To unlock a phone for any UK network, first check whether it is actually locked: try a SIM from another network, or on an iPhone go to Settings > General > About. If it is locked, ask the network that sold it. EE, O2 and Vodafone all say they unlock free of charge. Just make sure it is a network lock and not a Google or Apple account lock.
This guide explains the three kinds of lock, how to check yours, what Ofcom’s rule says, and how to ask EE, O2, Vodafone and Three to unlock your phone.
Network lock, Google lock or iCloud lock: which one have you got?
“Unlock phone” can mean three very different things. Each has a different fix, so work out which one you are dealing with before you do anything else.
| Lock | What you see | Who can remove it |
|---|---|---|
| Network lock (SIM lock) | A SIM from another network is rejected, or the phone asks for a “network unlock code” | The network that sold the phone |
| Google account lock (FRP) | After a factory reset, an Android phone asks for the Google account that was on it before | The owner, by signing in with that Google account |
| iCloud Activation Lock | After an erase, an iPhone or iPad asks for the previous owner’s Apple Account and password | Only the owner, through Apple |
A network lock stops other networks’ SIM cards working. The two account locks stop anyone using the phone at all after it has been wiped. They are anti-theft features, and they have nothing to do with which network you are on.
One more thing that often gets mixed up: if your phone asks for a PUK code, your SIM card is blocked because the SIM PIN was entered wrongly too many times. A PUK comes from your network and has nothing to do with network unlocking. Vodafone warns that entering a wrong PUK 10 times blocks the SIM for good, so ask your network for the code rather than guessing.
How to check if your phone is network locked
On an iPhone
- Open Settings.
- Tap General, then About.
- Look at Network Provider Lock. If it says No SIM restrictions, your iPhone is unlocked.
On EE, you can also text UNLOCK to 150 to check whether an Apple phone is unlocked.
On an Android phone
Google and Samsung don’t give one Settings menu that shows the lock status on every Android phone, so the reliable test is a SIM swap:
- Switch the phone off and put in a SIM card from a different network.
- Switch it on and try to make a call.
- If it works as normal, the phone is unlocked. If you see a message like “incompatible SIM”, “enter subsidy PIN” or “enter network unlock code”, it is network locked.
A few things worth knowing:
- Samsung says it does not lock any of its devices to a particular network. A locked Samsung was locked by the network or shop that sold it.
- Google says all phones from the Google Store come unlocked.
- EE says all Google Pixel, Oppo and OnePlus devices it sold are already unlocked, whenever they were bought.
Don’t have a spare SIM? A cheap pay-as-you-go SIM from another network works for the test, and you can keep it as a backup. If the phone says “No SIM” with every card, the network lock may not be the problem. A damaged tray or reader can do the same thing (see our iPhone SIM tray replacement post).
Are UK phones still sold locked? Ofcom’s rule
No. Ofcom’s ban on selling locked phones came into force on 17 December 2021. From that date, mobile companies have not been allowed to sell customers handsets that are locked to their network. Ofcom said unlocking “can be complicated for customers and cost around £10”. When it announced the ban in October 2020, it named BT/EE, Tesco Mobile and Vodafone as networks still selling locked phones.
The rule is about how phones are sold, so a phone bought before then, or a second-hand phone that started life on one of those networks, can still be locked. That is when you need to ask for a network unlock.
Some networks stopped earlier. Three says it stopped selling locked phones on 1 January 2014. O2 says Apple devices bought directly from it have not been locked since 1 August 2018, and almost all devices it shipped after January 2019 are unlocked. Alcatel and Doro devices are the exceptions.
How to unlock a phone with your network
You’ll usually need the phone’s IMEI, the 15-digit number that identifies the handset. Type *#06# into the phone’s dialler to see it. Then follow your network’s steps:
| Network | How to ask | Cost (as stated by the network) | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| EE | Online at EE’s device unlock page (have your IMEI ready) | Free “no matter what”. EE used to charge if you were still in contract | The same page also tells you if the phone is already unlocked |
| O2 | Call free on 202 (Pay Monthly) or 4445 (Pay As You Go) from your O2 phone | Free, at any time, as long as you are in the UK | Only for phones bought directly from O2. Pay Monthly customers still have to finish their minimum term. Older handsets can take up to 10 working days |
| Vodafone | Fill in Vodafone’s online form to get a network unlock code (NUC) | Free of charge | Vodafone says all Apple devices are now unlocked as standard |
| Three | Ask in a Three store, or contact Three on 333 from a Three phone (0333 338 1001 from any other phone) | Three says an older Three phone can be unlocked for free in a Three store | Three has not sold locked phones since 1 January 2014 |
Entering the unlock code
Once the network confirms the unlock:
- iPhone: there is no code to type. O2 sends a text when it’s done. Take out your SIM, put in the new network’s SIM and the iPhone activates. Apple says that if you don’t have another SIM, you can back up the iPhone, erase it, then restore it from that backup.
