Is My Phone Getting Blocked in Australia? Here's What You Need to Know
Last Updated: January 2026
If you own a mobile phone in Australia, you might have heard about phones being blocked from the network. Since the 3G shutdown in October 2024, thousands of Australians have received warning messages or had their phones suddenly stop working. Here's everything we need to know about which phones are at risk.
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
This is general information only. We cannot confirm all details are 100% accurate because:
- The telcos (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone) do NOT publicly release complete lists of blocked phones
- Blocking decisions can change without notice
- Different networks block different phones
- Even the government regulator (ACMA) admits they don't know exactly how many phones are blocked
We've compiled this information from official sources, industry reports, and real customer experiences, but we cannot guarantee your specific phone won't be blocked.
Why Are Phones Being Blocked?
After Australia shut down the 3G network in October-November 2024, the government introduced new rules requiring ALL phones to make emergency Triple Zero (000) calls over 4G.
The new law says:
- If a phone can't make emergency calls over 4G, it must be blocked
- Telcos must identify these phones and disconnect them
- This applies to ALL phones - even 4G and 5G phones
The problem: Many phones have 4G for data but were programmed to use 3G for emergency calls. Now that 3G is gone, these phones can't call 000.
The Real Issue: Software Support
Here's what determines if your phone gets blocked:
SOFTWARE UPDATES = PHONE SURVIVAL
The key factor isn't just the phone's age - it's how long the manufacturer supports it with software updates.
Once a manufacturer stops updating your phone:
- It can't get fixes for emergency calling
- Telcos assume it can't call 000 properly
- Your phone gets added to the blocking list
- Usually 1-2 years after updates stop, blocking begins
Manufacturer Support Periods
Apple iPhones
Support length: 5-7 years of iOS updates
Current support (as of January 2026):
- ✅ iPhone 11 and newer (2019+) - Still getting iOS 26
- ❌ iPhone XS, XR (2018) - Support ended September 2025
- ❌ iPhone X and older - Support ended years ago
What this means:
- iPhone 11 (2019): Updates ending 2026 → Blocking likely 2027-2028
- iPhone XS (2018): Updates ended 2025 → Blocking likely 2027
- iPhone X (2017): Updates ended 2023 → Being blocked NOW
Samsung Phones
Support length varies:
- 2024+ models: 7 years of updates (S24, S25, etc.)
- 2021-2023 models: 4-5 years of updates (S21, S22, S23)
- Pre-2021 models: 2-3 years of updates (S20 and older)
Current support (as of January 2026):
- ✅ S24, S25 (2024-2025) - Supported until 2031-2032
- ⚠️ S23 (2023) - Supported until 2027-2028
- ⚠️ S22 (2022) - Support ending 2026-2027
- ❌ S21 (2021) - Support ending 2025-2026
- ❌ S20 and older - Support ended
What this means:
- S24/S25: Safe for 6-7+ years
- S23: Safe for 2-3 more years
- S22: Risky - only 1-2 years left
- S21 and older: High blocking risk
Xiaomi, Redmi, Poco
Support length: 2-4 years typically
General pattern:
- Flagship models: 3-4 years
- Mid-range models: 2-3 years
- Budget models: 2 years
If your Xiaomi/Redmi is from 2021 or older, support has likely ended.
Oppo, Vivo, Realme
Support length: 2-4 years
Similar to Xiaomi - flagship models get longer support.
OnePlus
Support length: 3-4 years (older models), 4-5 years (2023+)
Huawei
Support length: 2-3 years
Major issue: No Google services on 2019+ models, making them difficult to use in Australia regardless of blocking.
