Setting up hardware and software

How to unlock any phone. Unlocking your smartphone

We remind you that attempts to repeat the author’s actions may lead to loss of warranty on the equipment and even to its failure. The material is provided for informational purposes only. If you are going to reproduce the steps described below, we strongly advise you to carefully read the article to the end at least once. The editors of 3DNews do not bear any responsibility for any possible consequences.

Operator devices are not a new phenomenon. Even our “Big Three” have been offering branded devices for ten years, if not more. Move potential buyer There are several things you can do to purchase a phone or anything else with an operator logo. Firstly, almost everywhere, various bonuses are given as a “gift” upon purchase, such as unlimited Internet access for a couple of months or a very favorable (in appearance, of course) tariff. Secondly, the price of a branded device may be lower than that of similar models, but not sold by the operator. Finally, it also happens that some kind of specific model, but you can’t buy it freely anywhere.

Often people make impulsive purchases, coveting a free offer, and after the allotted time has passed, they simply throw the device into the far corner, since they, as a rule, are completely dissatisfied with the tariffs, which they will have to switch to on a forced-voluntary basis. Moreover, it is not so important whether the operator really asks a lot of money for his services - you get used to good (and free) quickly, and paying an additional amount for, in general, not very obligatory and not painfully vital important service I don't want to at all. It's good if you bought the device from the same operator that you use constantly. But here’s the catch - devices often end up locked, and if you regularly use the services of another company, then even in theory you won’t be able to do anything useful with them. We will deal with the solution to this issue, that is, the unlocking.

Before we get started, we need to clarify a few points. To begin with, it is useful to make sure that the device is really locked. All you have to do is insert a non-native SIM card and see what happens. If nothing works or the device somehow hints that it would be a good idea to insert the SIM of the desired operator or enter some code, then it is really locked. The next stage is to find out the true manufacturer. The most popular are Chinese products from Huawei or ZTE, less often Alcatel or some other little-known companies. The simplest search will give you all the secrets. Along the way, you can find out whether it is possible to buy an unlocked analogue somewhere else and whether it can be unlocked at all. It is quite possible that the operator itself or a third-party company for a small fee, or even for free, is ready to make the device less scrupulous. In general, you need to find out for yourself whether the game is worth the candle.

And we’ll start, perhaps, with unlocking the Megafon E173 modem, nee Huawei E173u-1. One of the many services for generating unlock codes will help us with this. For example, for Huawei, ZTE or Alcatel. There are lists of compatible models everywhere, but they are far from complete. For example, they did not have the E173 line. To get the unlock code, which must be entered on any of these sites, you need to find out the IMEI - a set of 15 digits, also known as a unique identifier. In the case of Huawei E173u-1, it was indicated on the modem case under the cover. Numbers must be entered without hyphens, spaces or other separating characters. Click the Calculator/Generate button and get the coveted eight digits of the unlock code (NCK). Copy them somewhere.

If the modem is still not connected, then it’s time to do it, and at the same time install the Megafon Internet program, since when installing it, all necessary drivers. We will also need the Huawei Modem Code Writer utility, a link to which is available just below the IMEI input field on the first site. Both programs work successfully in Windows 7. Download the archive with the utility (for some reason it also contains a song), unpack it and run the program. Click Select Com Port, and then Detect and Accept. If the drivers are installed correctly, the connected modem should be recognized normally in the program. All that remains is to press the magic Unlock Modem button and enter the generated eight digits. An entry should appear in the log: “Send Unlock Command... OK.”

Now you can remove the modem, insert a SIM card from another operator, and Megafon Internet will no longer complain that the wrong SIM was inserted. To connect to the Network, you can use some third-party utility, or you can simply create new profile in Megafon Internet.

The next “victim” will be the Beeline A100 phone, produced in sunny China by ZTE. We will again need to find out the IMEI of the device. You can dial *#06# on the keypad or simply look at the number on the sticker located under the battery. Then you need to enter this number into one of the online calculators, links to which are given above, and receive an unlock code (NCK). After that, dial *983*8284# on the keyboard and enter the generated code. That’s it, now the phone easily accepts SIM cards not only from Beeline, but also from other operators.

Let's finally consider one more little trick - let's make it work Samsung modem SWC-U200 for Yota WiMax network in the Comstar network. This is done using universal firmware, which can be downloaded. You must first install the proprietary Yota Access utility of a certain version. It is also recommended to exit Yota Access before installation. If everything went smoothly, the utility will detect the modem and offer to start the update (step 2). The process is slow, and it is better not to touch anything during the update. If it complains about the lack of drivers, then you will need to restart it and select the first item, wait a little, and only then start the firmware update.

