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How to unlock your iPhone or any phone, on any network
If you bought your mobile phone from a network provider before December 2021, it may be locked to their network.
This means you won't be able to use your handset to get service from a different mobile network, at least until the lock has expired.
This article will explain what SIM locking is, and how you can go about unlocking your mobile phone if you think it is SIM-locked.
Find your network or phone below
EE
Most EE phones, especially newer models, will be unlocked. You can quickly check if your EE handset is unlocked via the EE website.
EE says that all Google Pixel, Oppo and OnePlus devices bought from them will already be unlocked.
How much does it cost?
Free of charge.
Can I request my code at any point during my contract?
Yes. There's no time limit.
How long does it take?
EE doesn't specify a timeframe, but for some users it can take up to 10 days, depending on the device.
How do I do it?
You should be able to do the whole process online through the EE website.
If that doesn't work, try calling EE support on 150. Or log on to EE's Live Chat.
O2
O2 has been selling unlocked phones since June 2018. So, if you bought your O2 phone after that, it should already be unlocked.
Otherwise, you will need to get in touch with O2 to request your unlock PIN.
How much does it cost?
Free of charge.
Can I request my code at any point during my contract?
Yes, there is no time limit.
How long does it take?
You'll usually get your code within 72 hours.
How do I do it?
The easiest way to do it is through your My O2 account. Simply log in, go to 'More' in the menu, then select 'Unlock your device' and follow the instructions.
You can also contact O2 via its website, which includes Live Chat.
Or you can call:
- 202 from a contract phone
- 4445 from a Pay As You Go phone
You'll need your IMEI ready. You can find this by opening the dialling screen (like you're making a call) and typing *#06#.
Vodafone
Most phones bought directly from Vodafone are already unlocked. However some older models may be locked.
Find out if your Vodafone phone is locked, and how to unlock it, here.
How much does it cost?
Free of charge.
Can I request my code at any point during my contract?
Yes, for contract customers. Pay As You Go customers need to have had their handset for 30 days.
How long does it take?
Vodafone says most phones will be unlocked within 72 hours. But in some cases it takes up to 10 days.
How do I do it?
Start the process online through the Vodafone website.
You can also call Vodafone Support from your Vodafone handset on 191.
Three
Three has been selling unlocked phones for years now. If you bought your Three phone after December 13, 2013, it should already be unlocked.
If your phone is older than this, it may still be locked to Three, but fortunately getting it unlocked is a doddle.
How much does it cost?
Free of charge.
Can I request my code at any point during my contract?
Yes, there is no time limit.
How long does it take?
Up to 7 days.
How do I do it?
Visit the Three website and enter your details. If you need your IMEI, you can get this opening the dialling screen (like you're making a call) and typing *#06#.
Sky Mobile
Good news. Sky Mobile phones have always been sold unlocked.
That's it. That's all there is to say. Your Sky Mobile phone is already unlocked and good to go. Try it. Slip another SIM in your Sky Mobile phone right now. It should work just fine.
And if, for some bizarre reason, it doesn't you can try the Sky help centre.
Virgin Mobile
All phones sold by Virgin Media should be already unlocked. If, for some reason, yours isn't, here's how to unlock your Virgin Mobile phone.
How much does it cost?
Free of charge.
Can I request my code at any point during my contract?
Previously, Virgin would only let you unlock your phone after you'd had it for 12 months. Now it seems they've changed their policy, although we're not 100% sure if there is still a minimum term.
How long does it take?
No official word from Virgin, but some estimates say it can take up to 48 hours.
How do I do it?
You'll need to call customer services either by dialling 150 from your Virgin Mobile handset or by texting your request to 07533 016 422.
Tesco Mobile
All handsets sold through Tesco Mobile are now unlocked as standard. But if you own an older model there's a chance it might still be locked.
Don't worry if that's the case - unlocking your Tesco Mobile handset is fairly straightforward.
How much does it cost?
Free of charge.
Can I request my code at any point during my contract?
Yes. Tesco says it will unlock any phone locked to the Tesco Mobile network, as long as it's not barred (reported lost or stolen).
Tesco Mobile Ireland is slightly different, however. It'll only unlock phones that: 'Have been topped up by, or had the contract paid off by €150 or have been on a Tesco Mobile tariff for nine months or longer.'
So, be on the look-out then if you picked up your handset in the Republic of Ireland.
How long does it take?
Tesco says it can take up to 7 days. You can track the progress of your application online.
How do I do it?
You can get started right away via the Tesco Mobile website.
iD Mobile
iD Mobile hasn't locked its phones since 2018. So there's a good chance it's already unlocked.
If your iD Mobile phone is older than 2018, you may need to get it unlocked, in which case, here's what to do.
How much does it cost?
Free of charge.
Can I request my code at any point during my contract?
iD Mobile says that you'll need to have been with them for at least six months, and not have an outstanding balance on your account.
How long does it take?
Three to five days, according to the iD Mobile website.
How do I do it?
Simply log on to iD Mobile's live chat.
