# Apple Store Devices Will No Longer Come Unlocked When Purchased Via Carrier Installment Apple announces that devices purchased via carrier installment plans will remain locked. - **Source:** [r/Apple: Unofficial Apple Community](https://brifing.si/source/75d1b192-594d-4d24-911d-db3c5d188f24) - **Published:** 2026-07-15 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/6a7afe9e-7912-40f4-8765-d5140f45f48d ## Apple's New Policy Apple has announced that devices purchased via carrier installment plans will remain locked. This change aims to increase carrier customer loyalty. ## Carrier Installment Purchases Devices purchased via carrier installment plans from the Apple Store will no longer come unlocked automatically. This is part of carriers' strategy to retain customers longer. ## Customer Impact The new policy limits customers' flexibility to switch carriers. However, discounts and promotions offered by carriers balance this out. ## Role of Carriers Carriers support this policy to retain customers who purchase Apple devices on installment plans. This is part of carriers' strategy to reduce customer churn. ## Apple's Strategy Apple aims to strengthen its partnerships with carriers to boost device sales. This policy is designed to increase carrier customer loyalty. ## Conclusion and Importance Apple's new policy increases carrier customer loyalty while limiting customers' flexibility to switch carriers. This strengthens the collaboration between carriers and Apple. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/1uwrp20/apple_store_devices_will_no_longer_come_unlocked/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._