Even though carriers in Canada are not allowed to lock the smartphones they sell (a law prohibited it back in 2017), some users are still dealing with this issue even nowadays. However, if you look on the official carriers’ websites, like Freedom Mobile, you’ll notice that all they say is that phones are not locked anymore.
So, in that order of ideas, how can people learn to tell if their phone is locked? How can users get information about this issue? How can people network unlock Freedom Mobile? Well, in SafeUnlocks we put ourselves to the task of providing information on this matter and created this easy guide for you to learn all the basics about how to get rid of this annoying restriction.
What is the Carrier Lock and how can I Identify it?
SIM-locked or carrier-locked devices are those that are restricted to a single network, and therefore, don’t work when you try to get them connected to SIM cards from other providers. This happens mostly to phones that were bought from or activated with a carrier, which then passes to be the “original carrier” of the phone and starts restricting its connectivity.
For example, smartphones bought from Freedom Mobile before 2017 came locked to that specific network, and their cellular bands were restricted from working with other providers (like Bell, Rogers, etc.). Now, you might remember that a couple of years ago all carriers were forced to provide unlock codes to all users for them to free their phones, so why are there locked devices nowadays? Well, that’s because these codes were only provided to users who were eligible for an unlock, which is determined depending on the company’s unlocking terms.
How can I tell if my Phone is Locked to Freedom Mobile?
- Use a non-Freedom chip: If you insert a SIM card from a different Canadian wireless provider and it doesn’t work, shows that the phone has no service, and prompts you to enter an unlock code, the device is definitely carrier-locked.
- Use a SIM-lock checker: There are online websites like IMEI.org or IMEICheck.com that offer SIM-lock checking services. You get the results for free and in a couple of seconds while they run the test using your phone IMEI number.
- Check your settings: In most mobile devices like Samsung, iPhones, etc., you can go to the settings app, click on general, and go to the “about” section. There, you’ll see a tab that says “Carrier Lock”, and it should say “No SIM Restrictions” (anything else means locked).
How can I get Freedom Mobile to Unlock my Phone?
As we mentioned before, years ago all eligible users received their corresponding SIM-unlock codes, so if your device is still restricted and you never got yours, then you’re probably not eligible for the unlock. However, there’s also the possibility that the mobile network provider simply made a mistake, so it’s better to ask what happened and see if there was a misunderstanding or something like that.
How to make a Phone Unlock Request with Freedom Mobile
Unlike other carriers like Telus, this one doesn’t have any online option to SIM-unlock devices, so you’ll need to contact them and place your request by phone. For that, you can call 611 if it’s from a Freedom phone, 1-877-946-3184 from other phones in Canada, or +1-647-700-2435 from other countries. All you have to do is get in touch with an agent and explain your situation for them to see in their system if they can help you out or what options you have.
What do I need to Unlock my Freedom Mobile Phone to a new Carrier?
First of all, you’ll definitely need the 15-digit IMEI number of the smartphone in question, and sometimes, proof of purchase, a national ID, and other documents (depending on the case). In addition, it’s fair to highlight that all carriers have their specific unlocking terms. These might vary, but normally include not having any blacklist report, being the original owner of the device, and having fully paid for the phone (in case it was financed in monthly statements), among others.
What is a SIM Network Unlock PIN?
Throughout this article, we’ve been mentioning a code that users are supposed to be given a code for them to remove the restrictions on their phones’ cellular bands. Well, that number is known as a SIM network unlock PIN, unlock code, or NCK (Network Unlock Key), and is a kind of passcode that deactivates the lock on your device.
How to use a Freedom Mobile Network NCK Code
If you have a code but don’t know what to do with it, don’t worry because that’s actually the easiest part of the whole process (getting that number is way more complicated because of all the requirements). All you have to do is insert a SIM card on the phone that doesn’t belong to Freedom, it can be from any carrier in Canada except Freedom Mobile because that’s the one locking the device.
You’ll see a pop-up saying that the new chip is not supported, so just click on it and you’ll be prompted to enter the code in question, and that’s it, pretty easy, right? That’s why we say that getting the unlock code for your device is more difficult, but anyway you don’t have to worry about it because you can always use a third-party platform to get yours. Keep reading and learn with us how to get rid of the SIM lock on your smartphone in minutes without needing to contact the carrier or meet any prerequisites.
What’s a Good Unlock Code Generator for Freedom Mobile Phones?
Even though getting your NCK directly with the wireless carrier is the first alternative to consider, there are a lot of requirements, it can be very time-consuming, and you need to be on the phone talking with customer support. That’s why SafeUnlocks has developed the perfect tool for you to unlock your phone through the same method that carriers use but without all the formalities.
How much is it to Unlock a Phone from Freedom Mobile?
SafeUnlocks‘ lock removal service does have a cost but it’s not much, in fact, this is the most affordable option in the market because we only charge $1 while other platforms charge up to $50. With that dollar, you cover the whole unlock process of your smartphone and get a guaranteed and permanent unlock, regardless of its specific brand and model (Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, iPhone, etc.).
How long does the Freedom Network Unlocking Process take?
The process for you to place your request only takes a couple of minutes because it’s 100% online and the automated system does pretty much everything, it won’t take you more than 5 minutes. On the other hand, it does take a little more until your phone is unlocked because we need to process the request in our remote servers and generate the code. The whole process takes more or less half an hour, but it can be a little more depending on the amount of requests we’re processing at that moment; click here to get started!