How to unlock a phone from the Life operator. How to unlock a SIM card on a smartphone? Fraudulent applications for unlocking SIM cards

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 being improved, today there are several 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 of the system drive C. After this:

1. Run the file vcredist_x86.exe (required to install Microsoft Visual C++).
2. Launch the imei text file (it is 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 detect an unknown device. There is a driver in the C:\login\driver package. You must specify this directory when installing an unknown device.
6. A new COM port will appear in Device Manager. 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 COM port number that you remembered 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. With the smartphone turned off, 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. It is possible that even after unsuccessful firmware you will be able to return to the 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.

SIM lock, simlock, network lock or subsidy lock is a special type of phone lock, the essence of which is that the device can only work with SIM cards a specific operator ( SP lock or Service Provider Lock) or within a specific country. How to bypass these restrictions (do sim unlock), you can read in this post, but first a few words about the problem itself.

On Android smartphones are blocked using two codes - country code (MCC) And operator code (MNC). When starting up, the phone recognizes both codes shown on SIM card. If they do not match the values ​​specified by the operator, the device does not start and displays a message stating that SIM card doesn't fit. If both codes correspond to the specified parameters, then the smartphone boots into normal operating mode. Can also be used as a blocker MSIN- code for each specific SIM-cards. In this case Android the smartphone will only work with one single SIM-by card.

SIM lock often used by operators on phones that are sold below the factory price, but with the obligation to use a contract for the provision of communication services of this operator for a specified time. Thus, the operator covers the costs associated with purchasing a smartphone and then selling it at a lower price: due to blocking Android the user simply cannot change SIM card, and use the services of a competing mobile communications provider.

To unlock Android smartphone ( sim unlock) you must use a special code. As a rule, when the contract expires, the operator informs the user about it, but for this you will have to wait at least a year, or even two. But the problem can be solved much faster. First, mobile operators sell unlock codes. Most likely, you will simply have to cover the costs incurred by the operator when selling the phone at a reduced price. You can also use special services and applications, but more on that a little later.

Separately, it is worth noting the legality of the procedure. On the territory of the CIS countries, there is not a single law that would prohibit sim unlock. Moreover, there is legislative practice in the world, according to which the sale of phones with locked SIM cards prohibited.

Basic methods of unlocking Android smartphones (sim unlock)

This is an application that allows you to unlock smartphones and tablets Samsung Galaxy(S, S2, S3, S4, Tab, Tab2, Note, Note2). In this case, no code is needed, and unlocking is carried out in a couple of taps. The application itself is free, but you will have to pay to remove restrictions. also allows you to create and restore backups EFS and provides complete information about nv/lock.

Unlock.io from SDWebs

But this application works on a slightly different principle. It provides unlock codes. On the page in Google Play it is written that from SDWebs works with all models Nokia, Samsung, Sony, Alcatel, LG, Motorola, HTC, Sony Ericsson, Huawei, Blackberry, iPhone. Users complain that the cost of the service is too high, but this did not stop it from gaining more than 20 thousand installations. Payment is made via PayPal. And to receive the code, you need to enter information about your Android smartphone and pay for the service.

Similar to the application described above. Receives the unlock code for the following Android smartphones:

• Samsung(Galaxy S2, Galaxy S3, Note, Note2 and )
• LG(Optimus L3, L7 and L9)
• HTC(One S, Inspire, Desire HD and Sensation)
• Motorola(RAZR XT, ATRIX HD, Defy mini, Motoluxe)
• Blackberry(Torch 9860, Curve 8520, Bold 9780)
• Huawei(Ascend, Huawei U8650, Fusion)

The cost of the unlock code in both cases depends on the model Android smartphone and operator country. Payment can also be made via PayPal. The only major difference is that the application allows you to become a reseller and unlock other smartphones with its help, earning money from it. To do this, you need to contact the developers and activate a special account.

When we have an Android phone, we are connected to the world, and everything goes fine. But when we find that our phone is locked to a specific network, and it doesn’t support any other SIM operator, a pile of issues start arising. Unlocking SIM has many benefits: the main benefitis that your phone gets freedom from network restrictions, and you can use anyother GSM network which you need as per your need and move anywhere with your lovely phone. An unlocked phone also helps you save money in many ways. Therefore, it is essential for every single Android user to know the very ways of unlocking his/her Android Phone.

Step 2. Open Galaxy S Unlock

After installation, open Galaxy S Unlock on your phone. It will ask you to save the EFS file before unlocking.

Step 3. Phone Unlocking

This is the last step and your phone will be unlocked. It will also ask you to restart your phone to finish the process. Once it is unlocked, you can restore the EFS data and insert another SIM for using another network.

• User-friendly and freely available
• Saves EFS data

• Not supporting all android phone

Reading this article lets you know the three best ways to sim unlock your Android without code. You can adopt any one of the mentioned methods to remove the restriction imposed on your phone. The steps as you read are simple and easy to follow. The most important fact about these methods is that you don’t needany unlocking code.

When purchasing a smartphone secondhand, buyers pay great attention to checking its appearance and basic functions, but they completely lose sight of one important point: they do not check with the seller whether the gadget is locked. A locked smartphone will cost the buyer less, but then you will have to pay a hundredfold for the immediate benefit. What is a locked device and why is it not recommended to buy such a device?

Locked iPhone ( Sim-Lock) is a gadget that can work with SIM cards of only one mobile operator. Such smartphones are sold together with mobile communications contracts (usually two years). By purchasing a Sim-Lock device, the user voluntarily deprives himself of the right to choose: if the conditions offered by the communication provider no longer suit the iPhone owner, he will not be able to go to competitors.

A SIM card from the “right” operator is required to activate the locked device. This means that a gadget with Sim-Lock cannot be used even as a multimedia device - for watching movies or listening to music.

