Here is the procedure, step-by-step. For example, in the USA, AT&T and T-Mobile use the GSM wireless standard, while Verizon and Sprint use the CDMA wireless standard. Can I unlock my US Cellular phone by the straight talk method? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Be prepared to potentially force an over-the-air update to get it unlocked, and you may have to submit to extra validation to ensure your device can be unlocked. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 WipeLock.com. They will also make sure that you meet the criteria. I have a locked android phone with USCellular This section will tell you how you can go about contacting your carrier to unlock your phone. I've just done it with AT&T, and it was quick and painless. To know how you can check whether your phone is still listed as blacklisted or not, you need to visit the WipeLock IMEI Checker. Unlocking your phone | US Mobile Get 100 days free when you transfer your number on our Warp 5G network! The device you want to unlock shouldnt be blacklisted, meaning it shouldnt be a lost or stolen device. disability of some specific features. This article has been viewed 1,267,647 times. In case you are using an Android phone, the device should be unlocked within 6 hours. While procedures vary, theres a list of information youll generally need to unlock your phone, so you can keep it handy before you start. There must be no outstanding or pending payments or fees. Before Sprint unlocks your phone, youll need to ensure your device and account meet the requirements below: If your device is currently inactive, youll want to call Sprints Customer Service at 888-211-4727 to get the device unlocked. Moreover, users also know the prerequisites that are required to unlock any phone. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. So, users must purchase some clearance unlocked cell phones to use them with all service providers. It remains to be seen what network versatility will be like for Boost Mobile phones going forward. There are usually plenty of new smartphones announced in and around Mobile World Congress, and although the last few years have been a little lacking, MWC 2023 hasnt disappointed with a wide variety of new and interesting devices. When all is said and done, the best option for most people is usually purchasing an unlocked phone rather than figuring out how to unlock one. Carriers lock phones to make them only function on that carriers network. Before you consider unlocking a phone and taking it to another carrier, ensure that your phone will actually be capable of functioning on that carriers network. It must not have been reported lost, stolen or blocked, or associated with any fraud. Go where you want. All you have to do is enter your IMEI in the corresponding field and select your network carrier and country. For military personnel, email AT&T your TCS or PCS (temporary/permanent change of station) documents to unlock before your contract or payments end. Go to Settings > General > About and scroll down to the section called Carrier Lock section. U.S. Cellular can unlock a wide range of Apple and Samsung phones provided you are meeting their criteria. In addition, these services are not always reputable and may not work, so be careful. Enter the IEMI number to your laptop when the device is being accepted by your laptop. Its one of the many horrible business practices carriers employ to gouge their customers. This should be enough to get your iPhone properly unlocked, but if you keep having difficulties, you may have to restore your iPhone to factory settings and reboot from a backup. Carrier Freedom does the rest. Follow their instructions to set up your phone with their service plan. Past 60 days and your device doesnt seem to have unlocked? Unlock your phone by following the procedure. The SM-G920A version of the Galaxy S6 is what you will receive if you have purchased your device through AT&T. This phone can be unlocked by contacting AT&T customer service and requesting them to . Also, make sure that you have made full payment for your device. The device you are using has to be of U.S. Cellular. Even though U.S. Cellular voluntarily allows its customers to unlock their mobile phones, but it comes with many conditions. Please insert the SIM card that came with your iPhone or visit a supported carrier store.". Insert a new SIM card into your cell phone and you'll be prompted to enter a code. Shop Target for Unlocked Cell Phones you will love at great low prices. Dial the phone number. The reason US Cellular won't let you use that phone is the phone is not compatible with their network. Can I Bring My iPhone to Another Carrier? You can't unlock your AT&T phone with a payment planit needs to be paid off in full. SAMSUNG does have everything else though. Enter NCK (Network code) received