How To Unlock Any Cell Phone For Free
Phone unlocking: the basics
More and more Britons are getting their phones unlocked. That was revealed in a Uswitch survey that showed nosotros spend an incredible £48 million per year on unlocking our handsets.
Non only does an unlocked phone let you take reward of cheap SIM only deals beyond the unabridged range of networks. It as well makes information technology easier to laissez passer on your former telephone to a family member or friend.
But although mobile phones have been a huge office of our lives for over 20 years, confusion still surrounds the procedure of getting them unlocked. And that'due south where we come in.
On this page, we'll outline some handy tips around unlocking your telephone. We'll also talk you through the major United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland networks' policies, so yous'll know exactly what you lot've got to do to become your phone unlocked.
Also, nosotros'll dispel some persistent myths around the subject. For instance, is information technology illegal? Should you actually be paying to become your handset unlocked? And if so, how much?
Are there risks involved? And what happens to your warranty? Read on and we'll tell yous everything you need to know...
Getting your phone unlocked? In the market for a good SIM merely deal? Here's our pick of the best SIM only deals around.
SIM only deals
What does it mean when a telephone is locked?
When a handset is locked it ways it will only work with the provider that you bought it from.
If your telephone is locked it won't automatically get unlocked when your contract expires with your provider.
You'll have to specifically ask your carrier to unlock information technology. We'll explicate how it works in due course.
Is your phone unlocked? How tin can y'all find out?
Information technology'due south simple to discover out if your phone is locked. Only insert a SIM bill of fare from some other carrier (you'll exist able to get one costless from a phone shop or past ordering one online) and see if the name of the network appears on your handset.
You could also ask a friend or family member to infringe theirs to test it out, as long as you're safe with it and return it in working order.
If the network appears and you're able to use your phone, it'due south unlocked.
My telephone's locked. What now? Is it legal to unlock it?
If you want to unlock your telephone, you have several options.
One manner is to take it to a local, independent phone shop which will usually charge you a fee of around £xv for the service. It might be worth checking its reputation online beforehand, just for peace of listen.
Another method is to do it yourself past getting hold of a lawmaking or using a special data cable and software. However, yous do need a fair degree of technical know-how to do so.
It'southward non illegal to unlock your telephone with either of these methods. Withal, in both cases you risk invalidating your warranty with your initial network.
Simply the safest and smartest way of unlocking mobile phones is to phone call your network and ask them to unlock it.
Whether a charge volition apply and how fast and readily they'll unlock it depends on your carrier's policy. We'll have a wait at all the major networks' policies below.
SIM simply deals
I'm going to unlock my telephone via my network. How does information technology piece of work?
When you lot contact your network to unlock your phone by phone, they'll inquire you for your IMEI number. This is an identifier that's unique to your phone and enables your network to discern make and model, as well every bit its serial number.
You can become the number in a variety of ways. But perhaps the easiest is by opening phone app, then entering *#06# using the keyboard. The IMEI number volition wink up on the screen instantly for you to take downwardly with a piece of paper. Or with your phone'due south Notes app.
Alternatively, if you've got an iPhone you can observe it via your Settings app. Showtime open up up settings, then printing 'General', followed by 'About'. Y'all'll discover information technology towards the bottom of the screen.
Got an Android telephone? You can also go your IMEI through the Settings part of your phone. One time you've opened Settings, go to 'Nearly Device' and thence to 'Status'. And at that place you'll discover it.
Once you've provided your network with your IMEI they can starting time the unlocking process.
How long it'll actually take and whether a charge applies depends principally on your network's policy. However, information technology'southward too afflicted past whether you're a pay monthly or pay equally you lot go client and by the make and model of your phone.
We examine each of the major networks' policy on phone unlocking farther down the folio.
Why should I unlock my telephone?
Uswitch studies show the the nearly mutual reason for unlocking a phone is to have advantage of well priced SIM only deals.
When your phone's unlocked, you're non limited to tariffs offered by the network you bought your phone from. You can take your option from the whole market.
But every bit important is that really good SIM only deals tend to be upwardly for grabs for a express menstruation only.
