An eSIM card is a digital connectivity solution that helps travelers access flexible connectivity throughout the world. But if your phone is locked, you might be concerned about whether I use an eSIM on a locked phone.
For a short instance, the answer is No. But you might want to know what is a locked phone, and how do you know it's locked or not?
In this article, I will discuss what does locked phone means and does eSIM works on locked devices.
What does a locked phone refer to?
Locked devices mean that your device is restricted to use a specific network. It generally happens when you purchase the device under a contract or installment plan. Let's learn with an example for better understanding.
If you buy the device from T-Mobile or any other carrier, your device can only use the carrier network and is locked for others. You can confirm your Android or iPhone carrier lock from the settings app.
If it is locked, you can contact your carrier and request that it unlock the device. The carrier might ask you to pay some money to unlock your phone.
Can you use eSIM on a locked phone?
You can use eSIM on the locked device, but under lots of specific conditions. With a lock, you can only use the carrier network to which your device is locked. Even if your device supports eSIM, you can not activate an embedded SIM from the other carrier in a restricted device.
You will rely on the compatible provider for your locked phone for the local and international data plans. You can switch these plans and stay connected during travel, but still face many data limitations in different regions.
How do locked devices with eSIM work during international travel?
To avoid international roaming, relying on an eSIM card is the ideal option. But traveling with the eSIM carrier-locked device, you may face multiple connectivity limitations. Sometimes you need a variant network while traveling in a different region.
You can’t enjoy the complete benefits of the digital SIM card. You can unlock your device or purchase another compatible device to avoid the limited connectivity issues.
How to check if your device is carrier-locked?
You can check the carrier lock of your Android and iPhone using the following method.
Check Carrier Lock from Device Settings
iPhone
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone device.
- Move to the General and About section.
- Scroll down to check the Carrier Lock or Network Provider Lock.
- If the carrier name is mentioned here, your iPhone is under a contract.
Google Pixel
- Go to the Settings of your device.
- Move to the Network & Internet.
- Turn off the Automatically Select Network.
- If the carrier name is shown, your device is locked.
Samsung Galaxy
- Open the Settings app.
- Move to Connection and Network Connection.
- Click on the Network Operator and turn off Automatically Select Network.
If the carrier name is displayed, your Samsung device is locked.
Check the Carrier Lock: Inserting the SIM Card
Insert the other carrier SIM card in your Android or iPhone device. If your device shows SIM Not Support or an invalid SIM option, it means your device is locked with a specific carrier.
Contact Your Phone Carrier
You can contact your phone carrier to confirm whether your device is locked or unlocked. If it is locked, request your carrier to unlock the device.
How to use an eSIM on a locked phone?
There is only one way to use the eSIM in a locked iPhone or Android device. Stick to the same carrier to use the eSIM. The alternative is to ask your carrier for the unlock.
Stick to the eSIM of the Same Carrier
If you stick to the same carrier your device is locked with, you can use an eSIM in the locked device. You cannot purchase the plans of other carriers like Defy Mobile, Airalo, Holafly, or eSIM Card. Buy the local or international plans from the same carrier.
After purchasing the eSIM, ask your carrier about the activation details, like QR code and SM-DP+ address. With QR code scanning, you can activate eSIM in your iPhone and Android device in a few minutes. Now you can stay connected throughout your destination with roaming.
Request to Unlock Your Device
The other alternative is to request that your carrier cancel the contract or unlock your phone.
Conclusion
You can use eSIM with a carrier-locked phone. But only the one that your carrier offers. You can buy the international network plans of the same carrier with which your device is locked. Unfortunately, locked devices only allow to use of the provider's network.
To avoid this condition, you can request your carrier to unlock the phone or buy a new eSIM-compatible device that is carrier-unlocked. Is your device unlocked? In the article, I have discussed the steps to check whether your device is locked or not.
FAQs
Can a dual-SIM phone be carrier-locked?
Yes, a dual SIM device can be carrier locked. In a dual SIM device, you can use two different numbers of eSIM or Nano-SIM. But these can be restricted to the specific carrier.
Does an iPhone need to be unlocked for an eSIM?
It's better to unlock your iPhone. But you can use the same carrier's eSIM with which your iPhone is locked.
