Can I Unlock My Phone Without a Sim Card
Phone unlocking: the nuts
More than and more Britons are getting their phones unlocked. That was born out past a Uswitch survey that revealed nosotros spend an incredible £48 million per twelvemonth on unlocking our handsets.
Not only does an unlocked phone allow you take reward of inexpensive SIM only deals across the entire range of networks. It also makes information technology easier to pass on your old telephone to a family member or friend.
But although mobile phones take been a huge part of our lives for the all-time part of 20 years, confusion yet surrounds the process of getting them unlocked. And that'due south where we come in.
On this page, we'll outline some handy tips around unlocking your phone. We'll as well talk you through the major Uk networks' policies, so you'll know exactly what you've got to practise to go your phone unlocked.
And we'll dispel some persistent myths around the subject. For instance, is it illegal? Should y'all actually be paying to get your handset unlocked? And if so, how much?
Are in that location risks involved? And what happens to your warranty? Read on and nosotros'll tell you everything yous need to know...
Getting your phone unlocked? In the market for a good SIM but bargain? Here'south our pick of the best SIM simply deals around.
SIM only deals
What does it mean when a phone is locked?
When a handset is locked information technology ways information technology volition only work with the provider from whom yous bought information technology.
If your phone is locked information technology won't automatically become unlocked when your contract expires with your provider.
You'll have to specifically enquire your carrier to unlock it. We'll explain how it works in due form.
Is your phone unlocked? How tin can y'all find out?
It's uncomplicated to find out if your telephone is locked. Just insert a SIM bill of fare from some other carrier (you'll be able to become one free from a phone shop or past ordering one online) and encounter if the proper noun of the network appears on your handset.
If it does and you're able to utilize your phone, it's unlocked.
My phone's locked. What at present? Is it legal to unlock information technology?
If yous want to unlock your phone, you have several options.
One way is to take information technology to a local, contained telephone store which will commonly charge you a fee of around £15 for the service.
Some other method is to do it yourself past getting agree of a code or using a special data cable and software. Even so, y'all do need a fair degree of technical know-how to do so.
It's not illegal to unlock your telephone with either of these methods. However, in both cases you risk invalidating your warranty.
Merely the safest and smartest way of unlocking mobile phones is to call your network and inquire them to unlock it.
Whether a charge volition apply and how fast and readily they'll unlock it depends on your carrier'southward policy. We'll take a look at all the major networks' policies below.
SIM only deals
I'thou going to unlock my phone via my network. How does it piece of work?
When yous contact your network to unlock your phone by phone, they'll ask you for your IMEI number. This is an identifier that's unique to your telephone and enables your network to discern make and model, too as its serial number.
You can go the number in a variety of ways. Simply perchance the easiest is by opening phone app, then entering *#06# using the keyboard. The IMEI number volition wink up on the screen instantly for you to have down with a piece of paper. Or with your phone's Notes app.
Alternatively, if you've got an iPhone you can find information technology via your Settings app. First open up up settings, then press 'General', followed by 'About'. You'll observe it towards the bottom of the screen.
Got an Android telephone? Y'all tin as well get your IMEI through the Settings part of your telephone. Once y'all've opened Settings, get to 'About Device' and thence to 'Status'. And at that place you'll find information technology.
In one case you've provided your network with your IMEI they tin starting time the unlocking process.
How long it'll actually have and whether a charge applies depends principally on your network's policy. Even so, it's also afflicted by whether you lot're a pay monthly or pay equally you go customer and by the make and model of your telephone.
We examine each of the major networks' policy on phone unlocking further down the folio.
Why should I unlock my telephone?
Uswitch studies evidence the the well-nigh common reason for unlocking a phone is to take advantage of well priced SIM only deals.
When your phone'southward unlocked, you're not limited to tariffs offered by the network you bought your phone from. You can have your pick from the whole marketplace.
Just as important is that really good SIM merely deals tend to be up for grabs for a limited period only.
