Everything You Need to Know About Selling Your Locked Phone (2024)

Passcode locked, Bad IMEI, blacklisted, financed, Google-locked, and cloud locked phones are commonplace today. If you have a locked phone, wondering if you can sell it, the answer is yes! It’s a fact that you couldn’t sell locked phones earlier, and even if you sold them, the amount you received would be meager. However, that isn’t the case any longer.

At Swift Tech Buy, we take the hassles out of selling locked smartphones while offering the best prices on the market. Here is detailed information about selling your locked phone.

A locked phone has a unique software code that prevents a user from using the SIM of any other network in it. An iPhone might be “locked” in different ways. However, you can use a carrier-locked iPhone only on one network such as AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, etc.

It’s the same with most network-locked Android phones too.

Unlike a locked phone, an unlocked one doesn’t have a software code lock, or a user has the code to unlock the software. Once a phone is unlocked, you can remove the SIM card and use the one you want to get cell service.

The most notable advantage of buying an unlocked phone is that you can switch wireless operators when you want without worrying about buying a new phone. This option is excellent because you can shop around for a cost-effective service rather than being shackled to a specific carrier only because you prefer not to buy a new phone.

When an iPhone or Android phone can be used with a SIM of only one network, it is called a carrier-locked phone or a network-locked phone. It’s a limitation or built-in technical restriction imposed on the device at activation. Cell phone carriers do this to ensure that consumers use their phones only on their network or in specific countries.

These phones are configured to accept only a certain number of (International Mobile Subscriber Identities) IMSIs, potentially restricting the phone to use only a single SIM during its service life. This restriction can become a point of frustration for those who want to switch carriers or are looking for better calling rates or plans.

With an unlocked phone, you have the flexibility to use any SIM card. Listed below are some ways to know if your iPhone or Android phone is locked or not:

• If you have the smartphone on your person, whether it’s an Android phone, an iPhone, or any other smartphone, the most straightforward way to check whether there is a lock is to try SIMs from different carriers/networks in it.
• If you don’t have a SIM of another carrier, borrow one from someone you know, insert it into your phone, and check whether a signal comes in. If not, you likely have a locked phone.
• Sometimes you may see an “enter SIM unlock code” message on the screen, indicating a carrier-locked handset.
• It’s always best to restart your phone before checking. Sometimes, it takes a restart for the phone to recognize the new SIM.

So, is it illegal to sell iCloud locked phones and locked Android phones? You have a few options, but there are different types of “locks,” and it’s essential to know what kind of lock exists on your phone. If your phone is locked to a network, it is legal to sell. You can sell your network-locked phone online at Swift Tech Buy as long as it’s legally yours, even if you owe money on your phone contract.

Most networks only want the money you owe them and do not want you to return the phone if you decide to sell it or can’t pay your bills. However, the device may have a bad electronic serial number (ESN) if you owe the network money, significantly reducing its resale value. It’s best to pay off the device and ask the carrier to unlock your iPhone; this step will increase its resale value.

When you plan to sell your carrier-locked phone, you will surely want the best price for it. Search online with terms like “sell locked phones near me.” You will find buyback stores to sell locked and broken phones for cash. At Swift Tech Buy, we make the process very simple for you.

On our website, you have to select the sell your devicetab and add details about your phone like its make and model, condition, etc., and the system will present a quote. Once you accept the offer, enter your shipping address details, and preferred payment method.

We have options such as PayPal, checks, Venmo, Cash App, Apple Pay, and Zelle Pay. The entire process won’t take more than 30 seconds. It’s as easy as that. We purchase various makes and models of phones in any condition, and you will see that we offer the very best prices on the market.