The practice of selling locked iPhones is common in the USA, Australia and Western European countries. In Russia, you won’t find iPhone Sim-Lock in the windows of large electronics stores and cellular communication stores, but when purchasing via the Internet, you can easily come across such an example. Most likely, the device will be locked to SIM cards not from a domestic mobile communications provider, but from a foreign one (like AT&T), so you won’t be able to solve the problem by simply switching to another operator.

How to find out if an iPhone is locked or not?

Rather than solving a problem, it is better to prevent its occurrence. In order not to get into a stupid situation, finding yourself with an expensive device, but absolutely unsuitable in Russian realities, you should check your iPhone for the presence of Sim-Lock before transferring money to the seller.

There are several ways to understand that an iPhone is locked:

Insert your SIM card. Device without Sim-Lock quickly recognizes the operator. If the gadget is locked, you will see the message “ Activation Required» (« Activation required»).

Through Internet services. Thematic sites claim that there are no free services left for checking Sim-Lock iPhone by IMEI, thereby misleading readers. At the time of this writing, the website www.iphoneox.com exists and works perfectly, where they won’t ask for a single ruble for such a check.

Before using the site, please find out Device IMEI– this number can be found on the iPhone box or in the smartphone settings (path “ Settings» — « Basic» — « About this device»).

A table will appear with detailed information about the smartphone. Find the item " Sim-Lock Status"- if opposite it is “ Unlocked", which means the gadget will be able to work with SIM cards of all operators.

There are other similar portals (for example, the more famous www.imei.info service), but you have to pay to use them. The cost of the test will be about $3.

By model. This is not about modification ( 5S, 6, 6S), namely about models. You can find out the model in the section " About this device» in the device settings.

The two letters after the numbers in the model designation indicate the country for which the device is intended. In our example, these are the letters “ RU“We understand that this iPhone is for Russia, which means Sim-Lock it cannot be on it.

If you buy second hand and see that in the model designation instead of “ RU" is worth, say, " LL"(gadgets for Americans), you will need additional verification, because in the USA iPhones are sold both with and without a SIM lock. Pay attention to the digital code in the designation: numbers 608 , 610 , 318 , 319 they say that the device is blocked.

How to unlock an iPhone?

There are two ways to unlock an iPhone, and each of them requires material costs on the part of the owner of the gadget.

Hardware unlock

Hardware unlock involves the use of a special adapter called Turbo Sim, which is placed in the SIM card tray along with the card itself. The chip of such a device contains unique IMSI identifiers of several well-known cellular operators - this allows you to get rid of blocking.

When activation occurs, on an iPhone with Turbo Sim a special code arrives that unlocks the radio module and modem of the device.

Hardware unlock has a number of disadvantages:

• Communication is getting worse.
• After each signal loss, you have to carry out the activation procedure again.
• Functions iMessage And Face Time difficult to set up.
• Many Turbo Sim(for example, companies R-sim) do not allow you to perform any actions with the gadget’s firmware - in particular, update the OS.

Common in Russia Turbo Sim manufacturers such as Gevey, R-Sim, Heicard. Adapters from each company have their pros and cons. Let's say Turbo Sim from Gevey are very fragile, but they allow users to update their iPhone. R-sim, on the contrary, are durable, but for each upgrade the owner of the gadget will have to buy a new adapter from this manufacturer. Heicard They stand out from the rest in that they provide high quality communications.

The cost of one adapter ranges from 1300 to 2000 rubles.

Official "unlock"

What to do if you don’t want to endure the inconvenience associated with using Turbo Sim? Then you need to create an official request to the operator, notifying him of your desire to remove the blocking. The operator can meet halfway, but you will have to pay him the nth amount - we can say that the owner of an iPhone purchases from a specific provider the right to choose a cellular service provider.

The cheapest way to unlock an iPhone locked to an American operator AT&T– it will cost about 1 thousand rubles. Request to cancel blocking AT&T should be submitted here - www.att.com/esupport/index.jsp. The cost of “unlock” reaches 15 thousand rubles (upon withdrawal Sim-Lock, say, a Finnish operator DNA).

You can contact not only operators directly, but also third-party providers who are able to organize an official “unlock” faster (the operator will have to wait about a month for a response to a direct request). It is important to approach the choice of contractor responsibly: you should contact companies that have real offices, and avoid companies that require payment by electronic money and promise instant unlocking.

Conclusion

Before you make a conscious purchase of a locked smartphone, consider whether this deal will be profitable in the long run. To do this you need to consider the cost of the adapter Turbo Sim or the services of iPhone unlocking specialists (depending on the preferred type of unlock). It should also be taken into account that the buyer will not be able to use the iPhone straightaway– he will have to wait until the removal work is completed Sim-Lock or delivery of the required adapter. This inconvenience gives the buyer the right to demand an additional discount.

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 an Android device (), 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 give you full access to the phone. Unlocking the bootloader or rooting is a completely different matter. Both of these types of unlocking are legal, but SIM unlocking often requires operator assistance.

Is your phone locked?

Not all phones are locked to SIM cards of the same 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 Android phone is locked to a specific operator/mobile network, how can you unlock it?

Fraudulent applications for unlocking SIM cards

First of all, don't look for unlocking tools in the Google Play app store. Such services have a bad reputation, and most of them are simply scams. At best, 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 are very rarely suitable for the phone you are trying to unlock (contrary to their description).

There are legal and safe ways to unlock your smartphone to use a different SIM card.

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

Starting in February 2015, cell phone owners in America can ask their cellular networks to unlock their devices to switch to a different carrier. 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.

On Android you can quickly find the IMEI number 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 your network. For example, a new carrier may require you to enter a special code to use their 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 an ideal solution for everyone. 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.