How to unlock a phone
Has your pesky network tried to tie you down? Find out how to unlock your phone in just a few simple steps!
Did you buy your phone before December 2021? If so, there's a chance that your network locked it into their system. This makes it incompatible with SIM cards from other networks, which could mean that you're missing out on cheap SIM only deals from another provider.
In December 2021, Ofcom made it illegal for mobile networks to sell locked phones, so you should be good to go if you've bought your phone since then. However, if you're stuck with a locked phone, there are some easy ways to unlock it.
Despite what you might have heard, unlocking a phone is perfectly legal. In fact, nowadays it's arguably easier than ever, and you can usually get it done directly through your network. We'll show you how to unleash the true money-saving potential of your phone.
What’s in this guide?
Benefits of an unlocked phone
Here are the reasons to unlock your phone:
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You want a cheaper contract
Love your phone, but not so keen on your contract? If your network won't give you a cheaper tariff (or won't go as cheap as you'd like), your only option is to take your business elsewhere and get a SIM only deal. But unless your phone is unlocked, this won't be possible.
When your device is unlocked, use our mobile phone deal comparison tool to make sure you get the best price.
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You want to take advantage of a network's exclusive deals
Our deals section (and, more often than not, the freebie section) is always packed with offers for customers of O2 and Vodafone.
We've got the lowdown on how to get O2 Priority on any network (sadly there's no equivalent hack for Vodafone VeryMe), but for the trick to work, you'll need to have an unlocked phone.
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You want to use a local SIM while you're abroad
The EU has largely banned roaming fees but, since Brexit, travellers from the UK no longer have that guarantee. While some operators still let you use your minutes and data for free when travelling to the EU, others have introduced extra fees. It's best to check with your phone operator before you travel.
But if you're travelling beyond the EU, you'll usually have to pay roaming fees anyway. One of the cheapest solutions is to get your hands on a foreign SIM and use that instead but – you guessed it – you'll need an unlocked phone for this to work too.
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You want to sell your phone
Looking to upgrade? Well, once you've seen how much you could get for recycling your old phone, check out eBay and the like to see what the going rate is there.
If you decide that selling your phone is the best course of action, make sure it's unlocked first. Even the UK's most popular network only has about 25% of the market, so if you're trying to sell a locked phone, you'll be missing out on at least 75% of potential buyers. And, in the world of online retail, fewer buyers equals lower prices.
However, since unlocking your phone can cost money, you should do some research to check whether or not locked versions of your phone are going for that much less – otherwise, you'll end up losing money.
How to check if your phone is locked
Credit: Wanchana Phuangwan – Shutterstock
Before you go through the process of unlocking your phone, spare your blushes and check whether it's already unlocked. Keep in mind that your phone won't be locked if you bought it after December 2021.
To do this, you'll need to try using your phone with a SIM from a network other than your own. If your handset is locked, it will say so on the screen. If you're not sure whether it's working or not, try calling it from another phone. If it rings, it's unlocked.
If you haven't got a spare lying around, get your hands on a free SIM. Or, if you can't wait for it to be delivered, ask your mates if they'll let you borrow theirs for a couple of minutes.
How much is it to unlock a phone?
More often than not, it should be free to unlock your phone. Thanks to the government (and it's not often that you get to say that), networks can no longer charge an unlocking fee to pay monthly customers who are out of contract.
And even if you're still in contract, your network may still unlock your device for free (if it's even locked in the first place).
Some networks did lock phones to their SIMs before Ofcom made it illegal in December 2021 – and in some cases, there will be a charge for unlocking the device. However, if there's a charge, it's not very expensive, so we'd say the benefits by far outweigh the cost.
Read on to find out just how much your network charges to unlock a device (if at all!).
How to unlock a mobile phone
Due to the new rules from Ofcom, mobile networks aren't allowed to sell locked phones after December 2021. But if you bought your phone before December 2021 and it's locked, there are ways to unlock it.
Fortunately, most modern phones can be unlocked using the same method. So, if you're looking to get in on O2 Priority Moments, this is the section for you!
Depending on your network, the specifics of how to get a phone unlocked will be slightly different. We've got the lowdown on all the major names, so just click to jump to yours:
EE
Unlocking an EE phone
- Time taken to unlock: Often instantly, but can take up to 10 days
- How to unlock an EE phone: Online form.
