Free Your Phone: A Comprehensive Guide to Unlocking Your AT&T Mobile Device
Have you ever looked at your AT&T mobile phone and thought, "I wish I could use this with a different carrier, or when I travel internationally without exorbitant roaming fees!" If so, you're not alone! Many AT&T customers find themselves in this exact situation. The good news is, unlocking your AT&T device is entirely possible and, in most cases, free if you meet their eligibility requirements.
This lengthy, step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from understanding the eligibility criteria to submitting your unlock request and beyond. Let's get your phone free!
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| How To Unlock At&t Mobile Phone |
Step 1: Are You Ready to Break Free? Check Your Eligibility!
Before you even think about submitting an unlock request, the absolute first thing you need to do is verify if your device is eligible for unlocking. This is where most people get tripped up, so let's make sure you're good to go!
AT&T has specific criteria that must be met. These vary slightly depending on whether you have a postpaid, prepaid, or business account.
1.1 Understanding Postpaid Device Eligibility
If you're a current or former AT&T postpaid customer, pay close attention to these points:
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Device Purchase Age: Your AT&T device must have been purchased more than 60 days ago. This is a crucial waiting period to prevent fraud.
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Device Paid in Full: This is perhaps the most important requirement. Your device must be completely paid off. This means if you purchased it on an installment plan (like AT&T Next), your installment balance must be zero. If you recently paid it off, you might need to wait until the start of your next billing cycle for the system to update.
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Not Reported Lost, Stolen, or Involved in Fraud: This is pretty self-explanatory. If your device has been flagged for any of these reasons, AT&T will not unlock it.
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Account Current (if you're a current customer): If you still have an active AT&T account, your bill cannot be past due. Make sure all your payments are up to date.
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Early Upgrades: If you upgraded your device early, you might need to wait 14 days (or 30 days for business customers) before your old device becomes eligible for unlocking.
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Not Active on Another AT&T Account: The device you want to unlock shouldn't be currently active on another AT&T account.
1.2 Understanding AT&T Prepaid Device Eligibility
AT&T Prepaid customers have slightly different rules:
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Six Months of Paid Service: Your AT&T Prepaid phone must have had at least six months of active, paid AT&T service. This demonstrates sustained use on their network.
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Not Active on Another AT&T Account: Similar to postpaid, the device shouldn't be active on another AT&T account.
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Not Reported Lost, Stolen, or Involved in Fraud: Again, the device must have a clean record.
1.3 Understanding Business Device Eligibility
For business-owned devices:
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Contract Completion: If the device is on a contract, the service commitment term must be completed.
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Company Authorization: Your company must authorize the unlock request. Be prepared to provide necessary approvals and documentation.
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All Other Postpaid Criteria: The other criteria for postpaid devices (60+ days old, paid in full, not reported lost/stolen, account current, etc.) also apply here.
1.4 How to Check If Your Device is Already Unlocked
QuickTip: Stop and think when you learn something new.
Believe it or not, your phone might already be unlocked, especially if you purchased it directly from Apple or a third-party retailer as an unlocked device.
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For iPhones: Go to Settings > General > About. Scroll down to "Carrier Lock." If it says "No SIM restrictions," your iPhone is unlocked! If it says "SIM locked," you'll need to submit an unlock request.
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For All Phones (including Android): The easiest way is to insert a non-AT&T SIM card into your device. If the phone connects to the new network and allows you to make calls/use data, it's unlocked! If you see a message like "SIM not valid" or "Network locked," then it's still locked.
Did you meet all the criteria? Fantastic! Let's move on to the next crucial step. If not, you'll need to resolve the outstanding issues (like paying off your device or waiting for the required time) before proceeding.
Step 2: Gather Your Essential Information
Once you're confident your device meets the eligibility requirements, it's time to collect the information AT&T will need for your unlock request. Having this ready will make the process much smoother.
2.1 Find Your IMEI Number
The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) is a unique 15-digit number that identifies your specific device. It's like your phone's fingerprint. AT&T needs this to process your unlock.
