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How to Unlock an EE, O2, Vodafone or Three iPhone in the UK — Free Since 2021, and the Catch

Since December 2021 UK mobile operators have not been allowed to charge for unlocking a handset, and they must do it as soon as reasonably practicable after you ask. That sounds like the problem is solved — and for a contract customer it mostly is. The catch is the same as everywhere else: the request belongs to the account holder, and a second-hand EE or Vodafone iPhone usually is not on your account.

Short answer. The phone is carrier-locked at Apple’s activation service, not broken. If you are the account holder and the device meets the carrier’s published rules, the unlock is free — request it from Ofcom — switching and handset unlocking rules. If you are not, or the carrier refuses, the record has to be released from the supply side; the services at the bottom of this page are the ones that apply, and the check above them tells you which.

What the message actually means

The lock is an Apple activation policy tied to the IMEI, released by the operator that sold the device. There is no code for an iPhone, and nothing to type into the keypad — despite what most UK "unlock code" sites still claim.

Ofcom's rule removed the fee, not the eligibility check. The operator can still refuse if the device is reported lost or stolen, if the account has an outstanding balance, or if you are not authorised on the account. In practice, a device bought on Marketplace or from a phone shop with a "will unlock in 24 hours" promise is the usual failure case.

What you are seeing

"SIM Not Supported" when a SIM from another UK network is inserted
Carrier Lock shows "SIM locked" on a phone sold as unlocked
The operator says only the account holder can request the unlock
A phone bought on a contract that was cancelled early, leaving a balance
An iPhone bought abroad and locked to a UK network it was never used on

Step 1 — confirm it is a carrier lock, not a dead SIM

On the phone: Settings → General → About → Carrier Lock.
On the IMEI: the carrier and SIM lock check ($0.03) returns the original UK network and the lock state, which tells you which operator to approach — a phone sold as "EE" is often actually locked to O2 or Vodafone.

Step 2 — what UK (EE / O2 / Vodafone / Three)’s own policy says

Ofcom's rules, in force since 17 December 2021, mean operators may not charge for unlocking and must unlock as soon as reasonably practicable after a request. The same rules require operators to give you the information you need to unlock. Refusal is limited to genuine cases — a device reported lost or stolen, or an account with an unresolved balance.

EE, O2, Vodafone and Three all publish an unlock request route (usually a web form or a call to customer service, quoting the IMEI). Turnaround is typically a few working days.

Published requirements

Unlocking must be free of charge
Must be completed as soon as reasonably practicable after the request
Applies to EE, O2, Vodafone, Three and their sub-brands
Refusal limited to reported devices or unresolved balances
The request must come from the account holder

Policies change without notice. The current wording is always on the carrier’s own page: Ofcom — switching and handset unlocking rules.

Step 3 — if you qualify, get the free unlock

Contact the operator with the IMEI and ask for a network unlock — do not accept "we do not unlock iPhones"; iPhones are unlocked by changing the IMEI record, not by issuing a code.
Ask for the case reference and the expected completion date in writing.
Restart the iPhone with the new SIM once confirmed. The Carrier Lock field updates at the next activation.

Step 4 — if you do not qualify

When the phone is second-hand, on a cancelled contract with a balance, or the operator's system simply will not release it, the IMEI can still be released from the supply side. The tiers below are priced per network and per generation. Check the carrier first: submitting an O2 device to the EE tier is the most common waste of money in this market.

Service	Price	What it does
UK T-Mobile \| Orange \| EE Unlock - All iPhones Instant	$0.50	EE / T-Mobile / Orange UK unlock — instant tier.
UK T-Mobile \| Orange \| EE Unlock Premium - All iPhones	$1.20	EE premium tier for devices the instant tier refuses.
UK EE \| T-Mobile \| Orange Unlock Code NCK Not Found 90% Success - Generic「Tested」	$10	EE / T-Mobile UK unlock including generic handsets.
Unlock code lookup		NCK / MCK codes for Samsung, HTC and other UK-locked Android handsets.

What does not work

"UK unlocks are always free, so never pay" — Free applies to the account holder. If you bought the phone second-hand, the operator will not talk to you.
"iPhone unlock codes" — There is no code for an iPhone, in the UK or anywhere else.
"Any network can unlock any phone" — The record belongs to the original operator. A Vodafone-locked phone submitted to EE will be refused.

Why an unlock can still fail

Not the account holder — the free route is closed.
Outstanding balance on a cancelled contract.
Reported lost or stolen by a previous owner.
Wrong network submitted: check the IMEI first, it costs cents.

Frequently asked questions

Is unlocking a phone free in the UK?

Yes — since 17 December 2021 operators may not charge for unlocking and must do it as soon as reasonably practicable.

Can I unlock a UK iPhone I bought second-hand?

Not through the operator, which will only deal with the account holder. The paid tiers work from the IMEI.

How long does an EE or Vodafone unlock take?

Free route: typically a few working days. Paid tiers: minutes to a few hours.

Do I need a code for an iPhone?

No. iPhones are unlocked by changing the activation policy against the IMEI.

What about Samsung phones in the UK?

Older and mid-range Samsung handsets still use NCK codes — see the unlock-code services.

Other guides

Canada (Rogers / Bell / Telus)Unlock a Rogers / Bell / Telus iPhone in Canada Samsung unlock codesSamsung Unlock Code NCK / MCK — Problems & Fixes iPhone SIM errorsiPhone "SIM Not Supported" — Causes & Fixes AT&THow to Unlock an AT&T iPhone — Official Rules & Options

Last checked 2026-10-28. Carrier rules are quoted from the operators’ own policy pages; if a rule has changed since, the carrier’s page wins.