After updating the firmware, go to the virtual CD drive that appears when you connect the adapter. There is a file called CSAccess_v.124_DA15.exe that needs to be launched. After that, from the main menu in the Yota Access section, run the “Install Comstar firmware” script and wait for the process to complete. Then you need to register with Comstar and personal account, in the “Management” → “Access” section, register our modem (we are interested in the MAC address), and also do not forget to top up your account. Now you can connect to new network through the Comstar Access utility from the main menu. To return to your native bosom, run “Install” from there. Yota firmware" For more detailed information about working in different WiMax networks, it is best to refer to.

We'll probably stop ranting here. We looked at only three devices as an example, but you can easily find specific instructions and tips for your devices on the Internet, if, of course, unlocking is possible at all. Once again, we recommend asking your operator about the possibility of officially unlocking your device. It may be a little more time-consuming, but you won't have to do anything with your own hands. Good luck with your flashing and unlocking!

Your favorite smartphone can suddenly bring a lot of disappointments, frayed nerves and long-term worries. And all this is due to the fact that he was suddenly blocked, and graphic key either is not accepted by the system or has been forgotten. Of course, the situation is unpleasant, but it is not worth plunging yourself into nervous turmoil.

Situations often arise when the owner of the phone forgets the unlock password

There are ways to solve problems associated with blocking smartphones. In addition, there are a sufficient number of such methods, so everyone can try to find the best option for themselves. A smartphone can also be unlocked at a service center if the owner has forgotten the password. It should be taken into account that warranty service does not apply to such a situation, so you will have to pay for the work of the craftsmen service center. Unfortunately, the cost of the work of a specialist who was able to unlock a smartphone and remove the pattern key is not small, so it is better to try to carry out such actions yourself, having first familiarized yourself with the unlocking procedure.

There are quite effective methods that allow you to unlock your smartphone without much difficulty if you have carelessly entered the wrong password several times. This situation is familiar to many parents if their young children perceive a smartphone as a device. The phone can also be blocked in cases where at a certain moment the owner himself came up with a graphic key, entered it, but did not record it anywhere, relying on his memory, which later mercilessly failed him and created such an undesirable situation.

Removing password via SMS

After purchasing a phone, when the owner wants to install a pattern key in order to prevent unauthorized use of the gadget, it is best to carry out some actions that will later make it easy to unlock the smartphone.

To do this, it is enough to install the application in advance. SMS Bypass. Unfortunately, you will have to pay for such an application or find pirated version. It would be more honest to pay and use a quality product, especially since the cost of such an application is small and amounts to about one dollar.

After installing the SMS Bypass application, you must confirm the request for permission to use Root rights. Now, if the owner accidentally forgot the password, it will be enough to send an SMS with a special text - 1234 - to the phone number, after which the smartphone will reboot and the password will be removed.

If the reason for the blocking is a pattern, then in addition to numbers, the word reset is added to the text of the message. The smartphone will also start up successfully after such actions, which will please the owner.

You should not despair if you were unable to install such an application in advance or if the owner knew absolutely nothing about it. It is possible to install such an application even after the owner of the phone has forgotten the password and it has been blocked.

You need to connect your smartphone to your PC, log in to your Google account, install the application and unlock the gadget using the method described above.

The graphic key is the most common reason, causing the gadget to be blocked. Owners often use a digital password for many accounts; they associate them with significant life dates, so they are forgotten much less often. A graphic key is a set of gestures and symbols that seem simple only at first, but after a certain period of time, it turns out to be difficult to remember.

If the owner of the smartphone suddenly forgot the pattern key, then you can still unlock the smartphone; to do this, just make a call using another phone. Taking incoming call, you should quickly enter the settings menu, go to the security tab and disable the pattern.

If someone has forgotten the password, and there is no one in the immediate vicinity who could make the call, you can use the following method, which is almost identical to the previous one. While dialing, you should have time to grab the information line located at the top of the screen. If this is successful, then you should go to the settings and disable the pattern.

You can also enter the security settings if the smartphone battery is almost empty. A warning entry appears on the screen, thanks to which you can first enter the battery menu, and then the security settings and unlock the gadget in the same way.

Unblocking using Internet resources

You can unlock a smartphone using Internet resources if the owner has completely forgotten the password. There are no particular difficulties even in this case, so anyone who finds themselves in such a difficult situation can use this original method.