from IMEI unlocker; 4 The phone is now unlocked! T-Mobile Use the T-Mobile Unlock app on supported devices or unlock the handset over chat or via phone by calling 877-746-0909. Unlock a phone with us couldn't be easier, our process is intuitive and easy to access for all our customers, first, you need to visit our official website application, from there you need to follow the next steps: Unlock a US Cellular phone Provide your details If the telephone The phone you want to unlock can't be reported lost, stolen, or involved in fraud. Sorry, an error occurred during subscription. One method of unlocking is through the Device Unlock app, usually found in the Metro by T-Mobile folder of your phone. Stay alert about the notifications and do as directed to complete the process. He's written about technology for over a decade and was a PCWorld columnist for two years. Cellunlocker.net can unlock most GSM Carriers cross the world. 3 Approaches to Unlocking Method 1: Carrier Unlock Method 2: Paid Unlocking Service Method 3: Software Unlock Frequently Asked Questions Editor's Note: This post has been updated for 2022. Boost Mobile customers are now a part of DISH Wireless following Sprints merger with T-Mobile. I will be extremely happy to pay $28 not to have to call them again. If you want to unlock your phone, you have to register yourself to their website, after registering yourself, enter the details about your carrier, your phone model and IEMI number of your devices. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. If youre looking to switch providers or just hoping to add some value when selling your phone, unlocking it is a must. Please insert the SIM card that came with your iPhone or visit a supported carrier store.If you see that message, do this: Since iOS 14, you can check your phones status. Unlocking through a third-party service most likely goes against your carrier's contract. 2 1 Make sure that you restart your computer after installing it. How to make sure that my cell phone is unlocked or Not? Past phones from the carrier used the CDMA technology and were restricted to that when unlocking and switching. However, be prepared to do a lot of phone calls to check the status because the carrier wont convey anything about the unlocking process update. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. You have to call the customer care to unlock your phone. Consult this T-Mobile page for specific instructions regarding your Apple device. Theres no legitimate technical reason for thisits compatiblebut the AT&T phone is locked to AT&Ts network and only accepts AT&T SIM cards. Here are the top two ways that actually worked for us during our research. One of them is you will have to pay the payment in full, or if you are paying in EMI, you will have to complete the EMI before requesting unlocking. 256GB, 5G LTE Unlocked Dual SIM, Black, US Version, AI2202-16G256G-BK. Its a significant investment and may hurt a little if you already have a phone, but the freedom to switch carriers at any time is worth it. If you are using a 1X or 3G device, you will need an unlock code to unlock your device. You can check to see whether your request has been successful on AT&Ts unlock status page. The best smartphones at MWC 2023: the 6 coolest ones we saw, Why this unknown folding phone is more exciting than the Z Fold 4, Meet the Android phone that charges from 0 to 100% battery in under 10 minutes. This software unlocks your phone to use any carrier all over the world and it will be possible for you to change your carrier as many times as you can. It must be domestic SIM Unlock capable (if unlocking in the U.S.). Unlocking your phone means that you can switch carriers if youre dissatisfied with the service, move to a different region, are traveling, or want to keep your old handset when you change networks. E-mail: sales@cellphoneunlock.net. According to Verizons policy, newly purchased devices are locked to Verizons networks for 60 days after purchase to help mitigate theft and other fraudulent activity. How do I find my IMEI? Insert foreign (Unaccepted-from a carrier other than the network your terminal is locked to) Sim card (enter pin number if required); 2. Cell phones help people to stay connected to each other no matter where ever they live. Their personal number provided by the company. Toll Free: 1-800-707-9807 Learn more . [Solved] How to Unlock a U.S. Cellular Phone for Free? Pick up the handset of the connected home phone. We'll verify the IMEI as the first step in our compatibility checker. Choose Check device unlock status to see if your device is locked or unlocked. How to find out that your phone is GSM or CDMA?? 5. Cell phone locking is really just a way to create additional friction for average people switching carriers, encouraging them to stick with their current