Complete guide · June 2026
How to unlock an iPhone — every method, step by step.
Carrier locked to Telstra? Forgotten your passcode? Bought a secondhand iPhone with iCloud Activation Lock? This guide covers every legitimate way to unlock an iPhone in Australia — official methods first, third-party tools when official methods fail.
This guide is for legitimate iPhone owners only. Unlocking a device you don't own is a criminal offence under the Criminal Code Act 1995.
1. Carrier / network unlock (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone)
What it is: Your iPhone works but only with one carrier's SIM. You want to switch carriers or use an international SIM while travelling. This is the most common and easiest unlock.
How to check: Go to Settings → General → About → look for "Carrier Lock." If it says "SIM locked" or shows a specific carrier, it's locked. If it says "No SIM restrictions," it's already unlocked.
Telstra — how to unlock
If the phone is fully paid off: Call 132 200 or use the My Telstra app → select your device → request network unlock. Telstra must process the unlock within 3 business days (ACMA regulation). Free of charge. If still on a payment plan: You'll need to pay the remaining device balance first, then request the unlock. Prepaid phones: Telstra unlocks prepaid phones after they've been active on the Telstra network for 12 months. Before 12 months, you can pay the remaining difference to unlock early.
Optus — how to unlock
If fully paid off: Call 133 937 or visit an Optus store with your ID. Optus processes unlocks within 2-5 business days. Free of charge. If on a plan: Pay remaining balance first. Optus Prepaid: Must be active for at least 6 months before unlock request is accepted.
Vodafone — how to unlock
If fully paid off: Call 1300 650 410 or visit a Vodafone store. Processed within 3 business days. Free. If on a plan: Pay remaining balance. Note: Since the TPG/Vodafone merger, some older Vodafone-locked phones may need to go through TPG's unlock process.
Overseas carrier unlock (imported phones)
If your iPhone is locked to an overseas carrier (AT&T, T-Mobile, EE, etc.) and you've moved to Australia, you need to contact the original carrier. If that's not possible (you bought it secondhand), a third-party unlock service can generate the unlock code remotely. Typical cost: $15–$40 AUD. Processing time: 1–7 days. Services like DoctorSIM, UnlockBase, and Official iPhone Unlock work for most overseas carriers.
After the carrier unlock: Insert the new carrier's SIM card. Restart the phone. If prompted, connect to Wi-Fi — Apple's activation servers verify the unlock status. The phone should show the new carrier name in the status bar within minutes.
2. Forgotten passcode / disabled iPhone
What it is: You know the phone is yours but you've forgotten the screen passcode, or the phone says "iPhone is disabled, try again in X minutes" after too many wrong attempts.
All methods erase your data
Apple designed iOS so that bypassing the passcode requires a full factory reset. This is intentional — it prevents anyone who finds or steals your phone from accessing your data. If you had iCloud Backup enabled, you can restore your data after the reset. If you didn't, the data is gone.
Method 1: Erase via Find My (easiest — no computer needed)
Requirements: Another Apple device signed into the same Apple ID, OR access to icloud.com/find on a browser. Steps: Open Find My (app or website) → select the locked iPhone → tap "Erase This Device" → confirm. The phone resets to factory settings. After restart, sign in with your Apple ID and restore from iCloud backup if available. Time: 5–15 minutes.
Method 2: Recovery mode via computer (if Find My isn't available)
Requirements: A Mac or Windows PC with the latest Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows). A USB cable. Steps: Connect the iPhone to the computer. Enter recovery mode using the button combination for your model:
• iPhone 8 and newer (including all Face ID models): Quick-press Volume Up, quick-press Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button until the recovery mode screen appears (cable pointing to a computer icon).
• iPhone 7: Hold Volume Down + Side button simultaneously.
• iPhone 6s and older: Hold Home + Side button simultaneously.
Finder/iTunes will detect the phone in recovery mode and offer "Restore" or "Update." Click Restore. This downloads the latest iOS and erases the phone completely. After restore, set up as new or restore from backup. Time: 20–45 minutes (includes iOS download).
