What is a "Carriers Lock Phones"? The Most Authoritative Explanation.

What is a carrier-locked phone?

Simply put, a carrier-locked phone can only access one carrier's network. If you purchased your phone directly from a carrier store, there's a good chance it's locked to that carrier. If you got your phone from a site like Amazon or Best Buy that listed it as an unlocked version, you can use it on any supported network.

Do you need a carrier to unlock your phone?

We'll cover how the big four carriers in the U.S. -- AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon -- handle unlock requests. Before we get to the carriers, however, you should check to see if your phone is locked. You may not need to request your carrier to unlock your phone. Verizon, for example, largely sells unlocked phones.

Why do carriers 'lock' phones?

Carriers "lock" phones to make them only function on that carrier's network. For example, let's say you walk into AT&T and pick up any smartphone on contract. That phone then functions on AT&T's network, but if you try to place a T-Mobile SIM card into the phone and switch to T-Mobile's network, the phone will reject the T-Mobile SIM card.

Does a carrier-locked phone unlock a bootloader?

Nor is it related to unlocking your phone's bootloader, a step you take when rooting your device or flashing a custom ROM. Simply put, a carrier-locked phone can only access one carrier's network. If you purchased your phone directly from a carrier store, there's a good chance it's locked to that carrier.