How Do You Know if Your Phone Is Locked
Phone unlocking: the basics
More and more Britons are getting their phones unlocked. That was born out by a Uswitch survey that revealed we spend an incredible £48 million per twelvemonth on unlocking our handsets.
Not only does an unlocked phone let you take advantage of cheap SIM but deals beyond the unabridged range of networks. It also makes it easier to pass on your old phone to a family unit member or friend.
Just although mobile phones have been a huge part of our lives for the best part of 20 years, confusion still surrounds the procedure of getting them unlocked. And that'southward where we come in.
On this page, nosotros'll outline some handy tips around unlocking your telephone. We'll also talk you through the major UK networks' policies, so you'll know exactly what you've got to practice to get your phone unlocked.
And we'll dispel some persistent myths around the subject. For instance, is it illegal? Should you really be paying to get your handset unlocked? And if so, how much?
Are there risks involved? And what happens to your warranty? Read on and nosotros'll tell you everything you lot need to know...
Getting your phone unlocked? In the market for a good SIM only deal? Here's our selection of the best SIM only deals around.
SIM only deals
What does it mean when a phone is locked?
When a handset is locked it ways it will only work with the provider from whom you bought it.
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. We'll explain how information technology works in due course.
Is your phone unlocked? How tin can you lot find out?
It's simple to find out if your phone is locked. Simply insert a SIM carte du jour from another carrier (you'll be able to become ane free from a phone shop or by ordering one online) and encounter if the proper name 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 now? Is it legal to unlock it?
If you want to unlock your phone, you accept several options.
1 way is to take information technology to a local, independent telephone shop which will usually charge yous a fee of around £15 for the service.
Another method is to do information technology yourself by getting hold of a lawmaking or using a special data cablevision and software. Notwithstanding, you do demand a fair degree of technical know-how to do and then.
It's non illegal to unlock your telephone with either of these methods. However, in both cases you hazard invalidating your warranty.
But the safest and smartest way of unlocking mobile phones is to call your network and ask them to unlock it.
Whether a charge volition use and how fast and readily they'll unlock it depends on your carrier's policy. We'll have a await at all the major networks' policies beneath.
SIM just deals
I'1000 going to unlock my phone via my network. How does it work?
When you contact your network to unlock your phone by telephone, they'll inquire you lot for your IMEI number. This is an identifier that'due south unique to your phone and enables your network to discern make and model, every bit well as its series number.
You tin can get the number in a variety of means. But perhaps the easiest is by opening telephone app, and then entering *#06# using the keyboard. The IMEI number will flash up on the screen instantly for y'all to accept downward with a slice of paper. Or with your phone's Notes app.
Alternatively, if you've got an iPhone you can find it via your Settings app. Outset open up upward settings, and then press 'General', followed by 'About'. You'll discover it towards the bottom of the screen.
Got an Android telephone? You tin can as well go your IMEI through the Settings part of your phone. In one case you've opened Settings, go to 'Nearly Device' and thence to 'Status'. And at that place you lot'll find information technology.
In one case y'all've provided your network with your IMEI they can commencement the unlocking process.
How long it'll really take and whether a charge applies depends principally on your network's policy. However, it's also afflicted by whether you're a pay monthly or pay equally you get customer and past 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 phone?
Uswitch studies show the the most common reason for unlocking a phone is to take reward of well priced SIM but deals.
When your phone's unlocked, you lot're not express to tariffs offered by the network y'all bought your phone from. You tin can take your pick from the whole market.
Merely every bit important is that actually practiced SIM merely deals tend to be upwards for grabs for a express menses just.
Having a SIM but deal gives y'all the freedom you lot need to chop and modify and snap upward the best offers while they're still around.
Many people unlock their phone when they want to sell it. Generally unlocked phones control higher prices and sell faster than those that are still tied to a network.
If you lot're a frequent traveller and want to salve money on roaming charges past using SIMs from overseas networks, you'll need a phone that's unlocked.
Compare SIM just deals here:
SIM but deals
Can I unlock my telephone for complimentary? 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 phone and the price you should expect to pay is 1 of the areas where Britons are most confused.
That was borne out by the finding that well-nigh one-third of consumers recollect that unlocking a telephone will be instant.
In reality, information technology takes to go your phone unlocked depends on your provider. But you lot should be mindful that you lot could be waiting for anything between a few days or up to xxx days for the process to be complete.
To clarify your network'due south policy, check out our network-by-network guide below.
Network by network guide to unlocking policy
How easy it is to unlock your phone largely depends on your network'due south policy. Here we look at each of the Britain major carriers in turn, so y'all can see where you stand.
Iii - How to unlock a Iii telephone
Does Three lock phones?
If you bought your phone from Three after December 13th 2013, information technology won't be locked. That goes for pay as you go phones, as well equally those bought on contract from Three.
Phones bought before this point will, however, exist locked to Three.
Is there a charge? Does a fourth dimension-limit use?
No charge applies. Iii volition unlock your phone complimentary of charge.
Three does not enforce a fourth dimension limit. You tin can unlock your pay monthly phone at any time during your contract.
How long does it accept?
Expect a look of upward to seven days.
How do I get in bear on to unlock information technology?
Three phones are already unlocked when you purchase them. So you lot 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 so lucky, though, with Virgin Mobile opting to lock certain models to its network.
