To unlock your iPhone, it is imperative to contact your current mobile operator. However, the unlocking procedure is not always the same for all models. Details.
Need to unlock your iPhone? The first thing to know is that the unlocking procedure is slightly longer than for other smartphones. To do this, you must ask your operator for help, whether it is Bouygues Telecom, Orange, SFR, Virgin Mobile or another operator. Discover with this guide the procedure to follow for the unlocking of your Apple device. We detail the different procedures that apply to different iPhone models.
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iPhone blocked: why?
Freezing of an iPhone can occur for various reasons:
- Excessive memory usage
An iPhone can crash due to excessive memory usage by the device, when the apps made available are constantly being updated. This is because the device lags behind the updates of the pre-installed apps. This thus makes excessive use of resources by the applications, leading to the blocking of the device.
To reactivate it, you need to force restart your locked iPhone. Do not panic ! This step will not cause you to lose your data.
- Lock code error
Entering the wrong lock code several times in a row can also cause your iPhone to get stuck. To turn it back on, you need to put the device into recovery mode and unlock it through iTunes. It is advised to backup iPhone very frequently to avoid losing your data.
Unlocking iPhone: what eligibility criteria?
According to ARCEP, any user has the right to ask his operator, and him alone, to unlock his iPhone at any time. Two scenarios are possible:
The procedure for unlocking an iPhone is free following 6 months following the subscription date. After this period, all operators offer their customers the possibility of unlocking their blocked devices free of charge and without delay. Operators who are members of the FFT (French Telecoms Federation) such as Orange, Bouygues Telecom and SFR allow free unlocking following 3 months.
iPhones sold under open-ended contracts are not eligible to be unlocked. In this case, the operator authorizes its unblocking without delay. The unlocking procedure before the required 3 or 6 months will have to be invoiced by the operator.
- Unlock your iPhone by changing operator
If you change carriers, only your current carrier can unlock your iPhone. The process involves four main steps:
As a first step, you must contact your operator to ask them to unlock your terminal. Provide him with your IMEI code so that he can identify your device. You can get it by dialing *#06#, or by digging through your iPhone purchase receipt or original packaging.
Once your iPhone has been confirmed unlocked by your mobile operator, remove the old SIM card and insert the new SIM card provided by your new operator.
- Unlock your iPhone without changing operator
Even if you do not change mobile operator, you have the right to ask your current operator to unlock your smartphone. All you have to do is make an unlock request and obtain an unlock confirmation from your operator. Back up your data before resetting your iPhone (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset), Then restore the data saved in your device, from the backup made.
- Unlock your iPhone by freeing up RAM memory
Unlocking RAM memory is another method of unlocking your iPhone. A full RAM memory causes the device to slow down and therefore to freeze. By freeing up RAM, it recovers a small percentage of your iPhone’s responsiveness. To do this, simply turn on the device, unlock the screen, and press and hold the power button until the lever that says Scroll to power off appears. Release the power button. Hold down the Home button. When the home screen is displayed in front of you, it tells you that your iPhone RAM is freed up.
The approach is slightly different on iPhone X and later models. These devices do not include a home button. So, to unlock your iPhone, you need to go to Settings. Select Accessibility, click on Touch and then on Assistive Touch. Activate it by setting the switch to ON. Return to the General panel. Click Disable, then AssistiveTouch. Press and hold the Home button that appears on the screen. When the home screen appears, it tells you that your iPhone’s RAM has been cleared.
- Unlock iPhone from Start Screen with iTunes
To unlock your iPhone that is stuck on boot screen, it is imperative to use iTunes. Use a Lightning cable to connect your smartphone to the computer. Wait for iTunes to start. Then put your iPhone into recovery mode.
- If you have an iPhone of a model before 6s and 6s Plus, press the Power button and the Home button simultaneously for a few seconds.
- If you have an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus, press and hold the power and volume down buttons for a few seconds.
- If you have an iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, or later, press and hold the volume up button and quickly press volume down. Then press the power button for a few seconds.
Put your iPhone into recovery mode. You will see the iTunes icon on the device screen and an iTunes warning message on your computer screen. You have the freedom to choose “Update” option for resetting iOS without losing data. The Restore option allows you to return your iPhone to its original state losing all your data. So make sure that you have a recent backup of your iPhone files and data before proceeding with the restore.