Having a SIM only deal gives yous the freedom you need to chop and change and snap upward the all-time offers while they're still effectually.
Many people unlock their phone when they want to sell information technology. Mostly unlocked phones command higher prices and sell faster than those that are still tied to a network.
If y'all're a frequent traveller and want to save money on roaming charges by using SIMs from overseas networks, you'll need a phone that'due south unlocked.
Compare SIM simply deals here:
SIM only deals
Can I unlock my phone for free? How long does it take to unlock my phone?
Uswitch's survey into telephone unlocking revealed that the time information technology takes to unlock a telephone and the cost you should expect to pay is i of the areas where Britons are nearly confused.
That was borne out by the finding that almost one-3rd of consumers recollect that unlocking a phone volition be instant.
In reality, it takes to get your phone unlocked depends on your provider. Just y'all should be mindful that yous could be waiting for anything between a few days or up to 30 days for the process to be complete.
To clarify your network's policy, check out our network-by-network guide below.
Network by network guide to unlocking policy
How easy information technology is to unlock your phone largely depends on your network's policy. Here we look at each of the Britain major carriers in plough, so you tin see where you stand.
Iii - How to unlock a Three phone
Does Iii lock phones?
If you bought your phone from Three after Dec 13th 2013, it won't be locked. That goes for pay every bit you go phones, equally well as those bought on contract from Three.
Phones bought before this point will, however, be locked to Three.
Is there a charge? Does a fourth dimension-limit apply?
No charge applies. Iii will unlock your phone free of charge.
Three does not enforce a time limit. Y'all can unlock your pay monthly telephone at any time during your contract.
How long does it accept?
Await a wait of up to seven days.
How do I go far affect to unlock it?
Three phones are already unlocked when y'all buy them. Then you won't need to talk to anyone from Three.
Compare Three deals
Virgin Mobile - How to unlock a Virgin Media phone
Does Virgin Mobile lock phones?
Virgin Mobile pay monthly customers phones are unlocked.
Pay every bit you go customers aren't then lucky, though, with Virgin Mobile opting to lock certain models to its network.
Is at that place a charge to unlock a phone? Does a time limit use?
To unlock a Virgin Mobile phone, pay as you become customers volition exist charged £15.32. However, later on you've endemic the telephone for 12 months, it'due south free.
How long does information technology accept?
If your Virgin Mobile pay as you go handset is locked, you're looking at a wait of upward to 30 days for the process to be completed.
How do I go far touch to unlock it?
To unlock your handset, go far touch with Virgin Mobile's customer support team past calling 789 from your Virgin Mobile handset. Alternatively, you ring 0345 6000 789 from whatever other mobile phone or landline.
Compare Virgin Mobile deals
EE - How to unlock an EE phone
Does EE lock phones?
Pay monthly and pay equally you go EE phones are locked to its network.
Is at that place a charge to unlock a phone? Does a time limit apply?
EE will only unlock pay monthly phones after six months. To unlock an EE pay monthly phone you need to ring 150 from your EE telephone. If you're yet nether contract, a charge of £8.99 applies. If you lot're out of contract, however, it'southward free.
Be aware that y'all tin can only unlock a pay monthly telephone if y'all've had your contract for 6 months or more.
EE will unlock pay as you go or SIM only devices can be straight away, with no fourth dimension limit. A charge of £8.99 applies, unless you bought the phone directly from EE. In which case, there's no charge.
How long does it take?
The time it takes to unlock pay monthly and pay as you lot get phones on EE depends on which brand of handset yous've got.
An iPhone or iPad has a wait of up to seven days attached.
If you've got any other brand of handset or tablet, expect a await of up to ten days.
How do I get in touch to unlock it?
Call 150 from your EE telephone. Or 0800 956 6000 from whatever other mobile phone or landline.
Alternatively, use this online form.
Compare EE deals
O2 - How to unlock an O2 phone
Does O2 lock phones?
All pay monthly phones bought on O2 from June 2022 are sold unlocked.
