Visit your carrier first, and bring any paperwork from your purchase. It's frustrating, but with a little legwork and patience, you can get to the right solution. If you try to use them, you'll see strange warning signs about incompatibility and the need to contact a carrier. Snapping up an online phone can save you quite a bit of money, but some devices you buy online come with their locks intact. They might be part of your welcome package of paperwork that came with your phone, or you might find rules on the company website. But cellular companies have agreed to print up their requirements and make them available to customers. These are specific rules, and clearly, they vary from one company to another. You'll also need to offer proof of purchase. T-Mobile, you must prove that you've used the phone on the network for at least 40 days, purchased your phone, and paid your bills. Most devices are unlocked when you've paid for them, and all 4G LTE phones are unlocked. The company doesn't support unlocking on older phones.
If your device was launched before 2015, Sprint won't help. Sprint, you must demonstrate that you've used the phone on the network for at least 50 days, purchased your phone in full, paid your bills, and aren't working with a device that has been reported lost or stolen. Even then, the company reserves the right to deny any request.
And those rules can vary quite a bit from company to company.ĪT&T, you must prove that you've paid your bills and purchased your device.
The key point to understand here is that the companies can determine whether or not your phone is eligible. In 2013, wireless companies agreed, according to the Federal Communications Commission, to unlock eligible phones on request for no fee.
#Unlockbase price free
Get ready to celebrate: If you own a locked phone, and you purchased that device months ago and have been using it successfully with a carrier, you should be able to visit that company for a free unlocking. If a company spots a problem in your IMEI, your phone might never get unlocked. Before you can unlock your phone, you'll need your IMEI, as it contains information about: It is sometimes printed on the back, placed on a sticker inside the phone, or engraved into the drawer that holds your SIM card. In the "About" section of some phones, including iPhones, you'll see your IMEI.Ĭhecking your phone's case. Most devices will show you a popup window that holds your number. You should see a sticker with a long number printed on it. How do companies know whether or not to unlock your phone? They look into your international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) number.
#Unlockbase price software
There's no way to override that software without getting the new piece of code. Without that amendment, your phone will only work when connected to one carrier.
#Unlockbase price code
To unlock it, a different bit of code must be popped into the software. That lock is a piece of code written right into the software that operates your phone. For years, they enforced that need with phone locks that were difficult or expensive to override. Phone Locks ExplainedĬell phone companies want to keep their customers, and they'll do almost anything to maintain that connection. You'll need to research your unlocking partner carefully to make sure you don't fall victim to a scam.
But with a fee of about $30 or less, you can get the issue corrected. If you've bought a locked phone, you have a few extra hoops to jump through. Now, you can work with your provider directly, with no cost involved, to get your phone operating on any network. Years ago, you were forced to make in-person trips and pay big fees to get your phone unlocked. If you shift your service to a different company, that lock will keep your phone from working. Some carriers place a lock on your phone, so the device will only work when it's connected to their networks. You've paid for your phone, and no one can tell you whether or not you can use it.
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