Unlocking your phone isn't hard to do—and it's completely legal—but a little help can go a long way, because the process varies from phone to phone and carrier to carrier. If you didn't make a point of buying an unlocked model when you purchased your phone, it's likely tied to your current network.
But the final verdict by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is resoundingly in favor of the consumer. Yes, it is legal to unlock phones. More importantly, the FCC has mandated that all carriers should unlock phones for their consumers for free if a consumer so desires.
When a handset is locked it means it will only work with the provider that you bought it from. If your phone is locked it won't automatically become unlocked when your contract expires with your provider. You'll have to specifically ask your carrier to unlock it.
Your wireless service provider needs the IMEI number to unlock your phone. Contact your mobile service provider and say you want to unlock your phone. Your service provider will review your account to confirm you meet all requirements to have your phone unlocked for free.
$80 for devices that have never been activated, or active for six months or less. $25 for devices activated for six months to two years.
Generally speaking, postpaid phones that have been sold through one of Australia's major telcos should be unlocked. However, if you have an older phone model – from around 2013 to 2015 – it's more likely that it could be a locked phone that won't work if you are planning on switching carriers.
Only your carrier can unlock your iPhone. Contact them and request an unlock. After you submit the request, it might take a few days to complete. Contact your carrier to check the status of your request.
Your postpaid device is eligible to be unlocked by a participating provider after you have fulfilled the applicable service contract, completed the device installment plan or paid an early termination fee.
Unfortnately, if you lost your phone, the person who fnds it, if doesn't return your phone, will be able to unlock it and later on use it. All that person needs to do is a factory reset and bypass Google's account veryfication. However, it is strongly reocmmneded to report your phone's IMEI to your local authorities.
Usually, the unlock code is obtained from the supplier within a maximum period of 24 business hours, although there are cases where this could take anywhere from one hour up to three business days. Other times, the code is provided in less than 15 minutes.
You have three options to unlock your smartphone: Contact your carrier. Buy an unlock code online. Make sure your new phone isn't locked in the first place.
Only your carrier can unlock your iPhone. Contact them and request an unlock. After you submit the request, it might take a few days to complete. Contact your carrier to check the status of your request.
It's completely legal to unlock your iPhone if you've finished paying for your contract or you purchased it outright, unsubsidised. However, if you're still in the process of paying for your contract you don't fully own the iPhone yet, so you're best to check with your carrier before unlocking it.
The Network Unlock Code (NUC), sometimes called a Network Unlock PIN (NUP) or Network Control Key (NCK), allows you to unlock a mobile phone from its original network. If you've not received a NUC you can request one.
First, a thief is going to try to disable your phone. They might do this by pulling out your battery, removing your SIM card, switching the phone to airplane mode, or, well, turning off your phone. Second, a thief will try to wipe your device. In order to resell it, they'll want to prime it for the next owner.
Here's how it works. The Police have two methods for tracking your phone when it's stolen, they can use your phone number or your IMEI number. The problem with your phone number is that thieves can easily just discard your SIM card and replace it another.
If you can't unlock your phone, you'll need to erase it. Then you can set it up again and set a new screen lock. If you can't sign in to your Google Account, learn how to recover your account.
But you're probably wondering what exactly happens when you move your SIM card to another phone or get a new SIM card altogether. The short answer? Not much. All the really important stuff is either on your account or saved to your phone, so switching SIM cards isn't too risky.
No, police cannot force you to unlock your cellphone without a search warrant. The Fourth Amendment requires police to have a warrant or your consent to search your phone.
If you buy a phone from Telstra on an Upfront plan, it will be unlocked. However, all Telstra prepaid phones are locked.
Unlocking fees
Prepaid mobile phone/broadband: Charge your service to $80 value or more; if not, you'll pay $80 if your service has been active less than 6 months, or $25 if you've had it for longer. Postpaid devices: There's currently no fee to unlock devices purchased on an Optus plan.
First, some good news: your phone is probably already unlocked. If you bought it SIM-free then chances are it will be, as will it if you bought it after December 2021 (with rare exceptions) as it's now required that networks sell them unlocked.