Almost every phone owner has experienced it: that uh-oh moment when you realize you bought a phone that is unusable for different reasons. One of the biggest reasons why a phone can be unusable is because it is blacklisted.
It can be a frustrating experience if you have purchased a pre-owned iPhone, and later detect the iPhone has been blacklisted for different reasons such as reported lost and stolen or pending payments. Luckily, there are different methods discussed here that can help you unlock a blacklisted iPhone from AT&T.
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What is a blacklisted iPhone?
As the name suggests, a blacklisted phone is a device that is barred from use by the carrier for different reasons. Countries like the US have developed a broad database for stolen phones. According to statistics, nearly 13 smartphones go missing in the US each minute which translates to 160,000 lost phones in a day and about 30 million phones annually.
A great deal of these phones is reported missing or stolen in the database. When reported, the IMEI can easily be traced through this database.
Another reason why the carrier can blacklist a phone is if it has outstanding bills. Users are advised to always check if the phone is blacklisted before buying it.
How to check if an iPhone is Blacklisted?
Before buying an iPhone, it is imperative to check whether it has been blacklisted for whatever reason. The only things you will need are the phoneโs IMEI and eventually check with free tools such as imeipro.info or imei24.com. To check the phoneโs IMEI number, dial, *#06# and proceed.
Different methods to unlock a Blacklisted iPhone
Method 1: Ask the carrier to remove the iPhone for free if it was blacklisted by them
One of the most effective methods of unlocking a blacklisted iPhone is to get in contact with AT&T and request the team to remove your phone from the list. However, you will need to settle the existing dispute with the provider. Unluckily, thereโs no guarantee that they will comply with the request.
Method 2: Use Unlock tools
If the carrier cannot remove your iPhone from the blacklisted list, the only approach is to use tools that can help with phone unlocks. At this point, we have listed two of the most reliable tools for both android and iPhone phones.
Use DirectUnlocks
DirectUnlocks is a provider of legal, safe, and guaranteed blacklisted iPhone unlocking services. This service provider will offer easy ways of unlocking your blacklisted AT&T iPhone without voiding the warranty. They have a money-back guarantee for dissatisfied customers.
Pros
- Money-back Guarantee
- Less than 24 hours turnaround time
- High success rate
- IMEI Check
Use ExpressUnlocks
ExpressUnlocks just like DirectUnlocks helps you remove your blacklisted phone without tampering with any physical part. The service provider can help you unblacklist your iPhone in less than 24 hours and will not void the warranty.
Pros
- 1 day turn around time
- IMEI Check
- Unlock through codes
- High success rate
FAQs
Is it possible to unlock a blacklisted AT&T phone?
Thereโs no official method of unlocking a blacklisted AT&T iPhone. However, you can try contacting the carrier and asking for assistance. If the iPhone was blacklisted due to late payments or outstanding bills, the carrier can consider revising after the payments are cleared. Otherwise, you can try to unlock tools such as expressunlocks.com.
How do I get my AT&T iPhone off the blacklist?
Its only the original device owner can remove a blacklisted phone from the database officially. Otherwise, you can only rely on unlock tools to get the phone removed from the blacklist.
Can you ever use a blacklisted phone?
It might be difficult to use cellular services with a blacklisted iPhone. However, you can still listen to music, watch movies and play games.
Conclusion
Unlocking a blacklisted iPhone from AT&T can be a challenging process especially if you donโt have the knowledge, but it is possible. Start by asking the carrier to unlock the phone if you are the original owner, otherwise use tools like DirectUnlocks or ExpressUnlocks. It is important to choose a reliable service provider and be cautious when providing the personal and sensitive information to online providers.