Want to know how to unlock your phone in a few simple steps and make your phone worth more for resale / trade-in? Thanks to a law change all carriers have to unlock your phone on request. Here are all the most popular carriers and how to unlock your cell phone.

1. May 31, 2018
How to Unlock Your Phone - Step by Step on All Popular
Carriers
bankmycell.com/blog/how-to-unlock-a-phone-on-carriers
Have you reached the conclusion that you are ready to unlock your Android phone or
iPhone?
Whether it is to have more freedom regarding how you configure your device or to make it
easier to trade in, unlocking your cell phone is a piece of cake if you know where to start.
Here is all the information that’s needed to unlock a cell phone with the four major carriers
as well as a little information regarding some questions you may have about unlocking.
Unlocking AT&T Phones
How to unlock your phone on AT&T Carriers
Here are the current requirements needed to be eligible to unlock your AT&T device:
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2. Requirements to unlock your AT&T phone:
You must be an AT&T customer currently, or a former AT&T customer who has the
account number or phone number for the account
Your device must be paid in full.
Your device wasn’t reported stolen or lost.
The device was designed for use on the AT&T network.
There is also a limit to how many devices AT&T will allow a customer to unlock in one year.
Current customers are allowed to unlock up to five devices each year per account in good
standing. Previous customers may also unlock up to five devices each year per former
account in good standing.
For full details and information regarding eligibility requirements for unlocking an AT&T
device, visit the AT&T support page.
If you meet the above requirements and are ready to unlock your AT&T device, the best
place to begin is at the AT&T Device Unlock webpage. Here you will find all the necessary
information regarding your account status and device.
AT&T Unlocking security question data you’ll need:
The full name the account is registered to
The last 4 digits of the account holder’ssocial security number
The registered account holder’s AT&T password should they have an online
account
The device’s IMEI number. The IMEI number is the device’s serial number. It can
also be found on the original box, under the battery, on some models it is also on the
back of the device, by dialling #06, or by going to Settings > General > About.
Unlocking Verizon Phones
How to unlock your phone on Verizon Carriers
Requirements to unlock your Verizon phone:
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3. Most smartphones offered by Verizon Wireless work on GSM and CDMA networks. Verizon
has allowed this so that customers have an easier experience when traveling. Most carriers
outside the U.S. use GSM technology.
Unlike many other major carriers, Verizon does not lock most of their devices anymore.
The majority of Verizon smartphones that are 4G LTE capable already and have a SIM
card slot come factory unlocked from the carrier.
Those that own non 4G capable devices that support SIM cards will need to request a
device unlock.
To make a SIM card unlock request, call1-800-711-8300 (Verizon Global Support) and ask
the representative for a SIM unlock. For more information on unlocking a Verizon phone,
visit Verizon’s device unlocking policy webpage.
Verizon Unlocking security question data you’ll need:
Phone number of the main account holder
Account password (if there is one)
Last four digits of the account holder’ssocial security number
IMEI number. This can be found by going to Settings > General > About or by
dialing *#06#
Unlocking T-Mobile Phones
How to unlock your phone on T-Mobile Carriers
T-Mobile has set in place multiple requirements necessary to complete an unlock request.
Fortunately, the requirements are very simple and similar to most other carriers.
Requirements to unlock your T-Mobile phone:
The device must have been purchased from T-Mobile or an authorized dealer, and
activated on the T-Mobile service network
The device must be fully paid off with the account in good standing
Fewer than 2 SIM unlock codes per line have been requested in the last 12 months
The device unlocking is requested for has been active on the T-Mobile network for at
least 40 days.
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4. If you are under a service contract, payments have been made for at least 18
consecutive months or you have paid a migration fee. There are some exceptions
which Customer Care can detail if desired
On prepaid plans, at least $50 of refills must have been paid on the device
Former customers requesting an unlock must have a zero account balance and no
line was ported out which is associated to the device during the buyer’s remorse
period
Your proof of purchase if T-Mobile is unable to verify purchase
If you meet the above requirements for unlocking a T-Mobile device, you must then call
customer care by dialing 611 from the device to be unlocked, or 1-877-746-0909. Make
sure you have ALL of the following information on hand when you call as it is needed to
complete the unlocking process.
