Depending on the SIM card to be used in the smartphone, it is worth checking before purchase whether the mobile has a so-called SIM lock or not. In this article we explain what is hidden in the acronym, how you can tell if your smartphone has a SIM lock and how you can remove it if necessary.
- What does SIM lock mean?
- Does my smartphone have a SIM lock?
- Remove SIM lock
- SIM lock vs. Netlock
What does SIM lock mean?
The abbreviation SIM stands for “Subscriber Identity Module “. A SIM locked device is a mobile phone with a locked SIM card. The blocking can refer to a specific mobile phone provider or a specific mobile phone network .
Mobile phones that have a SIM lock are usually cheaper when purchased, because as a result of the purchase only SIM cards from a specific mobile provider can be inserted into the mobile phone. If your mobile does not have a SIM lock, you are not tied to a specific provider and you can insert any SIM card . Therefore, the SIM lock used to exist mainly in prepaid mobile phones. In case you need a lock-free smartphone, you should go for one without SIM lock. There is also strong criticism of SIM lock: for example, the British regulator wants to ban it in the future.
Does my smartphone have a SIM lock?
Follow our step-by-step guide to check if your phone has a SIM lock. The instructions were carried out on an iPhone, but they work just as well on Android devices.
Note: Please try to insert a foreign SIM card into your phone first. If it is not recognized, your device has a SIM lock.
Remove SIM lock
SIM lock removal varies from provider to provider and may also be related to the period of use of the smartphone . Therefore, before buying a device, think carefully whether the SIM lock must be present or not. After about two years , it is possible to remove the SIM lock with most carriers.
SIM lock vs. network lock
SIM lock and network lock are often confused with each other. However, if your smartphone has Netlock, there are a few options to switch carriers. While you cannot insert foreign SIM cards into a SIM locked device, with Netlock you can use SIM cards from other providers on the same mobile network . For example, if you buy a mobile phone from Vodafone, you can also insert SIM cards from providers such as Edeka Mobil or Fyve into your mobile phone, as they also use the Vodafone network.