Is my phone “unlocked” and able to use eSIMs?

Only unlocked phones are compatible with eSIMs. You should make sure that your phone is unlocked before buying an eSIM from the Holafly store.

To clear up any doubts, we’ll go into everything in detail below.

What is an “unlocked phone”?

Mobile phones rely on a carrier to make calls and connect to mobile data.

Carriers allow your phone to connect to their network.

If your phone is unlocked, this means that it can connect to any carrier’s network.

If your phone is locked, this means that, as part of your contract, it can only connect to one specific carrier’s network.

So if you insert a new SIM card or an eSIM, it won’t work in your phone.

How to check if your phone is unlocked

There are four methods:

1. Where did you buy your phone?

If you bought your phone directly from the manufacturer’s store (Apple or Samsung, for example), it is probably unlocked.

However, if you bought your phone from a telecom provider (such as Orange, AT&T or Movistar), then it might be tied to that specific provider, which means you cannot use an eSIM in it.

2. Use another SIM card

The easiest way to find out if your phone is unlocked is to borrow a SIM card from a friend or family member.

If you can use this SIM to make a call or send a text message on your phone, that means your phone is unlocked.

If you cannot make calls or send text messages with the new SIM card, that means your phone is tied to your provider and cannot be used with eSIMs.

3. Check your settings (iPhone only)

The following steps work with iOS 14 and later:

1. Go to the Settings menu
2. Scroll down and tap on General
3. Go to the About section
4. Now scroll down and look for Carrier Lock or Network Provider Lock. If you see “No SIM Restrictions”, that means your iPhone is unlocked and is compatible with eSIMs. If not, then your iPhone must be tied to a specific carrier.

4. Contact your provider

As a last resort, you can contact your provider. They should be able to tell you if your phone is unlocked or if it’s tied to their network. They can also help you unlock your phone.