Guides · Your device · Updated May 2026
Lock and key — what is an unlocked cell phone?
If you want to use an Israeli SIM card or a non-US eSIM in Israel, your phone has to be unlocked first. Most phones bought from US carriers aren't. Here's how to fix that.
What "locked" actually means
When you buy a phone from a US carrier — AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, or anyone else — that phone is almost always programmed to only work with that carrier's SIM cards. Insert a SIM from a different carrier and the phone refuses to connect. This is called being "locked."
Carriers do this to protect themselves financially. If they gave you a $1,000 iPhone for $0 down and 24 monthly payments, they want to make sure you stay on their network long enough to pay it off. The lock is their insurance policy.
An unlocked phone has no such restriction. It will accept a SIM from any carrier, anywhere in the world — including Israeli carriers like Cellcom, Partner, Hot Mobile, and Pelephone.
Why this matters for Israel
Whether you're getting a physical Israeli SIM card at the airport, purchasing an Airalo eSIM with a local number, or using any non-US provider, your phone needs to be unlocked first. A locked phone will simply not connect, no matter how valid the SIM or eSIM is.
How to check if your phone is unlocked
On iPhone
Go to Settings → General → About and scroll down to Carrier Lock. If it says "No SIM restrictions," your phone is unlocked. If it names a specific carrier, it's locked to that carrier.
On Android
The path varies by manufacturer. On most Android phones: Settings → Connections → Mobile Networks → Network Operators — if you can search for and select networks other than your carrier, the phone is unlocked. On Samsung specifically, you can also check Settings → General Management → SIM card manager.
The easiest test
If you have access to a SIM card from a different carrier, put it in. If the phone connects and shows signal, it's unlocked. If it shows "SIM not supported" or "Invalid SIM," it's locked.
How to unlock it — by carrier
The good news: US carriers are required by law to unlock phones upon request, as long as certain conditions are met. The conditions vary by carrier.
| Carrier | Requirements to unlock | How to request |
|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | Account active for 40+ days; device fully paid off (or no installment plan) | Call 611, online account portal, or T-Mobile store |
| AT&T | Account in good standing; device paid in full; typically 60 days on the network | AT&T unlock request page online |
| Verizon | Verizon devices sold after 2015 are unlocked by default — no action needed | Usually nothing required; call Verizon if in doubt |
| US Cellular / regional carriers | Varies — call your carrier directly | Call customer service |
The key variable across all carriers is whether the device is fully paid off. If your kid's phone is on an installment plan, some carriers will unlock it anyway (Verizon, some T-Mobile plans), while others require the balance to be paid first. It's worth calling to ask — the answer often depends on how long you've been a customer and the specific promotion the phone was purchased under.
Does this apply to eSIMs too?
Yes. An eSIM is just a SIM card built into the phone rather than a removable chip — but the lock applies to both. A phone locked to AT&T will reject an Airalo eSIM just as surely as it rejects a physical T-Mobile SIM card.
Before purchasing any eSIM for Israel — including the Airalo plans we recommend — confirm that your phone is unlocked. The eSIM purchase itself is the easy part; the unlock is the prerequisite.
Buying unlocked from the start
If you're buying a new phone before a gap year or long trip, buying unlocked outright is the simplest path. You pay full price upfront, but you own the phone free and clear with no carrier restrictions.
- Apple Store — iPhones purchased directly from Apple (not through a carrier) are sold unlocked. Make sure to select "Unlocked" when configuring — the carrier-financing options ship locked.
- Best Buy, Amazon, B&H — carry unlocked versions of most major Android and iPhone models; look for "factory unlocked" in the listing.
- Google Pixel phones bought directly from Google are unlocked by default.
An unlocked phone bought outright can use any SIM in any country for its entire life — no phone calls to carriers, no waiting periods, no installment plan complications.