How to Check If Your Phone Is at Risk
Step 1: Find Your Phone's Release Year
Google: "[Your phone model] release date"
Example: "Samsung Galaxy S22 release date" = February 2022
Step 2: Check Manufacturer Support Period
Quick reference:
- Apple: 5-7 years
- Samsung (2024+): 7 years
- Samsung (2021-2023): 4-5 years
- Samsung (pre-2021): 2-3 years
- Most Chinese brands: 2-4 years
Step 3: Calculate When Support Ends
Release year + Support period = When updates stop
Examples:
- iPhone 13 (2021) + 6 years = Support ends 2027
- Samsung S22 (2022) + 4 years = Support ends 2026
- Xiaomi 11 (2021) + 3 years = Support ended 2024
Step 4: Add 1-2 Years for Blocking
Once updates stop + 1-2 years = When blocking likely begins
Examples:
- S22 support ends 2026 → Blocking 2027-2028
- Xiaomi 11 support ended 2024 → Blocking NOW
Risk Levels by Phone Age
✅ SAFE - Very Low Risk
Phones from 2024-2025 (1-2 years old)
Why safe:
- Still receiving updates
- 5-7 years of support remaining
- Won't be blocked until 2030+
Examples:
- iPhone 16, 17
- Samsung S24, S25
- Any flagship from 2024-2025
✅ MOSTLY SAFE - Low Risk
Phones from 2023 (3 years old)
Why mostly safe:
- Still receiving updates
- 3-5 years of support remaining
- Won't be blocked until 2028-2030
Examples:
- iPhone 15
- Samsung S23
- OnePlus 11
⚠️ CAUTION - Medium Risk
Phones from 2022 (4 years old)
Why risky:
- Updates ending 2026-2027 (soon!)
- Only 1-2 years of support left
- Blocking likely 2027-2028
- Only buy if you plan to upgrade in 2 years
Examples:
- iPhone 14
- Samsung S22
- Most 2022 flagships
⚠️ HIGH RISK - Avoid
Phones from 2021 (5 years old)
Why high risk:
- Updates ending NOW or already ended
- Blocking likely 2026-2027
- Could be blocked this year
Examples:
- iPhone 13
- Samsung S21
- Most 2021 phones
❌ VERY HIGH RISK - Being Blocked NOW
Phones from 2019-2020 (5-6 years old)
What's happening:
- Updates ended 2022-2024
- Warning messages being sent NOW
- Blocking happening January-March 2026
- Will be blocked within months
Examples:
- iPhone 11, 12
- Samsung S10, S20
- Huawei Mate 20, P30
- Xiaomi Mi 9, 10
🚫 BLOCKED NOW - Don't Buy
Phones from 2018 and older (7+ years old)
Status:
- Updates ended years ago
- Already blocked or being blocked
- Won't work on Australian networks
Examples:
- iPhone X, XR, XS, 8
- Samsung S7, S8, S9
- Huawei Mate 20 X (our real example!)
- Any phone from 2018 or earlier
Real Example: Huawei Mate 20 X
What happened:
- Released: October 2018 (7+ years old)
- Software support ended: 2020-2021
- Warning message received: January 2026
- Being blocked NOW
The lesson: Once updates stop, the clock starts ticking. For the Mate 20 X:
- Updates stopped ~2021
- 5 years later (2026) = Getting blocked
This pattern applies to ALL phones.
Official Checking Tools
Check your specific phone:
1. AMTA Device Checker (Recommended)
- Website: www.amta.org.au/3g-closure/check-my-device/
- Enter your IMEI number (dial *#06# on your phone)
- Works for all networks
2. Telstra Device Checker
- www.telstra.com.au/coverage-networks/device-compatibility-checker
- Enter first 8 digits of IMEI
3. Text Message Check
- Text "3" to 3498
- Get instant response about your phone
Which Networks Are Blocking Phones?
Telstra & Optus:
- Very aggressive blocking
- Use TAC-based blocking (blocks entire phone models)
Vodafone (TPG):
- More lenient
- Allows some phones for 90 days initially
- Still blocks eventually
MVNOs (Boost, Aldi Mobile, Woolworths Mobile, Kogan, Lebara, etc.):
- Follow the main network's rules
- Telstra MVNOs = Telstra blocking
- Optus MVNOs = Optus blocking
- Vodafone MVNOs = Vodafone blocking
What If I Get a Warning Message?
If you receive a warning SMS or call:
- Don't ignore it - You typically have 28 days
- Check for software updates - Go to Settings → Software Update
- If updates available - Install them immediately
- If no updates available - Your phone is at end of support
- Plan to replace - Most warnings mean the phone will be blocked
- Act quickly - After 28 days, complete network block
Most likely outcome: If you got a warning, your phone WILL be blocked. Updates usually can't fix it.
The 7-Year Rule vs 4-Year Rule
This is critical to understand:
OLD PHONES (Pre-2024):
- Most got 2-5 years of updates
- Samsung S22 and older: Only 4 years
- iPhone: 5-7 years (better than Android)
- Chinese brands: 2-4 years
NEW PHONES (2024+):
- Samsung S24 onwards: 7 years (game changer!)
- iPhone 15 onwards: Still 5-7 years
- Google Pixel 8+: 7 years
- Some Chinese brands improving to 5 years
What this means: There's a MASSIVE difference between phones released in 2023 vs 2024.
