Having a phone who SIM isn’t locked to a carrier can be useful, which is why some people choose not to buy their phones on contract with a carrier as it gives them the freedom to move around different carriers or when they’re traveling overseas. At the same time, we get it, some phones are expensive and you would be better off buying it on contract, but the good news is that even if your SIM is locked to a carrier, there are ways to unlock it, so read on to find out.
Getting the unlock code from your carrier
This method is a free method where you can actually get the SIM unlock code from your carrier. There will be some requirements you’ll need to meet first in order to qualify, which include:
- First of all, the device needs to have been paid off in full, meaning that if you’re on an installment/repayment plan, you’ll need to make sure that the phone has been fully paid for.
- Secondly, you will also need to ensure that you must have owned your device for at least 60-90 days.
- Thirdly, you will also need to be in good standing with your carrier. This usually means that you do not have any bills that are unpaid or overdue. If you do, you’ll have to pay them off first.
If you meet those requirements, then here are the steps to take to get your free SIM unlock code:
- On your Galaxy A50 handset, launch the Phone app and dial *#06# to display your phone’s IMEI number
- Write the IMEI number down somewhere where you can refer to it easily
- Call your carrier’s customer service hotline and request for your SIM unlock code
- You will then be asked to provide the service rep with your Galaxy A50’s IMEI number
- Assuming that you meet all the requirements that we mentioned above, the SIM unlock code will be sent to the email address you provided in the next 2-5 days.
- Once you’ve received your code, you can then feel free to swap out the SIM with a SIM from another carrier
- Enter the SIM unlock code that you received in your email when the prompt comes up and you should be all set
Getting the unlock code from a paid third-party service
If you do not meet the requirements to get a free SIM unlock from your carrier, then not to worry because there are actually paid services like DoctorSIM that can provide you the SIM unlock code for your Galaxy A50 handset at a very small and minimal fee, and here’s how you can do that.
- On your Galaxy A50 handset, launch the Phone app and dial *#06# to display your phone’s IMEI number
- Write the IMEI number down somewhere where you can refer to it easily
- Go to DoctorSIM’s website
- Enter the device’s IMEI number
- Complete the checkout process with your payment and contact information
- Once that’s all settled and done, you should then receive the Galaxy A50’s unlock code either through SMS or email
- The moment you’ve received your code, you can then swap out the SIM on your phone with a SIM from another carrier
- You should be prompted to enter the SIM unlock code that you received in your email, and once you’ve done that, you should be good to go
T-Mobile, MetroPCS Samsung Galaxy A50 SIM unlock
If your phone was purchased through either T-Mobile or MetroPCS, the methods to unlock the phone are done a bit differently. This is because either carrier will typically preinstall a SIM unlocking app on your phone, which admittedly makes it easier, but it also means that unlocking it the traditional method will not work.
If you’ve tried to request a SIM unlock through the app but have been denied, there are ways around it using DoctorSIM’s service.
- Launch the Phone app and dial *#060# to get the device’s IMEI number
- Write the number down
- Find the T-Mobile Device Unlock or Metro PCS Device Unlock service for your phone
- Enter your phone’s IMEI number and complete the checkout process
- You might have to wait a bit, but you will receive an email upon confirmation that your phone has been successfully unlocked
- Insert a non-T-Mobile or MetroPCS SIM card
- Launch the Device Unlock app and select “Permanent Unlock”
- If successful, you should see a message saying “Unlock Approved: Mobile device is permanently unlocked”
Once you’ve completed all the steps mentioned above, your Samsung Galaxy A50 should now be unlocked and you will not have any issues with swapping between carriers, such as when you’re traveling overseas and need to use a local SIM with your phone. Note that this does not release you from your contract with your carrier and you’ll still need to make payments to them, but at the very least it does give you some freedom.
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