Best ways to Unlock Mobile Phones via IMEI (three easy to understand steps)

Learn how to Unlock Smartphones via IMEI

By Barbie Kalinger

When you get a mobile phone via a cellphone provider, it's actually locked into that company's service. If the company gives you a free or reduced price cell phone, you normally have to agree to a one- or two-year agreement as well. You can avoid this contract and freely switch between providers, and travel outside of the country and roam on domestic networks, easily by unlocking your mobile phone using the IMEI code. The three simple steps below are all that is needed to officially unlock your cellphone permanently.

Step 1

Locate the 15-digit IMEI number. This is usually printed on the cell phone under the battery. You can also typically find it inside your phone's setting page or by entering a unique code to get your phone to display the number on the screen. Most of the time, this code is *#06#

Step 2

When you've located the IMEI code of your smartphone, get in touch with your current service provider and ask them if they will supply you with an unlock code. Depending on the circumstances, they might possibly grant your request. However, many carriers often have thier own conditions that need to be met before they will offer you with an unlock code, and many will probably refuse. Typically, if you've completed your service contract, your phone provider will most likely give you directions on how to permanently unlock your cell phone, but usually they'll insist you're the original owner of the mobile phone (the contract on thier system is in your name). When you're not, for instance, you bought the cell phone used, you must find an alternative unlocking strategy to unlock your cellphone.

Step 3

When you are not the orginal owner of the smartphone, you are going to need to acquire an unlock service from a 3rd party supplier. Luckily there are a lot of on line vendors offering services by simply giving them your smartphone's IMEI number, it's make and model and the network its locked to. The cost of the service and the time it will take to unlock your smartphone will depend upon the above factors, and can vary quite considerably for more obscure mobiles or networks. Utilizing a 3rd party unlocking provider is often the quickest and most hassle-free method to unlock your cell phone, as it will be performed remotely without your mobile phone ever needing to leave your pocession. As soon as mobile phone has been sucessfully unlocked it can then be used on any network and in any country you decide.