Proven methods to Unlock Cell Phones via IMEI (in 3 simple and easy steps)

Proven methods to Unlock Smart Phones by IMEI

By Estelle Kapp

Every time you obtain a smartphone from a network provider, it will be locked to that company's service. If the company gives you a free or discounted cellphone, you commonly have to consent to a one- or two-year contract as well. You can avoid this contract and freely change between providers, as well as travel abroad and roam on other networks, easily by unlocking your cell phone using the IMEI code. In order to unlock your smartphone, simply follow the 3 steps below.

Step 1

Get the 15-digit IMEI number. This is generally written on the cell phone beneath the battery. You can also sometimes locate it inside your cellphone's setting page or by entering a special code to get your phone to show the IMEI number on your screen. Most of the time, this code is *#06#

Step 2

After you have found the IMEI number of your phone, speak to your existing service provider and find out if they'll give you an unlock code. Dependent on the circumstances, they might grant your request. But, many networks will likely have thier own requirements that need to be fulfilled before they will provide you with an unlock code, and many could refuse. Typically, if you have finished your contract, your mobile provider may very well provide you instructions on how to IMEI unlock your cell phone, but usually they will insist you're the original owner of the phone (the contract on thier system is in your name). In the event you are not, for example, you bought the smartphone second hand, you need to locate an alternative unlocking method to permanently unlock your cell phone.

Step 3

For anybody who is not the orginal owner of the cellphone, you'll need to obtain an unlock code from a 3rd party supplier. The good news is there are a great deal of on line companies selling services merely by giving them your phone's IMEI number, it's model and make and the network its locked to. The price of the service and the time it takes to unlock your mobile phone depends upon these factors, and can vary quite considerably for more obscure handsets or networks. Using a third party unlocking service is usually the quickest and most hassle-free option to permanently unlock your cell phone, as it can be carried out remotely without your cell phone ever having to leave your pocession. As soon as phone has been sucessfully unlocked it can then be used on any network and in any country you chose.