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Will an Imported Phone Work on Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile?

Checked against the makers' own pages · Last reviewed October 15, 2026

What a phone needs to work on a US network

• The right bands. A band is a block of radio frequencies with a standard number (for example, LTE band 12 is 700 MHz). Spec sheets list the bands a phone supports. T-Mobile says "your device must support both our network frequency (band) and the technology (5G, 4G LTE, 2G)." AT&T gives the same reason when a phone fails: some phones "don't support our network's frequency bands."
• VoLTE. Voice over LTE means making calls over the 4G network. The FCC warned that after the 3G shutdowns, 3G phones and "certain older 4G mobile phones that do not support Voice over LTE (VoLTE or HD Voice)" can't make or receive calls, including calls to 911.
• Carrier acceptance. Each carrier checks your phone's IMEI, the 15-digit serial number that identifies the phone. T-Mobile says the IMEI "tells you the make, model, and if it's ready to use on our network." AT&T keeps a list of tested and approved models. T-Mobile's checker can also report a phone as "blocked."
• Unlocked. Verizon says that to be eligible, "your device must be unlocked and its hardware and software must be compatible with our mobile network." T-Mobile and AT&T also require unlocked phones.

[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

US carrier bands, from the carriers' own pages

Notes on the table:

• T-Mobile also lists 2G on band 2 (1900 MHz). It says "devices often support more frequencies than these" for roaming, but those extra bands aren't needed on its network.
• AT&T groups its LTE bands by frequency: 700 MHz (12/17/29), 850 MHz (5), 1900 MHz (2), 1700/2100 MHz (4/66) and 2300 MHz (30). It adds that "some areas within a market may have different spectrum portfolios."
• Verizon has no consumer band table like T-Mobile's. Its row shows the bands Verizon lists for devices on its network in its developer site's approved-chipset pages (Verizon Open Development). The entry used here, for MediaTek's T800 modem, lists LTE bands 2, 4, 5, 13, 48 and 66 and 5G bands n2, n5, n48, n66, n77, n260 and n261 in its main LTE and 5G fields, and puts other bands (such as LTE 1, 3, 7 and 12) in separate "Global / Roaming" fields. It is one chipset's list, not a Verizon statement about its whole network.
• Verizon's consumer pages name some of the same bands. Its coverage map FAQ says "devices supporting n77 (C-band), and n260 and n261 (mmWave) bands will have access to all of our 5G Ultra Wideband network." Its LTE Network Extender FAQ mentions "the AWS Band 4 capacity channel." A Verizon public-safety FAQ says "Verizon's 4G LTE network uses Band 13." Its 5G FAQ says regular 5G "uses a low-band spectrum," but no consumer page gives that band's number.
• Verizon's 2025 annual report lists its spectrum by frequency: the 700 MHz Upper C block, 850 MHz cellular, 1900 MHz PCS, AWS 1700/2100 MHz, 3.7 GHz C-Band, 28, Upper 37 and 39 GHz millimeter wave, and the 3.5 GHz CBRS band. It doesn't give LTE or 5G band numbers. To be sure about one phone, use Verizon's checker below.

To compare, open the phone maker's spec page and look for these numbers. For example, T-Mobile's checker turns away phones without Extended Range LTE (bands 12 and 71 in its table) with the message "Please upgrade to a device that can access our most powerful signal, Extended Range LTE." Even a full band match isn't a guarantee. The carrier's IMEI check has the final say. [1][5][6][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]

How our database matches phones to carriers

Each phone in our database has a column for Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. When a phone isn't sold by or approved for a carrier, we check the phone's published LTE bands against that carrier's list. The rule asks for a mid band plus the carrier's low band:

• T-Mobile: band 4 or 66, plus band 12 or 71. T-Mobile's checker turns away phones without Extended Range LTE, which its table lists as bands 12 and 71. T-Mobile lists band 2 only for 2G (and n2/n25 for 5G), so band 2 doesn't count here.
• AT&T: band 2, 4 or 66, plus band 12 or 17. AT&T lists its 700 MHz low band as bands 12/17/29, its 1900 MHz band as 2, and its 1700/2100 MHz bands as 4/66.
• Verizon: band 13, plus band 2, 4 or 66. A Verizon FAQ says its 4G LTE network uses band 13, and the Verizon developer-site chipset entry above lists 2, 4 and 66 in its main LTE field.

A phone that passes shows "Bands fit." That is not a guarantee. The phone also needs VoLTE for calls, as the FCC explains above. Verizon says "only select BYOD devices with approved hardware and software are allowed for use on the Verizon Wireless network." AT&T keeps a list of tested and approved phones, and even listed models "are not guaranteed to work." T-Mobile doesn't guarantee phones it didn't sell. A phone sold by a carrier is also usually locked to that carrier until it is unlocked (see the next section). The carrier's IMEI checker has the final say.

