Unlock your phone and use it with local SIM card overseas. What does it mean for phones to be locked and unlocked? In the US, an iPhone is “locked” (there has been some debate as to whether or not ) which essentially means it will only operate with the carrier through which you have a contract.

A step-by-step guide to unlocking the iPhone's SIM card and making it available to other cell carriers' networks. How To Unlock an iPhone. How to unlock iPhone and use any SIM. If your iPhone is locked to a particular carrier, it can be truly frustrating. Some iPhones will only work with a SIM card.

They do this so you won’t jump ship and start using another carrier. How Long To Unlock Iphone. However, many US cell phone carriers will unlock your iPhone for international use only.

This will enable your iPhone to be compatible with SIM carriers in other countries. This basically means you could go abroad, purchase an international SIM card, put it in your iPhone, and use your iPhone abroad with that carrier. It sounds simple, and sometimes it is, but it requires action on your part. Here are some helpful tips that will at least get you pointed in the right direction for using your iPhone abroad: Apple Does Not Unlock Your iPhone Check out about how to unlock your iPhone. You must do this directly through your carrier. How to Unlock an AT&T iPhone Check out about eligibility and how to unlock your AT&T iPhone. How to Unlock a Sprint iPhone Check out about eligibility and how to unlock your Sprint iPhone.

How to Unlock a Verizon iPhone Call your customer support line and request an unlock (don’t go into the store, just call). You may need to talk to a few people before you find the right one, but they will unlock your phone for you for use abroad.

See for more details about Verizon’s unlocking policy. Check out the for information about CDMA versus GSM networks (and why this is important). How to Buy an Unlocked iPhone To completely avoid having to unlock your iPhone, don’t buy it directly through a specific carrier. Buy it through Apple or at an unaffiliated kiosk or store, where you get to choose through whom you connect your service. For example, your phone may come locked if you buy it through AT&T or Verizon.

Worse yet, it may not even come with a SIM card slot. Do NOT make that mistake!