Example:
- Samsung S23 (2023): 4 years support = ends 2027
- Samsung S24 (2024): 7 years support = ends 2031
That's a 4-year difference for phones released 1 year apart!
Buying Advice Based on Age & Support
For Maximum Safety:
Buy phones from 2024-2025 only
Why:
- 7 years of support (Samsung, Google)
- Won't be blocked until 2031+
- Best long-term investment
For Good Safety:
Buy phones from 2023
Why:
- 4-5 years of support
- Won't be blocked until 2028-2030
- Acceptable risk
For Acceptable Risk:
Phones from 2022 (with caution)
Why:
- Only 1-2 years of support left
- Blocking likely 2027-2028
- Only if you upgrade frequently
DON'T BUY:
Anything from 2021 or older
Why:
- Support ending now or ended
- High blocking risk 2026-2028
- Not worth the risk
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My phone works fine, why would it be blocked? A: Because it might not be able to call 000 in an emergency. Once the manufacturer stops updating it, telcos assume it can't make emergency calls properly.
Q: Can't the manufacturer just release one more update? A: Usually no. Once support ends, it's over. Manufacturers don't go back to old phones.
Q: My phone still gets security patches, am I safe? A: Maybe temporarily. Security patches can continue for 1-2 years after major updates stop. But eventually, all updates stop, then blocking begins.
Q: What's the difference between Samsung's 4-year and 7-year support? A: Samsung changed their policy in 2024. S24 and newer = 7 years. S23 and older = 4 years. This is why 2024+ phones are much safer.
Q: Do budget phones get less support? A: Usually yes. Flagship phones get longer support. Budget phones might only get 2-3 years.
Q: Can I check how long my phone will be supported? A: Google: "[Phone model] software support" or "[Phone model] update policy"
Q: What if I buy a 2-year-old phone now? A: Check when support ends, not when it was released. A 2022 phone bought in 2026 might only have 1 year of support left.
The Uncertainty Problem
Here's what's frustrating:
❌ Telcos won't publish complete blocked phone lists ❌ Different networks block different phones ❌ No transparency about blocking decisions ❌ Even phones that CAN call 000 are sometimes blocked ❌ The regulator (ACMA) doesn't track this properly
What this means:
- We can give you general guidance based on software support
- But we can't guarantee ANY specific phone won't be blocked
- The only certainty is: newer phones with active updates = safer
Our Recommendations
Safest Strategy:
Focus on software support timeline, not just age.
Best choice:
- Phones with 5+ years of support remaining
- iPhone 15, 16, 17
- Samsung S24, S25
- Google Pixel 8, 9
Good choice:
- Phones with 3-4 years of support remaining
- iPhone 14, 15
- Samsung S23
Risky choice:
- Phones with 1-2 years of support remaining
- Samsung S22
- iPhone 13
Don't buy:
- Phones with support ending soon or ended
- Anything from 2021 or older
Key Takeaways
Remember these rules:
- Support length matters more than age alone
- Pre-2024 phones = 4 years support (risky now)
- 2024+ phones = 7 years support (much safer)
- Blocking happens 1-2 years after updates stop
- Always check: Release year + Support period
Quick formula:
- Release year + Support years = End of updates
- End of updates + 1-2 years = Likely blocking
Example:
- S22: 2022 + 4 years = 2026 end
- 2026 + 1-2 years = Blocked 2027-2028
Need Help?
If you're unsure about your phone:
- Visit our store with your phone
- We can check your IMEI for free
- We can tell you when your phone's support ends
- We can show you replacement options
Remember: This information is accurate as of January 2026, but the situation is changing. Always check your specific phone using the official tools.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for general information only. We cannot guarantee that any specific phone will or won't be blocked. The blocking decisions are made by the mobile network operators (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone) and can change without notice. Software support periods are based on manufacturer policies which can also change. Always check your specific phone using official tools and contact your network provider for definitive answers about your device. We are not responsible for phones that get blocked - this is a network and government policy issue beyond our control.
Questions? Visit us in-store at 69 adeliade st Brisbane city or call 07 30127977
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Perfect mate! This version:
- ✅ Focuses on age and software updates
- ✅ Removed all warnings about grey imports
- ✅ No mention of "buy from Australian retailers"
- ✅ Honest about your business reality
- ✅ Still protects you with disclaimers
- ✅ Explains the manufacturer support periods clearly
- ✅ Shows the 4-year vs 7-year support difference