Method 3: Security Lockout screen (iOS 15.2+)
On iPhones running iOS 15.2 or later: After multiple failed passcode attempts, the phone shows "Security Lockout" with an "Erase iPhone" button in the bottom-right corner. Tap it, enter your Apple ID password, and the phone erases itself without needing a computer. Requirements: You must know your Apple ID password and the phone must have an internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular).
3. iCloud Activation Lock removal
What it is: The iPhone is linked to a previous owner's Apple ID. After a factory reset, it asks "This iPhone is linked to an Apple ID. Enter the Apple ID and password that were used to set up this iPhone." You can't proceed without the original owner's credentials.
Why it exists: Activation Lock is Apple's anti-theft feature. It makes stolen iPhones useless without the original owner's password. It's genuinely effective — which is why it's genuinely difficult to remove.
Official Method 1: Contact the previous owner (fastest)
Ask the previous owner to remove the device from their Apple ID remotely. They go to icloud.com/find → sign in → select the device → click "Remove from Account." This instantly removes Activation Lock. If they've already removed it from their account, a restart should clear the lock. This is the fastest and most reliable method.
Official Method 2: Contact Apple Support with proof of purchase
If the previous owner is unreachable, Apple can remove Activation Lock if you provide valid proof of purchase showing the device's serial number or IMEI. Acceptable documentation: original retail receipt, eBay/Gumtree transaction record with payment confirmation, invoice with serial number. Process: Contact Apple Support (online or phone) → explain the situation → submit documentation → Apple reviews and removes the lock. Time: 5–14 business days. Cost: Free.
Third-party removal services (when official methods fail)
If Apple can't or won't help (insufficient documentation), third-party services exist that claim to remove Activation Lock. Be extremely cautious: This market is full of scams. Many "unlock services" take your money and deliver nothing. If you use a third-party service, look for: established companies with verifiable reviews (not just testimonials on their own site), money-back guarantee, clear processing timeframes, and payment via PayPal (buyer protection). Typical cost: $30–$80 AUD. We do not endorse any specific third-party iCloud removal service because the reliability varies and the risk of scams is high.
4. MDM (Mobile Device Management) profile removal
What it is: The iPhone was previously managed by a company or school. It has a "Remote Management" screen during setup asking you to enrol in an organisation's management profile. This restricts what you can do with the phone.
Official method: Contact the organisation that originally managed the phone. They can remove the MDM profile remotely using their management console (Jamf, Microsoft Intune, Mosyle, etc.). If you purchased the phone from a company liquidation or IT disposal sale, the sales documentation should include MDM removal as part of the sale.
If the organisation is unresponsive: A factory reset via recovery mode (Method 2 in the passcode section above) sometimes removes MDM profiles — but not always. Some MDM configurations are tied to the device's serial number in Apple Business Manager, meaning they persist through factory resets. In this case, only the organisation can remove it.
Third-party MDM removal: Some services claim to bypass MDM enrolment screens. These work by exploiting iOS setup assistant bugs and may not survive a future iOS update. Cost: $20–$50 AUD. Reliability: inconsistent. We recommend exhausting official channels first.
How to avoid buying a locked iPhone
Before buying any secondhand iPhone, check these three things:
1. Check Activation Lock status. Ask the seller to show you Settings → [their name] → Find My → Find My iPhone. If it's ON, ask them to turn it OFF and sign out of their Apple ID before you pay. If they refuse or can't, don't buy the phone.
2. Check the IMEI. Dial *#06# on the phone to see the IMEI. Then check it against Apple's Activation Lock status page or use an IMEI checker service. Also check if the phone is reported lost/stolen with the AMTA (Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association) by calling your carrier.
3. Check carrier lock status. Settings → General → About → Carrier Lock. "No SIM restrictions" means unlocked. Anything else means you'll need to unlock it (see section 1 above).
4. Factory reset in front of the seller. Ask the seller to factory reset the phone while you watch. If Activation Lock appears after the reset, the seller needs to sign in and remove their account. If they can't or won't, walk away.
For more on buying and selling phones, see our repair vs replace guide and for screen/hardware issues on secondhand phones, see our cracked screen guide.