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iPhone purchased in Europe, now locked in United States

I purchased a new iPhone 13 mini from an Apple Store in Spain after mine was pick-pocketed on vacation. I used a Vodafone temporary SIM card for the duration of my trip before returning home to the United States. Now that I am home, my carrier is saying that my iPhone is locked and their eSIM is not compatible with it until I get my iPhone unlocked. Is this true? And if so, how do I unlock it? Should I just go to my nearest Apple Store?


iPhone 13 mini, iOS 16

Posted on Mar 21, 2023 10:24 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 21, 2023 10:46 AM

Unfortunately, your newly-purchased phone was apparently locked by the Spanish carrier’s network.


ONLY that carrier can unlock it to operate on other networks; although there’s not necessarily anything compelling them to do so.


This is NOT just a “European thing” … U.S. carriers follow the same practice.


Apple can’t override this feature.


See more detail here:


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






5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 21, 2023 10:46 AM in response to Kenn-Bone

Unfortunately, your newly-purchased phone was apparently locked by the Spanish carrier’s network.


ONLY that carrier can unlock it to operate on other networks; although there’s not necessarily anything compelling them to do so.


This is NOT just a “European thing” … U.S. carriers follow the same practice.


Apple can’t override this feature.


See more detail here:


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






iPhone purchased in Europe, now locked in United States

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