If you purchase a new phone in Canada—through Bell, for example—but decide that you would rather go to Rogers, you may learn that your phone is locked to Bell and cannot be used anywhere else unless the phone is unlocked.
What Is an Unlocked Phone?
An unlocked phone is a phone that can be migrated to a different service provider, allowing you to shop around for the plan and network that you want. (Note that unlocking in this context means to unlock the SIM or carrier lock, not to bypass the PIN, password, or fingerprint.)
Why Do You Need an Unlocked Phone?
If you are delighted with the service you are receiving from your current network provider, you don’t need to unlock your phone. But if, like millions of others each year, you want to switch to a plan with a different carrier that suits you better and your phone is locked to your current carrier, then your phone must be unlocked so that it can work with the new service provider.
How Do You Unlock Your Phone?
There are three main methods of unlocking your phone in Canada: have the carrier do it, pay a third-party company to unlock the phone for you, or unlock the phone using software.
Method One: Carrier Unlock
1. Find Your Phone’s IMEI Number
Your phone has a unique identification number known as an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI). Think of this as your phone’s passport number.
Most phones display your IMEI if you dial *#06# on the phone. You can also find the IMEI by going into settings.
In Apple devices, go to Settings > General > About > IMEI.
In Android devices, go to Settings > About Device > Status.
If neither method works, you may find the IMEI on the back of the phone, inside the SIM tray, underneath the battery, or, if you still have it, on the box that the phone came in.
2. Call Your Carrier
If your phone is locked by your carrier, you need to call the carrier to ask that it be unlocked. Your carrier will unlock your device only if your account is paid and up-to-date, meaning that you owe no balance. It can unlock your phone only if it is the carrier that locked the phone initially. If both of these criteria are met, your carrier must unlock the device free of charge. You typically need to provide information like your account details and IMEI.
3. Confirm Compatibility of SIM Card from Another Carrier
You need to confirm that the SIM card from your new carrier is compatible with your device. You can usually find this out beforehand by providing your new carrier with your the model number and IMEI of your device. Confirm compatibility before ordering a SIM card, since not all networks support all devices. Most newer phones are compatible with all of the major networks, but older devices may not be compatible with a given network.
Method Two: Pay a Third-Party Service
If unlocking your phone by the carrier method is not possible, there are alternative methods you can try.
Many third-party companies can provide the service for you even if your account with your current service provider is in poor standing.
Before paying any third party to unlock the phone, make sure that the service confirms its ability to unlock the device and that the device will work with your new carrier. The service’s representative should be able to tell you whether the device will work with the new carrier when you provide him with the IMEI.
Method Three: Software
The final method involves using software to unlock the phone. This method is not beginner-friendly; it is an option only if you have advanced technical skills.
Because the method is different for every device, we cannot describe them all in detail here. If you Google “how-to unlock X device” (replacing “X device” with the name of your model) you should be able to find software that can unlock your phone. Follow the instructions, and with a bit of luck, you may be able to unlock the phone yourself. This method usually involves installing special apps or custom ROMs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be charged any fees to get my device unlocked?
If you are unlocking your phone by the carrier method and your account is in good standing, your carrier must unlock the device for you free of charge, as is mandated by the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission.
If you hire a third party to unlock the phone, you need to pay the company. Third-party unlocking fees are usually $50 or less. If the company has to do a software unlock, the price may be a bit higher.
If you are unlocking the phone by yourself using the software method, you may need to pay for a specialized app. Some of these apps are free, others aren’t; it all depends on your device.
What are the benefits of unlocking my phone?
The primary benefit of unlocking your phone is the ability to select a better plan or network. Some carriers have data caps and overage charges. Others offer unlimited data or unlimited data with reduced speeds after a certain amount of usage each month.
Having a better network is also a major benefit. The newest phones support 5G, which may not be available with all carriers. If you have a 5G device, it makes sense to unlock your phone and switch to a network that supports 5G.
Unlocking your phone also enables you to sell the phone for a higher price if you choose to. Because the phone is unlocked, the person who ends up buying it saves the time and money that it would have cost him to get the phone unlocked, making the phone more valuable to prospective buyers.
What if I didn’t purchase the phone from a carrier?
In this case, your best bet is to contact your chosen carrier to see if it can help you unlock the phone. If it cannot, you may need to go the third-party route.
When you talk to the carrier, provide the following information.
- The make and model number of your device.
- The IMEI number.
- Where and how you purchased the device.
With this information, the carrier should be able to tell you right away whether or not it can unlock the phone.
Can I unlock a phone if I’m not the original owner?
This can be a tricky situation. There’s a chance the phone was stolen. Not that you stole it; but the person selling it to you may have stolen it. Before buying a used phone from somebody, you should confirm that it has been unlocked. If it hasn’t been, require that the seller unlock it for you or provide you with his details and contact information so that a third party who would have the job of removing the lock can confirm that the phone isn’t stolen.
How can I tell whether a cell phone is locked or unlocked?
Insert a SIM card from your carrier of choice and check to see if you get a signal from the network. If you do have a signal, you’re good to go. If you don’t, your phone is locked.
If you have an iPhone, check the cellular settings of the phone. You should be able to see the network information of your new carrier. If you don’t see it, the phone is still locked to another carrier.
What is a factory unlock?
If a phone is factory-unlocked, the phone has not yet been set up by any carrier. You are free to choose whichever carrier you want to go with, with no unlocking required. Many new and refurbished devices are factory-unlocked these days, since more and more companies are selling their phones directly instead of through traditional carriers and service providers.
How to unlock your phone with each major carrier
Bell
To unlock your phone with Bell, you must go to your MyBell account page to enter a network unlock code that a Bell representative can provide as long as the phone is unlockable and compatible with the Bell network.
Rogers
With Rogers, the process is a bit different. You need to contact Rogers and tell the representative your IMEI. Then, depending on which model of phone you have, he can instruct you. If you have an iPhone, Rogers can usually unlock the phone remotely for you. If you have an Android phone, you must insert a new SIM card and manually enter a network unlock code provided by Rogers.
Fido
Unlocking your phone with Fido is similar. Contact Fido with the IMEI and all of your details. If you are an iPhone user, Fido can unlock the phone remotely. If you have an Android device, you must insert a SIM card and key in the network unlock code provided by FIDO.
Koodo
All Koodo devices have been unlocked since 2017. If you have an older phone, you can unlock the device yourself through your Koodo Self Serve Dashboard. Go to “mobile services” and select “unlock your phone.”
Chatr
Like Koodo devices, Chatr devices have all been unlocked since 2017. If you have an older phone, you need to physically visit a Chatr store, where a representative can provide you with a network unlock code. Then insert your new SIM card and enter the code to unlock the phone.
Telus
Telus makes it painfully difficult to unlock your phone. Telus won’t allow you to unlock it by yourself under any circumstances, and it may not unlock it for you at all. If the company does unlock your phone, it requires you to let your phone be restricted to the Telus network and insists that you provide them with a ton of information about how, where, and when you purchased your phone. If you really want to be on the Telus network, contact their customer service department to get the process started. Make sure you don’t have any other plans for the day.
Virgin
You can easily unlock your Virgin phone by yourself online. Simply sign in to your Virgin account and follow the prompts. Alternatively, contact a member of Virgin Mobile’s customer service department, and a representative will be happy to unlock the phone for you.
So that’s what you need to know to unlock your phone in Canada. In most cases, the process is quick, easy, and free of charge. Sometimes you may need to pay a fee to have somebody unlock it for you.
