iPhone Unlock
Unlock a Metro by T-Mobile iPhone (Active-Period Rule, Clean Devices)
Metro devices are locked to the T-Mobile database with Metro's own service requirements, including a long active-period rule. Here is how Metro unlocks differ and how to order.
Last reviewed 2026-10-26
Metro by T-Mobile (formerly MetroPCS) runs on the T-Mobile network but applies its own unlock policy to the devices it sells. The best-known condition is the active-period requirement, which for Metro is considerably longer than T-Mobile postpaid.
Metro devices are also the most common bargain iPhone in the resale market, so knowing how to read that state matters.
Metro conditions at a glance
- Device must be activated on a Metro line for the required period (commonly around 180 days for Metro-branded devices).
- Device must be fully paid off — Metro sells heavily subsidised handsets.
- Device must not be reported lost or stolen.
- The listing must cover the iPhone generation; Metro listings are split by generation just like T-Mobile.
Note
A Metro-branded device that was unlocked and moved to T-Mobile still reports Metro history. That is normal and does not block a new unlock.Metro vs T-Mobile listing
- Both resolve through the T-Mobile activation-policy database.
- Metro phones often need a Metro-specific listing because the eligibility rules and pricing differ.
- If a Metro order fails with “not eligible”, the active-period or balance condition is usually the reason.
- For Samsung and generic Android Metro devices, use the Metro Android listing rather than the iPhone one.
Ordering
- 1Confirm the carrier with a SIM lock check — a surprising number of “Metro” phones are actually on AT&T or T-Mobile postpaid.
- 2Confirm the iPhone generation exactly.
- 3Order the Metro listing for that generation.
- 4Verify with a foreign SIM after the order completes.
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
Does the active-period rule apply to devices already unlocked once?
The rule is applied to the device record at unlock time. If the device was previously unlocked through the carrier and re-locked later, the record may reflect the newer state.
Can a Metro phone be unlocked without the original owner?
Yes — IMEI-based services do not need account access. The remaining obstacle is eligibility (balance and active period), not ownership.
Is Metro unlock the same price as T-Mobile?
Not always. Each listing has its own price because the carrier approval rate and processing path differ.
Related guides
US T-Mobile / Metro / Sprint
T-Mobile & Metro by T-Mobile iPhone Unlock
T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Sprint and Boost Mobile devices share one activation-policy family. Here is how to check the lock, which sub-brand policy applies, and how to unlock by IMEI — including blacklisted devices.
T-Mobile paid off
T-Mobile Fully Paid Off iPhone Unlock
If a T-Mobile iPhone is fully paid off, the unlock is the simple case — but T-Mobile splits listings by generation, and picking the wrong generation is the usual failure.
Metro Android
Metro by T-Mobile Samsung Unlock
Metro's Android devices follow the same network database as its iPhones but a different listing, and the active-period rule applies the same way.
SIM lock status
Check iPhone SIM Lock Status by IMEI
A five-minute procedure to find out which carrier an iPhone is locked to, before you buy an unlock service — or before you buy the phone at all.