- Categories
- Computers and Electronics
- Telephones
- Cell Phones
- Unlocking Phones
Download Article
A simple and easy guide on unlocking your phone for free with the IMEI number
Explore this Article
parts
1Unlocking Your Phone
2Troubleshooting
Other Sections
VideoWATCH NOW
Tips and Warnings
Related Articles
References
Author Info
Last Updated: September 3, 2024
Download Article
ARTICLE
VIDEO
Domestic mobile service providers are required to unlock your phone free of charge as long as your account is in good standing and you’ve fulfilled all necessary contract obligations. Unlocking your phone requires you to contact your wireless service provider, which provides you with a unique code that unlocks your device.
Part 1
Part 1 of 2:
Unlocking Your Phone
Download Article
1
Dial *#06# on the phone you want unlocked. This displays the phone’s unique IMEI number.
2
Write down the IMEI number. Your wireless service provider needs the IMEI number to unlock your phone.
Advertisem*nt
3
Contact your mobile service provider and say you want to unlock your phone. Your service provider will review your account to confirm you meet all requirements to have your phone unlocked for free. You may not be eligible to unlock your phone if you owe money or have not fulfilled the service contract.
- : Call 1-800-331-0500 or fill out an unlock request online at https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/#/.
- Sprint: Call 1-888-211-4727
- T-Mobile: Call 1-877-746-0909
- Verizon: Call 1-800-711-8300 and ask for a SIM unlock.
4
Provide your wireless carrier with the information required to process the unlock request. You must provide your phone’s unique IMEI number, name, and contact information. The wireless provider works directly with the phone manufacturer to obtain your unlock code. For example, if you use a Samsung Galaxy S4 on T-Mobile’s network, T-Mobile contacts Samsung to obtain the unlock code.
5
Wait for your wireless provider to provide you with your phone’s unlock code. Most major wireless carriers send the unlock code via email, while regional carriers may require you to visit a retail store.
6
Follow the instructions provided by your wireless carrier to unlock your phone. In most cases, you’ll be instructed to insert a SIM card from another carrier, then enter the unlock code at the prompt. After your phone is unlocked, you can use SIM cards from other compatible wireless networks.[1]
Advertisem*nt
Part 2
Part 2 of 2:
Troubleshooting
Download Article
1
Ask your wireless carrier what you can do to bring your account into good standing if it refuses to unlock your phone. Wireless service providers are required by law to unlock your phone for free, as long as your account is in good standing and you’ve fulfilled all contract terms.
2
Contact the FCC if you experience problems unlocking your phone for free with your wireless carrier. The FCC is responsible for enforcing policies associated with unlocking your phone, and will escalate your situation as needed to unlock your device.
- File a complaint online at https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us, or call the FCC at 1-888-225-5322.[2]
3
Contact your wireless carrier and confirm the IMEI on file matches the IMEI number of your phone if the unlock code fails to work. This occurs when your wireless carrier provides the phone manufacturer with the incorrect IMEI number.
Advertisem*nt
Community Q&A
Search
Question
How do I unlock my phone?
Community Answer
You can unlock your phone if you connect it to a computer with a USB to receive the files, but if you do a hard reset of your phone, it will erase your data and give you a brand new phone.
Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHowYesNo
Not Helpful 117Helpful 345
Question
How do I unlock my phone when the SIM can't be detected?
Community Answer
iPhone IMEI is another online SIM unlocking service especially for iPhone. It can help you SIM unlock your iPhone without SIM card or unlocking code from the carrier. On iPhone IMEI's official website, just select your iPhone model and the network carrier your iPhone is locked to, it will direct you to another page.
Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHowYesNo
Not Helpful 68Helpful 170
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Advertisem*nt
Video
Tips
Ask your wireless carrier to unlock your phone immediately if you’re in the military and being deployed internationally. By law, wireless carriers are required to unlock your device after verifying deployment.
Thanks
Helpful0Not Helpful1
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Submit
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisem*nt
You Might Also Like
Advertisem*nt
References
About This Article
wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 10 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 705,688 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 10
Updated: September 3, 2024
Views:705,688
Categories: Unlocking Phones
In other languages
- Send fan mail to authors
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 705,688 times.
Is this article up to date?
Advertisem*nt