In plain English
It limits which mobile network a phone can work with. The phone is tied to one specific carrier rather than being usable with any carrier.
In context
Here, "carrier lock" labels the restriction being warned about during activation checks, meaning the phone can be used only with one specific mobile network carrier.
- Situation
- Porting numbers, activating SIM or eSIM, replacing devices, and changing account details
- What it communicates
- labels the restriction warned about during activation checks
Meaning limits
By itself, the term does not identify which carrier the phone is restricted to.
Examples
“The used phone still has a carrier lock, so it works on only one mobile network.”
“During activation, a warning appeared because the phone had a carrier lock.”