How do I know if my Nokia Lumia 520 is carrier locked?

Read Settings -> General -> About -> Carrier Lock, or run an IMEI SIM lock check. Anything other than "No SIM restrictions" means the device is locked.

Does unlocking a Nokia Lumia 520 remove iCloud or MDM?

No. Carrier unlock, iCloud Activation Lock and MDM supervision are three separate locks; only the carrier lock is affected.

Will the unlock survive an update?

Yes for a server-side release, because it is written against the IMEI at the manufacturer. Interposers and profiles are lost on the next update.

Which TAC identifies a Nokia Lumia 520?

Our register lists 27 TAC ranges for this model, starting with 35173706, 35239406, 35307106.

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Unlock guide

Nokia Lumia 520

Name: Nokia Lumia 520
Brand: Nokia

TAC 35173706 27 TACs on file 2013

Carrier lock

Not verified yet

A model lookup cannot read the lock. The $0.03 SIM lock check names the operator that owns the IMEI in about a minute.

ReleasedReleased 2013, April

OSMicrosoft Windows Phone 8, up to 8.1

Display4.0" · 480x800 pixels

ChipsetMSM8227

RAM512 MB RAM

Storage8GB storage

Main camera5MP

Battery1430 mAh

A Nokia Lumia 520 is locked the same way any Nokia handset is: the carrier that sold it holds a record against the IMEI, and the device refuses every other SIM until that record changes. This page shows how the model is identified in the TAC register, what kind of lock it uses, and which of our services apply.

Before you pay anyone. Run the $0.03 SIM lock check first. If the phone is already unlocked, every unlock tier on this page is a waste of money — and the check tells you in seconds.

How a Nokia Lumia 520 is identified

The TAC — the first eight digits of the IMEI — is how the register knows which model a handset is, and it is what every unlock and warranty service actually queries. Our register holds 27 TAC ranges under this model name:

TAC prefix	Look it up
`35173706`	run the lookup
`35239406`	run the lookup
`35307106`	run the lookup
`35591005`	run the lookup
`35725705`	run the lookup
`35728705`	run the lookup

Dial *#06# to read the IMEI, then compare the first eight digits. Not listed? The lookup will still resolve the model if the range is filed under a different name.

The register dates this model to 2013, which decides how it is locked: handsets of that generation and market follow the rules described below.

Which lock does this model use

Nokia handsets are usually code-locked: the network asks for a restriction code derived from the IMEI. Newer HMD-made models follow the carrier instead.

On a Nokia Lumia 520 the practical test is simple: insert a SIM from a different network. If the phone asks for a code, it is code-locked. If it refuses with “SIM Not Supported” or a carrier-lock notice, it is server-side locked and has to be released against the IMEI. If it just works, it is already unlocked.

Services that apply to this model

Service	Price	Type
Phoenix Service Tool ( Nokia HMD TOOL) Topup Credits	$0.95	device check
Remove Nokia HMD FRP + Pattern / PIN Lock - By USB Remote 8:00 - 20:00 (UTC-4) Test	$14	carrier unlock
Remove Nokia HMD FRP + Pattern / PIN Lock - By USB Remote 13:00 - 02:00 (UTC+5) Test	$19	carrier unlock

Brand-level services from $0.95 – $19. The carrier-specific tier is on the carrier guide and on each service page.

What to do, in order

Read the IMEI (*#06#) and confirm the model above — a mismatched model is the most common reason an order is refused.
Run the SIM lock check and the carrier check: about six cents, and they name the operator that owns the record.
Run the blacklist check if you are buying the device rather than unlocking your own.
Order the tier that matches the reported carrier — or, if you are the account holder and the device qualifies, request the free unlock from the carrier.

Other Nokia models

5130 XpressMusic121 TACs on file NHM-5(NY)82 TACs on file 105, Nokia 105080 TACs on file RM-944, Nokia 10878 TACs on file 105 DS62 TACs on file 3110 classic53 TACs on file 105 Dual Sim48 TACs on file 2700 classic33 TACs on file

TAC data from the register we query for /tac. Last updated 2026-10-28.