How can I bypass iPhone 12 mini SIM lock when the carrier is unknown?

How do I bypass sim lock? I don’t know who the carrier is and apple said they don’t know. I tried an online service to unlock it and they stole my money and now I don’t know what to do. iPhone 12 mini



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iPhone 11 Pro Max, iOS 18

Posted on Apr 19, 2025 02:26 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Apr 19, 2025 02:45 PM

Hello~ Any help clicking on below?


How to unlock your iPhone for use with a different carrier - Apple Support


You have contacted your carrier?


~Katana-San~

11 replies

Apr 21, 2025 08:16 AM in response to Cd5152

Cd5152 wrote:

I don’t know what carrier the phone is for.


You do not know the carrier, and Apple does not have that information.


Even if you do have that carrier info, the carrier may well choose to refuse to deal with you, and that refusal for any of various valid reasons.


The sale was also from a seller that has apparently disappeared. This because you’d otherwise be asking the seller for resolution or a refund.


This means you have purchased an expensive brick; that you got scammed.


These sorts of sales can have other blocks as well, including Activation Lock, and a blacklisted IMEI.


The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying a used iPad/iPhone - Apple Community


Apr 21, 2025 02:51 PM in response to Cd5152

Purchasing on Facebook Marketplace without any way to return the device is the first mistake. Facebook certainly is not interested in protecting your purchase or facilitate any refunds. Paying for an IMEI check is the second mistake. Any such service is unreliable at best and in the worst case a total scam. And finally a service the claims it can bypass an IMEI Lock or even the Activation Lock is just going to take your money. That would defeat the whole purpose of having a lock in the first place.


While this Support Article has already been posted many times, the contents cannot be ignored. NEVER buy a used device with no way to return it for a refund. Just that simple rule will prevent any chance that you will be scammed. I understand new devices are expensive, although the iPhone 16e is sold for $599, there are also refurbished devices that Apple sells where you will not run into this problem and refurbished devices will have a new battery. An iPhone 12 is likely going to need a new battery, so you would need to tack $89 on the price you paid even if it was usable. I truly am sorry you had to find this out after the purchase was already made.

The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community

Apr 21, 2025 02:46 PM in response to Cd5152

I'm sorry, but it has already been noted that the phone is useless to you. This fact will not change.


Even if it is locked to Xfinity, they will not unlock the phone for you. Carriers will only unlock the phone if you are the customer who set up service on the phone.


Try for a refund from Facebook Marketplace. If no luck there, you might as well drop the phone off at the recycling center and cut your losses.



Apr 19, 2025 03:15 PM in response to Cd5152

Your only option is to return the device. Even if you were able to determine the cellular provider it is not likely they will help you. You will not be able to determine if the account holder of the cellular service has met their obligations to even have the phone unlocked and they will not provide that information to you.

The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community

Apr 21, 2025 02:13 PM in response to Katana-San

I purchased it on Facebook marketplace. It has been factory reset and doesn’t have any issues other then it is sim locked but it doesn’t say yo what carrier. I paid for an imei check and it said it was clean and it was an xfinity phone. But when I contacted xfinity they said they didn’t have any information about it. So I tried to use directunlock.com and they scammed me.

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How can I bypass iPhone 12 mini SIM lock when the carrier is unknown?

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