iPhone X
3. 📲 Supported iOS Versions: iOS 12.0 to iOS 14.8
4. 🔓 Jailbreak Required: Your iPhone must be jailbroken before unlocking
5. ⚠️ Success Rate: Due to Apple security updates and varying basebands, the unlock success rate is not guaranteed

In addition to SIM cards, other iOS locks like screen passcode, Apple ID, Activation Lock, and iTunes backup encryption are also supported for removal by this iPhone unlocker software.

To unlock SIM card on iPhone from any carrier with EaseUS MobiUnlock:

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to the computer and run EaseUS MobiUnlock. Select "Remove SIM Lock" from the home-page. 

Step 2. Check your device's information displayed on the screen, and then click "Start." After that, you'll see our Terms of Use, click "I Agree" and then click "Start" again to proceed. 

Step 3. Then, you'll need to confirm your device information and click "Start Unlocking" to start the unlocking process. Wait until the process is completed. 

Step 4. Once the SIM card is unlocked, you can disconnect your iPhone and go to check whether it is SIM lock removed. 

Reminder: This free solution is experimental and only recommended for tech-savvy users. If it doesn't work, or if your device isn't supported, we suggest contacting your carrier directly.

Method 2. Use a Turbo SIM to Bypass iPhone Carrier Lock (Not Official)

If you can't unlock your iPhone through your carrier and your device is not supported by software-based unlockers like EaseUS MobiUnlock, you may consider using a Turbo SIM (also known as R-SIM, X-SIM, or Gevey SIM). This is a hardware-based workaround that sits between your SIM card and the iPhone's SIM tray, tricking the phone into accepting unsupported carriers.

Here's how to use a Turbo SIM to unlock SIM card on iPhone:

Step 1. Purchase a Turbo SIM or R-SIM compatible with your iPhone model and iOS version.

Step 2. Insert your new carrier's SIM card into the Turbo SIM.

Step 3. Insert the combined SIM tray into your iPhone.

Step 4. Follow the on-screen prompts (if any) to configure the unlock settings.

Step 5. If successful, you'll have limited access to the new carrier's network.

Reminder: Turbo SIM solutions are unofficial and not endorsed by Apple. This method does not permanently unlock your iPhone; it's a soft-based unlock. And you must reconfigure or reinsert the Turbo SIM every time the device is reset or updated.

Method 3. Remove SIM Card via iPhone Settings (For PIN-based Locks Only)

Another possible way to unlock SIM card on iPhone is by disabling the SIM PIN. During the process, you might be asked to enter your SIM PIN. You can enter it if you remember. If you're unsure about the SIM PIN, never try guessing it.

Note that this method only works if your SIM card is locked with a PIN. It doesn't remove a carrier lock or allow you to use SIM cards from other providers.

If you indeed want to try, just enter the one found in the service document or customer service page, which could be the default SIM PIN.

Now, you can follow these steps to unlock the SIM card on your iPhone via Settings.

Step 1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2. Tap on the Phone option from the list, and then hit "SIM PIN."

Step 3. Turn SIM PIN off.

Quick Tips: You can also change the SIM PIN code on your iPhone. Thus, you can use the new SIM PIN to unlock your SIM card the next time.

Method 4. Use the Phone App to Unlock SIM Card PIN (Not Working)

Some online tutorials claim that you can unlock a SIM card via the Phone app by making a random call from the Phone app and tapping an "Unlock" button— this is not true for iPhone. The SIM PIN can only be managed through iPhone settings or during the system prompt after inserting a locked SIM.

This SIM unlock method may apply to certain Android phones, but iPhones do not support this behavior. On iOS, when you insert a SIM card with a PIN lock, the system will automatically prompt you to enter the SIM PIN — you cannot trigger this through the dialer, and there's no such "Unlock" button after making a call.

Final Words

No matter your service carrier, you can find feasible instructions on how to unlock SIM card on iPhone. As you can see, it is easy to remove the SIM card lock on iPhone from any carrier with EaseUS MobiUnlock. If you're not fond of third-party tools, you can try other ways to get the job done.

Unlocking a SIM card on your iPhone can mean two things: removing the carrier lock that ties your device to a specific network, or disabling the SIM PIN that protects your SIM card from unauthorized use. This guide has walked you through both types of unlocking methods.

• If you're using an older iPhone (5S–X, iOS 12–14.8), you can try EaseUS MobiUnlock (Method 1), though it requires jailbreaking and has limited success rates.
• Turbo SIM hardware tools (Method 2) offer a workaround but are unofficial and unstable — use with caution.
• For users trying to manage or disable a SIM PIN, using the Settings app (Method 3) is the correct approach.
• Unlock SIM Card PIN by calling (Method 4)? No, it doesn't work at all.

FAQs About Unlocking SIM Card on iPhone

After knowing the methods to unlock SIM cards on your iPhone, it's time to learn some additional questions about why my iPhone says SIM locked, can the SIM lock be removed from iPhone, and what is the default SIM PIN. Learning these questions can be helpful in case you face such a problem in the future.

1. What is the default SIM PIN?

Most carriers use 0000 or 1234 as the default SIM PIN. Check your SIM card packaging or contact your provider to confirm.

2. What is the iPhone PUK code?

A PUK (Personal Unlocking Key) is a unique code provided by your carrier to unlock a SIM card that has been blocked after too many wrong PIN attempts. You can typically find it:

• On the original SIM card packaging
• In your online carrier account
• By contacting your carrier's customer support

3. Can I unlock my SIM card without the PUK code?

No. If your SIM is locked due to incorrect PIN attempts, only the PUK code from your carrier can unlock it. Guessing the PUK code incorrectly too many times can permanently disable your SIM card.