Having a SIM just deal gives yous the freedom you need to chop and modify and snap upwardly the best offers while they're still around.
Many people unlock their telephone when they want to sell it. Generally unlocked phones command college prices and sell faster than those that are nonetheless tied to a network.
If you lot're a frequent traveller and want to salve money on roaming charges by using SIMs from overseas networks, yous'll need a phone that's unlocked.
Compare SIM simply deals here:
SIM only deals
Can I unlock my phone for free? How long does it take to unlock my phone?
Uswitch'south survey into phone unlocking revealed that the time information technology takes to unlock a phone and the cost you should await to pay is one of the areas where Britons are near confused.
That was borne out past the finding that nigh one-third of consumers think that unlocking a telephone will be instant.
In reality, it takes to get your telephone unlocked depends on your provider. Simply you should be mindful that you could be waiting for anything between a few days or up to xxx days for the procedure to be complete.
To clarify your network's policy, bank check out our network-by-network guide below.
Network by network guide to unlocking policy
How easy it is to unlock your phone largely depends on your network's policy. Here nosotros look at each of the UK major carriers in turn, so you tin can see where you stand.
3 - How to unlock a Three phone
Does Three lock phones?
If yous bought your telephone from Three after Dec 13th 2013, information technology won't be locked. That goes for pay as yous go phones, as well as those bought on contract from Iii.
Phones bought before this point volition, nonetheless, be locked to Three.
Is there a charge? Does a time-limit apply?
No accuse applies. Iii will unlock your phone gratis of charge.
Three does not enforce a time limit. You tin can unlock your pay monthly telephone at any fourth dimension during your contract.
How long does it take?
Expect a expect of up to 7 days.
How exercise I go in touch to unlock it?
Iii phones are already unlocked when you lot buy them. So y'all won't need to talk to anyone from 3.
Compare Three deals
Virgin Mobile - How to unlock a Virgin Media telephone
Does Virgin Mobile lock phones?
Virgin Mobile pay monthly customers phones are unlocked.
Pay as yous go customers aren't and so lucky, though, with Virgin Mobile opting to lock certain models to its network.
Is in that location a charge to unlock a phone? Does a fourth dimension limit apply?
To unlock a Virgin Mobile phone, pay as y'all go customers will be charged £15.32. Still, after you've endemic the phone for 12 months, it's gratis.
How long does it take?
If your Virgin Mobile pay as you go handset is locked, you're looking at a wait of upward to 30 days for the procedure to be completed.
How do I get in touch to unlock it?
To unlock your handset, become in impact with Virgin Mobile's customer support team by calling 789 from your Virgin Mobile handset. Alternatively, you ring 0345 6000 789 from any other mobile telephone or landline.
Compare Virgin Mobile deals
EE - How to unlock an EE phone
Does EE lock phones?
Pay monthly and pay as yous go EE phones are locked to its network.
Is in that location a charge to unlock a telephone? Does a fourth dimension limit utilize?
EE will only unlock pay monthly phones later on six months. To unlock an EE pay monthly phone you need to ring 150 from your EE phone. If you're still under contract, a charge of £8.99 applies. If y'all're out of contract, however, it's costless.
Exist aware that y'all can only unlock a pay monthly phone if you've had your contract for 6 months or more.
EE volition unlock pay equally you get or SIM only devices can exist directly away, with no time limit. A accuse of £8.99 applies, unless yous bought the phone directly from EE. In which case, at that place's no charge.
How long does information technology take?
The time information technology takes to unlock pay monthly and pay every bit you go phones on EE depends on which brand of handset you've got.
An iPhone or iPad has a wait of upwards to seven days attached.
If you lot've got whatsoever other make of handset or tablet, expect a look of up to ten days.
How do I get in touch to unlock it?
Telephone call 150 from your EE telephone. Or 0800 956 6000 from any other mobile phone or landline.
Alternatively, use this online class.
Compare EE deals
O2 - How to unlock an O2 phone
Does O2 lock phones?
All pay monthly phones bought on O2 from June 2018 are sold unlocked.
Pay as you get phones sold on O2 are even so sold locked to the network. Merely can exist hands unlocked.
