Is my phone unlocked for a travel eSIM?
On iPhone, go to Settings → General → About and look for Network Provider Lock: "No SIM restrictions" means unlocked. On Android, ask your network or try another network's SIM.
Do this now
- iPhone: open Settings → General → About.
- Scroll to Network Provider Lock (Carrier Lock on some iPhones).
- "No SIM restrictions" means your iPhone is unlocked.
- Android: put in a friend's SIM from another network. If it connects, your phone is unlocked.
- Locked? Ask your network to unlock it. In the UK this is usually free.
Why it matters
A locked phone only accepts SIMs from the network that sold it. A travel eSIM connects to local networks abroad, so your phone has to be unlocked.
Check on iPhone
Go to Settings → General → About and find Network Provider Lock (some iPhones call it Carrier Lock). If it says No SIM restrictions, you're ready.
Check on Android
Android phones have no single menu for this. The quickest test: borrow a SIM from another network and put it in. If you get signal and data, your phone is unlocked. You can also call or message your network and ask.
How to unlock your phone
- Bought outright from a shop or the maker? It's usually unlocked already.
- On a contract? Ask your network to unlock it. Since December 2021, UK networks can't sell locked phones, and most older phones unlock free of charge.
- Unlocking takes from a few minutes to a few days, so do it well before your trip.
Next step
Once you're unlocked, check your phone supports eSIM, then pick your plan, for example for Japan. Install it at home on Wi-Fi and you're set for take-off. Our install guide takes two minutes.
Will a locked phone work with a travel eSIM?
No. The phone must be unlocked so it can join local networks. Ask your network to unlock it before you buy.
Are UK phones unlocked?
Phones sold in the UK since December 2021 come unlocked, and most older ones can be unlocked by your network.
