If you are dealing with blacklisted phones yet don’t know how to successfully clear a bad IMEI, in this article, we will provide some advice and explain some basics for you to unlock a bad IMEI like a pro. So, keep reading and learn with SafeUnlocks all there is to know about fixing a phone with a bad IMEI (or bad ESN if that’s your case) in a matter of minutes and from the comfort of your home!
How does Having a Bad IMEI Affect you?
When you have a bad IMEI or a reported mobile phone you are not able to use that device to make or receive any calls or messages. A blacklisted phone has a restriction on the device’s connectivity no matter what carrier is active on it, so even if you change to another mobile provider, your connection to the network will still be limited.
This can be an issue for phone mobile data as well because as we mentioned, the restriction is on the connection of the device to the carrier’s network, so you can only use your mobile phone basically with WiFi.
Is a blacklisted phone reported in all carriers?
Yes, that is actually the reason why we said that even if you switch carriers, your connection to the network will still be imitated unless it becomes un-blacklisted. There is an international database in which each blacklisted phone’s IMEI number is registered, and there are 44 countries that collaborate with this database, so if you want a blacklisted phone to work, you can either unlock it or go to a country that is not part of the international blacklist database (so we can agree it is easier to just unlock it).
What are the Reasons why a Phone is Blacklisted?
There can be various reasons why a wireless carrier (like T-Mobile, AT&T, etc.) reports a phone’s IMEI number, here are the principal ones.
The Phone was Reported Lost or Stolen
Lost or stolen phones are the most common cases — these cases are in fact the reason why the blacklist collaboration among countries was created, to prevent cell phone theft —. When the original or previous owner of the blacklisted phone (no matter if it is an iPhone or an Android phone) notifies that the device was lost or stolen, the mobile phone carrier proceeds to permanently block the IMEI number and sends a report to the police.
Unpaid Bills
When the original owner of the device financed the phone directly with any of the existing phone carriers but then didn’t finish making the payments for it and has unpaid bills, the carrier or network provider proceeds to blacklist the financed device until the debt is completely paid.
Fraudulent Transactions
When the previous owner of the device purchased the phone from the original carrier through credit card cloning, check fraud, identity fraud, or if the charge is being disputed, all mobile carriers are obligated to set the phone on an IMEI blacklist status until the fraud department of the bank involved in the transaction finish the process to determine if it was fraud or not and if it was, the phone will stay blacklisted permanently.
Selling your Blacklisted Phone vs. Fixing its Bad ESN or Blocked IMEI Number
Selling blacklisted phones can be challenging as a lock like this affects their market value and usability, so if your phone has a bad ESN or IMEI, the best thing to do is to unlock it before reselling it. By resolving these issues through services like SafeUnlocks, you can enhance the phone’s value, making it more attractive to potential buyers and ensuring a smoother resale process without complications.
If you Sell your Phone before Unlocking it, the Buyer won’t be Happy!
If selling a blacklisted phone without it being unlocked, the buyer will face the same limitations you’re experiencing now. The device’s blocked status can limit its functionality and usability on various networks, causing connectivity issues and even rendering it completely unusable with certain carriers. Ensuring the phone is unlocked before sale can prevent dissatisfaction and offer the buyer the freedom to use the device without restrictions on different networks.
Most People Looking for External Unlocking Methods are those who Bought a Phone that came Locked!
The majority of requests that we receive in SafeUnlocks come from people who bought a used phone from a private seller without noticing that the device has been reported on the blacklist database. So, if you own a phone with a bad ESN or IMEI, we highly recommend that you unlock it with us before reselling it.
Also, if you’re thinking of getting a second-hand device, we recommend that you use an IMEI checker like the CTIA’s stolen phone checker before buying the phone. If you do so, the IMEI blacklist checker will help you check if the phone is in good condition or not.
Why do I need my IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) to unlock my mobile phone?
The IMEI number of your iPhone or Android phone is like an identification for mobile devices (no matter the device model or brand), and all of them have either an IMEI number (international mobile equipment identity) or ESN (electronic serial number). Now, the difference between IMEI and ESN is that mobile phones that use a SIM card and use a GSM network have IMEI numbers, and the ones that don’t need a SIM card and use a CDMA network have ESN numbers.
The reason why you will need either an IMEI or ESN number is that those identifiers are the ones that phone carriers report on the blacklist database, so if you want to unlock your device it is necessary to have the number that appears in that blacklist database.
Bad ESN or Blacklisted IMEI: How can I tell which Identifying Code my Phone has?
Well, as we were explaining, IMEI numbers are used for GSM and UMTS mobile phones, while the ESN number is specifically for CDMA devices. To check, dial *#06# on your phone’s keypad, and if it displays a 15-digit number, it’s an IMEI. For older CDMA phones, remove the battery and look for an ESN or MEID (Mobile Equipment Identifier) usually on a sticker or in the phone’s settings.
Is there any Difference between Reported IMEI Phones and Reported ESN Phones?
A bad ESN and a blacklisted IMEI refer to the same issue: the device being flagged as ineligible for carrier activation due to unpaid bills, reported loss, theft, or fraudulent activity. To identify the specific situation, check the phone’s status through its IMEI number on official websites or by contacting the carrier, but anyway, both terms essentially convey the same issue, indicating the device’s restricted status with the carrier.
How to Unlock a bad IMEI with SafeUnlocks
If you want to unlock a blacklisted phone without having to wait days for it to happen, without having to spend a lot of money on it, and without having to install endless heavy programs on your PC, SafeUnlocks is for you! Our blacklist removal service is available for all Apple and Android devices no matter the phone model, or if it is a used phone and you are not the original owner.
To use our IMEI blacklist removal tool you just need the IMEI number of the blacklisted phone and make a payment of $1 — which is pretty affordable considering that other third-party services cost more than 35$ for the same unlock —; our service is really fast (it will take just a couple of minutes), is so easy to use (you don’t need to download anything, and all the process is 100% online), works in any country (available worldwide), and has a success rate of 99.9%.
How do I unlock a bad IMEI/blacklisted phone with SafeUnlocks?
If you want to use our IMEI blacklist removal tool, all you have to do is to visit our official website SafeUnlocks.com and from the services tab, choose the “IMEI blacklist removal” option. From there, you just have to fill out the form on-screen and enter all the required information, remember that the IMEI number is an important piece of information that we need in order to unlock a blacklisted phone.
After you have entered the information, just continue to log into your SafeUnlocks account — if you are not a member yet, create an account (it is free and won’t take more than 5 minutes) — and enter your credit card (or another payment method) to make the $1 payment to continue with the IMEI blacklist removal process.
The unlocking process is different depending on your device’s brand, manufacturer, and operation system, so you will need to follow the steps on the website to complete our unlock service process, there are some video tutorials for you to watch and we have of course available our customer support team just in case you have any questions.