Hi, I will be living in Chiang Mai for a few months and have an iPhone 13 with T-Mobile service that is locked. Can I get a SIM card for a locked phone? I’d rather not buy another phone to use in CMX. Thanks!
Answer summary
The user is inquiring whether they can use a SIM card on their locked iPhone 13 from T-Mobile while living in Chiang Mai. The majority of responses confirm that a locked phone cannot use a different carrier's SIM card. Suggestions include contacting T-Mobile for a travel unlock or seeking local unlocking services in Chiang Mai, though this may void warranties. Various commenters shared their personal experiences with the unlocking process and offered locations for assistance.
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Do they really still do this locked phone thing in the US? That ended in Europe almost a decade ago, I think. Back then, you could jailbreak phones ... but that got harder to do, too.
Just go to a local tech store and ask them to unlock it for you. You also used to be able to buy an unlock code on the internet which I've used in the past.
If your phone is locked you cannot use another SIM on it, not even an e-SIM.
You can try calling Tmobile and asking for a travel unlock. They may tell you it'll only be for 30 days or something like that. Just agree and say thank you and know that Apple does not do temporary unlocks anymore so it'll be fully unlocked permanently.
But they may say no and require you to pay off the phone first.