How you Unlock Smart Phones by IMEI (three basic steps)

How you Unlock Phones by IMEI (in three simple steps)

By Pa Mccoin

When you buy a cell phone from a mobile phone provider, it is always locked into that network's service. If the company gives you a free or reduced price cellphone, you generally have to consent to a one- or two-year agreement as well. You can avoid this contract and freely swap between networks, as well as travel overseas and use other networks, easily by unlocking your mobile phone using the IMEI code. Following the three simple step below will enable your mobile phone to be unlocked permanently.

Step 1

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

Step 2

After you have found the IMEI number of your cellphone, get in touch with your current carrier and find out if they can provide you with an unlock code. Depending on your circumstances, they might grant your request. On the other hand, many providers can have thier own set of guidelines that need to be fulfilled before they are willing to supply you with an unlock code, and many could refuse. Typically, if you have finished your contract, your mobile phone provider could supply you instructions on how to factory unlock your mobile phone, but normally they will insist you're the original owner of the phone (the contract on thier system is in your name). If you're not, for example, you bought the mobile phone second hand, you will have to find an alternative unlocking strategy to unlock your smartphone.

Step 3

For anyone who is not the orginal owner of the cellphone, you will have to purchase an unlock service from a 3rd party supplier. Thankfully there are lots of online companies selling services by merely giving them your smartphone's IMEI code, it's model and make and the network it is locked to. The price of the service and the time it takes to IMEI unlock your mobile phone depends upon the above mentioned factors, and can vary quite considerably for more obscure mobile phones or networks. Using a third party unlocking provider is typically the fastest and the most hassle-free way to factory unlock your phone, as it can be conducted remotely without your cellphone ever needing to leave your pocession. After your cell phone has been sucessfully unlocked it can then be used on any network and in any country you wish.