How to unlock your mobile phone on any network

When you hear “unlocking your phone,” you might think of forgotten passcodes or running out of tries to get back in.

But here, we’re talking about something different: unlocking your phone so it’s not tied to one specific network. For example, if you’re traveling to Australia, unlocking your phone means you can use a local eSIM and reduce expensive roaming charges.

In this post, we breakdown how to tell if your phone is unlocked, the benefits of unlocking your phone and give you a simple step-by-step guide for how to unlock your phone.

If you got your phone through a specific network, the chances are your phone is locked, but there are a few simple ways you can check:

Some Android phones might word things a little differently, but the basic steps are the same:

1. Go to ‘Settings’
2. Open ‘Connections’ or ‘Network and Internet’
3. Select ‘Mobile Network’
4. Go to ‘Choose Network’ or ‘Automatically Select Network’

If your phone is showing a few network options, then your phone is unlocked. If there is only one option, then your phone is locked.

Checking if your iPhone is unlocked with three simple steps:

1. Go to ‘Settings’
2. Select ‘General’, then ‘About’
3. Tap on ‘Carrier Lock’

If it says ‘No SIM Restrictions’, then your handset is already unlocked. If it shows the name of a network, then that’s the one the phone is locked to.

If you want to unlock your phone you have two options.

1. If your phone is locked, contact your network provider and ask them to unlock it. Some network providers will ask for your IMEI number, which you can find by dialing #06#. The unlock process usually takes between 3 and 21 days, so it’s best to get it sorted well in advance, especially if you’re traveling abroad.
2. Another option is to take your phone to a nearby phone shop and have them unlock it for you.

Unlocking your phone is a good idea because it gives you more freedom and flexibility. With an unlocked phone, you can use any network, switch to better deals, and avoid expensive roaming charges when traveling. It also gives you more control over how you use your device, like using an eSIM while abroad, instead of being stuck with just one network.

The benefits of having an unlocked phone far outweigh the negatives.

We have selected our top 5 benefits of having an unlocked phone below.

With an unlocked phone, you can shop around for the best deals and plans, depending on your personal phone usage. This means you can save more money on your phone bill, which can only be a good thing.

Along with being able to choose a better plan, you can also shop across all of the networks that are available in your country, opening up a whole world of opportunities (and, potentially, take advantage of any incentives). This also means if you want to pass on your phone to a friend or family member, they can choose the best network for them.

Unlocked phones get updates and bug fixes faster because they don’t have to wait for the network first.

When travelling abroad, using your phone can get expensive, especially when you’re using data. With an unlocked phone, you can use an international eSIM plan, making it easy to tap into local networks and save money.

When you are done with your phone, you may be tempted to sell it, especially if it’s in good condition. Due to the flexible options available to unlocked phones, you can get a better price for it, so it’s worth bearing that in mind.‍

We’ve gathered everything you need to know about unlocking your phone, including whether your network usually locks phones, what it might cost, and how to get in touch with them.

Some carriers will require you phone’s IMEI number to unlock your phone which can be found by typing *#06# (asterix, hashtag, zero,six, hashtag) into the dial pad.

·       EE lock both their Pay As You Go and Pay Monthly.

·       To unlock, text UNLOCK to 150 or call 0800 956 6000.

·       An IMEI is required to unlock an EE mobile phone.

·       Or use the online unlock EE mobile tool with the IMEI number.

·       It may take 7-10 days to unlock an EE mobile phone.

·       Vodafone phones purchased after the Jan 2022 are unlocked.

·       Request a Network Unlock Code from Vodafone online.

·       Or call 191 from your Vodafone handset, or 03333 040 191.

·       An IMEI is required to unlock a Vodafone mobile phone.

·       It may take 10 days to unlock a Vodafone mobile phone.

·       Before unlocking, you must use your number for 30 days minimum.

·       Phones from Three purchased after Dec 13^th 2013 are unlocked.

·       Call 333 from your Three phone or call 0333 338 1001 via landline.

·       It may take up to 7 days to unlock a phone.

·       An IMEI is required to unlock a Three phone.

·       Sky Mobile don’t lock phones.

·       Any issues, you can reach customer support on 0330 041 2639.

·       Free to unlock after 12 months or £10 before 12 months.

·       An IMEI is required to unlock a Tesco Mobile phone.

·       It may take between 7-20 days to unlock your Tesco Mobile phone.

·       Visit the Tesco website to submit an unlock request.

·       Or call 4422 from your handset or 0345 301 4455 from any device.

·       It’s free to unlock your O2 mobile phone with no time restrictions.

·       Phones from before June 2018 can take up to 72 hours to unlock.

·       Request to unlock your O2 mobile phone by calling 202

·       Or call 0344 809 202 from a landline

·       You can also use the O2 website or MyO2 app.

·       An IMEI is required to unlock an O2mobile phone.

·       Pay monthly phones are unlocked & some models are locked for PAYG.

·       £15.32 to unlock phone if you’ve owned the phone less than 1 year.

·       It’s free if you’ve had the phone for longer than 12 months.

·       Request to unlock your Virgin Media phone by calling 789.

·       Or ring 0345 6000 789 from any other mobile phone or landline

·       An IMEI is NOT required to unlock a Virgin Media mobile phone.

·       It may take up to 30 days to unlock your Virgin Media phone.

Unlocking your phone comes with plenty of perks. You get the freedom to pick the plan that suits you best, and the flexibility to switch networks whenever you want.

It is not just about convenience. Unlocking your phone can save you money, give you better pricing options, and even increase its resale value.

Whether you are a frequent traveller wanting to use a local eSIM and avoid expensive roaming charges, or you just want more flexibility, unlocking your mobile phone is definitely worth considering.

Not sure if your phone is eSIM compatible?

Our guide can help you find out if your phone is compatible.

Try our FREE eSIM, no payment required, and see if it's the right fit for you.