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Method A (Universal): The quickest way to find your IMEI is by dialing
*#06#on your phone's keypad. The IMEI will instantly pop up on your screen. -
Method B (iPhone): Go to Settings > General > About. You'll find your IMEI listed there.
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Method C (Android): Go to Settings > About phone > Status > IMEI information.
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Method D (Physical Location): Sometimes, the IMEI is printed on a sticker under the battery (for older phones with removable batteries), on the original packaging box, or on the SIM tray itself.
Write down your IMEI number carefully! You'll need it later.
2.2 Identify Your Device Details
While not always explicitly asked for in every field, knowing your phone's make and model (e.g., Samsung Galaxy S24, iPhone 15 Pro) is helpful.
2.3 Have Your Account Information Handy (if applicable)
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For AT&T Customers: If you're a current AT&T customer, you might need your AT&T phone number and potentially your wireless account passcode or security questions to verify your identity.
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For Non-AT&T Customers: If you're trying to unlock a device that was previously on AT&T but you don't have an active account with them, you'll simply need the IMEI.
Step 3: Submitting Your Official Unlock Request to AT&T
Now that you're prepared, it's time to submit the unlock request. AT&T provides an online portal for this purpose, which is the most efficient method.
Tip: Skim once, study twice.
3.1 Access the AT&T Device Unlock Portal
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Go to the official AT&T Device Unlock portal:
att.com/deviceunlock -
You'll likely see an option to either "Unlock your device" or "Check the status of an unlock request." Select "Unlock your device."
3.2 Fill Out the Request Form
The portal will guide you through a series of prompts. Here's what to expect:
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Who are you? You'll be asked if you're an AT&T customer or not. Select the appropriate option.
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If you are an AT&T customer, you might be prompted to sign into your myAT&T account.
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If you are not an AT&T customer, you'll proceed directly to entering your device details.
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Enter Your Device's IMEI: Carefully input the 15-digit IMEI number you retrieved in Step 2. Double-check this number! A single typo can lead to delays or denial.
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Provide Contact Information: You'll need to enter your first name, last name, and a valid email address. This email is crucial as AT&T will send updates and unlock instructions there. You might also be asked for a mobile number.
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Confirm Details: Review all the information you've entered to ensure it's accurate.
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Submit Request: Click the "Submit" or "Next" button to send your request to AT&T.
3.3 What Happens After Submission?
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Confirmation Email/Text: Within a few minutes to a few hours, you should receive a confirmation email (or text message if you're an AT&T customer) acknowledging your unlock request. This email will often contain a request number and your IMEI, which you can use to check the status later.
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For Non-AT&T Customers: If you're not an AT&T customer, the confirmation email will contain a link that you must click to confirm your unlock request within 24 hours. Do not skip this step! If you don't confirm, your request will be canceled, and you'll have to start over. Check your spam/junk folders if you don't see the email immediately.
Step 4: Awaiting and Confirming the Unlock
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The waiting game begins! While some unlock requests are approved in minutes, it can take up to 48 hours for AT&T to process and approve your request.
4.1 Checking Your Unlock Status
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You can periodically check the status of your request on the AT&T Device Unlock Status portal:
att.com/deviceunlock/status -
You'll need your IMEI number and the request number provided in your confirmation email.
4.2 Receiving the Unlock Confirmation
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Once your request is approved, AT&T will send you another email (or text) with the unlock confirmation and instructions.
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For iPhones: The unlock is typically processed "over-the-air." This means you usually don't receive a specific unlock code. Instead, you'll need to perform a simple action to finalize the unlock.
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For Android Phones: You will often receive an unlock code (a series of numbers).
4.3 Finalizing the Unlock Process
This is the moment of truth!
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For iPhones:
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Remove your current AT&T SIM card.
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Insert a SIM card from a different carrier (e.g., T-Mobile, Verizon, or an international SIM).
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Connect your iPhone to a Wi-Fi network.