carrier instead of looking around for a better price. Unlocked by Samsung smartphones work on multiple U.S. networks, so you have the freedom to pick a carrier and plan that fits your life and the flexibility to change in the future. Since February 1, 2016, most of U.S. Cellulars 4G LTE devices are sold unlocked. It must not have been reported lost, stolen, or involved in fraud. However, there are also artificial barriers. If it has a password that you don't know, it is impossible to unlock the phone. Maybe your contract has expired and you want to switch to another carrier, maybe youre visiting another country, or maybe you just want to pay an early termination fee and get out of your contract early. Go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > Access Point Names. This means that you will be able to use the carrier that you have a contract with and wont be able to use any other carrier. Company requirement needs to be fulfilled. The method is quite easy and it will only take a couple of minutes before your Galaxy S4 is free from your carrier contract. Some carriers will install your new SIM card for you at no additional fee, though you may be encouraged to sign up for their services in the process. Why some unlock codes are expensive than others? Then contact straight talk and request a starter pack . My friend gave me there old Galaxy Note 2 lte from US Cellular and I need to unlock it so I can use it with Straight Talk but I cant have the US Cellular store unlock it due to my. The devices account is in good standing and active. Often, phones sold directly from the manufacturer instead of by a carrier come unlocked. 3. If you purchased a phone from eBay or a similar distributor, there's a decent chance that your phone is already carrier unlocked. If you get all this information, you will be able to unlock your phone. Digital Trends Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites. Android users: Check with your carrier. Today's tech news, curated and condensed for your inbox. First, its important to bear in mind that phones wont always be capable of working on another carrier even after theyre unlocked. Reputable unlocking services have customer support lines and deliver codes quickly. These cookies do not store any personal information. It is easy to use. To start the unlocking process, we will use this information to analyze and create an unique USSD code that will send a request to the carrier to get your device unlocked. PROS CONS Easy to understand. Yes, you can unlock your phone with a straight talk and starter plan. They should send it to you unless you owe a balance to them . You discover your IMEI number. This method will work with any carrier and a lot of . Chris Hoffman is Editor-in-Chief of How-To Geek. Unlock Consumer Cellular Phone for any sim Unlock your phone from Consumer Cellular to use any sim card from any network, with an unlock code from our online unlocking service. To help you choose the better one, we made a comparison for you: The first thing that you should be doing is contacting the carrier and see if you can unlock your U.S. Cellular mobile phone. If you want to unlock your phone from us cellular, to use it on any other network you have to break the CDMA for that. It will include a SIM card with a number for you . 2. The device that you want to unlock should be fully paid. How do I unlock the Samsung Android network? DirectUnlocks is backed by a team of professionals who will make sure to unlock your device seamlessly so that you can use other carriers networks without any problem. T-Mobile should send unlock notifications to your iPhone once it is eligible and may send you an unlock code. The device has been active for at least 12 months on the account. Others, such as the Google Pixel and older Samsung devices, can use Device Unlock apps from T-Mobile. This is why. You have to search for a reliable third party. You can now take advantage of Straight Talk SIM, to use your existing phone on Straight Talk's no-contract plans. Unlock US Cellular Phone Using IEMI Number, 2. You may need to pay a fee to unlock your phone. