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Mobile Unlocking
How to unlock your handset for free
Updated 27 October 2020
Unlocking your phone means you can use any network's Sim card, giving you the freedom to switch providers, lower costs and pass your phone on to others. Your network won't charge you to unlock your phone if you're out of contract, though if you're still in contract or on pay-as-you-go, they may. This guide has step-by-step instructions on how to free your mobile phone from its digital shackle.
Unlocking your phone will soon become a thing of the past as the regulator Ofcom has announced it'll ban providers from locking devices to its network from the end of 2021. But until then, if you have a locked handset and you're out of contract, you needn't worry as unlocking is usually free and easy, as we explain below.
Why unlock your phone?
When you get a new phone through a mobile network, the chances are it'll be locked to that network - if you try to put another network's Sim card in, it simply won't work. Unlocking it means you can use the phone with any compatible Sim card, on any network. This has several benefits:
You can bag a cheaper tariff. If you're happy with your handset, but don't have a good deal, unlocking it allows you to keep the phone but switch to a cheaper Sim only deal on another network. See our Cheap Mobile Tips for more info on how to switch.
Add value to your handset. Unlocked phones tend to sell for more on websites such as eBay, because they're more appealing to users on other networks and in other countries. Check out our eBay Selling Tricks guide for more information.
Freedom to roam. Unlocking means you can use foreign Sim cards to cut phone costs while you're abroad. See Cheap Mobile and Data Roaming for more details.
How to unlock your phone
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Contacting your network is the simplest way to get your phone unlocked – and often it will be entirely free.
If you're a pay-monthly customer outside your minimum contract term, networks aren't allowed to charge you unlocking fees – and in many cases even if you're still within your minimum contract term they won't charge you.
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It's unlikely you'll be able to find a third-party retailer to unlock your phone for less than what the network will do it for (though there's no harm in checking), but if the network won't do it because you've got a second-hand phone or you're not yet far enough through your contract, it's worth looking elsewhere.
The web's not the best place to look due to the amount of dodgy operators promising quick fixes. Check specialists on the high street – they might be cheaper, and there's the added advantage that if they can't do the job you won't be charged (always check first though), whereas on the web you may pay regardless.
If you're looking online, be sure you know exactly what you're getting before you pay. Read the terms and conditions to make sure you won't get fobbed off with something other than the code you need. Also, always check the site's legitimacy, as there are some unscrupulous firms out there.Do note, while some are quick and can send the code in 15 minutes, reports claim it can take several weeks for your code to come through, depending on the network. Once it arrives, follow the instructions in the next method to put it into the handset.
Used an online unlocking service? Please give feedback, good and bad, in the Mobile Unlocking discussion.
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Several sites simply list codes for a range of older phones without charge. Giffgaff's useful Unlockapedia notes that while this method works for many older Nokias, LGs, Panasonic and Siemens phones, it's unlikely to work for most others. It's still worth quickly trying to see if you can find a code for your phone just in case.
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There are a raft of websites dedicated to phone unlocking. Which you should use depends on your handset brand.
Nokia phones. The easiest way to unlock older Nokias is via codes found on sites like NokiaFree.
Other brands. Try Giffgaff's handy Unlockapedia - just pop in your handset type to get more info. You'll find a full discussion of other phones in the Unlocking non-Nokia phones discussion in the MSE Forum. If you can't unlock your phone with a free code, try unlocking it with a cable.
The sites above will generate a code based on the info you provided, so double-check it's right first. The code will look something like this. #pw+2746763089+1# (Nokia phones), or *2767*637# (other makes).
To unlock the handset, take the Sim card out of the phone and put in a different network's Sim. Now you can put the code in.
How to enter the code
This can be fiddly - for some phones, rather than using the regular text keys you need to use the * key if you want to produce letters as opposed to numbers. For example, to produce a ‘p', press the * button three times within two seconds; to produce a ‘w', press the * button four times within two seconds; to produce a ‘+', press the * button twice within two seconds.
You should now get a message saying ‘phone restriction off' (or words to that effect). You generally only have five attempts to enter the correct code so be careful. If none are successful, the phone will still work, but you'll have to go to the network or a retailer to get it unlocked instead.
Quick question:
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Now it's unlocked, go & save cash!
Now your handset's unlocked, the mobile world's your oyster! Read the Cheap Mobile Tips guide for info on getting a good deal, and Cheap Mobile and Data Roaming for top deals on calling and getting online abroad.
If you've tried everything above to no avail and you're left with a handset you don't want and can't unlock, why not recycle it and earn some cash? See the Sell Old Mobiles guide to find out how much your phone is worth.
Spotted out of date info/broken links? Email: brokenlink@moneysavingexpert.com
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