Carrier cannot unlock my ipad

I purchased 2 10th gen ipads in 2022 for my kids. They have cellular. I purchased in full from an att store and put them on my plan. I set up applecare for both. My daughter was more careful and did not need hers replaced. My son had his replaced in 2024, and just a few days ago. I recently decided to switch from att to mint mobile because att charged too much and the price kept creeping up. I was able to unlock my daughter's ipad on the att site, and activated a new esim on that device with relatively no trouble. My son’s is another story. The esim will not activate because att has it locked. They told me I had to wait another 180 days, which makes no sense because I fully purchased this ipad 4 years ago, and have been no help. I went into an att store and they were a little more helpful, but it is still locked, I will see if they can get it. The two old ipads are on the apple care avcount. Should I remove these? Could this be the issue? They are the 2 on the bottom. These were returned to apple, and I assume destroyed or refurbished and resold, but likely destroyed.



[Edited by Moderator]

Posted on Aug 29, 2025 06:58 PM

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8 replies

Aug 29, 2025 07:11 PM in response to mounttaineer

Your son’s iPad is still locked because when Apple replaced it under AppleCare in 2024, the new device came with a different IMEI that AT&T’s system treats as a “new” iPad, triggering their 180-day lock policy, even though you fully paid for the original device in 2022. This issue has nothing to do with AppleCare, so removing the old iPads from your account won’t help. The solution is to escalate with AT&T’s Device Unlock Support (not just regular customer care), provide proof of your original purchase along with Apple’s replacement paperwork showing the new IMEI, and request a manual override. If AT&T refuses, contact AppleCare to provide supporting documentation and, as a last resort, file an FCC complaint, which usually forces AT&T to unlock devices that are fully paid off.

Carrier cannot unlock my ipad

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