Is there a accuse to unlock a phone? Does a time limit utilize?
O2 pay monthly customers are not discipline to a time limit and can unlock their phone costless of charge at any signal in their contract.
O2 pay every bit you get customers can also unlock their phone at at fourth dimension, for no accuse.
How long does it accept?
If you bought an O2 pay monthly or pay as you go phone before June 2018, you lot're looking at a wait of upwards to 72 hours to get your handset unlocked by the network.
How practice I go far bear upon to unlock it?
Telephone call 202 from your O2 phone or ring 0344 8090202 from whatsoever other phone or a landline.
Adopt not to talk to anyone? You can also unlock via O2's site or through the MyO2 app.
Compare O2 deals
Vodafone - How to unlock a Vodafone phone
Does Vodafone lock phones?
All Vodafone pay monthly and pay as yous go handsets bought later on July 2013 volition be locked to the network.
Is there a charge to unlock a telephone? Does a fourth dimension limit apply?
Vodafone customers on pay as you go can unlock their phone for free.
To be eligible to do and so, PAYG customers must take used their phone number with the handset for at least 30 days.
Pay monthly customers can besides unlock their handset free of accuse.
How long does it take?
For pay as yous go and pay monthly customers, Vodafone stipulates a expect of up to x days.
How practice I arrive touch to unlock it?
Call 191 from your Vodafone handset, or 03333 040 191 from all other mobiles or landlines.
Compare Vodafone deals
Tesco Mobile - how to unlock a Tesco Mobile phone
Does Tesco Mobile lock phones?
It does. Simply Tesco Mobile pay monthly and pay as you get phone customers can unlock their handsets pretty easily.
Is there a charge to unlock a phone? Does a fourth dimension limit apply?
Pay monthly Tesco Mobile customers tin can unlock their phone for gratuitous. However, depending on the handset a time limit may apply. Essentially, this means that you lot not be able to unlock phones that were recently released.
Pay as yous become Tesco Mobile customers can unlock their phones for no charge, provided they wait 12 months later it was get-go activated. A charge of £10 applies if you want to unlock a pay every bit you get phone before 12 months is upwards.
How long does it take?
Tesco Mobile customers usually face up a expect of vii working days to receive their unlocking code. However this varies co-ordinate to the handset. It could take up to twenty days.
How practice I make it touch to unlock it?
Call 4422 from your Tesco Mobile phone, or 0345 301 4455 from any other mobile phone or landline.
Compare Tesco Mobile deals
iD Mobile - how to unlock an iD Mobile phone
Does iD Mobile lock phones?
With the exception of iPhones, all iD Mobile handsets sold with a pay monthly iD contract are unlocked at the point of purchase. In the example of iPhones, the handset will be unlocked vi months later the contract started.
Is there a charge to unlock a telephone? Does a fourth dimension limit apply?
Locked iPhones on iD Mobile bought on a monthly contract can be unlocked for free, inside the first half-dozen months. As indicated higher up, thereafter they're unlocked anyway.
How long does information technology take to unlock?
Unlocking a locked iPhone on iD Mobile takes betwixt three-five days.
How do I become in touch to unlock it?
Call 7777 from an iD Mobile phone, or phone call 0333 003 7777 from any other mobile or landline.
Compare ID deals
Sky Mobile - how to unlock a Sky Mobile phone
Does Sky Mobile lock phones?
All Heaven Mobile phones are supplied unlocked.
Is there a charge to unlock a phone? Does a time limit apply?
Because Sky Mobile phones are supplied unlocked, there is no charge for unlocking them. Nor does a time limit apply.
How long does it take to unlock?
Sky Mobile phones are unlocked from solar day one.
How exercise I get in impact to unlock it?
If you find your Sky Mobile phone isn't unlocked, y'all can accomplish customer support on 0330 041 2639.
Which network'due south best for coverage? We weigh them upward here: guide to network coverage
Compare Sky Mobile deals
How To Unlock Any Cell Phone For Free,
Source: https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/guides/how-to-unlock-a-phone-a-guide-to-unlocking-mobile-phones/
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