O2 Unlock Policy – Steps and Criteria to Unlock an O2 Phone

Looking for a comprehensive guide that explains the O2 unlock policy along with the different ways to submit your request and what to do if denied? Well, in UnlockHere, we thought of that and created this detailed article for everyone in the O2 community to learn everything there is to know about SIM-unlocking phones from that carrier.

O2 Unlock Policy: Requirements to Unlock a “Pay as you go”, “Business” or “Pay Monthly” Phone

O2 Unlock Policy
O2 Unlock Policy

Even though you’ll find on the carrier’s official website some parts where they say that all devices can be unlocked, the truth is that not all are eligible and that there are certain conditions you have to meet. Anyway, everything is completely free for all users, you just have to make sure you meet the O2 unlock policy, which is based on two aspects: your account status and your phone status.

Device Status Criteria to Network Unlock it with O2

Account Status Criteria to Unlock your O2 Phone

  • No matter which tariff you manage, you must have met your contract terms.
  • You must be located in the UK and your account has to be active.
  • You need to have met the minimum term of your contract, which can be 6 months, a year, or whatever timeframe is specified there.
  • You have to be the original phone owner and account holder.
  • There cannot be any past-due payments on the account because you must be on good terms with the company.

Getting your O2 Phone Unlocked: Different Options for you to submit your Request

Getting your O2 Phone Unlocked
Getting your O2 Phone Unlocked

Let’s see together the three methods you have to place your SIM-unlock request and get the lock on your device removed by O2. Remember that no matter which option you choose, either way, you’ll need to meet the corresponding requirements if you want the carrier to approve and process the request.

Instructions to unlock your Phone using the O2 Manual Form

Go to O1’s official website >> device and SIM support >> “Unlocking an O2 mobile to use on a different network” >> online form; with that, you’ll access a page where you’ll get to provide the necessary information and submit your unlock request. The information you have to enter includes the type of tariff you’re on, the type of device you have, and your phone number, along with some other details.

Unlocking your Mobile Phone by contacting O2 Directly

Another option is to get in touch with O2’s customer service department and make your request on the phone, they’ll take some information and check up your account, and you’ll receive the answer by email. To do that, you can call 202 for “pay as you go” phones or 4445 for “pay monthly” phones; however, they don’t have a number for business customers, so if that’s your case, simply fill out the online form mentioned before.

 Instructions to use the Unlock Link on your MyO2

This is an option only if you use the handset you need to unlock for the process, so if you have it, all you need to do is access your O2 account and select the locked smartphone (if you have two or more devices under that account). Then, if that device is eligible for the unlock, you’ll see a link there, so click on it and follow the instructions until you complete the SIM-unlocking process.

How Long does it take to Unlock an O2 Mobile Phone directly with the Carrier?

How Long does it take to Unlock an O2 Mobile Phone directly with the Carrier?
How Long does it take to Unlock an O2 Mobile Phone?

Well, getting your unlock code is definitely not as quick as it should be; in fact, according to O2’s official website, the process can take from 3 up to 28 days (but it’s normally like a week). However, it can take even longer sometimes because there are cases in which they end up having to contact the device manufacturer. Actually, there are lots of complaints in the O2 community forums about people having to wait for months, so be prepared because this is very time-consuming and you’ll have to be patient.

If Phones are not sold Locked to O2’s Network anymore, Why is mine still Restricted?

Even though it is true new phones are now sold completely unlocked from the O2 network, that just applies precisely to the new ones. So, if you bought your device before they implemented that new policy, then it’ll remain SIM-locked unless you get your phone unlocked. The most common cases in which users have issues with this lock are when they buy second-hand smartphones, want back a phone they stopped using a long time ago, or simply never met one or more of the conditions in the O2 unlock policy.

How can I Unlock my Phone to another Network if I’m not in the UK?

As this is one of the conditions for the carrier to remove the restriction on your device, the recommendation would be the same as if you weren’t eligible for any other reason: the best option is to use an external unlock service. It doesn’t matter if you have an iPhone or an Android device, what’s your account status with the carrier, or whether you meet the O2 unlock policy or not; an external SIM-removal service like UnlockHere is the perfect solution.

How can I Unlock my Phone to use a SIM Card from a Different Network with UnlockHere?

How can I Unlock my Phone to use a SIM Card from a Different Network with UnlockHere?
How can I Unlock my Phone with UnlockHere?

This is incredibly simple because we are a third party and don’t need to follow the paraphernalia of the phone’s original carrier, which is O2 in your case. This means that unlocking a phone with us is not only way easier than with O2 but also faster (it only takes one or two hours) and less stressful because there are no requirements involved. Let’s see together the steps you can follow if you want to unlock your smartphone with our AI-powered method from the comfort of your home!

Place your Request!

  • Visit UnlockHere.com.
  • Go to the “Carrier Unlock” section.
  • Fill out the form with your name, email, and the phone’s brand and IMEI number.
  • Submit the request.

Activate your Order!

  • Access the email account you entered in the contact information.
  • Open the confirmation email sent there.
  • Click on the link to activate the order.
  • Follow the instructions given by Nifty, our AI-powered unlock assistant.

Let us take care of the rest!

  • Complete the process.
  • Wait for a couple of hours while we work on your case.
  • Test the device with a new SIM card from another carrier to see if the lock was successfully removed.

Is UnlockHere’s Mobile Phone Unlocking Method Free to Use?

Is UnlockHere's Mobile Phone Unlocking Method Free to Use?
Is UnlockHere’s Mobile Phone Unlocking Method Free to Use?

It sure is, we don’t charge anything to our users because our service is 100% free of charge, so don’t worry about having to enroll in monthly/yearly subscriptions or pay high amounts for your device to stay unlocked. Our AI-powered method can completely and permanently unlock any mobile phone free of charge and without the O2 Unlock Policy or further action needed, so as soon as you finish the process, the device gets fixed once and for all!

Will I receive a Network Unlock Code after the Process?

Not really, in UnlockHere we wanted to make everything as user-friendly as possible, which is why we skipped all the code creation part and implemented an AI-powered method to do it all automatically. It’s pretty similar to what happens with an iPhone, those devices don’t receive any unlock code even if you complete the process with the carrier simply because it’s not necessary, so don’t worry, you don’t need any numbers for this.

Does this Service work with Phones locked to other Carriers?

Wes, for sure, with UnlockHere you can get rid of the network restriction in any device regardless of which is the specific provider that implemented it. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about Vodafone, Tesco Mobile, iD Mobile, or any other company, we can still do the job without a problem!