How Can I Tell if My Verizon Phone Is Unlocked? (Guide)

Networks lock newly purchased devices to mitigate theft and other fraudulent activities. So, many people ask: “How can I tell if my Verizon phone is unlocked?” Luckily, we know the answer!

There are a lot of different ways for you to determine if your phone is unlocked. You can also enjoy a lot of advantages when using an unlocked phone.

How do you know your phone’s unlock status? Let’s get to it!

Before discussing the above steps in detail, we listed the top reasons you want to know your phone’s unlock status. 

Why You Want to Know if Your Verizon Phone is Unlocked

It’s always a good idea to check your phone’s unlock status. Because when you unlock your phone, you open it to other networks.

You can use any SIM and get a better value from your device. So, if you’re asking: “How can I tell if my phone is unlocked Verizon?” it may be due to the following. 

✅ Switch to a Different Carrier

The main reason you want to know your phone’s unlock status is to find out whether you can switch to a different carrier instantly.

Either you are unhappy or unsatisfied with Verizon or found a better deal with another network. 

✅ Use a Local Sim When Traveling

You may be traveling to another country for a few weeks and need to use the local SIM.

Instead of buying a new phone that you’ll only use for the meantime, you can unlock your Verizon phone. 

✅ Better Network Flexibility

Knowing if your phone is unlocked gives you additional flexibility with your network choice.

You can switch between networks depending on which one offers the best coverage.

✅ Choosing a Better Deal

You can choose the best mobile service provider that suits your needs. You can easily switch to a network that works in your area and has better plans and perks.  

These are the top reasons you want to know if your Verizon phone is unlocked. Now, let’s move on to determining the unlock status of your device. 

Full Guide on How Can I Tell if My Verizon Phone Is Unlocked

Unlocking your device makes it easy for you to switch carriers anytime. But, depending on where and how you purchased your phone, there are ways to discover its unlock status.

The easiest is calling your carrier and asking if your Verizon phone is locked or unlocked. Verizon’s customer service number is 1-800-922-0204.  

If you find contacting Verizon time-consuming, you can use the following methods. 

1. Retrieve Your Phone’s IMEI Number

Before you can figure out if your Verizon phone is unlocked or not, you want to get your phone’s important hardware details.

You want your device’s IMEI number as an online checker, and your carrier can look at the status by using it.

Getting your phone’s IMEI can seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually quite easy.

If you have a modern phone, the details will be found in the settings, and you can quickly retrieve them from there.

Here are the steps on how to find your device’s IMEI number:

iPhone:

1. Open your phone’s Settings.
2. Go to General.
3. Tap on the About option.
4. Scroll down and locate the IMEI entry.
5. Copy the number and save it for later use.

Android:

1. Go to your phone’s Settings app.
2. Tap on the About phone option.
3. Scroll down and locate the IMEI number.
4. Tap and hold, then select Copy.
5. Save it for later use.

Note: Alternatively, you can also go to the phone app and type in *#06# on the keypad to find your phone’s IMEI number.

2. Check Your Phone’s IMEI Against an Online Checker

Now that you have your device’s IMEI number, you can use it to check its unlock status.

There are a lot of online tools that you can use to search for your phone’s IMEI number.

Even Verizon has one that can instantly tell you if your phone is locked or unlocked.

Here’s how to use Verizon’s IMEI checker to know your device’s status:

1. Go to the Verizon website at verizon.com.
2. Navigate to Shop, then Devices.
3. Click on the Bring your own device option.
4. Choose your type of device, then enter the make and model.
5. Enter your device’s IMEI number to check its status.

Note: You’ll know the status of your phone on the results page.

3. Find Your Phone’s Carrier Lock Status

The good thing about finding out if your phone is locked is multiple options on how to do it.

The previous step requires you to have access to the internet. However, if you don’t have access to it, you can still figure out whether your phone is locked.

An option at your disposal is to find your phone’s carrier lock status within its settings. There’s a setting there that will show you if your phone is locked or not.

Here’s how to know your phone’s lock status in the option:

1. Go to your phone’s Settings.
2. Select General.
3. Tap on About.
4. Navigate to Carrier Lock.
5. If your phone is unlocked, it should say No SIM restrictions.

Note: If you don’t see that message, you will need to contact your carrier to get your phone unlocked.

4. Check If Your iPhone Has the Cellular Data Network Option

If you have a Verizon iPhone, there is a way for you to check if it’s locked or unlocked without contacting customer support or checking its IMEI number.

You can review your phone’s settings and check if a certain option is available.

If it appears on your phone’s settings, your phone is unlocked. However, if you can’t find it, then you’ll need to contact Verizon to ask for assistance from them to open your phone.

Here’s how to check if your iPhone has the Cellular Data Network option available:

1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
2. Go to Cellular.
3. Navigate to Cellular Data Network.
4. Tap on it to see if it’s available.

Note: Other iPhones might say Mobile Data instead of Cellular Data.

5. Find Out if Your Phone Can Detect Other Carriers

A telltale sign that your phone is unlocked is if it can detect signals from other carriers.

You can go deep into your device’s settings to check if it can find the signals from other networks.

If it can, you’ll know your phone is unlocked, and you can insert a different SIM card.

Here’s how to know if your phone can detect other carriers:

iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Go to the Cellular option.
3. Select Network Selection.
4. Disable the Automatic option.
5. Check if you can see the list of available carriers.

Android:

1. Go to your phone’s Settings.
2. Select Mobile Networks.
3. Tap on Network Operators or Carriers.
4. Wait for the list of available networks to appear.

Note: Wait for the list of networks to appear for about 1 to 2 minutes before contacting Verizon to get your phone unlocked.

6. Switch in a SIM Card From Another Carrier

A more straightforward approach to telling if your Verizon phone is unlocked is swapping out the SIM cards immediately.

Doing this will instantly let you know if you can use your device on a different network.

The advantage of this is that you don’t have to look for your phone’s IMEI number and look at deep into its settings.

However, the downside to this step is that you will need a spare SIM from a different carrier that you can try out.

Here’s how to switch SIM cards on your phone:

1. Switch off your phone.
2. Locate the SIM tray on your phone.
3. Eject the SIM tray by using the eject tool or a paper clip.
4. Remove your Verizon SIM from the tray.
5. Insert a SIM from a different carrier, then switch on your phone.

Note: Check the network on the top left of your phone to know if your phone is locked or unlocked.

After discovering your phone is unlocked, you can now use it for traveling by inserting a SIM other than Verizon’s.

Now, if it’s locked, you can easily unlock it if you meet the eligibility requirements. Contact Verizon’s customer support to know what you need to do for them to unlock your device.

Bottom Line

How can I tell if my Verizon phone is unlocked? Luckily, there are a lot of ways for you to know that.

As long as you follow these steps, you can determine with certainty if your phone is locked or unlocked.

Read Next: How Do I Unlock My Verizon SIM Card?