“My iPhone was bought with a network lock for Sprint but I want to be able to use it on T-mobile, what is the best Sprint iPhone unlock method?”
Something we see a lot of people asking about is how they should go about unlocking a Sprint iPhone. Carriers put these locks on the phones they sell so that customers aren’t able to switch to different carriers too soon.
In theory, this isn’t a problem for most people, but it can become bothersome after a while and when you wish to switch to another carrier.
In this case, we’re going to discuss how to unlock Sprint iPhone, the key points you must know about, and what options you have.
Jun 06, 2020 Software unlocking is a scam and doesn’t work, and hardware unlocking can ruin your device and will void your warranty. The only safe way to get your iPhone 6, 6s, 6 Plus, and 6s Plus unlocked is with an IMEI unlock. An IMEI Unlock will get your phone added to Apple’s global database of iPhones that is available to use on any carrier. Unlock my iphone 6 I got my iphone,a fullpriced one.But I can`t use the phone properly.I called and they just won`t unlock the phone. If you need immediate. May 20, 2016 If you purchased a new iPhone after February 2015, Sprint automatically unlocks your iPhone for domestic (within the US) use when it becomes eligible. You don’t have to contact customer service or make an unlock request; the unlock will be applied automatically.
- Part 1. Unlock iPhone Directly with Sprint (Too Many Limits)
- Part 2. The Best Sprint iPhone Unlock Service (Without Any Limit)
Note: You need to make sure that your iPhone is actually locked to Sprint and the IMEI of it is not Blacklisted before unlocking or you’ll waste a lot of time on this. An accurate IMEI checker such as WipeLock iPhone Carrier Checker will help you.
Part 1. How to Unlock Sprint iPhone with Carrier (7 Days)
To start with we will explain a common solution: how to unlock your iPhone directly with Sprint.
There’re too many limits of this method, if you’re not eligible to this, don’t worry, we have an alternative method for you to unlock without any limits.
1.1 Things You Need to Know About This Method
Before you even choose this unlocking method, there are a few notes that are important to keep in mind.
- Unlocking nationally and internationally are separate processes and must be individually requested from Sprint
- iPhones bought 2015 or later can be unlocked and used only in the US
- If you bought the iPhone earlier than 2015, you will be notified by Sprint when unlocking is made possible
- If your device is an iPhone 5, Sprint will unlock it for international use (but the iPhone can only be connected to Verizon CDMA)
- Sprint can unlock iPhones that are marked as stolen, lost, or otherwise have a report, but these iPhones will only connect to international networks
- Old iPhone models (e.g. iPhone 4 and earlier) can only connect to the originating carrier
As you can tell there is a short list of limits with this Sprint iPhone unlock method. If your iPhone falls outside of these rules then you will have to look elsewhere for carrier unlocks.
1.2 Minimum Criteria of Unlocking
Even with the list above, there are further criteria for unlocking a Sprint iPhone. Depending on whether you want to unlock the iPhone for US/domestic use or international use, here are the criteria to meet:
Domestic Criteria
- iPhone must be compatible with domestic unlocking
- Your iPhone must not have any stolen reports
- iPhone should be connected to Sprint for at least 50 days
- The account tied to the iPhone must have no outstanding payments or be in a bad state
- The account’s iPhone contract terms and agreements must all be met
International Criteria
- iPhone must be compatible with international unlocking
- The account tied to the iPhone must have no outstanding payments or be in a bad state
- You must be an existing and current Sprint customer and be able to prove yourself as the account owner
- The iPhone must be connected to the Sprint network
- Your Sprint account must be on the Sprint network for a minimum of 90 days
- The iPhone must not have any stolen or lost reports
1.3 Steps to Unlock Sprint iPhone with Carrier
Now that you’ve checked every one of those requirements to unlock Sprint iPhone, you can finally get started and move on with the carrier unlock.
Step 1. Call Sprint’s customer support team at 888-211-4727.
Step 2. Request an unlock code. This will likely come with an extra charge.
Step 3. After roughly 7 days, the unlock will be complete.
Step 4. Replace the Sprint SIM card with a different network’s SIM card.
It seems straightforward enough. The problem with Sprint iPhone unlock is that when you go to the carrier, there is a long list of requirements and surprise charges involved. That’s why this guide isn’t ideal for most people.
Part 2. Best Sprint iPhone Unlock Service (Within 24 hrs)
For several reasons, you might want to take things in a different direction. A third-party website like DirectUnlocks offers services that enable you to remove any carrier lock from your smartphone and at a reasonable cost too.
Best of all, it bypasses all of the limits that are imposed on Sprint customers, like those that are listed in the previous method. With this Sprint iPhone unlock service, you can have high expectations:
- DirectUnlocks can remove carrier locks on any iPhone or iPad
- Also provides a service for removing carrier locks from various Samsung models
- Unlocks Sprint iPhones in less than 24 hours
- Carrier locks are removed remotely (you just have to enter a few iPhone details)
- Much cheaper than paying a carrier to have the lock removed
These are all great reasons for using DirectUnlocks to remove carrier locks from any iPhone at all. How do you use it? These quick and effortless steps are how:
Steps to Unlock Sprint iPhone 6/7/8/X/XS/XR/11/12
We take iPhone 6 as an example to show you how to use this service.
Step 1. Go to DirectUnlocks Sprint Unlock page. Click on your iPhone model from the list of iPhones that are shown.