Pay monthly
- Cost: Free
- Extra conditions: None.
Pay as you go
- Cost: Free.
- Extra conditions: None.
Anything else to know?
All Google Pixel, Oppo and OnePlus devices will already be unlocked.
Check out EE's website for full details.
O2
Unlocking an O2 phone
- Time taken to unlock: Up to 10 days
- How to unlock an O2 phone: Live chat or via the My O2 app.
Pay monthly
- Cost: Free
- Extra conditions: None.
Pay as you go
- Cost: Free
- Extra conditions: None.
Anything else to know?
Almost all new devices sold by O2 since January 2019 are unlocked (including all since December 2021), with this extending back to 1st August 2018 for all Apple devices bought directly from O2.
Check out O2's website for full details.
Sky Mobile
Are Sky Mobile phones unlocked?
Sky Mobile has never locked phones on either its pay monthly or pay as you go packages. If for some reason, your device is locked to Sky Mobile, you should contact them directly to resolve the issue.
Tesco Mobile
Unlocking a Tesco Mobile phone
- Time taken to unlock: Usually within seven days
- How to unlock a Tesco Mobile phone: Online form.
Pay monthly
- Cost: Free
- Extra conditions: None.
Pay as you go
- Cost: Free
- Extra conditions: None.
Anything else to know?
If you're unsure whether your device is pay monthly or not, Tesco Mobile will let you know when you submit your unlocking request.
Check out Tesco's website for full details.
Three
Unlocking a Three phone
- Time taken to unlock: Often straight away, but it can take up to 10 days
- How to unlock a Three phone: Online form.
Pay monthly
- Cost: Free
- Extra conditions: None.
Pay as you go
- Cost: Free
- Extra conditions: None.
Anything else to know?
If you bought your device from Three on or after 1st January 2014, your phone should already be unlocked.
Virgin Mobile
Unlocking a Virgin Mobile phone
- Time taken to unlock: Up to 30 days but usually quicker
- How to unlock a Virgin Mobile phone: Call 0345 6000 789 (or just 789 from a Virgin Mobile device).
Pay monthly
- Price: Free
- Extra conditions: None.
Pay as you go
- Price: Free
- Extra conditions: None.
Anything else to know?
Most Virgin Mobile phones should already be unlocked, even if you bought them before December 2021.
Vodafone
Unlocking a Vodafone phone
- Time taken to unlock: Often within 48 hours, but it can take up to 10 days
- How to unlock: Online form or call 191 from your Vodafone handset.
Pay monthly
- Cost: Free
- Extra conditions: None.
Pay as you go
- Cost: Free
- Extra conditions: None.
Anything else to know?
Nope!
Video tutorial for unlocking phones
If you don't believe us when we say just how easy it is to unlock a phone, check out the video below and skip to 2:46.
In the space of a few minutes, he shows you how to unlock a phone on a whole host of networks!
How to unlock an older phone
Credit: Kevin Steinhardt – Flickr
Still rocking a Nokia 3310, or another (almost certainly inferior) retro phone? Whether you’re a technophobe, use it as a no-frills festival phone, or you’re just a total hipster, these little (or sometimes large) things still have their place in life.
If you’ve got one of these golden oldies, we come bearing good news – they can be unlocked too! In fact, in some instances, it can be even quicker than unlocking a smartphone.
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Unlock codes
Plenty of old Nokia, LG, Panasonic and Siemens phones can be unlocked simply using a few codes that have been made freely available online. To check if an unlock code for your device is out there, use giffgaff’s nifty Unlockapedia tool.
Before you do, make sure you know the make and model of your phone, the network it’s locked to, and the IMEI (which you’ll find by dialling *#06#).
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A cable attachment
Using a cable to unlock your phone should be treated as your last resort, in the event that all other avenues have been exhausted. It’s also the most complicated method of doing things, so unless you really know your way around technology, pay someone else to do it.
As well as online unlocking companies, high street phone repair shops will often offer this service too. Smaller stores like this are much more likely to be up for negotiating on the price, so check out our guide to haggling like a pro.
If you reckon you’ve got the technological prowess to handle this yourself, unlocking cables can be found on eBay and phone accessory sites. But we’d strongly advise you to read some expert guides before going through with it all!
Check out the best SIM only deals, and head over to our guide on how to get O2 Priority Moments without having to switch networks.
