When you buy a new mobile, you may find that it is "locked", so that it can only work with the SIM of a particular carrier. This can become a problem, for example when you are traveling abroad and want to use a local SIM card to avoid expensive roaming charges. Depending on the specific Nokia mobile phone model, the unlocking process can be done in a few simple steps.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Unlock Mobile Phone with a Code
Step 1. Contact your telephone company
Sometimes, if you are a loyal customer, the manager gives you an unlock code (for a fee or for free). This, of course, is the absolute best way to proceed. Once you have called the manager's customer service, follow the operator's instructions to "free" the phone.
Step 2. Turn on the phone without SIM card
To understand how to extract it from your specific mobile, refer to the instruction manual. Enter your PIN number if prompted. For some models it is sufficient to insert a new SIM card and enter the unlock code obtained through a program that you can download without difficulty. If you have successfully unlocked your mobile, you will see "SIM restriction disabled". If your model is dated, read the next step.
Step 3. Enter this code:
# PW + unlock code + 7 #
. Type
P.
pressing the * key three times. To bring up
W
you have to press * four times. Finally, enter
+
by pressing the * key twice. If this code doesn't work, replace the number "7" with the number "1".
Step 4. Unlock the Nokia mobile
If you have followed the procedure correctly, the message "SIM restriction disabled" should appear on the screen.
Method 2 of 2: Unlock Mobile Phone with a Program
Step 1. Download the program that generates unlock codes
If the telephone company does not provide the numerical sequence to "free" the cell phone, know that there are free programs online. Generally, the most used are "UnlockMe" and "Nokia Unlock Calculator".
Step 2. Enter some personal data on the program website
If you have decided to use Nokia Unlock Calculator, you just need to type in some simple information and click on the "Get Unlock Code" button at the bottom of the screen. Once you have obtained your personal code, you can enter it on your mobile to unlock it.
Step 3. Insert a new SIM card into the phone
Once you have your unique unlock code, type it on your mobile and press "OK". If the procedure ends correctly, you should read "SIM restriction disabled" on the screen.
Warnings
- Most cell phones only allow a certain number of unlocking attempts; in the case of Nokia phones this limit is set to 5. Once all attempts have been made, the phone will go into hardware lock mode, which means that you will not be able to unlock it without the use of special tools.
- Most modern phones don't work with codes generated by free unlocking programs.
- When you try to unlock your mobile, you do so at your own risk. Remember that the legality of this operation is still a matter of debate; unlocking a mobile phone will, at a minimum, void the warranty.
- The unlock codes are unique to each individual mobile; do not try to use another person's phone, even if it is the same model.
