iPhone Unlock
AT&T Unlock Services Compared: Clean, Past Due, Semi-Premium, Blacklist
AT&T has more unlock listings than any other carrier on the platform, and they are not interchangeable. This page maps device state to the correct listing so you pay once.
Last reviewed 2026-10-26
Most wasted AT&T orders are not caused by a bad service — they are caused by buying the right carrier at the wrong tier. AT&T distinguishes device state very finely, and each state has its own channel, price and failure profile.
Use this page as the decision table: identify the device state, then open the matching listing.
Device state to listing
- Clean, paid off, past 60 days: the base AT&T unlock service. Cheapest and most reliable.
- Active on another account within the first 60 days: the active / 60-day service.
- No longer active on the account: the inactive / account2 service. Often simpler than past due.
- Unpaid balance or under contract: semi-premium, matched to the iPhone generation.
- Explicit past-due flag: the past-due tier for that generation.
- Blacklisted for account reasons: a blacklist unbar first, then an unlock if still SIM-locked.
- Reported lost or stolen: no service. Do not buy the device.
Important
Several AT&T listings state that the fee is charged whether or not the device is unlocked. Read the terms on the listing page before ordering.Signals in the order result
- “Not eligible”: device state does not match the tier you bought.
- “Cannot locate in our database”: the IMEI may be from a different carrier or mistyped — re-check before rebuying.
- “Past due”: switch to the past-due tier.
- “Blacklisted”: switch to an unbar product.
- “Unlocked already”: the device never needed the service; verify with a lock check before disputing.
A defensible default sequence
- 1SIM lock + carrier check (confirms AT&T and the lock state).
- 2GSMA blacklist check (rules out the unrecoverable cases).
- 3Choose the single matching listing from the table above.
- 4If the result contradicts the check, re-run the check before buying again.
Services used in this guide
These are the exact catalogue entries this guide refers to. Prices and turnaround are live.
Open the catalogueFrequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Is the most expensive AT&T service the best one?
No. Price tracks risk, not quality. A clean device unlocked with the base service is the best outcome; buying a premium tier for it just costs more.
What if the device is already unlocked?
The check will say so. AT&T-tier listings generally do not refund an already-unlocked IMEI, which is why the check comes first.
Can I combine an unbar and an unlock in one order?
They are separate products. Order the unbar first, then verify the SIM lock status, then order the unlock if needed.
Related guides
AT&T past due
AT&T Past Due iPhone Unlock
A past-due AT&T device still carries an unpaid installment balance, which is why the standard unlock channel rejects it. Here is how past-due unlocks work, what they cost in risk, and how to pick the right tier.
AT&T semi-premium
AT&T Semi Premium Unlock
Semi-premium is AT&T's grey zone: the device is not blacklisted outright, but the record has an unpaid balance or an under-contract flag. This guide covers which devices need it and how the tiers differ.
AT&T inactive
AT&T iPhone No Longer Active Unlock
A second-hand AT&T iPhone is often no longer active on its original line, which is normal and usually easier than a past-due device. Here is how that state is handled.
AT&T blacklist
AT&T Blacklist Unbar
An unlock changes the SIM policy. An unbar changes the blacklist record. A device can need one, the other, or neither — and buying the wrong one is pure loss.
US AT&T
AT&T iPhone Carrier Unlock by IMEI
AT&T iPhones stay locked to AT&T until the line is paid off and active for 60 days. Here is how to read the AT&T lock status of an iPhone, which AT&T policy your device falls under, and which IMEI unlock service matches it.