You can also contact customer services on 7777 from your iD Mobile handset, or by calling 0333 003 7777.
iPhone
According to Apple UK's website, the only way to unlock your iPhone is to contact your service provider (see advice on unlocking by network, above).
Once your request has been approved, follow these steps to finish unlocking your iPhone:
If you have a new SIM card from another network provider
Simply swap your current SIM card for a new one. Your phone will activate.
If you don't have a new SIM card:
- Back up your iPhone to your iCloud.
- Erase your iPhone.
- Restore your iPhone from the backup your just made.
Having trouble? More info and help can be found on the Apple UK site.
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Samsung
According to Samsung's official site, the only way to unlock a Samsung phone is to contact your service provider (see advice on unlocking by network, above).
They will send you an unlock code. To use this:
- Power off your phone.
- Swap your existing SIM for a new one.
- Turn your phone back on.
- At the 'SIM Network Unlock PIN' screen, enter your unlock code.
Having trouble? More info and help, including Live Chat, on the Samsung UK website.
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Google Pixel phones bought directly from the Google store will already be unlocked.
If you bought it from another store and it's locked, you'll need to contact your network provider to get an unlock code.
From there, here's how to unlock your Google phone:
- Power off your phone and remove your current SIM card.
- Replace it with a different network's SIM card.
- Turn the phone on and follow the prompts to enter your unlock code.
Having trouble? More help and info can be found on the Google support site.
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Motorola
To unlock your Motorola phone, contact your network provider and request an unlock code.
Once you've received the code, simply:
- Turn your Motorola phone off and remove your SIM card.
- Replace it with a SIM card from a different network.
- Turn the phone back on and follow the on-screen prompts to enter your unlock code.
Having trouble? More help, including Live Chat, can be found on the Motorola site.
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Huawei
According to the Huawei website, some Huawei phones have an unlock function built-in.
To activate it:
- Go to 'Settings'.
- Click 'Connectivity'.
- Check if you have the 'SIM Unlock' option and, if so, follow the prompts.
Alternatively:
- Go to 'Settings'.
- Click 'Connectivity'.
- Go to 'Cellular'.
- Check if you have the 'SIM Unlock' option and, if so, follow the prompts.
Having trouble? More info and help can be found on the Huawei UK site.
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Alcatel
The only way to unlock an Alcatel phone is to first receive a network unlock code from your current network provider.
Once you have this, you will need to:
- Power off your phone.
- Remove your current SIM card and replace it with a different network's SIM.
- Turn the phone back on.
- You will receive a prompt to 'Enter Network Key'.
- Once entered, your Alcatel phone will be unlocked.
Or, if you have an unlock code from your network provider but don't have a new SIM card, you could also try:
- Power off your phone.
- Remove the SIM card.
- Turn the phone back on with no SIM card inserted.
- On the dialling screen, enter the code: *#0000*CODE#, where CODE is your network unlock PIN.
- Next, enter the code: *#0001*CODE#.
- Your Alcatel phone should now be unlocked.
Having trouble? More info and help can be found on the Alcatel UK site.
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Nokia
To unlock a Nokia phone, contact your network provider and request an unlock code.
Once you've received the code, simply:
- Turn your Nokia phone off and remove the SIM card.
- Replace it with a different network SIM and turn the phone back on.
- Enter your unlock code when prompted.
- You should see a message reading 'SIM Restriction Off' to confirm it's worked.
Having trouble? More help, including Live Chat, can be found on the Nokia UK site.
(Need a SIM card to try it out with? Treat yourself to a free giffgaff SIM)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my phone unlocked?
The easiest way to know if your phone is locked is to try a SIM from another network.
If you get a mobile network signal and can make or receive calls with another network's SIM card installed then, hey presto, your phone is unlocked.
Note: If it's locked, you'll usually get an error message on the screen after installing the other network's SIM.
Is SIM locking legal in UK?
As of December 2021, mobile networks are banned from selling locked phones in the UK. Though O2, Sky, Three, Virgin and some other networks began selling their new phones unlocked before December 2021.
However, a phone bought from another network provider, or one bought before that date may be locked.
How long does a SIM lock lasts?
Different network providers place different rules on how long a SIM lock lasts. Until recently, there was no law regulating SIM locking in the UK. Meaning that networks were free to lock your phone indefinitely.
But don't fret. Most networks will agree to unlock your phone if you simply contact them and request it.
Some networks, however, will unlock your phone after a set time. This is usually once your contract expires or after two years, whichever is sooner.
How do I unlock my phone?
Contact your network operator and ask for an unlock code. This is the official way to do things, and the way we recommend.
Or, you could unlock your phone yourself. Depending on the way you do this, it could cost you on average around £10, according to the BBC.
There are many websites which will give you instructions for unlocking your phone using your IMEI number. These services often incur a fee.
Finding your IMEI number: Open the dialling screen (like you're making a call) and type *#06#.
Please note: Unlocking your phone is legal. However, there's a risk that by using a high street unlocking vendor, or trying to do it yourself, you could invalidate your phone's warranty. That's why we recommend reaching out to your network provider first.
With that said, let's explore how to unlock your phone depending on which network you're with, and which phone you have.
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