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Your iPhone should automatically connect to Apple's activation servers and complete the unlock. You might see a "No SIM restrictions" message in your settings afterward. For older iPhones (iPhone 13 or earlier), you may need to perform a factory reset before the unlock takes effect.
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Alternatively, you can connect your iPhone to a computer with iTunes/Finder, insert the new SIM, and follow the on-screen prompts for activation.
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For Android Phones:
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Power off your AT&T Android phone.
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Remove your AT&T SIM card.
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Insert a SIM card from a different carrier.
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Power on your phone.
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You should be prompted to enter the unlock code that AT&T provided in their confirmation email. Carefully enter the code.
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Once the code is accepted, your phone should connect to the new network.
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Congratulations! Your AT&T phone should now be unlocked! You can now use it with any compatible GSM carrier worldwide.
QuickTip: Keep going — the next point may connect.
Step 5: Troubleshooting Common Issues
While the process is generally straightforward, sometimes things don't go as planned.
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Unlock Request Denied:
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Reason: The most common reason is not meeting the eligibility requirements (e.g., device not paid off, not enough time on prepaid service).
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Solution: Review the eligibility criteria carefully. If you believe there's a mistake, contact AT&T customer support. Be prepared to provide all your information and explain your situation.
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Didn't Receive Confirmation/Unlock Email:
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Reason: The email might have gone to your spam or junk folder. You might have entered an incorrect email address.
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Solution: Check all your email folders. If you still can't find it, use the AT&T Device Unlock Status portal to check the status using your IMEI. If the request isn't showing up, you might need to resubmit it with the correct email.
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Unlock Code Doesn't Work (Android):
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Reason: The code was entered incorrectly, or there might be an issue with the unlock on AT&T's end.
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Solution: Double-check the code and re-enter it carefully. If it still fails, contact AT&T customer support. Do not try too many times, as you might permanently lock your device.
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iPhone Still Locked After Following Steps:
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Reason: Sometimes, the unlock hasn't fully propagated, or there's a minor hiccup in the activation process.
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Solution: Try restarting your iPhone. If that doesn't work, perform a factory reset (after backing up your data!) and then try activating with the new SIM again. If all else fails, contact AT&T support.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common questions about unlocking AT&T mobile phones, with quick answers:
How to check if my AT&T phone is already unlocked?
Insert a non-AT&T SIM card. If it connects to the new network, it's unlocked. For iPhones, check Settings > General > About > Carrier Lock for "No SIM restrictions."
How to find my AT&T phone's IMEI number?
Dial *#06# on your phone's keypad, or check in your phone's settings under "About phone" or "General > About."
How long does it take for AT&T to unlock a phone?
Typically, it takes a few minutes to 48 hours for AT&T to approve and process an unlock request.
How to unlock an AT&T prepaid phone?
Your AT&T Prepaid phone must have had at least six months of paid active service and meet other general eligibility criteria. Then, submit a request via the AT&T Device Unlock portal.
Tip: Absorb, don’t just glance.
How to unlock an AT&T iPhone?
Once your request is approved, remove the AT&T SIM, insert a non-AT&T SIM, and connect to Wi-Fi. The iPhone should activate as unlocked. A factory reset might be needed for older iPhones.
How to unlock an AT&T Android phone?
After approval, you'll receive an unlock code. Insert a non-AT&T SIM, and when prompted, enter the unlock code provided by AT&T.
How to check the status of my AT&T unlock request?
Go to
How to unlock an AT&T phone if I'm not a current customer?
You can still unlock an AT&T device as a non-customer as long as it meets all the eligibility requirements, primarily being paid off and having a clean status.
How to unlock my AT&T phone if it's still under an installment plan?
You cannot unlock your AT&T phone if it's still under an installment plan. You must pay off the device in full before it becomes eligible for unlocking.
How to unlock my AT&T business phone?
Business devices must have their contract term completed, be authorized by the company, and meet all other general eligibility requirements for postpaid devices.
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