Simple methods to Unlock Cell Phones by IMEI

Find out how to Unlock Cellphones via IMEI

By Neely Said

When ever you purchase a mobile phone via a cell phone provider, it is always locked to that company's service. If the company provides you with a free or discounted cellphone, you usually have to agree to a 1- or 2-year plan as well. You can avoid this contract and freely switch between networks, and travel overseas and use domestic networks, simply by unlocking your handset using the IMEI code. If you wish to unlock your cellphone quickly and easily, follow the three simple steps below.

Step 1

Find the 15-digit IMEI number. This is typically printed on the mobile phone beneath the battery. You can also sometimes find it inside your cellphone's setting page or by keying in a special code to get your mobile phone to display the IMEI number on your screen. Most of the time, the code is *#06#

Step 2

Once you've found the IMEI code of your phone, call your existing network and find out if they'll supply you with an unlock code. Based on your circumstances, they may very well grant your request. On the other hand, different service providers will likely have thier own requirements that need to be met before they will provide you with an unlock code, and many can refuse. Frequently, if you've finished your contract, your cellphone provider will probably give you guidelines on how to unlock your cellphone, but in general they will insist you're the original owner of the phone (the contract on thier system is in your name). When you're not, for example, you purchased the mobile phone second-hand, you'll need to locate an alternative unlocking method to unlock your cellphone.

Step 3

When you're not the orginal owner of the mobile phone, you are going to have to buy an unlock code from a 3rd party service provider. Fortunately there are plenty of on-line providers selling services by just giving them your phone's IMEI number, it's make and model and the network it's locked to. The cost of the service and the time it takes to IMEI unlock your phone depends upon the aforementioned factors, and can vary quite considerably for more obscure models or networks. Using a third party unlocking provider is typically the quickest and most convenient way to IMEI unlock your mobile phone, as it can be conducted remotely without your phone ever needing to leave your pocession. As soon as your smartphone has been sucessfully unlocked it can then be used with any carrier and in any country you chose.