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If you purchase a mobile-enabled iPad from someone other than Apple or the original carrier, you may discover that the iPad is locked to a specific network. This means that if you insert a SIM card from a different network, you will not have any mobile options and will only be confronted with an error message. In this article, we provide a detailed guide on how to unlock an iPad from a network and use any SIM card.
However, before we get started, it is important to note that this process only applies to iPads with mobile capabilities. If you have a Wi-Fi-only iPad, you do not have to worry about network locks.
What is a Network Lock?
Third-party vendors often lock iPads to their networks, and they are legally entitled to do so as long as they are transparent about it. The idea is that they sell the iPad at a discounted rate in exchange for securing your business for a set period of time (usually 6 months, a year or 2 years).
Once this period has elapsed, you should be able to unlock the iPad by contacting the carrier. We have provided carrier-specific instructions below.
Is Unlocking an iPad Legal?
The legality of the process depends on how long you have had the iPad and whether you have paid off your contract. If you have completed your payments or if you bought the iPad outright, it is completely legal to unlock it. However, if you are still paying off your contract, you do not truly own the iPad in full, and it is best to contact your carrier before unlocking the device. It should be noted that unlocking the device is legal, but it does not release you from any outstanding contractual obligations.
If you are unsure whether your iPad is locked or not, please refer to our Is My iPhone Locked? article for guidance. The rules are the same for mobile-enabled iPads and iPhones.
How to Get Your Carrier to Unlock Your iPad
If you have fulfilled your contractual obligations and have no outstanding payments, your primary objective is to contact the carrier, explain the situation, and ask them to enter a code and/or provide instructions for removing the network lock.
We have provided carrier-specific instructions below:
EE (Including Orange and T-Mobile)
EE will unlock your iPad for a fee of £8.99 after your payments have been completed and you have had the account for at least 6 months. According to the company, it may take up to 10 days for the request to be processed. If further delays occur – such as contacting the device manufacturer for the unlock code, EE will notify you via text message on the phone number you provide.
EE’s requirements are as follows:
- The device must be purchased when you sign up for or upgrade your contract and must be actively used with your paid monthly SIM card for at least 6 months.
- You can only unlock a replacement device if it was received directly from the manufacturer or under insurance, and proof of exchange must be provided.
If you are a Pay As You Go customer, you can unlock your iPad if you have enough credit to pay the £8.99 administration fee.
If you are not an EE customer, you will need to provide the original owner’s name and some of their EE account information.
O2
O2’s online form for unlocking devices can be found here, although the form only refers to iPhones, not iPads. It appears that the company is less equipped for iPad unlocks than some of the other carriers listed here. If you are an O2 customer, you may unlock your device at any time, but you will have to pay the outstanding balance of your contract. Pay & Go O2 customers must wait 12 months to unlock their device.
O2 warns on its website that unlocking your device costs £15, but a colleague who spoke to an O2 representative was informed that they may be able to do it for free. It does not hurt to ask. Expect to wait at least 72 hours.
Three
Three makes it relatively easy to unlock your iPad. If you purchased an iPhone after January 1, 2014, it will unlock automatically as soon as you connect to Wi-Fi or iTunes. If you purchased a device from Three before that date, simply plug it into iTunes and do a full restore after backing up your data. Alternatively, you can complete Three’s online device unlock form.
Vodafone
Vodafone requires that you have an account or know the information of the person who does. If that information is already available, you can use Vodafone’s online unlock form. Vodafone states that it may take up to 48 hours for the company to contact you and up to 10 days to unlock the device. It is free to unlock your Vodafone iPhone if you have been with the company for more than 12 months. Otherwise, it will cost £19.99. The same goes for all Pay As You Go customers.
Use a Third-Party Unlocking Service
If all else fails or if contacting the carrier is not an option, consider using a third-party unlocking service. We recommend Doctor SIM, but other options are available. Be sure to read all of the fine print before paying any money to an external service, as some have hidden costs.
Sell the iPad
If none of the methods listed above work, it may be best to sell the iPad and use the money to purchase an unlocked model. Be honest about the network lock when listing the iPad on eBay or another reputable online marketplace. This way, potential buyers will know why you are selling the device and will be more likely to purchase it for use on the same network.
Unlocking an iPad from a Network and Using any SIM card is possible but depends on the carrier-specific instructions, the state of the iPad and the availability of