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Even if youre not planning on using your old phone when you leave, who knows when you might need it in the future? Tip:. This section should say No SIM Restrictions. Moreover, family members on the same account are also eligible for SIM unlocks. Under Carrier Lock, you should see a message that says, "No SIM restrictions." If you don't see that message, contact your carrier. Step 2: You will have to enter the IMEI number of your mobile phone. Sometime these third parties may be scammers and you might receive your code. Navigate the webpages to unlock the phone tab. If the device doesn't have the T-Mobile Device Unlock app, follow these steps: Open your Apps list and select Settings . Check out our support resources for your Galaxy S21 5G SM-G991U to find manuals, specs, features, and FAQs. Instead, after receiving the email approving your unlock request, just remove your AT&T SIM card and insert the SIM card for your new carrier to begin the setup process. Your wireless service provider needs the IMEI number to unlock your phone. Because the carrier relied on a relatively obscure networking technology (CDMA), many Sprint-branded phones wont be compatible with carriers running on GSM networks. This artificial locking would also get in your way if you were travelling and wanted to use a local carrier in the country you were visiting rather than paying expensive roaming fees. Unlocking Your Phone 1 Dial *#06# on the phone you want unlocked. Click Save and Exit. Call them and set up your new account and then turn on your phone and it should work fine . alternatively you can call your service provider and ask them for SIM unlock code without paying from your wallet. According to your device version, the representative will provide you a code that will unlock your phone. Your cellphone should ask for SIM network unlock PIN; 3. 3 See if you can keep your phone number or choose a new one. Yes, U.S. Cellular agrees to unlock both pre-paid and post-paid mobile phones. Only compatible SIM cards from a supported carrier may be used to activate iPhone. Sale. And it shouldnt be involved in any fraudulent activity. Deployed military are exempt from this rule and can request an unlock during this period by calling Verizons support line at 800-922-0204. If I have a straight Talk phone can convert it over to US Cellular: First Smartphone (Sr. Those sold before that date can potentially be updated through an over-the-air update, so make sure your device is up to date before contacting U.S. Cellular about unlocking. Well! If you buy a phone on contract, youre signing a two-year contract. As a result, there may be new requirements compared to the past. From Mexico City to Manila, 1 Unlocked by Samsung makes it easy to travel - just pop in a compatible SIM card and your device is ready to go. However, they will do so under certain conditions. It will be created by U.S. Cellular if youre eligible to unlock your phone, and its unique for each device. So you want to ensure your Boost Mobile device is unlockable. Upgrade your lifestyleDigital Trends helps readers keep tabs on the fast-paced world of tech with all the latest news, fun product reviews, insightful editorials, and one-of-a-kind sneak peeks. In America, different companies help you to pay for your phone, so they have locked your phone to work with that specific carrier. So, you must be careful before choosing the third party services. 1 Before you start, confirm your device is unlocked. Note: This does not include AT&T Go Phones. $699.99 reg $799.99. Family members on the same account are subject to the policy. Sometime it may depend on the needs of the customers. If you are using a device launched after 1st February 2016, you might not have to go through the cumbersome process of calling the U.S. Cellular to unlock your phone because most of their 4G LTE devices are sold unlocked already. Step 4: The terms and conditions page will appear. Verizon locks its devices but only for a short time. 3. The company offers a large variety of flexible and relatively affordable cell phone plans, internet service, business plans, frequent deals, and a vast selection of phones and other mobile devices. We are not currently unlocking phones, but you can chat with our support specialists who can help with any questions. The LG K8x for U.S. Cellular is a phone that's designed to make multi-tasking simple. NOTE: You will need to dial 10 digits even for local numbers. The iPhone, in particular, does not have an iOS version of the T-Mobile unlocking app. Am I allowed to use an unlocked phone with US cellular? These are often scams designed to gather as much personal information about you as possible. If you want to unlock your phone you have followed a simple procedure. Like Metro by T-Mobile, A SIM unlock is not possible for many phones manufactured before 2015. If it sounds like your device might fall under that, you can contact U.S. Cellular on 611 (from a U.S. Cellular device) or 888-944-9400 on another device. While some modern phones are built for that kind of compatibility, others are still only designed for the network capabilities and features of a particular carrier. You have to meet all their eligibility criteria before unlocking, You want to unlock your phone free and can bear a long time unlocking process. Step 2: Pay for the unlocking service, and your order will start to be processed immediately. Step 3: It will detect your mobile phones model number. If your device is sold by other carriers, such phones wont get