Simple methods to Unlock Mobile Phones by IMEI (in three straight-forward steps)

By Rasheeda Husmann

Every time you acquire a phone through a cellular provider, you'll find it locked to that network's service. If the company provides you with a free or reduced price cellphone, you ordinarily have to consent to a one- or two-year agreement as well. You can avoid this contract and freely swap between providers, along with travel abroad and use domestic networks, simply by unlocking your cell phone using the IMEI number. To permanently unlock your cell phone follow the 3 simple steps below.

Step 1

Locate the 15-digit IMEI code. This is generally written on the cell phone beneath the battery. You can also generally locate it in your cell phone's setting page or by entering a special code to get your phone to show the IMEI number on the screen. In most cases, this code is *#06#

Step 2

After you've located the IMEI number of your smartphone, call your current service provider and ask if they will supply you with an unlock code. Depending on the circumstances, they may well grant your request. Although, different network carriers will likely have thier own requirements that need to be met before they will supply you with an unlock code, and many may well refuse. Often, if you have finished your service contract, your phone provider could very well give you directions on how to factory unlock your mobile phone, but typically they'll insist you are the original owner of the smartphone (the contract on thier system is in your name). In the event you are not, for example, you bought the cell phone used, you will need to find an alternative unlocking method to factory unlock your cellphone.

Step 3

If you are not the orginal owner of the phone, you are going to need to buy an unlock code from a third party provider. Luckily there are a great deal of on-line suppliers selling services by just providing them with your cell phone's IMEI number, it's model and make and the network its locked to. The price of the service and the time it will take to IMEI unlock your cellphone depends upon these factors, and can vary quite considerably for more obscure devices or networks. Utilising a third party unlocking company is typically the quickest and most hassle-free option to unlock your smartphone, as it will be conducted remotely without your mobile phone ever needing to leave your pocession. Once your mobile phone's been sucessfully unlocked it can then be used on any network and in any country you want.