Unlock your phone from Cricket by IMEI

Unlock your phone from Cricket permanently, using only its IMEI. No account details, no store visit and no waiting on their eligibility rules. It survives software updates and factory resets.

Permanent It survives software updates and factory resets.
Fast Delivery Times Most unlocking codes and iPhone unlocks are supplied within 24 hours.
Compliant and Secure The process meets carrier and manufacturer guidelines.
Refunded if it cannot be done If we cannot unlock your device, you get your money back.

Step 1 of 3

Order phone Unlock Code

Unlock your phone and use it with any carrier, whether you prefer a physical SIM or eSIM. We submit your unlock request using standard IMEI-based processes, giving you the freedom to switch networks, choose cheaper plans, reduce roaming costs, or add a second carrier with eSIM. Our unlocks are permanent, legal, and manufacturer approved.

What network is the device locked to?

Unsure which network your phone is locked to? Purchase a Network Check

To obtain your 15 digit IMEI number, dial *#06# on your phone or go to Settings >> About

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Remote, by IMEI

How to unlock your phone from Cricket

Everything happens remotely using your IMEI number. Your phone is unlocked at the carrier end and nothing is installed on it.

Enter your device details Dial *#06# on the device you want unlocked, or find it in Settings >> General >> About. We autodetect the model from it, so you do not need to know the exact variant.
We get to work As soon as your order is placed, our system securely contacts the carrier and begins the unlock process. You can follow your progress live on our tracking page. Most unlocks complete within 15 minutes — complex cases may take up to 24 hours.
We notify you when it is complete Keep using the phone normally until then. Nothing is installed and nothing changes on it yet.

The last step depends on your handset

iPhone

Over the air

Simply connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi or cellular data, power off, then power on - the iPhone is instantly unlocked and ready for any sim.
Android phones

Via Unlock Code

Power off, fit a SIM from your new network, power on. The phone asks for the unlocking codes — enter and the lock is gone for good.

Start with your IMEI

Enter your 15-digit IMEI. We identify your exact phone and confirm we can unlock it from Cricket before you pay anything.

Unlock my phone

What Cricket Wireless asks for before it will unlock a phone

Cricket is AT&T's prepaid brand, and it runs its own unlock policy rather than AT&T's. Since 1 July 2026 that policy asks for a full year of paid service on the handset itself.

365 days of paid service on that handset Cricket's policy reads "active for at least 365 days of paid service on that device". The clock is tied to the handset, not to how long you have been a customer. A phone bought before 1 July 2026 keeps the older six-month rule.
The phone has to be a Cricket phone It must be designed for use on, and locked to, the Cricket network. Cricket will not unlock a handset another operator locked, and that includes AT&T postpaid handsets.
Nothing reported against the IMEI or the account The device must not be reported lost or stolen, and it must not be tied to an account Cricket has flagged as fraudulent. Cricket also states it can refuse any request it believes would enable fraud or abuse the policy.
One narrow exception: deployed military Cricket will unlock one device for active, deployed service members who cannot reach the 365 days, provided every other condition is met and acceptable deployment verification is supplied. Former customers have to phone in rather than use the app.

With us

We unlock at the network end using the 15-digit IMEI. We never sign in to your Cricket account and we never ask for the account holder, so the 365 days of paid service is not something we have to wait out. Our IMEI check is a paid step, and if we cannot complete the unlock you get your money back.

Unlocking your own phone is lawful in the United States The Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act of 2014 made it legal for a US consumer to unlock a handset they own. That is a US point only and says nothing about the law elsewhere.

A barred IMEI is a different problem An IMEI reported lost or stolen sits on a national register, and no unlock clears that. Where an IMEI turns out to be blacklisted we settle with a credit note rather than a refund.

This is a network unlock and nothing more It lets the handset accept another operator's SIM. It does not settle money owed to Cricket, and it does not restore a Cricket line that has been closed.

Start with your IMEI

Sources: cricketwireless.com, cricketwireless.com · Checked 2026-08-21

Unlocking your Cricket phone — Frequently Asked Questions

When Cricket says no

Can you unlock my phone if Cricket says it is not eligible?

Usually yes. Carriers apply their own eligibility rules — minimum time on the network, balance paid off, account in good standing. We are not bound by those rules, so a handset Cricket will not unlock today can very often be unlocked by us today.

Can I unlock while I am still paying the phone off?

Yes. An outstanding instalment balance or an active contract does not stop us. You still owe the balance to your carrier — unlocking does not cancel the debt — but it no longer blocks you from using another network.

Do I need to wait out the carrier minimum period?

No. There is no waiting period on our side. That is the single most common reason people come to us rather than going through the carrier.

Do you need my Cricket account or the account holder?

No. We do not need the account holder, a password, a PIN, or any contact with Cricket. All we need is the IMEI, which you get by dialling *#06# on the handset.

What if I bought the phone second-hand?

That is fine. Ownership history does not affect the unlock — this is exactly the case carriers refuse, because the account was never in your name.

What we can unlock

Which devices can you unlock?

iPhones and Android handsets from every major manufacturer, plus cellular tablets and watches. Enter the IMEI and we confirm your exact model before processing.

Does this work for prepaid as well as monthly plans?

Yes, both. Prepaid handsets are often the hardest to unlock through the carrier, and they are handled here the same way as any other.

Can you unlock a business or corporate account phone?

Yes. A device on a business account is unlocked the same way, and we do not need authorisation from the account administrator.

What if the phone is reported lost or stolen?

We do not unlock handsets reported lost or stolen. An unlock removes the carrier lock, not a blacklist report, so a barred IMEI would stay barred anyway. We check this for you as part of the eligibility check when we process your order.

How the unlock works

How do I unlock my Cricket phone?

Dial *#06# to get your IMEI, enter it above, and pay. Everything after that happens remotely — there is nothing to install and the handset never leaves you.

How long does it take?

Most unlocks complete within 24 to 48 hours. Some models are much quicker. We email you as soon as it is done.

Do I have to send you my phone?

Never. Everything is done using the IMEI, and the handset stays with you throughout.

Can I keep using my phone while it is being unlocked?

Yes. Calls, messages and data all keep working as normal while the unlock is processed.

After unlocking

Is the unlock permanent?

Yes. It survives software updates and factory resets, and never needs repeating.

Will unlocking erase my photos, apps or messages?

No. Unlocking changes the network restriction only. Nothing on the phone is touched.

Does this void my warranty?

No. This is an IMEI-based unlock, not a jailbreak, root or custom firmware. There is no software modification for a warranty inspection to find.

Which networks can I use afterwards?

Any compatible network, at home or abroad, on a SIM or an eSIM. Check that your new carrier supports your model's bands before you switch — unlocking removes the restriction, it does not change the radio hardware.

What if you cannot unlock it?

You get a full refund. Our support team is available 24/7 if you want to check anything first.