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How to Unlock and Activate the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are great devices that offer fast performance, excellent cameras, and long battery life. However, they can be locked to a specific carrier, which prevents you from using them on other networks. Unlocking your iPhone allows you to use it with any GSM carrier worldwide.

You’ll need to unlock your iPhone before you can activate it with a new carrier. The unlocking process removes the carrier lock that is applied to the device. Once unlocked, you can insert a new SIM card from your preferred carrier and activate your iPhone.

Determine If Your iPhone Is Locked

The first step is to determine if your iPhone is actually locked. Here’s how:

  • Insert a different carrier’s SIM card: Try inserting the SIM card from a different carrier, like AT&T or T-Mobile. If the iPhone displays a “SIM Not Supported” or “Incorrect SIM” error, then it is most likely locked.
  • Check carrier settings: Go to Settings > General > About. Scroll down to Carrier Lock and check if it says “No SIM restrictions.” If it instead specifies a carrier like Verizon or Sprint, then your iPhone is locked.
  • Contact your carrier: You can also contact your carrier directly and ask them to confirm if your iPhone is locked. Provide them with your iPhone’s IMEI or serial number so they can check.

If your iPhone is locked, you’ll need to officially unlock it before switching carriers.

Unlock Your iPhone

There are a few different ways to unlock an iPhone:

  • Through your carrier: Contact your carrier and request an iPhone unlock. Keep in mind that most carriers require you to fully pay off your device or fulfill your contract before they will issue an unlock. This option is only available if you purchased your iPhone directly from a carrier.
  • Through a third-party service: Companies like DoctorSIM and UnlockBase offer iPhone unlocks via IMEI number. They essentially work with carriers to acquire official unlocks. This is a fast and convenient option.
  • DIY unlocking software: Software like dr.fone – Screen Unlock and iMyFone LockWiper can unlock iPhones from a computer. These work by exploiting backdoors in Apple’s firmware to bypass the activation lock system.

Make sure to research any third-party unlocking service thoroughly before using them. Look for positive reviews and assurances of reliable, permanent unlocks. The last thing you want is to render your iPhone unusable.

Activate Your Unlocked iPhone

After unlocking comes activation. Follow these steps:

  • Insert the new SIM card: Turn off your iPhone and insert the new SIM card that matches your preferred carrier. For the iPhone 7 models, the SIM card slot is located on the right side of the device.
  • Turn on your iPhone: Power on your iPhone like normal.
  • Follow the setup prompts: You may be asked to enter your Apple ID during setup. Make sure Find My iPhone is turned off, otherwise activation will fail.
  • Wait for activation: It make take 15-60 minutes for activation to fully complete after entering the SIM card. The iPhone will say “Activating…” and show a progress bar under the carrier name when activating.
  • Confirm the new carrier: Once activated, check Settings > General > About again. It should now display your new carrier instead of the previous one. Try making a test call to confirm it is working.
  • Contact carrier support: If you encounter any activation errors or issues with connectivity after unlocking, contact your new carrier’s tech support for troubleshooting help.

Using Your Unlocked iPhone 7

Now that you have an unlocked and activated iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, here are a few usage tips:

  • Switch carriers seamlessly: You can now easily switch between GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile with unlocked iPhones. Just swap the SIM card.
  • Use local SIM cards while traveling: Purchasing a prepaid SIM card in a foreign country lets you avoid roaming charges. Unlocked phones have the flexibility to support local SIMs abroad.
  • Sell or give away your device: An unlocked phone also has a higher resale value if you ever plan on selling or gifting your iPhone. The ability to work on any GSM network vastly improves its appeal.
  • Stick with the same iOS version: Avoid updating to newer iOS versions after unlocking because this can re-lock your device in some situations. Only update if absolutely necessary.

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