Unlock US Cellular SIM Card – United States Cellular Corporation, known as US Cellular, is the fourth-largest mobile network operator in the United States, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
The company provides a varied range of affordable cell phone plans, flexible internet service, business plans, and an extensive selection of mobile devices.
If you are one of the subscribers of US Cellular, this post might appeal to you. This article will help you with unlock process of a US Cellular SIM card along with other essential information.
So, without any further ado, let’s get started –
Are US Cellular SIM Cards Locked, and Is It Possible to Unlock?
When you purchase a US Cellular plan or phone, you receive a US Cellular SIM card at your residence via mail or eSiM via email. In both cases, the company sends the directory on inserting the physical SIM card in your phone or installing the eSIM card accurately to use your US Cellular plan.
All providers, including US Cellular, sell locked SIM cards to their customers so that the customers use only their network. Since it is locked, you cannot use your US Cellular SIM card on any other device. The primary goal of selling locked SIM cards is to tie your phone with the US Cellular plan to prevent your device from operating on another provider’s network.
The other important thing to consider is that it is impossible to unlock a US Cellular SIM card. However, it is possible to unlock US Cellular mobile devices.
Reasons to Unlock Your US Cellular SIM Card
There can be so many reasons people would like to unlock their US Cellular SIM card.
Below, we have covered some of the best ones –
- You want to switch your carrier from US Cellular to some other provider.
- You wish to use the US Cellular SIM card with another carrier’s device.
- You wish to use another wireless carrier’s SIM card with your US Cellular device.
How to Unlock US Cellular SIM Card
Though unlocking your SIM card is essential for multiple reasons, unfortunately, as mentioned above, you can not unlock your US Cellular SIM card.
However, you use your US Cellular SIM card with another provider’s phone and also unlock the US Cellular phone to use it with another provider’s SIM card.
Use your US Cellular SIM Card with another Provider’s Phone
Many wireless companies offer to Bring Your Own Device facility to enable you to bring your phone from another provider. However, there are certain necessary conditions that must be met to use the BYOD service. US Cellular also offers BYOD service, meaning you can use your US Cellular SIM card on your current phone.
The US Cellular SIM card will connect your device from another provider to the US Cellular network and allow you access to US Cellular plans.
Follow the instructions below to bring another carrier’s phone to US Cellular and use a US Cellular SIM card –
First, check these prerequisites to bring your phone to US Cellular.
Your device must be unlocked
You must ensure that the other provider’s phone that you are bringing to US Cellular is carrier-unlocked. You cannot bring your locked phones to US Cellular. If you are unsure whether your phone is unlocked, contact your previous carrier from where you purchased your device.
Your phone must be compatible with US Cellular
Once you ensure your phone is unlocked, the second thing you must check is that the phone you are bringing is compatible with the US Cellular’s network.
Follow the steps below to check your device’s compatibility with US Cellular –
- Visit this link – uscellular.com/phones/bring-your-own-device
- Enter your phone’s IMEI number.
- Scroll down and click on “Get Started.”
- You will be redirected to a page where you need to enter your phone’s IMEI number.
- Enter your device IMEI number.
- Click on the “Check Compatibility” icon.
You will instantly learn about your phone’s compatibility with the US Cellular network.
Once you check that your device is unlocked and compatible with US Cellular, you can purchase a new US Cellular SIM card online or by visiting the nearest store.
To bring another device to the US Cellular network, contact the company’s customer support at 888-944-9400 or visit a store near you. You can now use US Cellular’s network on another provider’s phone with a US Cellular SIM Card inserted in it.
Unlock Your US Cellular Phone to Take it to Another Service Provider
If you want to change your carrier from US Cellular to another, you can do that too.
This also includes a BYOD service from another carrier where you take your US Cellular phone to another service provider. To do this, you must unlock your US Cellular phone to be able to use the new provider’s service.
US Cellular phones are locked when you purchase them. Although the company unlocks your phone upon request, you must meet their requirements to unlock a US Cellular device. Your US Cellular phone may not be unlocked if it is too old or fails to meet the eligibility.
As per US Cellular unlocking policy, your US Cellular phone must qualify for these eligibilities to get unlocked –
- You must have purchased your US Cellular phone directly from US Cellular or any authorized reseller.
- Your phone was locked on US Cellular’s network for at least 120 days.
- You have paid off your phone bill in full.
- Your account must be in good standing.
- Your phone is not reported to link with any fraudulent activity.
If you meet the above conditions, US Cellular will automatically unlock your phone after the unlocking period of 120 days is over.
However, if your phone isn’t unlocked automatically after the unlock period, you can contact US Cellular customer support service.
Now, to take your unlocked US Cellular phone to another provider, you must check your unlocked phone’s compatibility with your new preferred provider’s network. You may check your new provider’s BYOD policy to take your unlocked US Cellular phone to their network successfully.
Conclusion
As we have discussed so far that it is impossible to unlock SIM cards, you cannot Unlock US Cellular SIM cards. However, you can use US cellular SIM cards in another provider’s phone to use US Cellular services without any issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I activate my unlocked US Cellular phone?
You can call 800-766-9811 to get help activating your unlocked US Cellular phone. For this, you will need the phone number you want to activate US Cellular phone and the PIN for this number.
Why is my SIM Card locked by the carrier?
Your SIM Card is locked to the original carrier, meaning you can use a particular SIM card with a particular carrier’s phone only.
How do I know if my phone is locked or unlocked?
The best way to check whether a phone is locked is to take the SIM card out and put it in from another network. If it can make calls or connect to the internet, it means your phone is unlocked.
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