Removing your password using your Google account

Everyone is familiar with the situation when someone tries to enter various combinations of numbers and letters several times in a row in order to recall forgotten password. If, however, all attempts remain unsuccessful, operating system Android is configured in such a way that at a certain moment it will prompt you to enter the password set to enter the Google account. Also, the “desired inscription” appears after entering the wrong set of numbers and symbols six times. By logging into your Google account, your smartphone can be unlocked automatically.

Sometimes it happens that the “desired inscription” does not appear even after repeatedly entering the wrong password. This happens when there is no connection to the Internet, so the correct solution would be to restart the operating system by turning off and on the phone.

When turned on, the top line appears, responsible for connecting to the Internet. By pulling it, all you have to do is enter your Wi-Fi or mobile Internet credentials, after which you can log into your Google account and unlock the gadget.

The procedure becomes a little more complicated if the owner of the smartphone has forgotten not only the password of the gadget itself, but also the account password Google posts. In this case, you will have to initially recover the password to your account, and then proceed to unlock the phone. You can restore access to your account when connecting mobile device to the Internet.

To do this, you should implement emergency call, then quickly dial the combination - *#*#7378423#*#*. Next, by going to the Service tests - WLAN menu, you can simply connect to Wi-Fi, and all further actions are carried out strictly following the instructions of the Google service.

You can connect to the Internet using another borrowed SIM card that is connected to mobile Internet and there is a sufficient amount of funds in her account to use Internet resources.

Another way to provide access to the Internet if the owner has forgotten the password and the phone has been locked is to connect, but this will require a LAN adapter. It is unlikely that every user has it in stock; rather, it will have to be purchased additionally, but it is important to remember that such an adapter is not suitable for all smartphones, so its purchase, accompanied by additional costs, may be in vain.

If, however, you managed to connect your smartphone to the router via a LAN adapter, thereby providing access to the Internet, then the unlocking will take place automatically.

There are several more methods that can be used if the smartphone owner has forgotten the password, but they are accompanied by an increased risk, since you have to manually delete program files. If a careless mistake is made, the operating system will fail. It is, of course, possible to restore everything, but this will require a lot of time and additional knowledge. That is why it is better for inexperienced users not to use the method of manually unlocking a smartphone.

So, every phone owner should understand the degree of responsibility when setting a password. If, having installed the key, he still forgot it, then he should not panic; it is more advisable to use the above tips.

Most users Apple technology We are accustomed to believing that the procedure for decoupling an iPhone from a telecom operator is extremely complicated and requires some special knowledge. Most often this is true, but many AT&T iPhones can be unlocked after performing an extremely simple operation that anyone can do. This manual describes this method in detail.

Step 1. Go to the official one unlock page smartphones on the AT&T website.

Step 3. On the page that opens, opposite the field Are you an AT&T wireless customer? check the box No. This will clarify that you are not an AT&T customer.

Step 4: Specify IMEI smartphone in the column of the same name. You can find out the IMEI of your iPhone in the menu “ Settings» → « Basic» → « About the device».

Note: The Make and Model fields will be filled in automatically.

Step 5. Enter the captcha, accept the rules and click Next.

Step 6. On the next page, enter your first name, last name, address Email and press Submit. The email must be entered correctly in order for you to be able to confirm the start of the unlocking procedure.

Step 7. In the letter you received from AT&T, follow the link confirm to confirm the start of the unlocking procedure.

This is how you simply ask AT&T to unlock your iPhone. If the unlock option is available, then within the next two days the smartphone will be unlocked. You can track the status of the procedure at special page AT&T website.

After entering the IMEI and request number (indicated in the letter), the service will inform you whether the unlocking has been completed or not. If the request has not yet been processed, in the column Current Status will be indicated In Progress, as in the image below.

If everything went well and the restriction on working with other operators was lifted from the iPhone cellular communications, in the column Current Status will appear Approved.

In most cases, AT&T service works extremely quickly. From our test iPhone lock was filmed in just a few minutes!

Is it really possible to remove the lock from any iPhone from AT&T in this way? Unfortunately no. If the smartphone is blacklisted by the operator, there are still debts under the iPhone contract, or there are other various factors, then in such cases it will not be possible to unlock it on your own. You will have to resort to the services of professionals who carry out the Premium unlock procedure.

How to determine why it is impossible to unlock?

If the service reports that it is impossible to perform an unlock, it also clarifies why exactly this happened, showing an error message.

