Unlock Phone - Things To Know From AT&T

[ATTCustomerCare]

Unlocking Your Device - Requests & Facts

Your device is designed to work on the AT&T wireless network, and may require a device unlock to operate on another compatible wireless network. AT&T can send you unlock instructions upon request, provided that we can reasonably obtain them from the manufacturer and that you meet the requirements below. You should receive a response within two business days.You will find information on how to unlock your device and answers to most questions below.

Notice: AT&T cannot unlock devices from other wireless carriers. 

How To Request A Device Unlock 

1. Go to our Device Unlock portal.
2. Select Yes if you are an AT&T Customer, No if you are not an AT&T customer. 
3. Enter your telephone # if you are an AT&T Customer. Enter your IMEI if you are a non-AT&T Customer.
4. Follow the prompts. 

If you have an issue with the site, delete cache, cookies, and restart your browser. In some instances you may need to use another browser. 

Business customers can request an unlock code for a business device Here.

To check status of your request

1. Go to our Status Portal.
2.  Enter your IMEI Number & Request Number.
3. Follow the prompts.

General Requirements for All Unlock Requests

• The device must be designed for use on, and locked to, the AT&T wireless network. (For help see Device Unlock Support)
• It must not be reported lost or stolen.
• It’s not associated with fraudulent activity.
• All the device’s service commitments and installment plans are completed, and all early termination fees are paid in full.
• The device is not currently active on a different AT&T customer’s account.
• If you performed an early upgrade, you must wait the 14-day buyer’s remorse period before you can request to unlock your previous device.

eBay & Non-AT&T Purchases

If a phone is purchased from a non-AT&T authorized dealer or sites like eBay, AT&T may be unable to unlock the device. Before purchasing the device, make sure the seller performs the unlock request. In some instances, you will have to contact the seller to perform the request.  

Postpaid Customers

• Your account must be active for at least 60 days, with no past due or unpaid balance.

Prepaid / GoPhone^®

• The device must be active for at least six months of paid service.

Non-AT&T Mobility Customers

• You’ve never had an AT&T wireless account and you meet the General Requirements for unlock requests.

Deployed Military Personnel (Current AT&T Customers Only)

• Current AT&T customers who are active and deployed military personnel, and have provided deployment verification, need to meet all the General Requirements, except those related to the device's service commitments, installment plans and early termination fees.
• AT&T, at its sole discretion, may limit the number of devices military personnel can unlock.

Important:

AT&T reserves the right to deny any unlock request that it concludes would result in an abuse of this policy or is part of an effort to defraud AT&T or its customers. AT&T further reserves the right to alter this unlocking policy at its discretion without advance notice.

ChrisZ, AT&T Community Specialist

[kdfederer]

Gophones have a requirement that they be used for 6 continuous month before they will be unlocked. Unless you paid the full retail price, not the gophone subsidized price, you may be able to get the phone unlocked by private messaging @ATTMobilityCare with your account and contact information and concern.

[Rayaan7298]

I bought my phone on a postpaid plan and used postpaid for quite a while before switching over to prepaid. Does that mean I have to wait ANOTHER six months for unlocking my phone??

[robe36]

So in reality the deception on ATT's part is they should be announcing their prepaid service as a 6 month contract.  No other carrier announces prepaid as a 6 month service.  Funny how it isn't mentioned in their stores when signing up!

[sandblaster]

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@kneipperk wrote:

I am having problems unlocking a phone for my mom. She recently bought a brand new at&t prepaid phone from walmart. She has never had an at&t account. I requested for unlock but denied because the phone has not been active for 6 months. I have unlocked a new at&t gophone phone in the past without being a customer or having service for 6 months.. she has not activated the phone, it is still brand new in the packaging. has the policy changed? 

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@kneipperk The policy has not changed, there has always been a 6 month requirement to unlock prepaid phones. However, the unlock portal did not enforce the policy well and let phones that had not yet been activated get unlocked. That loophole has been closed.

[sandblaster]

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@robe36 wrote:

So in reality the deception on ATT's part is they should be announcing their prepaid service as a 6 month contract.  No other carrier announces prepaid as a 6 month service.  Funny how it isn't mentioned in their stores when signing up!

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@robe36 Not true. The reality is that if you buy a prepaid phone that has been discounted, it won't be unlocked until it has been used for 6 months of ATT. That is not a contract, that is a condition for buying a subsidized phone. Other prepaid carriers do the same thing. Straight Talk requires 12 months usage on Straight Talk before they will unlock their phones. If you pay full retail price for a phone, you can get it unlocked. It takes a bit of doing to get past that 6 month requirement thing, but it can be done.

[robe36]

I'm unsure what you are talking about.  As I mentioned before I bought this unlocked Motorola phone from Amazon.  Took it to ATT for their carrier service, since they swore up and down they had good service here.  No service where I live and most of the way to work.  They have NO right, period, to take ownership of my phone if I don't want their service anymore.

[ODad]

@robe36 You confuse service with the device; the two are separate. But your responses here doesn't make sense. You jumped in about the 6-month thing and you were given a clear accurate answer.

Then you say you have an unlocked device. So...your device can be used on any network that your device and the network have compatible bands - if it is unlocked -.

