A complete guide to an O2 phone unlock

• 1

  Enter your details

  Input your IMEI number and submit your request.

  Finding your IMEI number or Don’t know your network?

  
  
• 2

  Make payment

  Once your payment’s been verified, we’ll complete your phone unlock remotely.

  You can keep up-to-date with the phone unlocking process with our live tracking services.

  
  
• 3

  Free your phone

  Confirmation of your network phone unlock or network unlock code will be emailed within 24 hours. Job done, you can start searching for a better deal.

  
  

Why is unlocking an O2 phone important?

Taking the simple step to unlock your O2 phone makes sense for a number of reasons. Here are our top 6:

Reasons to use Mobile Unlocked to unlock your O2 phone

You’ve decided to unlock your O2 phone (good decision!). But you can’t do it alone. Here’s how (and why) Mobile Unlocked's unlocking service can help.

How to unlock a phone to any network

The SIM lock on your O2 device exists as a behind-the-scenes software code. Which means, you can’t remove it yourself simply by going into the ‘Setting’s menu of your device. Instead, the code that identifies it as being locked needs to be amended directly in O2’s device manufacturer database.

Here’s where we come in.

Our software whitelists the IMEI attached to the device through direct access to the manufacturers database. In short, we locate the device, and remove the lock. Sounds simple, right? But how does it do that?

Simple. The answer lies in one number. Or rather a series of 15 digits. Also known as your phone’s IMEI number, this 15-digit code is a form of unique ID for your phone.

Using that number, our software can identify your device and process the unlock.

All you need to do is share the IMEI number of your device with us and we’ll do the rest.

Don’t know your IMEI? (Don’t worry, we’ve been there!). The good news is, your IMEI is easy to locate. Just type *#06# into your smartphone keypad. Or go through the ‘Settings' menu. Any problems and you’ll find it under the battery or on your SIM card.

So what’s next? Well, there’s no single master code to unlock any phone. The stage that follows depends on the type of O2 device you have. iPhones, for example, unlock automatically over-the-air using WIFI/3G/4G or a mobile hotspot. Just wait for confirmation that this has taken place, turn on your device with the new SIM card in and it will update and unlock automatically.

Android devices work slightly differently. Instead, you’ll receive an unlocking code by email which you need to type into your device. Then insert a new SIM and you’re good to go.

Find out more about unlocking your O2 phone

Is my O2 phone locked?

Read our phone unlock code guide.

It’s hard to tell at first-view if your O2 device is locked. The majority of phones acquired through a payment plan with one network (such as O2) are usually locked to that network for a certain period of time. If you’re unsure if your phone is locked or unlocked, here’s how to find out:

1. Navigate to the ‘Settings’ menu in your phone. You will probably find the information saved in the ‘General’, ‘About’ section under a field called “Network Provider Lock”.
2. Insert a SIM card from a different provider (not O2) and see if you get a mobile signal. If you do, it’s likely the phone is unlocked. If you don’t, it’s likely to be locked. Messages such as: 'incompatible sim', 'enter subsidy PIN' or 'enter network unlock code', imply the device is locked.

Can I unlock any type of O2 phone?

With us, there are no restrictions around the make or model of O2 phone you can unlock. Both Android and Apple devices (iPhones and iPads) qualify equally. And if you’re using Mobile Unlocked, the process is the same for both - just enter your IMEI and press ‘submit’.

The process isn’t quite so straightforward when you go through the mobile operator instead.

There are often different criteria depending on the type of phone, contract, plan and duration. Corporate and business devices may also work differently.

How do I unlock as an O2 pay monthly phone customer?

Using Mobile Unlocked your contract to O2 doesn’t factor. We follow the same process for all phones: Share your IMEI number and we’ll pick up from there. But, remember, while we can absolutely unlock your phone if you’re still in contract, the conditions of your contract will still apply.

How do I unlock as a pay-as-you-go customer?

Pay-as-you-go or flex plan, our approach is the same. Provide your IMEI number and leave the rest to us.

But if you’ve decided to try and unlock a phone using O2 there are more hoops to jump through. These could range from a list of questions to answer to forms to fill in and checks to complete. It’s worth checking with them to establish what these might be.

Either way, you’ll probably need to fill in a form to request a Network Unlock Code. And wait anything between 72 hours and 10 working days for the request to be processed.

How do I unlock a secondhand O2 phone?

Lots of people are opting for used phones these days because they’re a cheaper option in the long run. Our service works just as well for used phones as it does new phones. The only requirement is that the phone isn’t blacklisted (registered as lost or stolen or logged with unpaid bills against it).

TIP: If you’re buying a used device, it’s always a good idea to check its provenance and status before you commit. Our blacklist IMEI check scans official databases for all devices reported as lost or stolen. So you can buy with peace of mind and know you’re making the right investment before you hand over your cash.

Related guides

Successful phone unlocks service for all UK networks.

• How to unlock EE phone
• Vodafone - unlock my phone