Learn About AT&T Wireless Account Lock

A free security feature, Wireless Account Lock is available through the AT&T app if you have AT&T Wireless service.

What to know

When you turn on Wireless Account Lock, it disables specific transactions and account changes for all devices and lines on your AT&T Wireless^SM account. These features will be grayed out in your account while Wireless Account Lock is enabled.

If you have other non-wireless services, they won’t be affected.

Users with primary or secondary access to your AT&T account can turn Wireless Account Lock on and off for your account—other users can't.

Wireless devices protected

Wireless Account Lock protects every device and line on your wireless account, including:

Smartphones
Tablets
Watches
Hotspots
Laptops

Standalone tablets and hotspots on an AT&T data-only plan, as well as Wireless Home Phones, can also use Wireless Account Lock. To lock or unlock one of these devices, contact us or visit an AT&T store for help.

FYI: Non-wireless services aren’t affected by Wireless Account Lock.

How to turn Wireless Account Lock on or off

You have to use the AT&T app on a device that’s active on your wireless account.

Open the AT&T app. Sign in, if asked.
Tap the person icon.
Scroll to and select Wireless account lock.
Swipe to lock or tap Unlock the account.

Good to know: Any time a user turns Wireless Account Lock on or off, we’ll send an email to the primary account holder and a text message to each active wireless number on the account.

What to know

When you turn on Wireless Account Lock for AT&T Prepaid®, it disables specific transactions and account changes.

If you have other non-wireless services, they won’t be affected by Wireless Account Lock.

Prepaid devices protected

Wireless Account Lock protects any device on your account, including smartphones, tablets, watches, hotspots, and laptops.

How to turn Wireless Account Lock on or off

You can only turn Wireless Account Lock on or off using the AT&T app.

If you have a standalone tablet or hotspot, you’ll have to contact us to manage Wireless Account Lock for those devices.

Sign in to the AT&T app.
Choose the number that you want to lock or unlock (if list is displayed), then select Continue.
Select Profile & Settings, then Account Info & Preferences.
Under Wireless Account Lock, select Turn on to enable your account lock, or Turn off to disable.
We’ll send an SMS message with a one-time code to your AT&T Prepaid device. Enter the code into the PIN Code field and select Validate.

FYI: When you turn Wireless Account Lock on or off, we’ll send a confirmation email to your account’s email address, and a text message to your wireless device.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Users with primary or secondary access to your AT&T Wireless account can turn the account lock on and off. Learn how to grant secondary account access.

Heads up: In some instances, AT&T may temporarily turn an account’s Wireless Account Lock on or off. This could happen if:

There’s an error that we have to fix.
We're required to comply with federal or state laws like the Safe Connections Act of 2022 (see 47 U.S.C. § 345).
An account owner has passed away and Wireless Account Lock is enabled on that user’s account, learn how to make changes to an account due to life events.

When enabled, Wireless Account Lock protects your account by blocking features that could be used to compromise your personal info, such as:

Device changes

Device upgrades
SIM and eSIM swaps and changes
IMEI changes

Line changes

Phone number changes
Transferring number to or from another wireless carrier

Account and billing changes

Adding or removing wireless lines
Changes to authorized users
Changes to billing info, including account number, billing contact name, address, email, or billing responsibility

FYI: If you see grayed out account functions or some of your AT&T options aren’t available, you (or another user on your account with Wireless Account Lock access) may have enabled Wireless Account Lock. Use the AT&T app to turn Wireless Account Lock off and restore access to these features.

Last updated: April 22, 2026

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What to know

Wireless devices protected

How to turn Wireless Account Lock on or off

What to know

Prepaid devices protected

How to turn Wireless Account Lock on or off

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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