Can You Unlock A Phone That Has No Service
Phone unlocking: the basics
More than and more than Britons are getting their phones unlocked. That was born out past a Uswitch survey that revealed we spend an incredible £48 million per year on unlocking our handsets.
Not only does an unlocked telephone let y'all take advantage of cheap SIM merely deals across the entire range of networks. Information technology also makes it easier to pass on your erstwhile telephone to a family member or friend.
Only although mobile phones have been a huge part of our lives for the best part of twenty years, confusion still surrounds the process of getting them unlocked. And that's where nosotros come in.
On this page, we'll outline some handy tips effectually unlocking your telephone. We'll likewise talk you through the major UK networks' policies, so yous'll know exactly what y'all've got to practise to get your telephone unlocked.
And we'll dispel some persistent myths effectually the subject. For case, is it illegal? Should you really be paying to go your handset unlocked? And if so, how much?
Are there risks involved? And what happens to your warranty? Read on and we'll tell you everything you lot need to know...
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SIM but deals
What does it hateful when a phone is locked?
When a handset is locked information technology ways it will only work with the provider from whom yous bought it.
If your telephone is locked it won't automatically become unlocked when your contract expires with your provider.
Yous'll take to specifically enquire your carrier to unlock it. We'll explicate how information technology works in due course.
Is your phone unlocked? How tin can you find out?
It's simple to notice out if your phone is locked. Simply insert a SIM card from another carrier (you lot'll exist able to become one free from a telephone shop or by ordering ane online) and see if the name of the network appears on your handset.
If information technology does and you're able to utilise your phone, it's unlocked.
My phone's locked. What now? Is information technology legal to unlock it?
If you lot desire to unlock your telephone, you accept several options.
One fashion is to accept it to a local, independent phone shop which volition unremarkably charge you a fee of around £fifteen for the service.
Another method is to do it yourself past getting agree of a code or using a special data cable and software. All the same, you practise need a fair caste of technical know-how to do so.
Information technology'due south non illegal to unlock your phone with either of these methods. All the same, in both cases y'all risk invalidating your warranty.
But the safest and smartest way of unlocking mobile phones is to phone call your network and ask them to unlock it.
Whether a charge will employ and how fast and readily they'll unlock it depends on your carrier's policy. We'll take a look at all the major networks' policies below.
SIM only deals
I'm going to unlock my telephone via my network. How does information technology work?
When yous contact your network to unlock your phone by phone, they'll ask you for your IMEI number. This is an identifier that's unique to your phone and enables your network to discern make and model, besides as its serial number.
You can get the number in a variety of ways. But maybe the easiest is by opening telephone app, and so entering *#06# using the keyboard. The IMEI number volition flash upwards on the screen instantly for you to have downward with a piece of newspaper. Or with your phone's Notes app.
Alternatively, if you've got an iPhone y'all can find information technology via your Settings app. First open up up settings, then press 'General', followed by 'Near'. You'll find it towards the bottom of the screen.
Got an Android phone? You can besides get your IMEI through the Settings part of your phone. Once you lot've opened Settings, go to 'About Device' and thence to 'Status'. And there you'll observe information technology.
Once you've provided your network with your IMEI they tin start the unlocking process.
How long it'll actually have and whether a charge applies depends principally on your network'due south policy. However, it'south also affected past whether you're a pay monthly or pay every bit you go client and by the make and model of your telephone.
We examine each of the major networks' policy on telephone unlocking farther down the page.
Why should I unlock my phone?
Uswitch studies show the the most common reason for unlocking a phone is to take reward of well priced SIM only deals.
When your phone'south unlocked, you're not limited to tariffs offered past the network you bought your phone from. You can take your pick from the whole market.
Simply as important is that really adept SIM only deals tend to be up for grabs for a limited menses simply.
Having a SIM merely deal gives yous the freedom you demand to chop and alter and snap up the best offers while they're however around.
Many people unlock their phone when they desire to sell it. Generally unlocked phones control higher prices and sell faster than those that are withal tied to a network.
If you're a frequent traveller and want to save money on roaming charges by using SIMs from overseas networks, you lot'll need a phone that'due south unlocked.
Compare SIM only deals hither:
SIM only deals
Can I unlock my telephone for gratuitous? How long does it accept to unlock my telephone?
Uswitch's survey into phone unlocking revealed that the time it takes to unlock a phone and the price you should wait to pay is ane of the areas where Britons are about confused.
That was borne out by the finding that near one-third of consumers think that unlocking a phone will be instant.
In reality, it takes to become your phone unlocked depends on your provider. Simply you should exist mindful that you could be waiting for annihilation between a few days or up to 30 days for the process to be consummate.
To clarify your network's policy, check out our network-by-network guide below.
Network by network guide to unlocking policy
How easy information technology is to unlock your phone largely depends on your network's policy. Here we look at each of the Britain major carriers in turn, so you can see where you stand.
Three - How to unlock a Three phone
Does Three lock phones?
If yous bought your phone from Three subsequently December 13th 2013, information technology won't be locked. That goes for pay as you go phones, likewise as those bought on contract from Three.
Phones bought earlier this point will, however, exist locked to Three.
Is there a charge? Does a time-limit apply?
No accuse applies. Three will unlock your phone complimentary of accuse.
Three does non enforce a time limit. Yous can unlock your pay monthly phone at any fourth dimension during your contract.
How long does it take?