  • This device is not eligible for an unlock at this time- this message appears if an unlock application has been submitted three times in a row. In this case, you need to wait a week.
  • The account holder information you provided does not match our records- iPhone activated with AT&T SIM card. Need to do full reset smartphone and do not perform subsequent activation.
  • Your device seems to be active on an AT&T customer’s account. Please re-submit your device unlock request with the appropriate customer type or device information- the smartphone is tied to the active one account AT&T user. Only he can apply for an unlock.
  • You have not completed all the payments for your device according to your AT&T Next service agreement- there are still debts under the contract.
  • Your device was reported as lost or stolen- the device is blacklisted, that is, declared by its owner as lost/stolen.
  • The IMEI number XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX you entered does not match a device compatible with the AT&T network- if you entered the IMEI correctly, it means the iPhone is not tied to the AT&T operator.
  • You haven’t fulfilled your service contract- the terms of the contract are not fulfilled.

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Let's say you decide to change your operator, but the new SIM card refuses to work in your phone. Frustrated, you call support and find out that your smartphone is blocked on the network of the first operator, and nothing can be done about it.

Of course, this is not entirely true. If you are using your device on Android based(), you always have options.

Unlocking a SIM card is not rooting

Before we start unlocking Android phones, let's briefly explain what network/SIM unlocking is.

This is simply the process of entering a specially generated code through your phone's keypad to remove the restriction imposed by the operator distributing the device. This will allow you to insert compatible SIM cards from any other operators and use their services.

Unlocking to use other SIM cards does not allow you to full access to the phone. Unlocking the bootloader or rooting is a completely different matter. Both of these types of unlocking are legal, but for SIM unlock operator assistance is often required.

Is your phone locked?

Not all phones are locked to one SIM card mobile network. To find out if this applies to your device, first check the documentation. If the word “unlocked” appears on your receipt/invoice, you can be sure that the smartphone can be used with any operator.

Of course, you can contact your operator and ask if you are allowed to use SIM cards from other cellular networks. Or, try inserting a different SIM card into your phone. If a card from another operator does not work, then your device is definitely blocked.

Phones purchased directly from the manufacturer or a third-party retailer like Motorola, OnePlus or Amazon at full price (usually $500-$700) are often unlocked, unlike devices purchased from carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile or AT&T at a subsidized price (from 0 to 200 dollars).

But if you find that your phone is under Android control blocked to a certain operator/mobile network, how can I unblock it?

Fraudulent applications for unlocking SIM cards

First, don't look for unlocking tools in the store. Google applications Play. Such services have a bad reputation, and most of them are simply scams. IN best case scenario they won't be able to unlock your phone.

In addition, you should avoid “phone unlocking tools” presented on file-sharing sites or Bittorrent networks. These utilities are most often infected with Trojans and other malware and very rarely match the phone you are trying to unlock (contrary to their description).

There are legal and safe ways Unlocking your smartphone to use another SIM card.

Surprisingly, you can contact your operator about unlocking your phone or tablet. In fact, this is your best option.

Since February 2015, the owners mobile phones in America may ask their cellular networks to unlock devices to switch to another operator. This puts the US on par with the European Union (and repeals an unpopular law passed in 2013). In addition to this, operators are required to inform their customers about the possibility of unlocking the device through a note on the monthly bill.

First, find out if your phone can be unlocked. If the smartphone was purchased under a contract, it contains unlocking conditions. If the initial two years have not yet passed, you will have to pay a penalty for early termination of the contract. After this, you will receive an unlock code and can safely use another SIM card.

People who bought their phones outright usually need to wait 12 full months from the date of purchase to ensure all bills are paid. Then the network will provide you with an unlock code.

To remove a network/SIM lock, you will need to verify the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity - a unique code used to identify your phone on any network) of your phone or tablet.

In Android IMEI number can be quickly found by typing *#06# or by opening Settings > About phone > Status > IMEI information. After transmitting this 15-digit number, the operator must provide you with a PIN code that allows you to use a SIM card from another network.

(This process may vary depending on cellular network. Eg, new operator may require you to enter special code to work with his network.)

This is especially useful if you are traveling in other countries and your device does not support two SIM cards at the same time.

Although carriers in America are prohibited from charging for this service, in the UK and Europe you sometimes have to pay a small administration fee to unlock your phone.

Find a reputable smartphone unlocking service

If your network does not support requests to unlock your phone, you can use one of the reliable online unlocking services. However, finding such a service can be difficult.

We advise you to use such services only as a last resort, if the operator refuses to help and you have no other choice. These sites require you to enter your IMEI to generate an unlock code. But they are not regulated in any way and, although paying with PayPal provides you with some protection, they are not always reliable.

We have tested the sites www.safeunlockcode.com and sim-unlock.net in practice, but we do not guarantee that they will work for your smartphone or tablet.

Have you unlocked your device?

