Unlock guide
A Sony CMD Z18 is locked the same way any Sony 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.
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 20 TAC ranges under this model name:
| TAC prefix | Look it up |
|---|---|
35009530 | run the lookup |
35009531 | run the lookup |
35009532 | run the lookup |
35009533 | run the lookup |
35009534 | run the lookup |
35009540 | 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.
Most handsets from this brand are either code-locked (the phone prompts for a network code when a foreign SIM is inserted) or released by the carrier that sold them. Which one applies depends on the model year and on whether it was sold through an operator — the IMEI check tells you before you pay for anything.
On a Sony CMD Z18 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.
| Service | Price | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Japan KDDI | AU | UQ Unlock - iPhone 6s-12, Samsung, SONY & Generic | $0.50 | carrier unlock |
| Japan Docomo | NTT Unlock Clean & Under Contract - iPhone 6s-SE-12 Samsung, SONY & More | $0.57 | carrier unlock |
| Japan Softbank | Ymobile Unlock - iPhone iPhone 6s-SE-12, Samsung, SONY & More | $2.50 | carrier unlock |
| UK Tesco | O2 - Unlock Code NCK - Samsung, SONY & Generic「Test」 | $5 | carrier unlock |
| Ireland Eir | Meteor | E-mobile Unlock - Samsung, Motorola & Generic | $19 | carrier unlock |
| Croatia A1 | VIPnet Unlock Code - Samsung, Sony & Generic Test | $29 | carrier unlock |
Brand-level services from $0.50 – $29. The carrier-specific tier is on the carrier guide and on each service page.
Unlock prices depend on the carrier and the model generation, so the same handset costs different amounts depending on who sold it. These are the carriers we hold a service for:
TAC data from the register we query for /tac. Last updated 2026-10-28.