Buying a phone from your network provider is very common because of the benefits and financing options they offer; it seems like a pretty good idea to pay for the new smartphone in installments and for a discounted price, right? However, the way mobile operators benefit from these deals is by locking the smartphones they sell, which forces users to use that single network at least for their contract period.
Now, even though all phones in Vodafone are sold as unlocked nowadays, there are still some users with locked devices who don’t how to unlock them and think they can’t. If that’s your case, don’t worry because you’ll learn here all there is to know about the Vodafone unlock policy. So keep reading and check with us how to submit your request to them, what to expect before and after the process, and what to do if they don’t approve it.
How to SIM Unlock a Device from Vodafone UK: Generalities of the Process
Submitting your request to the carrier is easier than you think, in fact, the complicated part is to meet all the requirements and conditions for approval. All you have to do is go to the “Unlock Code Request” page on Vodafone’s official website, answer a couple of questions shown there, and enter the following information before placing the request:
- Your email.
- Your phone number.
- The phone’s manufacturer (brand) and model.
- The phone’s IMEI number.
How long does Vodafone take to Unlock a Phone?
The SIM-unlocking process takes normally 3 to 10 working days, depending on your specific case and the brand of the locked device; however, if we’re talking about a locked iPhone, it can take up to 30 days. Anyway, the timeframes are normally not met and there are lots of complaints from customers on the community forums, all because the service provider normally needs to check if the user meets the Vodafone unlock policy and then contact the manufacturer for them to provide the code.
What will happen after I submit my Unlock Request to Vodafone?
After you place the order on Vodafone’s website, you’ll have to wait for them to process it and will then receive a code called “NUC” or “Network Unlock Code”, which is kind of the password you use to deactivate the lock. However, keep in mind that you’ll receive it but only if you are considered eligible for the unlock, which is if you meet a series of terms and conditions imposed by the carrier that will be explained in the next section.
Vodafone Unlock Policy: Requirements to get your NUC Code
As with all other carriers, Vodafone also has its criteria to determine which phones can be unlocked and which cannot, which takes into account the device status and your account status. Even though you won’t see these requirements on Vodafone’s website, you’ll need to meet them if you want to get a Network Unlock code for your mobile phone; let’s see them together!
Conditions on the Vodafone Unlock Policy you need to know
- You must be the original owner of the device.
- The phone cannot be reported on the IMEI blacklist database.
- Your Vodafone account must be up to date, so there cannot be any past-due payments.
- If the device was financed on monthly payments, it has to be fully paid for.
- You must have met your contract’s terms and the minimum period of active service if any.
Already got your Network Unlock Code?
If you already submitted your request and received the corresponding code but don’t know how to use it, don’t worry because this is actually the easiest part. It all depends on the specific brand of your device, for example, Apple phones don’t need a code, they just start working out of nowhere.
However, if you did receive the code, it means that your device needs it, and in that case, all you need to do is insert a new SIM card from another network into the phone. You’ll see an error message saying it is not supported and prompting you to enter a code to unlock the device, and that’s when you use the NUC given to you.
If my Phone is Locked and Vodafone won’t fix it, Should I Root/Jailbreak it?
This is a pretty common question that people ask when they find out they’re not eligible to network-unlock their devices directly with the carrier; in fact, this is a pretty well-known method to bypass this lock, but it’s not as good as it sounds. Rooting or jailbreaking a phone means deactivating the device’s security layers to gain more permissions to modify its software, but that leaves the phone vulnerable because we’re talking about its factory protective measures.
Unlocking your Vodafone Handset through Rooting or Jailbreaking can Permanently Damage it!
As you might know, smartphones are not meant to support modifications on their factory settings, and this method is no exception, it is incredibly invasive and if performed incorrectly, can completely damage the phone. But that’s not all, it also leaves your device vulnerable to cyberattacks and malware infections, so you’ll probably end up with a bigger issue and it’s not really worth it.
Jailbreaking or Rooting a Smartphone makes it Incompatible with future OS Updates
If you jailbreak/root your iOS or Android device, it’ll stop receiving OS updates simply because it’ll become incompatible with newer versions and, of course, newer security patches. In addition, there will be some apps that will stop working because the device will not meet their security requirements because overall, this is not a safe method at all.
So, Getting a Code with Vodafone is the only Safe Way to Unlock my Phone?
Thanks to UnlockHere, there’s now an innovative and completely safe alternative to SIMunlock any device (Samsung, Apple, Huawei, etc.) from Vodafone’s network in a matter of minutes, all from the comfort of your home. This guaranteed method counts with a 99.9% success rate and works based on Nifty, an AI-powered unlock assistant that can automatically unlock any smartphone only with its IMEI number!
Getting your Phone Unlocked with UnlockHere: Steps
- Visit UnlockHere.com.
- Go to the carrier unlock section.
- Enter your name, email, the make and model of the phone, and its unique IMEI number.
- Submit your request for our system to start working on the case.
- Activate your order via email and follow Nifty’s instructions.
- Wait until we finish processing your request and then test the device to make sure it works with other carriers now.
How much do I have to pay if I want to Unlock my Phone to other Networks with UnlockHere?
This is one of the greatest benefits of UnlockHere’s AI-powered service: Our platform is completely free of charge to all users! It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about a phone locked to the Vodafone house or other carriers like EE, O2, Three, etc., you’re able to permanently unlock it without having to pay for anything!
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