EE now not sells telephones which are ‘locked’ to its community within the UK – because it’s now unlawful – however up till the top of 2021 it nonetheless did so. Meaning if in case you have an EE telephone there’s an opportunity it’s possible you’ll wish to unlock it so as to use it with one other UK community.

You might wish to unlock your telephone from EE for a number of causes. Your contract with EE could also be up, during which case you’ve got paid off your telephone and wish to swap to a less expensive plan elsewhere. Or maybe you are on Pay As You Go and have determined to vary your community for higher charges or sign-up bonuses. Or perhaps you simply inherited your telephone from another person or purchased it second-hand.

Regardless of the case, this is how one can unlock your telephone from EE –  and when you’re with one other community, see our different unlocking guides when you’re on Vodafone or Three.

If you happen to’re unlocking your telephone to get a brand new SIM-only plan, be sure that to take a look at our spherical up of the very best SIM-only offers to be sure to save as a lot as you’ll be able to.

Verify your system is not unlocked routinely

Do you know some units routinely unlock? Any iPhone offered straight by EE on or after 1 September 2015 unlocks routinely after 18 months. When you have an iPhone from EE, you’ll be able to textual content UNLOCK to 150 to verify the unlock standing of your telephone.

Some particular Android units are additionally all routinely unlocked now – so in case your telephone is a Google Pixel, Oppo, or OnePlus, then it ought to already be unlocked from EE’s community.

Different Android telephones may be unlocked – the easiest way to check is solely to swap in a SIM from one other community, when you or a pal have one, and see if it connects on-line. If you cannot verify that, or when you strive it and the telephone will not join on the opposite community, then your telephone might require guide unlocking – this is how.

How do I unlock my EE telephone?

There are two methods to unlock your telephone. The quickest and best is to make use of EE’s on-line kind, which guides you thru the method and solely takes a couple of minutes.

If you happen to desire, you’ll be able to name EE’s Buyer Care line by dialling 150 out of your EE telephone. It is free to name, or prices 25p per name when you’re on Pay As You Go. You’ll be able to see all EE contact numbers right here.

In case your telephone is second-hand, name 0800 956 6000 to unlock.

What do I must unlock my telephone?

You have to your telephone quantity, producer, mannequin, and distinctive IMEI Quantity (quick for Worldwide Cell Gear Identification). The IMEI is 15 digits lengthy and might be discovered within the telephone settings, or typically printed on the again of the telephone or someplace on its packaging.

If you happen to’re unsure the place to verify, it’s also possible to dial *#06# to get your IMEI Quantity straight.

If two IMEIs present up your system might be unlocked already. However when you’re checking on-line strive each IMEIs to make sure.

How a lot does it value to unlock an EE telephone?

Whereas EE used to cost to unlock some units, it now unlocks any telephone tied to the community totally free. So it doesn’t matter what, you should not must pay a penny, until it is the price of dialling the assist quantity.

How lengthy does it take?

If you happen to’re unlocking your telephone straight from EE, it may be on the spot, although it might take as much as seven days if EE must get the unlock code from the producer.

Is unlocking a telephone authorized?

Sure. Unlocking a telephone is authorized within the UK – although this should not be confused with unblocking, which is against the law. A telephone is usually blocked by a community when it’s reported stolen or lacking – which is why it’s good to guarantee yours is not earlier than you begin unlocking (so watch out when you’ve purchased the telephone second-hand on-line, for example).

Blocking a telephone blacklists its distinctive MSISDN code, which prevents it from getting used throughout totally different networks, internationally. Unblocking the telephone modifications this identifier in order that the telephone can be utilized once more.

In brief, you’ll be able to unlock your telephone, however you should not unblock your telephone.