How to Unlock Your Nokia Phones

If you got your Nokia phone from your mobile provider, chances are, your mobile is probably locked to your network. What does it mean? It means you can't use your phone with other service provider, so if you decide that Company A has a bad service and you want to switch to Company B and you still want to continue using your phone, you won't be able to do so. So, how do you unlock your phone? Well, there are 3 options: Option 1: Call your service provider and ask for your unlock code which they will provide you for a fee, Option 2: Search the net for third party services which will unlock your phone for a fee, Option 3: Read this guide and unlock the phone yourself, for FREE. Unlocking is not illegal, unblocking IS. A cell phone is blocked when it is reported as stolen and unblocking it is illegal

FIRST STEP

Okay, first up, as the title says, this article is for unlocking NOKIA phones. It will focus on remote unlocking (unlocking without cables). Remote unlocking involves calculating your phone's unlock code with a code calculator. I've discovered the wonders of remote unlocking a few years back, when I was surfing Google. The first phone I've unlocked is my Nokia 7210. About 20 unlocked phones later, I've decided to make this guide for those who wants to experience the services of other service providers. A special note, please check with your service provider if you're not violating any terms in your contract by unlocking your phone. From what I've gathered, some providers provide the unlock code for a price, if that's true, then unlocking the phone yourself would not be in violation of any service contract.

Remote unlocking is only available for Nokia DCT 2, 3 and 4 phones. Nokia DCT 2 & 3 phones are, 2100, 3210, 3310, 3315, 3330, 3350, 3410, 5110, 5210, 5510, 6110, 6130, 6150, 6210, 7110, 8210, 8810, 8850, 9110, 9210, 9210i, or older versions that doesn't have GPRS. Nokia DCT 4 phones are 1100, 2300, 3100, 3200, 3300, 3510, 3510i, 3650, 3660, 5100, 6100, 6220, 6230, 6310, 6310i, 6510, 6600, 6610, 6650, 6800, 6810, 6820,7200, 7210 ,7250, 7250i, 7600, 7700, 7650, 8310, 8910, 8910i, N-GAGE, and any US versions of the latter models.

The following phones cannot be remotely unlocked: Nokia 1110i, 1112, 1600, 2310, 2610 are Asic 11 and 3250, 5300,5400, 5500, 6125, 6131, 6233, 6234, 6280,6282, 6630, 6680, 6682, 7370, 7373, 7390, E50, E60, E61, E62, N70, N71, N72, N73, N80, N90, N91, N92, N93 are BB5 phones. See the end of this article for a solution that is on beta test.

You have to download the unlock code calculator which can be found here. After downloading, unzip, unrar, or just unpack the file onto your chosen folder.

REMOTE UNLOCKING PROCEDURE

Double click the program and choose your mobile brand from the first drop down window. Since this guide is only for Nokia phones, naturally, choose Nokia. From the second drop down window, choose your Nokia phone model then enter your IMEI. Your IMEI can be found on the box that came with your phone, at the back of your phone usually near the sim card compartment or just type *#06# on your mobile phone to see it flash on your screen. Choose your country from the third drop-down window from the drop-down list and finally, choose your service provider. Click calculate and a series of numbers will appear on the screen. You will only need to take note of the first and last codes.

Remove your sim card and type the code generated as #pw+CODE+n#. The CODE should be 15 digits and the 'n' should be 1 and if it doesn't work, try 7. To get the p, w or +, press the * key several times.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You only get 5 tries, otherwise, the only way to unlock your phone is through cable. A message, "Phone restriction off" should appear if the unlock is successful, if it is unsuccessful, the message, "CODE ERROR" will appear. If you get CODE ERROR twice, get help by searching the http://www.nokiafree.org forums. For DCT 2 and 3 phones, if your phone asks for a second unlock code, visit http://unlock.nokiafree.org/dct3.php and select your GID1 network.

FOR NEWER MODELS

For BB5 phones, there's a new unlocker being circulated in the forums, however, it is only tested to be working with Nokia N70, 6680 and 6630. You need a DKU-5 or normal COM cable to unlock your phone. Visit http://nokiafree.org/forums/showthread.php?p=392566#post392566 and register in order to take part and download from the forums.