Tips to Unlock Phones by IMEI (in three steps)

By Nicky Almazan

Every time you acquire a phone via a network provider, it is locked into that network's service. If the company gives you a free or discounted smartphone, you commonly have to consent to a one- or two-year plan as well. You can avoid this contract and freely swap between networks, along with travel abroad and use domestic networks, simply by unlocking your smartphone using the IMEI number. To permanently unlock your mobile phone follow the three simple steps below.

Step 1

Get the 15-digit IMEI code. This is typically written on the mobile phone under the battery. You can also typically find it on your cellphone's setting page or by keying in a unique code to get your cell phone to show the number on the screen. Most often, the code is *#06#

Step 2

Once you've found the IMEI number of your smartphone, speak to your current service provider and inquire if they are willing to offer you an unlock code. Depending on your circumstances, they could possibly grant your request. On the other hand, many service providers are going to have thier own set of guidelines that need to be fulfilled before they'll provide you with an unlock code, and many may possibly refuse. Frequently, if you have completed your contract, your smartphone provider might supply you guidelines on how to permanently unlock your mobile phone, but in general they will insist you're the original owner of the handset (the contract on thier system is in your name). In the event you're not, for example, you purchased the cell phone pre-owned, you'll have to locate an alternative unlocking process to unlock your cellphone.

Step 3

When you are not the orginal owner of the mobile phone, you'll have to obtain an unlock code from a third party supplier. Thankfully there are a lot of online suppliers selling services by merely giving them your cellphone's IMEI number, it's make and model and the network it is locked to. The price of the service and the time it will take to IMEI unlock your mobile phone will depend upon the above factors, and will vary quite considerably for more obscure mobiles or networks. Working with a 3rd party unlocking company is commonly the quickest and the most convenient way to permanently unlock your cell phone, as it will be done remotely without your mobile phone ever needing to leave your pocession. Once your phone has been sucessfully unlocked it can then be used on any network and in any country you wish.