You lot could exist forgiven for thinking that phone contracts go something similar this: buying the phone outright volition requite yous the power to switch networks with ease, while getting the device on contract means you’re locked to the provider.

While that is true to some extent, it definitely doesn’t tell the full story. A locked phone will preclude yous using your minutes, texts and data with a new SIM, but once the contract is up you’re probably costless to do as you lot please.

In the UK, networks are no longer allowed to sell locked handsets. United kingdom communications regulator Ofcom has introduced a new set of rules that will preclude any networks from being immune to sell a phone that isn’t unlocked, which came into strength in December 2021.

All the same, if you bought your phone before that cut-off, there’s a gamble that information technology may still exist locked.

Just to analyze, we are referring to phones that may be locked to detail service providers. If y’all are locked out of your device as a result of forgetting your password, Pivot or swipe gesture, check out our guide
hither.

Is it legal to unlock your phone?

If yous’ve finished paying for your contract, it’s completely legal to unlock your phone. The same goes for whatever phone y’all purchased outright.

However, if you’re still in the process of paying off your initial contract you technically do not own the telephone yet, meaning unlocking your telephone to other providers may not be possible until the contract ends. Some carriers may have nothing against it, only it’s definitely worth checking earlier you start the process.

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Earlier yous proceed, it’s worth existence 100% sure that your telephone is already locked. Check out our
dedicated guide
to notice out how.

How to unlock your telephone

Unlocking a telephone can be surprisingly easy once yous know how.

1. First, you lot’ll need to contact your provider and asking an unlock. This must be the original network, not the network of the new SIM y’all’re trying to apply.

2. Once you’ve had confirmation that your telephone has been unlocked by your provider, you can power downwards the phone, put your new SIM card into the SIM carte slot, and plough the phone back on.

3. Now, try making a call to notice out whether or not the unlock has been successful. If you’re able to connect a telephone call over the new network, the unlock has worked. If not, get dorsum in touch on with your network provider for further help.

If y’all don’t have the original SIM card, you may need to
reset the phone
before it can be unlocked.

Contact your network provider

Taking a closer look at stride one, we’ve listed each of the popular network providers in the UK to aid you find out how to go about unlocking your telephone. Find your carrier from the list below and follow the instructions provided.

EE

Visit
EE’southward telephone unlock page

To unlock your EE phone, you must exist the account holder for the device and number, take had the device for at to the lowest degree six months, accept paid your bill up-to-date and take not reported the device as lost or stolen.

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While EE used to charge to unlock certain handsets, such as those nonetheless nether contract, information technology will at present unlock whatever device for free. The just thing you’ll need is your phone’due south IMEI number, which y’all can usually detect on the original packaging, or can discover by dialling *#06* on the phone’s keypad.

EE aims to unlock your telephone instantly, but it can take up to seven days in some cases.

You lot can find out more than about unlocking your EE telephone and contact EE directly
by clicking here.

Giffgaff

Giffgaff is a flake unusual in that it offers an ‘unlockapedia’ that you tin utilise to search for your telephone make and model to find out how to get near unlocking it.

You’ll find the Giffgaff unlockapedia here.

O2

O2 will unlock your phone at any fourth dimension for complimentary. All the same, yous’ll need to continue to pay for your contract until it ends.

 O2 says that the easiest fashion to do it is by using
My O2 Online
or the
My O2 app, and the network offers
more detailed instructions hither.

Heaven Mobile

Phones purchased via
Heaven
should already be unlocked, so you lot won’t demand to get in touch with the visitor to unlock your phone. Instead, endeavour your new SIM and it should work.

If you’re using an iPhone, you may need to go into Settings > Mobile Information > Mobile Data Options > Mobile Data Network > Reset Settings.

Tesco Mobile

If you lot’ve got a telephone with
Tesco Mobile, information technology volition be free to unlock whether y’all’re in a contract or not.

You just need to submit an
unlock asking, and have your IMEI number handy.

It can take upward to seven days to unlock a phone on Tesco Mobile.

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3

Three has an online
unlocking class bachelor, but if you purchased your telephone from Three afterwards 1 January 2014 your device will already be unlocked.

Virgin Mobile

Nearly
Virgin Mobile phones
will already exist unlocked, so you should have no problem here. Just endeavor the new SIM card and it should work without requiring any further action.

Vodafone

Yous’ll be able to use
Vodafone’s online unlock request course. It may take up to 10 working days to receive an unlock code from the visitor. Yous’ll need to be up to engagement with your bills, too.

Using a third-political party unlocking service

We would always recommend checking with your network provider before y’all resort to a third-party unlocking service, but sometimes it can be much quicker and easier.

It’s of import to watch out for third-political party unlocking services that sting customers with extra bills at the end of the process, so exist sure to read the minor impress before y’all hand over your money.

We’ve tried and tested
Doctor SIM, which promises a refund if the unlock is unsuccessful and didn’t surprise the states with whatsoever subconscious fees. It could exist an choice if you’ve tried the methods listed to a higher place.

Nosotros wouldn’t recommend paying anything more than than £25 to take your phone unlocked. If someone is trying to charge yous more than than that, they are trying their luck.

If you take more than one phone, you may besides need our guide on
how to unlock an iPhone.