Guidelines on how to Unlock Cellphones by IMEI

How you can Unlock Cellphones by IMEI (3 quick steps)

By Victoria Mackel

Whenever you get a smartphone from a cell phone provider, it is locked to that company's service. If the company gives you a free or reduced price cellphone, you typically have to agree to a one- or two-year contract as well. You can avoid this contract and freely change between providers, along with travel outside of the country and use domestic networks, easily by unlocking your handset using the IMEI number. If you wish to unlock your cell phone quickly and easily, follow the three simple steps below.

Step 1

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

Step 2

Once you have found the IMEI number of your cell phone, call your existing carrier and find out if they'll supply you with an unlock code. Dependent on the circumstances, they might grant your request. Then again, different providers will have thier own requirements that need to be met before they are willing to provide you with an unlock code, and many could very well refuse. Typically, if you have finished your service contract, your mobile phone provider may supply you guidelines on how to factory unlock your phone, but in most cases they'll insist you are the original owner of the cellphone (the contract on thier system is in your name). When you are not, for example, you purchased the smartphone second hand, you must find an alternative unlocking technique to permanently unlock your cellphone.

Step 3

If you're not the orginal owner of the cellphone, you are going to need to purchase an unlock service from a third party supplier. Thankfully there are loads of on-line providers selling services by merely providing them with your phone's IMEI code, it's make and model and the network it's locked to. The price of the service and the time it will take to IMEI unlock your smartphone will depend upon these factors, and will vary quite significantly for more obscure phones or networks. Utilizing a third party unlocking company is generally the quickest and the most straightforward way to unlock your cell phone, as it will be completed remotely without your cellphone ever having to leave your pocession. After your smartphone has been sucessfully unlocked it can then be used with any carrier and in any country you decide.