How to Network Unlock your iPhone or Samsung

There are two main ways to network unlock your iPhone or Samsung phone.

The first is to request an unlock code from your carrier (EE/Vodafone/O2). This is the most common way to unlock a phone. Your carrier will usually require you to meet certain eligibility requirements, such as having paid off your phone in full and having used it for a certain period of time. Once you have met the requirements, your carrier will provide you with an unlock code. You can then enter the code on your phone to unlock it.

The second way is to use a third-party unlocking service. There are a number of third-party unlocking services that can unlock your phone but most charge a fee for this. These services usually have a faster turnaround time than carriers, but they may not be as reliable, so it is always worth checking the company out first by looking at reviews.

Here are the steps on how to network unlock an iPhone or Samsung using each method:

Request an unlock code from your carrier:

• Contact your carrier such as EE or Vodafone and request an unlock code.
• Provide your carrier with the IMEI number of your phone. You can find the IMEI number by entering *#06# on your phone’s keypad.
• Meet any eligibility requirements that your carrier may have.
• Once your carrier has approved your request, they will provide you with an unlock code. The unlock code is only applicable to Samsung devices. iPhones are network unlocked remotely through WIFI and as such no code is needed.
• Enter the unlock code on your phone to unlock it.
• Your iPhone or Samsung is now network unlocked and any network sim card can be inserted and used.

Use a third-party unlocking service:

• Find a third-party unlocking service that you trust. Always research the company beforehand and always check reviews on independent reviews sites such as Trustpilot.
• Provide the third-party service with the IMEI number of your phone. Enter *#06# on your phone’s keypad to bring this up.
• Pay the fee for the unlocking service.
• The third-party service will unlock your phone and provide you with the unlock code if a Samsung mobile phone, or the unlock will be processed remotely through a WIFI connection.
• Enter the unlock code on your phone to unlock it.
• Your iPhone or Samsung is now network unlocked and any network sim card can be inserted and used.

It is important to note that network unlocking a phone may void the warranty. It is also important to make sure that you are using a legitimate unlocking service. There are a number of scams out there that claim to unlock phones.

Here are some additional tips for network unlocking an iPhone or Samsung:

• Always check the handset prior to submitting your network unlock as some carries automatically unlock devices. For example, any handsets purchased from Three after January 1^st 2014 are unlocked as standard.
• Be patient. The unlocking process can take a few days, depending on your carrier.
• If you have any problems, contact your carrier or the third-party unlocking service for assistance.

If you are thinking of recycling your iPhone or Samsung mobile phone, it is certainly beneficial to check if your device is network unlocked as most companies offer more money for a network unlocked handset. For example, here at WeBuyTek, a Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G handset is currently £80 for a network unlocked device, whereas the price is reduced to £75 for a Vodafone locked handset. So it is certainly worth checking before hand.