Further types of iPhone unlocking
The network lock on your iPhone 16 is an important lock to remove. But there are other types of locks you might encounter when using your phone. Here’s a guide to solving the most common phone locking problems.
How can I unlock iPhone 16 Max without passcode?
The good news is, you can unlock your iPhone 16 without knowing the passcode or Face ID, even if it's been disabled. If you want to avoid a factory reset or go into recovery mode, the best method is to use an online, third-party service which will keep your data and settings stay safe and in place.
Learn more about iPhone carrier unlock services provided by Mobile Unlocked.
Here’s how it works:
Step 2.
Select unlocking mode: Screen lock.
Other options include: Apple ID, MDM, Screen Time passcode.
Step 3.
Connect device.
Use a USB cable to connect your phone to a PC or laptop.
Step 4.
Click ‘Remove lock’.
Your unlock will take place immediately and be complete in seconds.
How to use your new SIM card to check if your iPhone 16 Max is unlocked
Most subsidized phones, bought through prepaid contracts, will be locked to the carrier who issued the contract. If it’s locked you’ll only be able to use the SIM card provided by the network you bought your phone from. If it’s unlocked you can insert and use a SIM card from another provider. Learn more of the technical aspects on the Apple website.
So a good test to see if your iPhone 16 Max is locked or unlocked is to try and try and use a SIM card from a network other than the one it was originally registered to. If it has a signal and you can call or text, it’s unlocked. If it doesn’t have a signal and you receive the message 'Sim card from a different network' or 'Incorrect sim card inserted', the device is locked.
If you can get into the phone, another way of checking is in your ‘About phone’ settings menu.
How to find out more about your iPhone 16
Take a look the latest online service from Mobile Unlocked - How to unlock a disabled iPhone
If you've been given an iPhone Max 16 or bought one secondhand, chances are there’s information about the device you won’t know anything about. This could include:
- The network it’s linked to
- Whether or not the ‘Find My’ function is active
- If it’s new, refurbished or replacement
- The purchase history of the device (outstanding bills or unpaid credit)
- The status of the device (has the phone been blacklisted, or registered as lost or stolen)
- The passcode
As a new owner, you’ll want answers to all of these. So here’s our guide to help find the information you need.
Don’t know the network?
What mobile provider is your phone’s signal coming from? If you’re planning on using your existing SIM card in a phone that previously belonged to someone else, there’s no guarantee it will work. Given the number of mobile networks available, there’s a high chance of a mismatch. Find out before you buy using an online carrier check. And get the answer you need in seconds.
Want to check iCloud status, including the ‘Find My’ app?
A feature of the iPhone 16 Max, the ‘Find My’ app tracks your devices. It allows you to perform an activation lock to stop other people from using your iPhone 16 max. And it gives you the power to erase all of the data on the phone if it falls into the wrong hands.
All of these are useful security features. But if you’ve bought a phone secondhand with these settings still in place, it means you won’t be able to use it (unless you know the previous owner’s iCloud email and password, which you’re unlikely to have).
You can do this online using your IMEI number.
If you’ve already made the purchase you can simply reset the Apple ID and erase the settings. Our software deletes locked or disabled accounts to resume access to all Apple services in seconds. Phone reset, just create a different ID or log into an existing one.
Need to know if the phone is new, refurbished or a manufacturer’s replacement?
A phone’s value will differ depending on its heritage. But you can’t tell its history simply by looking at it. A smartphone may look as good as new, but if you’re buying it from a private dealer it’s impossible to know. Before you invest, make sure you’re paying what its back story warrants. Run a device replacement check and only pay what it's worth.
Is my iPhone 16 Max “clean” and legitimately mine to use as I want?
If a phone’s been reported as lost, stolen or detected to be involved in fraudulent activity, its IMEI is added to a shared database of blacklisted devices. This database is used by most network providers. Network providers will not provide a service to blacklisted devices. So, if your device is registered as blacklisted it’s unlikely you’ll be able to use it to make calls, send text messages or connect to the internet.
Check this out before you commit by using a blacklist check.
Does my iPhone 16 Max come with financial “baggage”?
FED stands for financial eligibility date. This is the date when a phone stops having a financial obligation to its contracted carrier or provider. After this date has expired the phone can be legitimately transferred over to another carrier. Before this date, it’s considered still in contract. And it may come with unpaid bills and a history of bad credit. Phones like these will also be included on a blacklist and won’t function properly. A blacklist check will pick this up too.
I don’t know the passcode for my iPhone 16 Max
If yours is a secondhand iPhone 16 Max, the previous owner’s passcode, Apple ID and Face ID may still be active. And preventing you from logging on oraccessing any iCloud apps or features. If it’s a new phone, there’s also the chance you’ve simply forgotten your passcode.
An Apple ID reset will solve the iCloud login issue. But you need a different approach to get past the screen lock stage.