"Official" in our table means the carrier sells the phone, or the maker or carrier says it works on that network. "No" means the bands don't fit, or the maker or carrier says it doesn't work there. "Locked" means the phone is tied to one other carrier. A dash means the maker doesn't publish the phone's bands. [1][3][6][8][9][10][13][16][17]

Why a phone with the right bands can still fail

AT&T and T-Mobile share several LTE bands. Both carriers' band pages list bands 4, 5, 12 and 66. AT&T also lists 2, 17, 29 and 30, and T-Mobile also lists 71 (T-Mobile uses band 2 only for 2G). So a phone made for one of the two often has most of the other's bands. Matching bands is only the first test, though. These are the other reasons the carriers and the FCC give for a phone not working:

• It's locked to the carrier that sold it. The FCC says many phones sold in the US have software that keeps them off other networks "even when those networks are technologically compatible," and that a phone not sold as "unlocked" is "probably locked." Each carrier unlocks phones it sold once you meet its rules. T-Mobile: postpaid phones active for at least 40 days and paid off; prepaid phones after 365 days, or sooner with more than $100 in refills. Metro by T-Mobile: 365 days after activation. AT&T: bought more than 60 days ago and paid in full; prepaid phones after 12 months of paid service. Verizon: new phones are locked, and unlock when paid in full (postpaid) or after 365 days of paid service (prepaid). The FCC says carriers that follow CTIA's Consumer Code (all nationwide carriers) post their unlocking policies and don't charge extra to unlock an eligible phone.
• Unlocking doesn't fix a mismatch. The FCC says unlocking only turns off the lock software and "may not make the phone technologically compatible with another wireless provider's network." Verizon likewise warns that one of its unlocked phones "may have limited functionality or may not work at all" on another carrier.
• The carrier won't accept that model or that phone. AT&T lets customers attach phones that are "FCC-approved, compatible with the technology used in our mobile network, eligible on the customer's plan," and it won't activate 2G-only or 3G-only phones. Its approved list goes by exact model number. Verizon says it no longer allows new activations of 3G phones or 4G phones without VoLTE. T-Mobile's checker can report a phone as blocked, and T-Mobile and Metro won't unlock a phone reported lost, stolen or blocked.
• Calls depend on the carrier's VoLTE working on that phone. Verizon says 4G phones without HD Voice (VoLTE) can no longer make or receive calls, send texts or use data on its network. AT&T's HD Voice needs an HD Voice-capable phone, service set up for HD Voice and a UICC-G or newer SIM, and AT&T warns that with another SIM "some phone features may not work." T-Mobile says it can't test other carriers' phones for call quality or feature compatibility, and "experiences may vary depending on the original carrier settings." AT&T marks some approved phones that may need a software update before HD Voice or Wi-Fi Calling works.
• It lacks a band the carrier treats as a minimum. T-Mobile's checker turns away phones without Extended Range LTE (bands 12 and 71). T-Mobile says phones that miss its minimum technologies and frequencies can get limited coverage and lack V-E911, which it calls a crucial feature for reaching emergency services over Wi-Fi Calling. Partly compatible phones can get less coverage and slower data.
• The network moves on. AT&T's approved list notes that after Dec. 31, 2025, the Galaxy S10 5G "will not connect to AT&T's 5G network and will function as an LTE only device." T-Mobile says network compatibility "is built into device hardware," so getting newer network technology means replacing the phone.

Before you buy, ask whether the phone is unlocked, then run its IMEI through the carrier's checker below. [1][2][6][8][9][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]

Check with each carrier's official IMEI checker

First get the phone's IMEI: dial *#06#, or look in Settings under About phone.

• Verizon: Bring your own device. Verizon's FAQ says you need the device ID (IMEI) to check compatibility. If the phone's SIM card isn't compatible, you'll need a new one. eSIM phones can be brought over in the My Verizon app.
• AT&T: Bring your own device. AT&T says "your phone must be GSM-compatible. CDMA phones will not work." It also publishes a list of tested and approved phones (last updated March 27, 2026). The list goes by exact model number. AT&T's example: Galaxy S20 models G981U and G981U1 work, but G981N and G981O do not. AT&T adds that listed models "are not guaranteed to work."
• T-Mobile: Bring your own phone. If the checker says "No match found," T-Mobile suggests checking that the phone supports its frequencies, VoLTE and Extended Range LTE. T-Mobile says it "cannot and does not guarantee" phones it didn't sell. A "partially compatible" phone may get less coverage and slower data, and an incompatible one lacks V-E911, which T-Mobile calls crucial for reaching emergency services over Wi-Fi Calling.

When you import a phone, check the exact model number, not just the name. AT&T's Galaxy S20 example shows two versions of the same phone with different results. [2][4][5][6][8]

Smaller carriers (MVNOs)

Many smaller carriers, called MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators), rent space on a big network. The FCC named "Cricket, Boost, Straight Talk, and several Lifeline mobile service providers" as carriers that "utilize AT&T's, Verizon's, and T-Mobile's networks." That FCC list dates from 2022.

Find out which network your carrier uses, compare the phone's bands with that network's list above, and then use the carrier's own checker. Mint Mobile, for example, asks you to check that your phone is "5G • 4G LTE and VoLTE friendly" and unlocked. [3][25]

The 3G shutdown and older imported phones

The FCC's 3G phase-out guide (last updated Oct. 7, 2022) lists these carrier announcements:

• AT&T began phasing out its 3G network in February 2022.
• Verizon said it would finish shutting down 3G by Dec. 31, 2022.
• T-Mobile shut down Sprint's 3G CDMA network on March 31, 2022, Sprint's LTE network on June 30, 2022, and its own 3G UMTS network on July 1, 2022.

The FCC adds that some phones only need a software update to turn on VoLTE. T-Mobile likewise asks users to make sure "LTE/VoLTE settings are turned on" and the phone's software is up to date. [3][26]

Phones running a de-Googled or custom OS

Carrier features also depend on software. T-Mobile's guarantee doesn't extend to phones "that do not have a software version sold or updated by T-Mobile (e.g., rooted devices)." AT&T's approved list marks some phones that "may require a software update to enable HD Voice, Wi-Fi Calling, Video Call, Advanced Messaging or 5G." If you plan to install another operating system, test calls, texts and picture messages after setup. T-Mobile notes that internet and picture messaging settings (APN) may need to be changed by hand.

For buying abroad, see importing a phone to the US. Each phone page in our database compares that phone's published bands with US carriers. [2][6][8]

Questions people ask