People that buy phones for prepaid plans typically are buying LOCKED devices. Those devices must be used for a period of time before they can be unlocked. You can take the SIM card out of those devices and put it into another network compatible device and use the network service, as the service goes with the SIM card. That phone however cannot be unlocked until you've used it on the network for a period of time - AT&T it is 6-months -.

[sandblaster]

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@robe36 wrote:

I'm unsure what you are talking about.  As I mentioned before I bought this unlocked Motorola phone from Amazon.  Took it to ATT for their carrier service, since they swore up and down they had good service here.  No service where I live and most of the way to work.  They have NO right, period, to take ownership of my phone if I don't want their service anymore.

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@robe36 And as I said, if you paid full retail price for the Motorola phone and it is/was not subsidized by ATT, then you can get it unlocked. The problem is that once you put the ATT prepaid sim into the phone, the computer system automatically put the 6 month requirement on that phone's imei. You can get an exception to that 6 month requirement. As I said, it takes some doing but it can be done. Contact @ATTMobilityCare via private message. If you can provide proof of paying full retail price, they can help you get an exception to the 6 month requirement.

[robe36]

I mentioned this previously!

Personal unlocked Motorola G4 Plus phone (from Amazon) now locked to ATT prepaid service
How do I remove my phone from ATT device lock? I'm now told there is a 6 month lock period on their prepaid service, which wasn't mentioned on signup at local ATT store. There is no service for ATT where I live, like I was told, and now I need to switch to another carrier. When another carriers sim card is inserted in phone it says no sim card on phone.

This forum screws the posts all around.....Much like ATT service

I have no clue of what you are talking about and from your reply neither do you.

I took my phone to the local store to get ATT service.  There is no ATT signal here...i went to another carrier to get their service since they actually provide a better service in this area.  After alot of wasted time, much like here, the reply is i'm locked into a ATT contract for 6 months.  This phone is not ATTs property so again there is no right for them to put a lock on my phone.  If you can't understand the above then you are not worth the effort to converse with!  If you have something that helps in resolving the issue then please reply with something that is helpful!

[robe36]

@sandblaster  Thanks for that info.  I seen that before somewhere which brought me to this forum.  When I posted the post here I thought I was doing what was needed to resolve the issue.  I clicked on that @ATTCustomerCare and sent a PM with the POP.  Hopefully that will get me somewhere.  Very aggravating experience and alot of wasted time to correct their issue.  You would think they would know if it is their phone or a BYOP.......

[ODad]

@robe36 Sorry, I didn't your comment about switching SIM cards around etc. @sandblaster is right and hopefully @ATTCustomerCare will help you resolve this.

[jemsanderson]

To get unlock code either 1)download unlock device app and then it verify where your mobile is eligible for unlocking or not. If you have paid all your due amount then your mobile will be unlocked.

or 2) provide imei number of your mobile and make and model of your mobile like samsung , iphone, lg etc to at&t ,they will email you unlock code for your mobile.

[DPenhead]

This whole thing about having to have the phone for 6 months to cover their costs on a subsidized phone is total hogwash. The phone I am trying to unlock is the same price at Walmart as it is in the AT&T store. $49. I just do not want to have to take another phone back to Walmart and punish the retailer for a stupid rule that AT&T is now implementing in order to take more money from my family than we already spend on cell service. You know what the fix to this problem is starting to look like to me? Maybe it is time to fire my cell phone company? We spend around $3000 a year on cell service in my house. I am willing to bet someone else wants that money more than AT&T. I received an unlock code today for a brand new phone from AT&T. It is their own phone. I am on their network and have been for over 10 years. I have an unlock code. I have an AT&T SIM. I am not changing cell carriers to go to another company with their phone. I want to use it on my own family plan. What I do not have is much more patience for this sort of 'Planned Systemic Obsolescence'. 

[GLIMMERMAN76]

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@DPenhead wrote:

This whole thing about having to have the phone for 6 months to cover their costs on a subsidized phone is total hogwash. The phone I am trying to unlock is the same price at Walmart as it is in the AT&T store. $49. I just do not want to have to take another phone back to Walmart and punish the retailer for a stupid rule that AT&T is now implementing in order to take more money from my family than we already spend on cell service. You know what the fix to this problem is starting to look like to me? Maybe it is time to fire my cell phone company? We spend around $3000 a year on cell service in my house. I am willing to bet someone else wants that money more than AT&T. I received an unlock code today for a brand new phone from AT&T. It is their own phone. I am on their network and have been for over 10 years. I have an unlock code. I have an AT&T SIM. I am not changing cell carriers to go to another company with their phone. I want to use it on my own family plan. What I do not have is much more patience for this sort of 'Planned Systemic Obsolescence'. 

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@DPenhead

its not like the rules for unlocking are not on the back of the box the phone comes in but here is the unlock page for your reading pleasure....

[DPenhead]

I have read those instructions over 10 times. I know what they say. I know every step to this process that led me to where I am right now.
Thanks though.
By the way, y'all need to change the way you do business along these lines or you will be replaced by another company one day that has the best interests of the consumers in mind. Just a suggestion... Give it a try...