Expect a wait of upwardly to 7 days.
How do I go far bear upon to unlock it?
Three phones are already unlocked when yous purchase them. Then you won't demand to talk to anyone from Three.
Compare 3 deals
Virgin Mobile - How to unlock a Virgin Media phone
Does Virgin Mobile lock phones?
Virgin Mobile pay monthly customers phones are unlocked.
Pay every bit you lot become customers aren't so lucky, though, with Virgin Mobile opting to lock certain models to its network.
Is at that place a accuse to unlock a phone? Does a fourth dimension limit apply?
To unlock a Virgin Mobile telephone, pay as you become customers volition be charged £xv.32. Nevertheless, after you've owned the phone for 12 months, it's gratis.
How long does it accept?
If your Virgin Mobile pay equally you lot go handset is locked, y'all're looking at a wait of up to 30 days for the process to be completed.
How do I get in touch to unlock it?
To unlock your handset, arrive bear upon with Virgin Mobile's customer support team by calling 789 from your Virgin Mobile handset. Alternatively, you band 0345 6000 789 from any other mobile phone or landline.
Compare Virgin Mobile deals
EE - How to unlock an EE phone
Does EE lock phones?
Pay monthly and pay as you go EE phones are locked to its network.
Is there a charge to unlock a phone? Does a fourth dimension limit apply?
EE will just unlock pay monthly phones afterward six months. To unlock an EE pay monthly phone yous need to ring 150 from your EE telephone. If you're still nether contract, a accuse of £8.99 applies. If you're out of contract, all the same, it's free.
Be aware that you can merely unlock a pay monthly phone if you've had your contract for 6 months or more.
EE will unlock pay as you go or SIM only devices can be straight away, with no fourth dimension limit. A accuse of £8.99 applies, unless you bought the phone directly from EE. In which case, in that location's no charge.
How long does it accept?
The time it takes to unlock pay monthly and pay every bit you lot go phones on EE depends on which brand of handset you lot've got.
An iPhone or iPad has a look of up to 7 days attached.
If you've got any other brand of handset or tablet, wait a wait of upwardly to ten days.
How exercise I get in touch to unlock it?
Call 150 from your EE phone. Or 0800 956 6000 from whatever other mobile phone or landline.
Alternatively, use this online form.
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 lot become phones sold on O2 are still sold locked to the network. But tin be easily unlocked.
Is there a accuse to unlock a telephone? Does a time limit apply?
O2 pay monthly customers are not subject to a time limit and can unlock their telephone gratis of accuse at any point in their contract.
O2 pay as y'all go customers tin can likewise unlock their phone at at time, for no accuse.
How long does it have?
If yous bought an O2 pay monthly or pay as you go phone before June 2018, you're looking at a wait of up to 72 hours to get your handset unlocked by the network.
How exercise I go in touch on to unlock information technology?
Call 202 from your O2 phone or ring 0344 8090202 from whatsoever other phone or a landline.
Prefer non to talk to anyone? You can besides 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 become handsets bought after July 2013 will be locked to the network.
Is at that place a charge to unlock a phone? Does a time limit apply?
Vodafone customers on pay as you go can unlock their phone for costless.
To exist eligible to do and then, PAYG customers must have used their telephone number with the handset for at least 30 days.
Pay monthly customers can also unlock their handset free of charge.
How long does it take?
For pay every bit you go and pay monthly customers, Vodafone stipulates a expect of up to ten days.
How do I get in 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. But Tesco Mobile pay monthly and pay as you go phone customers can unlock their handsets pretty easily.
Is there a charge to unlock a phone? Does a time limit apply?
Pay monthly Tesco Mobile customers tin unlock their phone for gratis. Withal, depending on the handset a time limit may apply. Essentially, this ways that you non be able to unlock phones that were recently released.
Pay as you lot go Tesco Mobile customers can unlock their phones for no charge, provided they wait 12 months after it was first activated. A charge of £x applies if you desire to unlock a pay as yous go phone earlier 12 months is up.
How long does information technology take?
Tesco Mobile customers usually face a wait of vii working days to receive their unlocking code. Nonetheless this varies co-ordinate to the handset. It could take up to twenty days.
How practise I get in touch to unlock information technology?
Call 4422 from your Tesco Mobile telephone, 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 instance of iPhones, the handset will be unlocked six months after the contract started.
Is at that place a charge to unlock a phone? Does a fourth dimension limit apply?
Locked iPhones on iD Mobile bought on a monthly contract can exist unlocked for free, inside the first vi months. As indicated above, thereafter they're unlocked anyway.
How long does information technology take to unlock?
Unlocking a locked iPhone on iD Mobile takes betwixt three-5 days.
How practice I get in affect to unlock it?
Call 7777 from an iD Mobile telephone, or call 0333 003 7777 from whatsoever other mobile or landline.
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Sky Mobile - how to unlock a Sky Mobile phone
Does Sky Mobile lock phones?
All Sky 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 fourth dimension limit apply.
How long does it take to unlock?
Heaven Mobile phones are unlocked from mean solar day one.
How do I make it bear on to unlock information technology?
If you notice your Sky Mobile phone isn't unlocked, you can reach client support on 0330 041 2639.
Which network's best for coverage? We counterbalance them upwardly here: guide to network coverage
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Source: https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/guides/how-to-unlock-a-phone-a-guide-to-unlocking-mobile-phones/
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