Smartphones are in the trend. People are crazy about it, and that is the reason Smartphone companies are making great phones with power-packed features. Every brand wants to go ahead from other, and due to the competition, we as consumers get advanced devices. Some of us are able to buy those costly smartphones, and many are not able to get their hands on those because they don’t have the budget. But, in many countries, you can get costly smartphone at a lower price with a wireless carrier. You just need to pay the subsidized cost and rest your network operator pays to the manufacturer.
Though it is great that you save a good amount of money it comes with many limitations. You cannot change your network operator for a specified period as per the contract. Basically, we all know that unlocked phones are not tied to a particular network provider. your phone is locked for other network’s SIM; you can only use that operator’s SIM only.
However, there are methods that you can try to unlock your contract phone to get freedom of using any other SIM.
In this post, I am taking Samsung Galaxy series phone as an example of a contract phone.
Part 1: Manually SIM Unlocking Your Samsung Galaxy Phone
You can try manually unlocking your Samsung Galaxy phone by following the steps below:
Step 1. Make sure your phone is GSM only. You cannot unlock CDMA. Also, check if your phone is actually locked because many contract phones sometimes come unlocked already. If that is so, you are lucky and don’t need to try anything. If it is locked move to the next step.
Step 2. Updated OS – Check which version of Android is there running on phone. To check it, go to Settings => About Device.
Step 3. Now, try updating your Android version. For this, you can check System updates => Check for updates. If there are updates available, just connect your phone to Wifi, and update it.
Step 4. Now, to access the Service menu, you need to enter the Samsung SIM network unlock PIN. Enter the code *#197328640#, and dial.
Step 5. Select UMTS and you will see the maintenance menu.
Step 6. Select debug screen to accessing debug menu.
Step 7. Select phone control and it will allow you to change settings.
Step 8. Select Network Lock to access SIM Lock function.
Step 9. Select PERSO SHA256 OFF, and wait for 30 seconds. Now, get back to Network Lock menu.
Step 10. Select NW Lock NV Data Initialliz, and wait for a minute.
Step 11. Now, all done, restart your phone. Try using a new other SIM on your phone now, if it works, this process worked for you.
Note: The work can be complex and take some times to complete, and improper operation amy lead to device crashed and data loss. There is no guarantee that this process will work for you but during our test it worked on my phone.
Part 2: How to SIM Unlock Your Samsung Galaxy S7/S8/S9/S10/S11
Mobiledic Android SIM Unlock is a software utility that makes things easier when it comes to unlocking your Samsung Galaxy. If above two ways didn’t work out for you for some reasons, this method would surely work for you as it doesn’t need you to be a technical person. You just need to follow a few steps, and this utility will do the thing. Steps to unlock your Android phone using Android SIM Unlock software.
The operation of unlocking Samsung is much simpler than the Part 1. But you need to first root your device first.
Take a look at how it works:
Step 1. Download and Install Samsung SIM Unlock on Your Computer
First, make sure your device was rooted successfully, then download and install the program on your computer, run it. Please connect your phone to the computer using USB cable. Click More tools on the left, and select option "Android SIM Unlock".
Step 2. Automatically Recognize Your Phone
This program will automatically recognize your phone. Once, your phone is recognized by software, you will only have to follow the on-screen instructions, and within a minute your phone will be unlocked. Click on "Unlock" button to continue.
Step 3. Start to SIM Unlock Your Samsung Galaxy
Once you click the Unlock button, waiting for the program unlocking your Samsung phone. This may take a few minutes. You phone will reboot once during the process. Make sure your phone is always connected.
Succeed! Enjoy your unlocked phone now! Download the trail version below.
Part 3: Unlock PIN by Contacting Your Network Operator
Since you got the phone at low cost in a contract earlier and if you want to get your phone unlocked, you have to ask your network operator for this. And, they will unlock your phone, but you will have to pay full money for the phone, and at least use for the existing SIM for 3 months.
If you fulfill the requirements, they will give you the unlock code which you will have to enter when your phone asks for it.
First of all, insert a new SIM to your phone, and it will try to build a new connection. But, since the phone is locked, it will ask for unlock code. Now, enter the PIN, and your phone will be connected to the new network. It is quite simple, but you need to pay the cost of the phone.
Final Words
I know people get phones at lower cost in the contract but later they feel about not having any freedom of using any other SIM. Therefore, these 3 methods you can try to unlock your Samsung Galaxy.