Pay as you become phones sold on O2 are nonetheless sold locked to the network. But tin be hands unlocked.
Is in that location a accuse to unlock a phone? Does a time limit utilise?
O2 pay monthly customers are not discipline to a time limit and can unlock their phone gratuitous of charge at any point in their contract.
O2 pay as you go customers can likewise unlock their phone at at time, for no charge.
How long does it take?
If you lot bought an O2 pay monthly or pay as you lot go phone before June 2018, you lot're looking at a wait of up to 72 hours to get your handset unlocked by the network.
How do I get in touch to unlock information technology?
Call 202 from your O2 phone or ring 0344 8090202 from whatever other phone or a landline.
Prefer not to talk to anyone? Yous tin can also unlock via O2's site or through the MyO2 app.
Compare O2 deals
Vodafone - How to unlock a Vodafone phone
Does Vodafone lock phones?
All Vodafone pay monthly and pay as you become handsets bought after July 2013 will be locked to the network.
Is there a charge to unlock a telephone? Does a time limit apply?
Vodafone customers on pay as you go can unlock their phone for free.
To be eligible to do then, PAYG customers must have used their phone number with the handset for at least thirty days.
Pay monthly customers can also unlock their handset free of charge.
How long does it have?
For pay equally you become and pay monthly customers, Vodafone stipulates a look of up to 10 days.
How practise I get in bear on to unlock information technology?
Telephone call 191 from your Vodafone handset, or 03333 040 191 from all other mobiles or landlines.
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Tesco Mobile - how to unlock a Tesco Mobile phone
Does Tesco Mobile lock phones?
It does. Only Tesco Mobile pay monthly and pay as you get phone customers can unlock their handsets pretty easily.
Is there a accuse to unlock a phone? Does a time limit apply?
Pay monthly Tesco Mobile customers can unlock their phone for free. Even so, depending on the handset a time limit may utilize. Essentially, this ways that you not be able to unlock phones that were recently released.
Pay as you get Tesco Mobile customers can unlock their phones for no charge, provided they wait 12 months later on it was first activated. A charge of £ten applies if yous want to unlock a pay as y'all go phone earlier 12 months is upwards.
How long does it have?
Tesco Mobile customers usually face a wait of seven working days to receive their unlocking code. However this varies according to the handset. It could take up to 20 days.
How do I make it touch to unlock it?
Phone call 4422 from your Tesco Mobile phone, or 0345 301 4455 from any other mobile phone or landline.
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iD Mobile - how to unlock an iD Mobile phone
Does iD Mobile lock phones?
With the exception of iPhones, all iD Mobile handsets sold with a pay monthly iD contract are unlocked at the point of buy. In the case of iPhones, the handset will exist unlocked six months afterwards the contract started.
Is at that place a charge to unlock a phone? Does a time limit use?
Locked iPhones on iD Mobile bought on a monthly contract can be unlocked for costless, within the first half dozen months. As indicated to a higher place, thereafter they're unlocked anyway.
How long does it have to unlock?
Unlocking a locked iPhone on iD Mobile takes between three-v days.
How do I make it touch to unlock information technology?
Call 7777 from an iD Mobile phone, or call 0333 003 7777 from whatsoever other mobile or landline.
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Heaven Mobile - how to unlock a Sky Mobile phone
Does Sky Mobile lock phones?
All Sky Mobile phones are supplied unlocked.
Is in that location a charge to unlock a telephone? Does a time limit apply?
Because Sky Mobile phones are supplied unlocked, at that place is no charge for unlocking them. Nor does a time limit employ.
How long does information technology have to unlock?
Sky Mobile phones are unlocked from day ane.
How do I arrive touch to unlock it?
If yous observe your Sky Mobile phone isn't unlocked, you can achieve customer support on 0330 041 2639.
Which network's best for coverage? Nosotros weigh them upwards here: guide to network coverage
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Source: https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/guides/how-to-unlock-a-phone-a-guide-to-unlocking-mobile-phones/
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