Methods to Unlock Smartphones via IMEI

By Dara Lacusky

When you buy a cell phone through a cell phone provider, it is actually locked to that company's service. If the company gives you a free or reduced price mobile phone, you generally have to consent to a 1- or 2-year plan as well. You can avoid this contract and freely swap between networks, and also travel abroad and use domestic networks, simply by unlocking your mobile phone using the IMEI code. Following the three simple steps below will enable you to unlock your cell phone permanently.

Step 1

Get the 15-digit IMEI code. This is usually printed on the smartphone underneath the battery. You can also sometimes locate it inside your smartphone's setting page or by entering a unique code to get your cell phone to display the number on the screen. In most cases, this code is *#06#

Step 2

Once you have located the IMEI number of your mobile phone, get in touch with your current carrier and ask if they will give you an unlock code. Based on your circumstances, they may very well grant your request. But unfortunately, different providers can have thier own conditions that need to be met before they are willing to provide you with an unlock code, and many can refuse. Usually, if you have completed your contract, your phone provider could very well give you directions on how to IMEI unlock your phone, but in general they will insist you are the original owner of the handset (the contract on thier system is in your name). In the event you're not, for instance, you purchased the cell phone used, you need to locate an alternative unlocking process to unlock your mobile phone.

Step 3

For anyone who is not the orginal owner of the phone, you are going to have to buy an unlock service from a third party service provider. The good news is there are a lot of online providers offering services by simply providing them with your smartphone's IMEI number, it's make and model and the network it is locked to. The cost of the service and the time it takes to IMEI unlock your cell phone depends upon the above mentioned factors, and will vary quite significantly for more obscure models or networks. Utilizing a third party unlocking service is often the fastest and most straightforward way to IMEI unlock your cellphone, as it will be executed remotely without your smartphone ever having to leave your pocession. As soon as phone's been sucessfully unlocked it can then be used on any network and in any country you want.