How do I check if my phone is locked?

To bring your phone to Q Link Wireless, it’s essential that you first ‘unlock’ your phone prior to activating it. We operate using GSM Technology. You might be wondering, what is a ‘locked’ phone? And should you find yourself in possession of a locked phone, what steps should you take to unlock it?

Continue reading , and we’ll lead you step-by-step through the process of unlocking your phone.

What does it mean when we say a phone is "Locked/Restricted"?

A locked phone refers to a phone that is tied or ‘locked’ to a specific carrier’s network. This means that your phone can only be used with that carrier’s SIM card and services. This restriction is often due to a code that’s put on the phone by your previous carrier. This code needs to be ‘unlocked’ or removed for your phone to be used on our network.

Checking whether your phone is locked or unlocked is easy. Here's how you can do it for both iPhone and Android:

For iPhone:

Check in Settings: Go to Settings > General > About. Scroll down to the bottom to find the “Carrier Lock” status. If it says, “No SIM restrictions,” then your iPhone is unlocked. However, not all iPhones have this feature.
Insert your Q Link SIM card: Another way to check is by inserting your new Q Link SIM card. If you can make a call using the new SIM card, then your iPhone is unlocked. If not, or if you see an error message like “SIM Not Valid” or “Invalid SIM,” your iPhone is likely locked.

For Android:

Insert your Q Link SIM card: The quickest way to check if your Android phone is unlocked is by inserting your new Q Link SIM Card. Power off your phone, replace your existing SIM card with the new Q Link SIM Card and then power your phone back on. If you can make a call using the new SIM card, then your phone is unlocked. If not, or if you see a message like “Invalid SIM,” your phone is likely locked.
Check in Network Settings: On some Android phones, you can check in the Network Settings. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Network > Advanced > Network Unlock. However, not all Android phones have this feature.

Remember, when in doubt, you can always contact your previous service provider, and they can tell you whether your phone is locked or unlocked.