How to Get a Cricket Network Unlock Code for Free?

If you bought a phone from Cricket Wireless, it will usually be locked to the Cricket network. To unlock it, you will have to request that Cricket Wireless unlock your device.

Depending on your eligibility, you may be able to obtain a free network unlock code from Cricket. Read on for instructions on how to do so and what your alternatives are if you don't qualify for a free code.

What is a Cricket Network Unlock Code?

All Cricket phones come locked, if you want to use a SIM card from another network, you'd have to unlock it.

A Cricket network unlock code is a special code that will unlock your phone and allow you to use it with another carrier other than Cricket Wireless.

Like many carriers in the US, Cricket network-locks its phones by default. That means that if you purchase a phone from Cricket Wireless, it will come with a software restriction that will prevent it from receiving cellular service if you insert a sim card from another company like Republic Wireless or Ultra Mobile.

You can't remove this software restriction yourself. You either have to ask Cricket Wireless to do it for you, or you can use a third-party unlock service instead.

How to Get Cricket Network Unlock Code for Free

If you meet Cricket's unlock policy requirements, it will unlock your phone for you at no extra cost.

The main requirement is to have used your phone with Cricket for six months before unlocking it. If you haven't yet had six months of active service, Cricket will not unlock your phone for you.

Also, your account must be in good standing, and the phone must not have been reported as lost or stolen.

If you meet those requirements, you can get your device unlocked for free.

The only exception is if you are in the military and want to unlock your phone before active deployment. In that case, you can do so before six months.

Note that in actuality, only certain Android devices require an unlock code. iPhones and most Android models that are locked to Cricket's network will be unlocked by Cricket remotely, without any code.

Use the following instructions to get a free unlock code from Cricket Wireless.

If You Have an iPhone

If you have an iPhone that is locked to the Cricket network, unlock it using these steps.

1. Sign in to My Account on the Cricket website.
2. Go to Account Settings.
3. Find and click on Get Code.
4. Find your phone number and click on Request Unlock.
5. The unlock will be processed remotely, usually immediately. You will get a text message confirmation once it's done.

If You Have an Android

If you have an Android phone, the process varies depending on whether it works with the myCricket app. The myCricket Android app is installed on most Android phones when you buy them from Cricket Wireless.

So, the first step is going through your installed apps and checking if you have the myCricket app.

If you have the app on your phone, follow these steps:

1. Open the app and sign out of your account if you are currently signed in.
2. Once the sign-in screen appears, click on Unlock Device.
3. Then, click on Unlock at the bottom of the screen.
4. Wait until the unlock process is complete, and restart your phone.

If your phone doesn't have the myCricket app, follow these steps:

1. Sign in to My Account on the Cricket website.
2. Go to Account Settings.
3. Find and click on Get Code.
4. Find your phone number and click on Request Unlock.
5. You will get a text message with your unlock code.
6. Turn off your phone, remove your Cricket sim card, insert a sim card from another carrier, and restart your phone.
7. Enter the unlock code you received via text message when asked for a code.
8. Restart your phone again. Congrats! Your phone is now unlocked.

Whether you have an Android or an iPhone, you can always call 1-800-CRICKET (1-800-274-2538) if you are trying to unlock your phone but can't figure out how to do it.

Cons of Using Cricket to Unlock Your Phone

Not everyone will qualify for an unlock code via Cricket Wireless.

First of all, you must have bought your phone from Cricket and have an active Cricket account. If you got a used Cricket phone from a friend or bought it on eBay, you won't be able to use this method.

Furthermore, you must pay Cricket for six months of active service before you can get it unlocked. It's not enough to simply wait six months after purchasing the device; you must actually pay for service throughout those six months as well.

If you wait for six months but don't have active service from Cricket, you won't qualify for a free unlock code.

Further reading: How to unlock a Cricket phone without account.

Best Way to Get Cricket Network Unlock Code

If you don't want to wait six months, or if you didn't buy the phone from Cricket, don't worry. You can still unlock your phone with DirectUnlocks, a trusted unlock service provider that has helped thousands of customers unlock their phones.

DirectUnlocks provides a remote, fully-online phone unlocking service. The process is quick, safe, and secure. We don't need your phone to unlock it – just the IMEI number.

Here is how to unlock your Cricket Wireless phone with DirectUnlocks:

1. Get your phone's IMEI number by dialing *#06#.
2. Fill out the embedded form below and click on Unlock Your Cricket Phone.
3. Pay the one-time fee, and the remote process will begin immediately.
4. Once the process is complete, you will receive your unlock code via text message and email.

Unlock Your Cricket Phone Now

Since we operate independently of Cricket Wireless, we don't impose the same restrictions as Cricket.

That means that even if you haven't used your phone with Cricket for six months, we will still unlock your device. We can also unlock it if you bought it online or got it from a friend.

Conclusion

If your phone is locked to Cricket, you won't be able to activate it on any other network.

Fortunately, you can unlock a Cricket phone within a matter of hours or minutes using DirectUnlocks, even if you aren't eligible for a free unlock code from Cricket Wireless.

The process is one-time and permanent, so once you unlock it, you can switch freely between different prepaid and postpaid providers without ever having to worry about unlocking it again!