If you are missing any of this information, you will have to call back and start the process
over from the beginning.
T-Mobile Unlocking security question data you’ll need:
Phone number of the main account holder
Account password (if there is one)
Last four digits of the account holder’ssocial security number
IMEI number. This can be found by going to Settings > General > About or by
dialing *#06#
For more information on unlocking a T-Mobile phone, visit T-Mobile’s online unlock support
document.
Unlocking Sprint Phones
How to unlock your phone on Sprint Carriers
Sprint makes unlocking your device about as easy as it gets. Only a few years ago, Sprint
was difficult to work with regarding unlocking, however they took some major steps toward
making unlocking a painless process.
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5. Post-paid customers with SIM unlock-capable devices will have their device automatically
unlocked by Sprint as soon as the device is eligible for it. You need not initiate any calls or
submit any forms for this to happen.
Sprint also has some requirements in order get your device unlocked. If your account is in
good standing and you meet the requirements, they should unlock your device in 5 days if
possible.
Requirements to unlock your Sprint phone:
The device must be or have been active on the network for at least 50 days
The device is SIM Unlock capable
The connected account is in good standing including any installment billing, lease, or
service agreement must be fulfilled, and any potential early termination fees,
accelerated payment plans, and agreement options must be exercised and paid
The device has not been reported as lost or stolen or been flagged for fraudulent
activity
For Sprint Forward devices, the device must have been active on the associated
account for at least 12 months with the account active at that time
For customers that need to call in to have their device unlocked, Sprint Forward customers
can contact Customer Care at 855-639-4644.
Sprint Unlocking security question data you’ll need:
Phone number of the main account holder
Account password (if there is one)
Last four digits of the account holder’ssocial security number
IMEI number. This can be found by going to Settings > General > About or by
dialling *#06#
For inactive devices, contact Sprint Customer Care to request a SIM unlock-capable device
be unlocked. An over-the-air update may be necessary to unlock the device. Additional
validation may be required to ensure eligibility. Sprint makes no guarantee that an unlocked
device will work on another carrier’s network. For more information on unlocking a Sprint
phone, visit Sprint’s unlock FAQ.
Is unlocking my cell phone legal?
The FCC ruled that unlocking is legal. There was a time not so long ago when carriers did
not have to unlock phones for consumers, or could even charge exorbitant fees to do so.
Now however, cell phones must be unlocked by request at the end of their contract.
The FCC laid out a procedure for this that is easy to follow and uniform across all carriers.
The wireless trade group, CITA, outlined six policies regarding the unlocking process which
are as follows:
Carriers will post clear and accessible information on their websites about how to
unlock devices.
Carriers will unlock devices for consumers upon request who have completed their
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6. contracts.
Carriers will unlock prepaid devices within a year of activation, subject to “reasonable
time, payment or usage requirements,” upon request.
Carriers will either automatically unlock them or notify consumers when their devices
are eligible.
The process for unlocking devices will be started, if not completed, within 2 business
days of an eligible request.
Military personnel away overseas will be able to unlock their devices.
The phone unlocking process varies by carrier
While all carriers are now bound to unlock cell phones should all legal requirements
regarding unlocking be met, each carrier has some slight variations in their policies
regarding the process. For instance, the process you may have used to unlock an AT&T
phone will be slightly different than that of a T-Mobile phone, so make sure you have
checked unlocking details on their websites, at one of their sales centres, or by calling
customer care.
Final Cell Phone Unlocking Thought...
On a final note, customer care representatives from all major phone companies are
notoriously overworked and are too often on the receiving end of some pretty harsh
treatment from disgruntled callers.
My best advice to you is to be as kind and understanding as possible. This is truly a
situation when being decent can be the difference between getting amazing customer care
and just the bare minimum.
Be aware they may try and sell you an upgrade too if they think you’re changing, the best
thing to do is shop around first before taking the first deal offered.
Ready to unlock your phone?
Get clicking on the image below, enter your email and get access to our FREE Phone
Unlocking PDF
This is packed full of all the information here and you can print it, save it on your phone or
send it via email.
Click on this image for the FREE PDF download now…
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7. Source: https://www.bankmycell.com/how-to-unlock-a-phone-on-
carriers/
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