- Android: switch off, put in a SIM from another network, switch on, and enter the code when the phone asks for it. O2 sends Android codes by email. Vodafone’s guide lists different steps for some Samsung, LG and Nokia models.
Bought it second-hand?
Ask the network the phone was originally locked to. O2 says it can only unlock phones bought directly from O2, so for a phone that came from a shop or another seller, you may need to go back to that seller. Before you buy a used phone, check it is network unlocked and not account-locked, as explained below.
How to unlock an iPhone in the UK: iCloud Activation Lock
If your iPhone is network locked, follow the steps above. Apple says only your network provider can do it. iCloud Activation Lock is different.
Apple turns on Activation Lock automatically when Find My is set up. After the iPhone is erased, it asks for the Apple Account and password that were used on it. The owner can remove it by:
- entering their Apple Account and password (or device passcode) on the iPhone, or
- signing in at icloud.com/find, choosing the device and selecting Remove This Device.
If the owner still can’t remove it and has proof of purchase, Apple has an Activation Lock support request. For devices owned by a business or school, Apple says to contact the IT department or manager.
Mobile Links does not bypass or remove iCloud Activation Lock. Only the owner can remove it, through Apple. If you bought a used iPhone that is still locked to someone else’s account, ask the seller to remove it. Apple’s own advice is not to take ownership of a used iPhone or iPad until it has been erased and is no longer linked to the previous owner’s account.
FRP unlock: Google account removal on Android
FRP (Factory Reset Protection) is Google’s version of the same idea. Google says that when you have a Google account and a screen lock on your phone, you’ll need either your screen lock or your Google account password to factory reset it. If you can’t give that information, “you won’t be able to use the device at all” after the reset.
It usually catches people out when:
- they reset their own phone and forgot which Google account or password was on it;
- a family member set the phone up with their own account;
- a seller reset the phone without removing their account first.
First, try recovering the Google account through Google’s sign-in help. If you are selling or giving away a phone, Google says to remove your Google account from the device first. That turns the protection off for the next owner.
If you are the owner and still locked out, Mobile Links does FRP unlocking and Google account removal for owners locked out of their own device. Current prices in our FRP unlocking shop include:
- Samsung Galaxy S10, S20, S20 FE and S20 Ultra: £45
- Samsung Galaxy S21, S21 Plus and S21 Ultra: £50
- Honor Pad X9: £59.95
For other Samsung, Huawei, Nokia, LG, Alcatel and Motorola models, send us the exact model on WhatsApp for a price. Older posts on Samsung Google account lock removal and Huawei Google account removal explain more, as does our FRP unlock service in East London page. We only remove FRP for the device’s owner, never on a phone that isn’t yours.
Phone unlocking near me: Mobile Links, Plaistow
If you’re in East London and would rather not deal with codes and forms yourself, bring the phone in. Mobile Links offers network unlocking and FRP removal in store at 396 Barking Road, Plaistow, alongside our phone repairs. Ask us about your model before you come in. Call 0203 689 8083 or WhatsApp 07440 482830.
Check with your network first, though. If the phone came from EE, O2 or Vodafone, they say their unlock is free.
Questions people ask
Is unlocking a phone free in the UK?
With most big networks, yes. EE, O2 and Vodafone all say they unlock their own phones free of charge, and Three says an older Three phone can be unlocked for free in store. O2 only unlocks phones bought directly from O2.
How long does it take to unlock a phone?
It varies by network and phone. O2 says older handsets can take up to 10 working days when it has to get the code from the manufacturer.
Will unlocking my phone delete my data?
The O2 and Vodafone steps for entering an unlock code don’t include a reset. On an iPhone with no other SIM to hand, Apple’s method is to back up, erase and restore, so make a backup first. Any factory reset wipes the phone, so back up whenever you can.
Can a shop remove iCloud Activation Lock?
Mobile Links does not. Only the owner can remove it: by entering their Apple Account details, removing the device at icloud.com/find, or through Apple’s Activation Lock support request with proof of purchase.
My phone asks for a PUK code. Is it locked to a network?
No. A PUK unblocks the SIM card after too many wrong PIN entries. Get it from the network that supplied the SIM, and don’t guess, because too many wrong tries block the SIM for good.
Does an unlocked phone work on every UK network?
Once it is network unlocked, it will accept SIM cards from other networks. Pick up a PAYG SIM or read our guide to the best pay as you go SIM in the UK.
Walk in or order online
Mobile Links is at 396 Barking Road, Plaistow, London E13 8HJ, open Monday to Sunday, 10am to 8pm. Bring your phone in for network unlocking, FRP unlocking or a repair, pick up a SIM for any network, or contact us first on 0203 689 8083 or WhatsApp 07440 482830.
Official sources: Ofcom, Apple: unlock your iPhone, Apple: remove Activation Lock, Google: device protection, EE, O2, Vodafone, Three.
