How one can Unlock Cellular Phones via IMEI (in 3 steps)

By Yesenia Couillard

Every time you acquire a cell phone via a cell phone provider, it will be locked to that network's service. If the company provides you with a free or reduced price smartphone, you generally have to agree to a one- or two-year agreement as well. You can avoid this contract and freely switch between providers, in addition to travel abroad and use domestic networks, easily by unlocking your handset using the IMEI code. If you wish to unlock your cellphone quickly and easily, follow the three simple steps below.

Step 1

Get the 15-digit IMEI code. This is typically written on the cellphone under the battery. You can also sometimes locate it inside your mobile phone's setting page or by keying in a unique code to get your smartphone to show the IMEI number on the screen. In most instances, this code is *#06#

Step 2

After you've located the IMEI number of your smartphone, speak to your existing network carrier and find out if they'll give you an unlock code. Based on your circumstances, they could very well grant your request. Nevertheless, many providers will probably have thier own conditions that need to be met before they will offer you with an unlock code, and many will probably refuse. Usually, if you have finished your service contract, your phone provider may supply you directions on how to unlock your mobile phone, but in most cases they will insist you are the original owner of the cell phone (the contract on thier system is in your name). If you are not, for instance, you purchased the mobile phone 2nd hand, you must locate an alternative unlocking method to unlock your phone.

Step 3

When you're not the orginal owner of the cellphone, you are going to have to obtain an unlock service from a third party service provider. Thankfully there are loads of on-line companies selling services by merely giving them your phone's IMEI code, it's model and make and the network it's locked to. The price of the service and the time it takes to unlock your smartphone depends upon these factors, and will vary quite significantly for more obscure models or networks. Making use of a 3rd party unlocking provider is usually the fastest and the most straightforward way to permanently unlock your cell phone, as it can be executed remotely without your phone ever having to leave your pocession. Once your smartphone has been sucessfully unlocked it can then be used with any carrier and in any country you chose.