The reason many network providers SIM lock their phones is that they offer phones at a discount to customers in exchange for a contract to pay for the use of the network for a specified time period, usually between one and three years.
The SIM card on your mobile phone will become locked if you enter an incorrect personal identification number (PIN) three times. You won't be able to use your phone, except for emergency calls. To unlock it you must reset your PIN by entering your SIM card's unique unlock key (also called a PIN unblocking key or PUK).
Ask your carrier to help you unlock your SIM card using the default SIM PIN or PUK code. If you can't unlock your SIM card using the SIM PIN or PUK code or if an alert says, "PUK exhausted," ask for a new SIM card.
You may be locked out of your account after multiple attempts with an incorrect SIM card PIN, so keep the packaging handy. Go to Settings > Security > More security settings. Tap SIM card lock.
The process can take up to two business days, but once it's done, you're free to take the phone to another wireless carrier.
Thus, it's a smooth process for the most part, and there is no dedicated cost to unlock a phone. Note that due to some phones having network bands unique to the carrier, they might not function fully well on your carrier of choice after unlocking due to missing hardware.
The best way to quickly check whether a mobile phone is locked or not is to slip the SIM card out, and put in one from another network. If it can make calls, send texts, and connect to the internet, that means your phone is unlocked. Just make sure that the two SIMs don't actually connect to the same network.
Absolutely yes. You can remove a SIM lock on your Android device in simple ways. You can look for your carrier's contact and ask them to give you an unlock code to bypass a SIM lock.
Unlock The Phone On Your Own
First of all, you have to turn off your mobile phone and take out the SIM card. Then turn on the device without the SIM card and wait for it to show a message with the instruction to insert the SIM card. From that moment you will need to write the IMEI code to unlock the phone.
If the cell phone is locked, it means that it will only work on one specific network. Consequently, if you insert a SIM card that is from a different carrier, it will simply not work. Some companies tie the subscriber ID number in the SIM card to the serial number of a cell phone.
Sim locked simply means the sim has a sim pin, which has nothing to do with the iPhone. Enter the PIN number for the sim, or get a new sim that is not locked. If you look in Settings->General->About->Carrier Lock it should say "No sim restrictions".
Only your carrier can unlock your iPhone. Contact them and request an unlock. After you submit the request, it might take a few days to complete. Contact your carrier to check the status of your request.
No, sadly not the SIM is locked by the carrier, not by the phone manufacturer with their software so changing that will not unlock the SIM. Usually, the carrier will unlock it for free if you contact them and you meet their criteria.
Performing a factory reset on a phone returns it to its out-of-box state. All your apps and data are wiped clean and you have to go through the setup process again. If a third party reset the phone, the codes that changed the phone from locked to unlocked are removed.
By enabling SIM lock, individuals can protect their devices from unauthorised use and ensure that even if the device falls into the wrong hands, the perpetrator will not be able to make calls, send messages or access sensitive data.
If you cannot find your PUK, you'll most likely have to call your carrier. If your carrier doesn't offer up the default PIN, most often it's either 0000 or 1111. But remember, you get three attempts. If the three attempts fail, you must enter the PUK.
SIM card lock protect your SIM from being used on other Mobile Devices.
SIM lock is the highest security provision of a hand set. If you activate SIM lock, then you can use only that SIM (which is present during SIM lock activity) with the handset and if you insert any other SIM, then you need to provide the SIM lock password.
SIM Network Unlock Pin (NUP) is a code used to unlock an Android phone or iPhone from its original carrier so that it may be used on other carriers. This code is typically 8 or 16 digits long and is used to unlock a smartphone.
A SIM card — Subscriber Identity — is a key component of every smart phone. It contains information about you, most important being your contacts. It also connects your phone to your phone company. SIM card theft can happen to anyone at any time, as long as a phone company employee allows it to happen.
Yes. If you mean trading it in as part of a new purchase then yes.
Unlocking your iPhone is free of charge regardless of the Apple service store location. However, the process is so easy that you can do it yourself. iPhones often get disabled due to multiple wrong attempts to enter the screen-lock passcode.