Is in that location a charge to unlock a phone? Does a fourth dimension limit utilize?
To unlock a Virgin Mobile phone, pay equally you lot become customers will exist charged £15.32. However, after you've owned the telephone for 12 months, information technology'southward free.
How long does it take?
If your Virgin Mobile pay as yous get handset is locked, you're looking at a await of upwardly to thirty days for the process to be completed.
How practice I get in touch to unlock information technology?
To unlock your handset, arrive touch on with Virgin Mobile's client support team by calling 789 from your Virgin Mobile handset. Alternatively, y'all ring 0345 6000 789 from any other mobile phone or landline.
Compare Virgin Mobile deals
EE - How to unlock an EE phone
Does EE lock phones?
Pay monthly and pay as you become EE phones are locked to its network.
Is there a charge to unlock a telephone? Does a time limit utilize?
EE will only unlock pay monthly phones after half dozen months. To unlock an EE pay monthly phone you need to ring 150 from your EE phone. If you're all the same nether contract, a charge of £viii.99 applies. If y'all're out of contract, however, it'south gratis.
Exist aware that you lot can merely unlock a pay monthly phone if y'all've had your contract for 6 months or more.
EE volition unlock pay as you go or SIM only devices can exist straight abroad, with no fourth dimension limit. A charge of £8.99 applies, unless you bought the telephone straight 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 get phones on EE depends on which brand of handset you'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 wait of up to ten days.
How practise I get in touch to unlock information technology?
Call 150 from your EE telephone. Or 0800 956 6000 from any 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 2018 are sold unlocked.
Pay as you become phones sold on O2 are still sold locked to the network. Simply can exist easily unlocked.
Is in that location a charge to unlock a phone? Does a time limit apply?
O2 pay monthly customers are not subject to a fourth dimension limit and can unlock their phone free of charge at whatsoever bespeak in their contract.
O2 pay as you get customers tin too unlock their telephone at at time, for no charge.
How long does it take?
If y'all bought an O2 pay monthly or pay as you become telephone before June 2018, you're looking at a look 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 band 0344 8090202 from any other phone or a landline.
Adopt not to talk to anyone? You tin too unlock via O2's site or through the MyO2 app.
Compare O2 deals
Vodafone - How to unlock a Vodafone telephone
Does Vodafone lock phones?
All Vodafone pay monthly and pay equally you become handsets bought after July 2013 will be locked to the network.
Is in that location a accuse to unlock a telephone? Does a time limit apply?
Vodafone customers on pay as you go tin can unlock their phone for free.
To be eligible to do so, PAYG customers must have used their phone number with the handset for at least 30 days.
Pay monthly customers can as well unlock their handset free of charge.
How long does information technology accept?
For pay as you go and pay monthly customers, Vodafone stipulates a look of upwards to ten days.
How do I make it touch to unlock it?
Call 191 from your Vodafone handset, or 03333 040 191 from all other mobiles or landlines.
Compare Vodafone deals
Tesco Mobile - how to unlock a Tesco Mobile telephone
Does Tesco Mobile lock phones?
Information technology does. But Tesco Mobile pay monthly and pay equally you get phone customers can unlock their handsets pretty easily.
Is there a charge to unlock a phone? Does a fourth dimension limit apply?
Pay monthly Tesco Mobile customers tin can unlock their phone for gratuitous. Notwithstanding, depending on the handset a time limit may apply. Essentially, this means that you not exist able to unlock phones that were recently released.
Pay as you get Tesco Mobile customers tin unlock their phones for no charge, provided they wait 12 months afterwards it was first activated. A accuse of £10 applies if you want to unlock a pay as you become telephone before 12 months is up.
How long does it have?
Tesco Mobile customers usually face a await of seven working days to receive their unlocking lawmaking. However this varies according to the handset. It could take upward to 20 days.
How do I arrive touch to unlock it?
Call 4422 from your Tesco Mobile phone, or 0345 301 4455 from any other mobile telephone or landline.
Compare Tesco Mobile deals
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 example of iPhones, the handset will be unlocked six months after the contract started.
Is there a accuse to unlock a phone? Does a time limit utilise?
Locked iPhones on iD Mobile bought on a monthly contract can exist unlocked for free, inside the first vi months. As indicated in a higher place, thereafter they're unlocked anyway.
How long does it have to unlock?
Unlocking a locked iPhone on iD Mobile takes betwixt three-5 days.
How do I go far touch to unlock it?
Call 7777 from an iD Mobile phone, or call 0333 003 7777 from whatever other mobile or landline.
Compare ID deals
Sky Mobile - how to unlock a Heaven Mobile phone
Does Sky Mobile lock phones?
All Heaven Mobile phones are supplied unlocked.
Is in that location a charge to unlock a phone? Does a time limit employ?
Because Sky Mobile phones are supplied unlocked, there is no charge for unlocking them. Nor does a time limit apply.
How long does it take to unlock?
Sky Mobile phones are unlocked from day 1.
How do I go in touch to unlock information technology?
If you discover your Sky Mobile phone isn't unlocked, y'all can accomplish customer back up on 0330 041 2639.
Which network'southward best for coverage? We weigh them up here: guide to network coverage
Compare Sky Mobile deals
Source: https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/guides/how-to-unlock-a-phone-a-guide-to-unlocking-mobile-phones/
0 Response to "How Do You Know if Your Phone Is Locked"
Post a Comment