{"id":14531,"date":"2022-06-06T10:56:04","date_gmt":"2022-06-06T00:56:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/?p=14531"},"modified":"2025-02-26T10:44:06","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T23:44:06","slug":"check-phone-unlocked-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/check-phone-unlocked-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"How do I check if my phone is unlocked in Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to check if your phone is unlocked<\/span><\/h1>\n

Luckily for Aussies, many mobile phones that are sold through telcos these days are unlocked. An unlocked phone can save a lot of hassle down the track if you ever want to change your plan by switching mobile carriers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maybe you want to sign up with MATE for a <\/span>SIM-only mobile plan<\/span><\/a> with unlimited talk & text, no contracts and other great perks? <\/span>But how can you find out if your <\/span>phone is unlocked in Australia?<\/span> If it isn\u2019t, how do you get it unlocked? In this guide, we take you through the long and short of unlocked and locked phones \u2014 regardless of whether they\u2019re prepaid or postpaid phones.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We also show you how to unlock your phone if you need to switch providers and whether there may be an unlocking fee.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a \u2018locked\u2019 mobile device?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you have a locked phone, this means that it\u2019s tied to a particular mobile network carrier (typically Telstra, Optus or Vodafone in Australia). As such, only a SIM card provided by that particular carrier will work with that specific phone. This essentially prevents you from freely opting into other plans with other telcos, as you could do if you had an unlocked phone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Which mobile phones are locked and which ones aren\u2019t, including prepaid phones?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not all phones are locked to a carrier. Before switching networks, use the table below to <\/span>check your phone unlock status.\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Phone Type<\/th>\nLocked or Unlocked?<\/th>\nDetails<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Postpaid Phones (Newer Models)<\/td>\n\u2705 Unlocked<\/td>\nMost phones sold by major Aussie telcos today are unlocked.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Postpaid Phones (Older Models, 2013-2015)<\/td>\n\u274c Locked<\/td>\nOlder models may still be locked to a carrier.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Prepaid Phones (Any Year)<\/td>\n\u274c Locked<\/td>\nMost prepaid phones are locked to the carrier they were purchased from.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Outright Purchased Phones<\/td>\n\u2705 Unlocked<\/td>\nPhones bought outright from Apple, Samsung, JB Hi-Fi, etc., are unlocked.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Refurbished or Second-Hand Phones<\/td>\n\ud83d\udd04 Varies<\/td>\nSome are unlocked, but it\u2019s best to check before switching networks.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\"Man<\/p>\n

Is your phone unlocked?<\/b> Here\u2019s how to check<\/b><\/h2>\n

Want to <\/span>check your phone unlock status? <\/span>Follow these simple steps:<\/span><\/p>\n

Method 1: Contact Your Provider<\/b><\/h3>\n