Unlock phone for other networks (United States)

To use your phone on any network, not just the phone seller's network, the SIM must be unlocked. Your phone may come SIM-locked or SIM-unlocked, depending on where you bought it.

SIM-unlocked phones

You can switch carriers and keep your phone. Just put the new SIM card into the phone.

SIM-locked phones

Some phones are SIM-locked by the mobile service provider/carrier that sold them. These phones can only get mobile service from the seller's network, unless the seller provides a subsidy unlock code to remove the SIM-lock.

To unlock your phone:

  1. Contact your original carrier to get a subsidy unlock code.
  2. Put the SIM card from your new carrier into the phone.
  3. Plug the phone in to charge.

  4. Turn on the phone. If you use a PIN, password, or pattern to lock your screen, enter it when prompted.

    You will see the message “Contact service provider”.

  5. Leave the phone and do not press any other keys. After a time (up to 12 hours), the message will change to “Enter Subsidy Lock Code/Password”.
  6. Enter the subsidy unlock code that your original carrier provided.

If you aren't sure which network has locked the phone, or if you believe the phone shouldn't be locked on any network:

  1. Find your IMEI number:

    1. Open the Phone app on your phone.
    2. Enter *#06# and record the 15 digit number.
  2. Contact us to provide the IMEI number and we can check if the phone is registered to a network.

Insert or remove SIM card

To learn how to insert or remove SIM cards:

  1. Open the Device Help app on your phone or select your phone's model here.
  2. Click and search for “SIM card”.