Unlocking a smartphone or tablet is not perfect solution for each. We recommend that you first weigh the pros and cons of this process, and also think about what you will gain from it.

Does another operator offer better conditions? If you live in a major city, local Wi-Fi (secured via a VPN) may be a much better (and cheaper) option.
Have you unlocked your Android device? Tell us about it in the comments.

Megafon subscribers who buy so-called locked phones at a low price sometimes want to install a SIM card from another operator into their contract smartphone. Naturally, nothing works out for them, and such a phone does not receive communication at all. Moreover, even manually selecting an operator in the settings does not help.

What is a locked phone for an operator?

The term mentioned comes from the English word lock, which means “castle”. That is, a locked phone is “under lock and key” and can only be used with a key - a SIM card of a specific operator. So, if you insert a SIM card, for example, Vodafone, into a smartphone locked under Megafon, then such a phone will not work. More precisely, it will not receive communication, although all secondary functionality will be available (music, cameras, wi-fi internet etc.). It will be like a mini-tablet without a SIM card slot and nothing more, so it is logical for users to want to find out how to unlock a phone from Megafon for other operators.

Why is this happening?

The Megafon company, in competition for the market, supplies contract smartphones at a low price. And they can only use SIM cards from this operator, which is very convenient for Megafon itself. Having once sold cheaply locked phones, telecom operators sign up clients for many years who simply cannot switch to other operators (read: competitors). This is a rather cunning and effective way to develop the market, and it is practiced not only in Russia, but also in many other countries of the world. So there is nothing new in this.

Is it possible to unlock?

Many owners of such phones want to know how to unlock a phone from Megafon for other operators. Of course, this is possible. And although protection methods are improving, today there are few effective ways to unlock Megafon. One of them is shown below. But we must warn you: there is no guarantee for unlocked smartphones, so you perform all the described actions at your own risk.

How to unlock a megaphone phone for other operators?

The method described below is only possible with Windows 7 32 bit. First, we need to download the archive for storing and transferring files to any device connected to the Internet. It is available on Yandex.Disk. Copy the contents of the archive to the root system disk C. After this:

  1. Run the file vcredist_x86.exe (necessary for Microsoft installations Visual C++).
  2. Let's launch text file imei (located at login\images\imei.txt). We enter the IMEI of your phone into it. It is located under the battery or printed on the box. You can also dial the key combination on your phone *#06#.
  3. Close the document and save the changes.
  4. Turn off the phone, remove the battery, connect the phone via USB to the PC, and insert the battery back.
  5. The computer will determine unknown device. There is a driver in the C:\login\driver package. You must specify this directory when installing an unknown device.
  6. It will appear in Device Manager new COM port. Its meaning must be remembered.
  7. Turn off the phone and remove the battery again.
  8. Launch the FlashTool.exe file (located at C:\login\flashtool\).
  9. The program opens. Click on the menu item on the left (hieroglyph). There's only one of him there.
  10. In the window that opens, in the DIAG 1 line, select the number COM port, which you memorized earlier.
  11. Click the "OK" button, then the "??" button. The program will respond with "Ready".
  12. We connect the phone to the PC again and insert the battery. The firmware installation will start automatically.
  13. When the installation process is complete, remove the battery, close the installation program, and turn off the smartphone.
  14. If the phone asks for the Megafon unlock code (it may not ask), then you need to enter 191519373892.
  15. Download and install the firmware from the official Megafon website according to the instructions.
  16. On the switched off smartphone we launch Recovery mode. To do this, you need to simultaneously hold the power and volume up buttons (on some phones this is the power and volume down button).
  17. Select the option “Wipe data\factory reset” (move using the sound button) and activate it using the power button. Then select "Delete all user data".
  18. After completion, select "Reboot system data".

This completes the process. After turning on the phone, you can insert any SIM cards into it, which will now work. Initially, it may seem that unlocking a Megafon phone login for other operators using this method is difficult, but this is not so. Just follow these steps and everything will work out.

Is it dangerous?

Now you know how to unlock a Megafon phone for other operators. If you do something wrong, it can be dangerous, since the phone can simply be damaged by software, after which it will glitch or even stop turning on. Therefore, it is important to know exactly how to unlock a Megafon phone for other operators and weigh the pros and cons. Perhaps even after unsuccessful firmware you will be able to return to your original state, but there are no guarantees. Moreover, we remind you once again: there is no warranty for unlocked smartphones.

But many users respond positively to this unlocking method. But no one can guarantee success. Remember that the responsibility lies entirely with you. We can only wish you good luck in this operation.

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