Unlocking an AT&T phone: the free route and the paid one
Most AT&T phones can be unlocked by AT&T for free once they qualify. Here is how to check yours, what AT&T asks, and when a paid IMEI unlock is the better route.
An AT&T phone needs unlocking only if it is still locked, and AT&T itself unlocks a phone for free once it meets the rules on its unlock page: bought from AT&T, more than 60 days ago, paid in full, with no lost, stolen or fraud report, and, on AT&T Prepaid, 12 months of paid service. A paid IMEI unlock is for the phones that route can’t reach: still financed, short of the waiting period, or bought secondhand with no access to the account. Check the lock first, then AT&T’s rules, then pick the model above.
Is your AT&T phone already unlocked?
- 1iPhoneSettings → General → About → Carrier Lock. “No SIM restrictions” means the phone is unlocked; “SIM locked” means it is still tied to the carrier.
- 2Samsung GalaxyRecent Galaxy phones show the network lock under Settings → Connections → More connection settings; older ones under About phone → Software information.
- 3Any phone with a SIM trayPut in a SIM from another carrier. A message that the SIM isn’t supported, or a prompt for an unlock code, means the phone is still locked to AT&T.
- 4A used phone, or no accountDial *#06# for the IMEI and run an IMEI check: it shows the carrier and lock details on record without the account.
AT&T’s own unlock rules
These are the conditions on AT&T’s unlock page in its June 29, 2026 version, in our words. The page in the sources box is the one to re-read, because carriers change these from time to time.
| Condition | What AT&T asks |
|---|---|
| Where the phone came from | Bought from AT&T. A phone sold by another carrier is unlocked by that carrier. |
| Time | Bought more than 60 days ago. |
| Money | Paid in full at purchase, or the installment balance paid down to zero. |
| Its record | Not reported lost or stolen, and not involved in fraud. |
| Current customers | The bill isn’t past due. |
| AT&T Prepaid | 12 months of paid AT&T service on the phone. |
Which route fits your phone
| Your situation | The route |
|---|---|
| The phone meets every condition above | AT&T, for free. Ask on its portal if it hasn’t unlocked by itself. |
| Still being paid off, or bought less than 60 days ago | A paid IMEI unlock, if a service above accepts financed phones (each card says). |
| AT&T Prepaid, short of 12 months of paid service | A paid IMEI unlock from the grid above. |
| Bought secondhand, no way to reach the original account | A paid IMEI unlock. Run an IMEI check first so you know what you have. |
| Reported lost or stolen, or flagged for fraud | Neither. The report has to be cleared by whoever placed it; an unlock won’t work around it. |
The general rules every US carrier shares, and the words they use, are in our guide to whether your phone is eligible for an unlock; iPhone owners also have unlocking an iPhone on AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon.
Pick your phone above
The brand tiles and the model grid at the top of this page are the paid route: pick the brand, then the model, and the card shows that service’s live price and usual time, which is why neither is written here. The order box then asks for the IMEI and an email, and pays in one step. Apple and the other brands also have their own pages with everything we unlock for them.
What to confirm before you order
- The phone is locked to AT&T, not to another network: the services above are for AT&T phones only. An IMEI check settles it when you aren’t sure.
- The exact model: Settings → General → About on an iPhone, Settings → About phone on Android. Each card above names the models it takes.
- The IMEI: dial *#06#, or read it in the same About screen. You type it at checkout; nothing is installed on the phone.
- No lost, stolen or fraud report on the IMEI. An unlock can’t remove one, and no one else can either except the carrier that placed it.
- The service’s own notes on its page: some take only phones with a clean record or a paid-off balance, and each states its refund rule.
- 1ConfirmationThe order number arrives by email straight away. Keep it; it is what Track order and our support use.
- 2While it runsEach service card above shows its usual time. Leave the phone as it is; there is nothing to do on it in the meantime.
- 3DoneThe result comes by email. Put in the new SIM, restart the phone, and the lock-status check above should now read as unlocked. Anything odd: Help & FAQ.