When you buy a phone from a carrier, you might be tempted by a great contract deal, but there’s a good chance the deal has some fine print that locks your handset to the network provider you bought it from.
That means if you try to switch to a different network provider, your phone simply can’t make calls or use data services. The good news is that you can usually unlock these phones by simply using an unlock phone code. We’ll be covering these unlock codes, how you can get yours for free, and how to unlock a phone. But first there are some important things you should know.
Is Unlocking Your Phone Legal?
As always, when it comes to legal issues, it’s up to you to determine if something is legal where you live. Each country will have its own consumer laws that govern things like unlocking your phone.
In the United States, you are entitled to an unlock, as long as your handset has been paid off completely or you’ve paid the termination fee on your contract. In other words, if you own your handset outright, it’s legal for you to unlock your phone.
Which is where unlock codes come into the picture. Well, perhaps not immediately.
You Might Not Need a Code
Instead of trying to get a code yourself and unlocking your phone independently, it’s a good idea to first get the carrier on the line and ask them to unlock the handset for you or guide you through the process. This is a good method, because they can confirm whether you are legally eligible for an unlock.
If you are eligible, in the USA at least, carriers are obliged to unlock your handset for free. So go ahead and give them a call.
Unlock Codes Usually Cost Money, But Free Codes Exist!
If, for some reason, getting help directly from the carrier isn’t possible, you’ll need an unlock code.This could be because you’ve bought the handset used or perhaps have moved to another country.
Regardless of why you need to unlock a phone, most of the online providers of codes want a little money from you for the privilege. Once again, in the USA carriers are obligated to unlock the phones of eligible handsets, so please do speak to them first.
How To Unlock a Phone With a Code
There is no universal method to enter an unlock code once you have it. The exact process will differ depending on the make and model of the phone you have. Which means that, if you don’t receive instructions with your code, you should Google your phone model and the unlock code procedure.
As an example, let’s look at Apple and Samsung devices. Apple devices are unlocked remotely by your carrier and there’s no code. So all you have to do is wait for the email or other message confirming that your handset has been unlocked. Then, after inserting a new SIM, you’ll go through the normal Apple setup process for iCloud and your Apple ID.
On a Samsung device, you only need the code itself. When you insert a SIM from a carrier outside the one your phone is locked to, you’ll be prompted for an unlock code. Just type it in and off you go.
Consider Buying Unlocked Handsets
While most people who buy locked handsets are motivated by a great deal (or simply don’t know any better) you should seriously consider buying an unlocked handset right off the bat the next time you get a new phone. This does mean having to pay the entire price of the handset upfront, but it does give you the freedom to change your carrier immediately or have concurrent plans with different carriers.
If you also buy a dual-sim phone, you can have one SIM dedicated to a carrier with great voice tariffs and another with cheap data, as one example. It also means you can more easily adapt to varying levels of coverage if you travel often. If you’re travelling overseas, you can even temporarily use the SIM card of a compatible network provider in the country you’re visiting, without paying astronomical roaming fees to your local carrier.
It might seem like a worse deal compared to a contract, and it might be! However, compare the total cost of the carrier contract against the total cost of buying a handset outright and then using a prepaid voice and data plan. In many cases you might find over the course of a contract’s length you could save money by going the unlocked route.
Usually, Android provides a number of procedures to unlock your phone.
But now we have a new way to unlock phone with face.
Usually, when we are using our device, then anybody can see our pattern, PIN, or password.
But in this feature, when it does not recognize your entire face, it will not unlock your device.
Here is how to use face recognition in your device.Read More Here - face recognition
If your iPhone belongs to a bit older version then there are high chances that it is locked to a specific service provider or network carrier.
But having a locked iPhone doesn't necessarily means you are stuck with that network for good.
You can unlock SIM iPhone by requesting the service provider itself and often this service is provided by the network providers for free.
You can also unlock your iPhone by following some simple steps yourself.
Here is a brief guide to help you on unlocking the carrier on your iPhone.The legal aspectsBefore you proceed with steps to unlock your iPhone it is better to know the legal aspects of unlocking any phone.
Note that is completely legal to unlock your iPhone in case you have already paid your contract or have bought the finished product unsubsidized.
If you have entered your pattern more than 5 times and your Samsung device has been locked and you cannot remember your password, you will have to unlock your phone through your Google account .
Keep reading and learn how to unlock a Samsung.Unlock a Samsung: step by stepWhen you set up your Samsung for the first time, it asks you to enter an email account to configure certain features of your phone, such as the unlock alternative when we forget the pattern.
When you have entered your pattern several times and do not remember it and cannot unlock your Samsung, you have to : Touch "Did you forget the pattern?
To carry out a Samsung unlock through the factory reset you have to: Turn off your device Press the volume up and down keys and power button .
When you visualize a new screen go with the volume up and down buttons to «Wipe data / factory resetPress the power buttonOnce all this has been done, your device will restart , leaving all the settings deleted and with it the unlock code .
Unlock SamsungAnother alternative to unlock a Samsung is through apps.
Your phone number is one and the same category of personal data that the name, address, social security number.
During the conversation, you need to say I don't agree contracts with You for marketing purposes and to request removal of your information from the database.
The answer then request deletion of all Your data.
If this does not happen (and will continue to call), reception of the case to the office for Personal Data Protection (UODO).
In call history you room, open the map (like you're trying to enter a phone number to contacts).
At the bottom of the bookmark and click "Block this user" and then confirm by pressing again when you see the "Block contact".
