Selling locked phones has been banned in the UK since December 2021. But many devices sold before that were connected to a specific network and so are locked.
Unlocking a phone means you can use any SIM card, whether you want to switch to a new network or use a pay-as-you-go plan. Here’s how you can safely unlock your phone without spending a penny.
What is an unlocked phone?
An unlocked phone should work with any SIM card from any network provider as long as it's compatible.
This means you should be able to switch SIM cards whenever you want, without having to buy a new phone.
There shouldn't be any network restrictions and the unlocked phone should work with any major network provider in the UK.
Locked phones can only use SIM cards or contracts from one network. This is typically the company that supplied you with the device.
Is my phone unlocked?
If you bought your phone after 17 December 2021, it should be unlocked already. Many devices sold before then were also unlocked automatically, but others were connected to a network exclusively.
To find out if your phone is unlocked, you can borrow a friend’s SIM card from a different network provider and try putting it in.
If there’s no signal, this suggests the phone is locked. But it’s worth restarting the device as sometimes there’s a delay.
Try making a phone call after the restart. If you’re not connected, it’s probably locked.
You might be asked for a SIM unlock code. In this case, you’ve got a locked device.
What do I need before I unlock my phone?
Different companies have their own rules about how and when you’re allowed to unlock a device. It’s important to bear these in mind, as using the wrong process could cause you problems.
That said, typically you need the same information to get started.
Make sure you have:
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Your mobile phone number
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Any account numbers, login details and passwords
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The name of the phone manufacturer - for example, Apple, Samsung or Google
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The make and specific model of your phone
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The IMEI number - you can find this on the box the device came in, in the settings on your device or by dialling *#06#
You may also need:
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A PAC code - if you’re moving to another network and want to keep your phone number the same
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A STAC code - if you want a new phone number with the new network
How do I unlock my phone?
You can unlock your phone by asking your network provider. If you’re out of your initial phone contract, the company must do this for free. Even if you’re still within the contract term, all the major networks should allow you to unlock the device without a fee.
Most phone networks ask you to fill in an online form. What happens next depends on your device:
- iPhones: If you have an iPhone, you can usually use a new SIM card once your network has confirmed that it’s unlocked. If you don’t have a new SIM, perhaps because you’re selling the device, you can back it up to iCloud and erase your device.
- Android phones: With other devices, such as Samsung handsets, the company should send you an unlock code. You need to enter this code into the handset before a new SIM can work.
- Second-hand phones: If your phone is second-hand, it might be trickier to unlock as many networks insist it needs to be done by the original owner. In this case, contact the person or retailer you bought it from for help unlocking the phone.
There are unlocking services that might be able to do it for you, but usually at a cost.
Experts suggest you should look for high street stores offering this service, rather than going online and risking using an unreliable website. Some stores only charge you if they’re successful in unlocking the device, while others make you pay regardless.
If you’re looking online, research and read reviews to make sure other customers have been successful. Be sure to check the terms and conditions carefully too.
Be warned, if you use a high street store or online website, you could invalidate the phone’s warranty. This means you have less protection if the device is damaged.
Make sure you’ve tried asking your network first before you go down this route.
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How do I unlock my phone with an IMEI number?
Your International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number is a unique identification for your specific device. It’s normally 15 digits long and you can find it:
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On the box your phone came in
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In the settings on your phone
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By dialling *#06#
Usually, you need the number to unlock a device. Start by speaking to your network provider, then consider a high street store if that doesn’t work.
How much does it cost to unlock a phone?
All the major networks now offer to unlock your phone for free even if you’re in your contract term. This includes:
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EE
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ID Mobile
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O2
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Tesco Mobile
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Three
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Virgin Mobile
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Vodafone
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Voxi
If you need to use a high street store or online service, you should expect to spend £10 - potentially more.
How long does it take to unlock a phone?
The time it takes to unlock a phone depends on the device you have and the network you’re with.
Most companies say that you can expect an iPhone device to be fully unlocked within 72 hours. Other handset manufacturers can vary from anything between 15 minutes to 10 working days.
But, generally, requesting an unlock is a quick process and usually involves filling in a short form or making a phone call.
Phone unlocking by major networks
EE – How to unlock an EE phone
EE says if you have any of the following devices, it should already be unlocked:
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All Google Pixel devices
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All Oppo devices
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All OnePlus devices
For other handsets, you can unlock them online for free using their online form.
You need your IMEI number to start the process.
ID Mobile - How to unlock an ID Mobile phone
ID Mobile says it typically doesn't sell locked devices. But there are exceptions. For example, iPhones that were made before 2018 may be locked.
If your device is locked, the company has an unlocking policy that protects it from potentially fraudulent activity. This process is free and shouldn't take longer than 3-5 days.
If you've been an ID Mobile customer for over 6 months and don't have an outstanding balance on your account, they can unlock your phone.
You can contact ID Mobile via their website's Live Chat where you should be connected to one of their agents.
O2 – How to unlock an O2 phone
O2 says the majority of its devices aren't locked. This includes:
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Apple devices bought since 1 April 2018
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Almost all new devices shipped after January 2019
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Huawei dongles bought since April 2019
Alcatel and Doro devices are the exceptions as they’re still locked to the O2 network.
If you’ve got a device that's locked, for example, an older handset, the easiest way to unlock it is on the My O2 website. You can do this by:
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Logging in to My O2 on your browser
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Selecting 'More' in the menu bar at the top of the page
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Choosing 'Unlock your device'
You can also contact O2 via their live chat. Or you can call 202 from a pay monthly phone or 4445 from a pay-as-you-go phone.
O2 should then send you an unlocking code.
iPhone users get a text, at which point they should be able to use a new SIM immediately. Android owners get an email with a code that they need to enter into the handset.
If you have an older handset, O2 says this can take up to 10 working days. The process should be quicker with more modern phones.
Sky Mobile – How to unlock a Sky Mobile phone
All Sky Mobile devices come unlocked, so you shouldn’t need to do anything.
Tesco Mobile – How to unlock a Tesco Mobile phone
To unlock a Tesco Mobile phone free of charge, you need to complete an online unlocking request and then follow the instructions.
Tesco says you should get a text within 7 days with the code and a link.
You need your IMEI number to start the process.
Three – How to unlock a Three phone
All devices bought after 1 January 2014 are already unlocked.
If you have an older phone, you can get it unlocked by filling in their online form.
Virgin – How to unlock a Virgin phone
Virgin says all the mobile handsets it's sold are already unlocked.
Vodafone – How to unlock a Vodafone phone
Vodafone says that many of its devices, including all Apple products, are already unlocked.
But if you find your device is locked, you can simply fill in this online form to get the code you need.
The network provider says it typically unlocks devices within 72 hours. But it also says it may need to check your details or contact the device manufacturer, which could take up to 10 working days.
Voxi - How to unlock a Voxi phone
Voxi says phones from the following companies should be sold unlocked:
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Apple
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Google
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OnePlus
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Oppo
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Xiaomi
But if your device proves to be locked, you can complete Voxi's Network Unlock Code form online.
The company says if you didn't buy your phone directly from Voxi or Vodafone, you may not be able to request a network unlock.
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