Step 2. By clicking on each of the dropdown menus, choose the country your iPhone is registered to and then the Sprint network.
How To Unlock My Sprint Iphone 6 For Free
Step 3. Type the iPhone’s IMEI number into the box provided. You can retrieve this code by dialling *#06# on your iPhone, and the IMEI will be displayed.
Step 4. Click “Continue” to proceed to the payment stage.
After completing the payment, you’ll receive an order number. You are able to use this number to track the progress of the iPhone unlock until it is completed.
It couldn’t be any easier! To unlock Sprint iPhone this way you are making it as easy as possible. In less than 24 hours the delivery will be made, your iPhone will unlock from Sprint, and you’re free to connect to any carrier you want to.
Conclusion
In our opinion, these are the two most important methods to unlock Sprint iPhone. If you aren’t concerned about the high charge and waiting time of contacting Sprint directly, that may be an alright method for you.
But if you want to save money where possible, only spend what’s necessary, and unlock an iPhone as quickly as possible, DirectUnlocks is by far the most effective solution for you. We highly recommend this service as it can unlock most iPhones and Samsung smartphones, and it’s a really easy process too.
It has never been easier to unlock a Sprint cell phone or Sprint tablet. The carrier is even doing its part to make it easy to unlock a phone by actually notifying a person when their phone is ready to be unlocked. If that’s not enough, models of phones released after February 2015 will unlock on their own once the phone becomes eligible.
That being said, if a person does not want to wait or wants to try their hand at unlocking a phone or a tablet, they will first need to know if their device is eligible, the information needed to unlock the phone, the steps needed to unlock the phone for international use, and the steps needed to unlock the phone for military use.
A Few Things to Take into Consideration before Unlocking a Sprint Phone
Before a person gets too giddy about the idea of unlocking a phone, they should know that activating a Sprint device on a different network is not always as easy as one might think. Both Sprint and Verizon are CDMA carriers. So one would think that since they use the same technology, Sprint phones would be easy to activate on a Verizon service. Unfortunately, that’s not true. Not every Sprint phone was designed to be compatible with Verizon services. First, a person needs to look at their phone's IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) to check for compatibility.
Most Sprint phones should work on T-Mobile or AT&T networks. This is because these companies use a GSM network that can be used by LTE capable phones or the iPhone. Some of the phones sold by Sprint are designed to be global or universal phones. These have a space for SIM card and also have CDMA/GSM capability.
But there still catch. Just because the phone is labeled global and just because the phone functions on the GSM service does not mean that all of the phone's features are going to work. A person may not be able to make or receive phone calls or to make or receive texts without CDMA. This is the case even if the phone has the ability to access LTE.
Basically, the model of phone a person has is going to determine how successful they are going to be at unlocking it.
How to Unlock a Sprint Phone
Once it is determined that a Sprint phone not only can be unlocked but that it can be used on the network intended, a person will need to make sure of a few things about the phone itself. First and foremost, the phone can’t be stolen. If it has been reported to law enforcement as stolen or if the phone has been connected with any criminal or terrorist activity, that’s the end of the game. It cannot be unlocked.
Next, a person needs to look at the service plan they purchased when they got the phone. If a service plan was purchased that allowed an individual to subsidize the phone, they are going to have to live out the life of that plan. Before Sprint will allow a person to unlock the phone, their contract should be fully paid up and they should have no outstanding fees and no outstanding bills.
Some people get their phone through Sprint using installment plans. If a person has financed their phone using something like Sprint Easy Pay, Sprint Lease, or IPhone Forever, they will need to have paid off the phone in its entirety. There should be no payments left for the device.
In a similar vein, the account that that a person has with Sprint should be in good standing. Sprint requires that the phone has been active on a Sprint plan for at least 50 days before they will allow it to be unlocked.
How To Unlock a Sprint Phone by IMEI
You can also use the tool below to unlock your Sprint phone using the IMEI code through our partner, DoctorSIM.
Unlock My Sprint Iphone 6 Plus
What Is Needed to Request a Sprint Phone Unlock?
Start by contacting a Sprint Customer Care representative. Talk to them about domestic unlocking or Sprint Worldwide Care if the intention is to unlock a phone internationally or if it is for a military unlock.
The first thing they are going to ask you for is the account number that is connected to the phone that will be unlocked. The account holder’s name will also be needed. The password for the account or the last four digits of the social security number of the account holder will be needed as well.
Next, a person will be asked to provide the IMEI or the MEID for the device. This is usually found under the battery cover. On some phones it can be found by dialing *#06#. The phone number of the device will be requested. Deployment papers will be asked for if the unlock is for military deployment.
Sprint Iphone 6 Lease Agreement
Unlock a Phone for International Travel as a Civilian or Military Personnel
If a person is looking to travel internationally either as a civilian or as military personnel, it’s a little easier to get a phone unlocked for use overseas. A person simply needs to show that they are a Sprint customer who is the owner of the account or they are authorized to make adjustments. The phone needs to be active on a Sprint account, and it should have been used for at least 90 days. All of the payments must be up-to-date. A person could not have unlocked another phone or device within the last 12 months.
Unlock My Sprint Iphone 6 Plus
It is good to note that just because a phone is unlocked internationally does not mean that it is unlocked domestically. A person will need to request a second unlock if they choose to use their device with a US carrier.