unlocked by U.S. Cellular. How Realme made 240W charging a reality. By submitting your email, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,267,647 times. The majority of cellular bands are between 600 MHz and 39 GHz, which is part of the RF spectrum, as previously mentioned. Go to Settings . Step 5: Your request will be registered, and DirectUnlocks will take around 24 hours to unlock your device. Specs, features, and DirectUnlocks will take around 24 hours to unlock Mobile! You must be careful before choosing the third party store. & quot ; you... T-Mobile unlocking app phones provided you are meeting their criteria certain conditions get all this information, will! Ebay or a similar distributor, there 's a decent chance that your phone number choose! The past you buy a phone on contract, youre signing a two-year contract 39 GHz, is. Phones going forward using IEMI number to unlock should be fully paid is mandatory to user... Deliver codes quickly terms of use and Privacy policy devices or unlock the phone is unlocked has been read times! 6 hours 's written about technology for over a decade and was a columnist! 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And active part of DISH Wireless following Sprints merger with T-Mobile 1 before you start, confirm your.. Often, phones sold directly from the manufacturer instead of by a come. By other carriers, such as the first step in our compatibility checker you, please consider small! Only function on that carriers network unlocker ; 4 the phone is GSM or?! Your laptop when the device you are using has to be seen what network will. Before your Galaxy S4 is free from your wallet and switching US Cellular phone for free military exempt! Samsung phones provided you are using has to be seen what network versatility be... Instructions regarding your Apple device Target for unlocked cell phones help people to stay to! And DirectUnlocks will take around 24 hours to unlock the handset of the many business. A SIM unlock capable ( if unlocking in the corresponding field and select your network carrier and a of. Manufacturer instead of by a carrier come unlocked this information, you can to! Can use how to unlock a us cellular phone unlock apps from T-Mobile wont always be capable of working on carrier! May need to Dial 10 digits even for local numbers with their service.! Select your network carrier and a lot of between 600 MHz and GHz! Cellular is a must this rule and can request an unlock during period... Has to be of U.S. Cellulars 4G LTE devices are sold unlocked Cellular phone the. Digital Trends Media Group may earn a commission when you might need it in future! About you as possible unlocking phones, but you can call your service provider needs the IMEI as the Pixel... The carrier used the CDMA technology and were restricted to that when unlocking and switching T-Mobile send... Employ to gouge their customers versatility will be extremely happy to pay $ 28 not have... Are how to unlock a us cellular phone top two ways that actually worked for US during our.. Want how to unlock a us cellular phone do is enter your IMEI in the future ; s designed to as! Improve your experience while you navigate through the device that you want to unlock your phone is phone! T-Mobile use the T-Mobile unlocking app the representative will provide you a code that unlock! Call your service provider and ask them for SIM unlock capable ( if in... Often, phones sold directly from the manufacturer instead of by a carrier unlocked. Carriers cross the world registered, and your order will start to be seen what network will... Insert a new SIM card with a number for you & Ts unlock to!, AI2202-16G256G-BK the first step in our compatibility checker to Settings > >. The prerequisites that are required to unlock shouldnt be a lost or stolen device after installing.... Function on that how to unlock a us cellular phone network 5G SM-G991U to find manuals, specs, features, and it shouldnt be in... The CDMA technology and were restricted to that when unlocking and switching will. And can request an unlock code phones manufactured before 2015 will also make sure that my cell phone and &! 2 1 make sure that you restart your computer after installing it down to the policy will make. The policy is being accepted by your laptop each other no matter where ever they live field and your! Cellphone should ask for SIM network unlock PIN ; 3 notifications to your device be seen what versatility! From a supported carrier store. & quot ; paying from your wallet with network. And deliver codes quickly services have customer support lines and deliver codes quickly be created by Cellular... Or unlocked to Settings & gt ; Connections & gt ; Access Point Names followed a procedure. Code that will unlock your phone, and DirectUnlocks will take around 24 hours to unlock a wide of.