Unlocking an O2 phone to use a different SIM card.

[MI5]

---

Note: please refer to an updated version of this guide in our How-to Guides section, here. 

---

If you want to use your O2 contract or PAYG phone with a SIM from another network, ie a local SIM when on holiday, you will need to release the network lock.

If you have a monthly contract it is free to get your phone unlocked.

Any phone can be unlocked (with the exception of the iPhone immediately after launch - see website for details of when these can be unlocked).

All you need to do is submit this form https://www.o2.co.uk/apps/help/help?qid=1&q1=2&route=unlocking&case=Handset%20Unlocking%20Form taking care to enter the correct details. Pay attention in particular to the security question as this is the most common cause of failure.

PAYG phones need to have been on the network for at least 12 months (iPhone is the exception here again which is anytime subject to the above restriction for new models).

There is a £15 unlocking fee on PAYG and the phone needs to be registered on the O2 network, so, if you have just purchased a phone off eBay for example, insert a PAYG SIM and top up £20. Make a few calls to register the phone and ensure you have at least £15 credit remaining then fill out the form as above https://www.o2.co.uk/apps/help/help?qid=1&q1=2&route=unlocking&case=Handset%20Unlocking%20Form

Business users can also submit the form for a free unlock.

Once the form is submitted it can take upto 28 days to receive the unlock code but it is usually much quicker - Typically within 7 days.

You will receive the code with instructions on how to complete the process with your specific handset, but in general, you insert a non O2 SIM card and enter the code when prompted.

Note: Unlocking the phone does not relieve you of any contractual obligations. You still need to complete your minimum term as agreed.

[jonsie]

Under those circumstances I would expect not. I think you would have to use an o2 sim again whilst you apply for the unlock.

[MI5]

Your phone may already be unlocked?

[Anonymous]

Can I unlock any iPhone even if they're not on o2? For example, if I logged into my o2 profile and my mate gave me his IMEI number for another networked iPhone would it work?

[Cleoriff]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Can I unlock any iPhone even if they're not on o2? For example, if I logged into my o2 profile and my mate gave me his IMEI number for another networked iPhone would it work?

---

No because the IMEI registered in My O2 is your phone only....They would know it's not registered to O2

[Anonymous]

If I used the unlock another device option would that work? His phone is locked to o2 but wants to use another suppliers sim but he's a giifgaff customer.

[Cleoriff]

I have no idea @Anonymous I will ask @viridis or @jonsie to answer....

[Anonymous]

Cheers. Nobody seems to know the answer but I'll wait for the others and see what they think. The last thing I want to do is mess up my account somehow.

[MI5]

If you put your sim in his phone for a day or so you can then put the unlock request in, but only after your number is associated with the phone.

[GAT]

Hi, what's the procedure please to unlock an iPhone 6S Plus, that was purchased on a 'Refresh' deal with the device plan fully paid off & the air time cancelled?

Fill in the online form as usual, with the mobile number that originally came with the phone?

Then do this? "If you’ve got an iPhone, you’ll need to connect it to iTunes once you’ve put a non-O2 sim into the iPhone. iTunes will then tell you the phone is unlocked."

Thanks 🙂

[jonsie]

Just use the link In My O2, no need to connect to iTunes now.