More and more people are buying phones directly from telephone operators who offer phones at very low prices, in exchange for signing a contract. The problem is that these phones will only work with that operator's SIM and if, for example, you move abroad, you won't be able to use that phone with another SIM.
Another very thorny case is the purchase of a used phone, believing that it is unlocked and usable with any operator, when it is not. A more fortunate case is that of an expired contract: in practice, the phone was locked with that operator only for a certain period of time, after which it can be easily unlocked.
Well, if your case falls into one of these, then we can try to figure out how to unlock the phone, which the operator has blocked through the IMEI code.
Attention, before continuing, it is good to clarify an important concept. If the mobile phone you bought is not blocked by the operator because the previous owner no longer pays the contract installments, but because it was stolen, then it is best to go to the police, hand over the mobile phone and report the seller. If you don't, you could be traced and reported for receiving stolen goods and it's really not worth taking this risk for a few tens or hundreds of euros.
If you're ready, let's find out how to unlock your phone!
- How to unlock your phone: find the IMEI number
- Unlock your phone by calling customer service
- Unlock your phone using the unlock code
How to unlock your mobile phone: find the IMEI code
The word IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity and is a 15-digit code that identifies each specific mobile phone. When a cell phone is stolen, for example, this code is used to lock the phone so that the thief cannot use it. The same code is used by telephone companies to bind it to their SIM.
Well, to unlock the phone the first thing to do is to identify the IMEI code of your mobile phone. You can usually find this number on the device box. If you threw it away, don't despair. Type the string #*06* (asterisk, pound zero six asterisk) on your mobile phone and the code will appear on your screen: take a pen and paper and write it down.
Unblock your mobile phone by calling customer service
Once you have the IMEI code, you can contact the telephone operator that blocked your phone. It will take a little patience and time but it is the most correct way to go. Talk to customer service and explain your situation to them. If the contract that linked your mobile phone to that operator has expired, there is no excuse: they have to unlock your phone! Send them all the information they require and find out about the times, but the thing is done.
On the other hand, if you have purchased a used mobile phone that is still linked by contract to that telephone operator, then you will also have to send them all the information on the purchase. This way you certify that you are in good faith and that it is their old customer at fault, not you! They may tell you some stories, but in truth the consumer associations have waged a long battle on this point and once it is certified that you have recently purchased that mobile phone, they will no longer be able to apply the contract to you: your mobile phone will have to be unlocked.
We know that customer service is difficult to talk to, that you can often find people who can't help you, and that you will be transferred from one operator to another. But it is good to repeat that this is the most correct and simplest way.
In truth, there is an alternative, but it is good to specify that if the mobile phone is still under contract and you unlock the phone in this way, you could face penalties. So make sure that the contract that bound your mobile phone to a particular mobile operator has ended, before proceeding to unlock the phone.
Unlock your phone using the unlock code
The unlock code is an eight-digit code used to unlock a contracted phone.
To get it, there are countless online sites that offer you to get it. Here we encounter the first problem: some are free, others are paid. Well you will say, the free ones may be a hoax, but the paid ones will be safe. Unfortunately this is not the case and some websites, even if free, are reliable. Other sites, even if paid for, are not, and you only risk wasting time and money because the code that will be provided to you will not unlock your smartphone, but will be a useless string of numbers.
Our advice is to make a list of these websites and then check their reliability by carrying out other searches on the net. Once you've chosen the one you can trust, follow the instructions to receive your phone's unlock code, providing it with your phone's IMEI number and email. The process of locating the unlock number may take a couple of days. Once you have the code, turn on the phone by inserting your SIM card (i.e. the one not linked to the phone purchase contract).
The mobile phone will ask you for a code, enter the eight-digit unlock code and if all goes well, your smartphone will be unlocked and you can finally use it to make and receive calls.
As you may have understood, unlocking a cell phone is not an easy path and it takes a little patience and luck, however it is not an impossible feat either. Our advice is to cut the problem at the source: when you buy a used cell phone, for example, make sure it isn't tied to a contract and you won't have any problems. If you're reading this page, though, I think you've already learned this the hard way.