Providers "lock" phones so that you will purchase a new one with your contract.
Phones that operate on GSM technology, such as those available through AT&T and T-Mobile, have an "unlock" option. When you unlock these phones, you can transfer them between GSM carriers, or take the phone overseas while traveling. Your cell phone provider will give you the unlock code for your specific phone, and will also walk you through on enter the code. The process is different for each phone model.
Instructions
1. Call your cellular provider's customer service line. Tell the customer service representative that you want the unlock code for your phone. Some providers require you to own the phone for a certain period of time, usually between 30 to 90 days, before they will provide you with the code. If you haven't had the phone that long, you can find an unlock code online. They're expensive to purchase online, so you're better off waiting out your provider's waiting period.
2. Ask the customer service representative for specific directions on enter the unlock code. The process to unlock a phone varies with each model, and if you make an error more than three times, you risk permanently locking the phone. This will require you to buy a new SIM card.
3. Follow the directions the representative gave you to unlock your phone. In general, you enter the unlock code into one of the security screens and press "Send." You will get a pop-up alert to tell you if you are successful.
4. Restart your phone. You can now remove the SIM card and insert the SIM card from another carrier.
Tags: unlock code, customer service, your phone, code process, code your