Remote, by IMEI

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.
No account, no phone calls We never need your carrier account, a password or a PIN.
Keep using it throughout Nothing is posted anywhere and nothing is installed.
Refunded if it cannot be done If we cannot unlock your device, you get your money back.

Step 1 of 3

Unlock your phone from Cricket by IMEI

Order phone Unlock Code

Unlock your phone and use it on supported carriers and SIM/eSIM cards. We submit an unlock request using standard IMEI-based processes where available, so your device can work with compatible networks.
With our online service you can unlock your phone from the comfort of your home. The unlock remains active after software updates and resets.

What network is the handset locked to?

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

Unsure what network your phone is locked to?

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Simple, remote IMEI-based unlocking for Cricket phones in 3 steps with DirectUnlocks.

Quickly and easily unlock your Cricket remotely:

Provide your device details

Choose the network of the phone you wish to unlock and supply the IMEI number. We'll autodetect the model for you.

You can get your IMEI by dialling *#06# on your phone.

We process your unlock

As soon as your order is placed, our system securely contacts Cricket and begins the unlock process. Many unlocks complete quickly, but timing depends on Cricket policies and device status.

Phone is ready

Once processed, the unlock remains active even after software updates or resets. You’ll receive confirmation by email and push notification. Apple devices are processed remotely, and others receive an authorised unlock code.

Remote, by IMEI

How it finishes on your device

Everything happens remotely, from your IMEI. Your phone never leaves you and nothing is installed on it.

The same for every device

You send your IMEI Dial *#06# on the device you want unlocked, or find it in that device's own settings.
We unlock it on the network The change is recorded against your IMEI. Nothing happens on the handset yet, and you can keep using it as normal.
We email you when it is done Keep using the phone normally while we do. Nothing is installed and nothing changes on it yet.

Only the last step depends on your handset

iPhone

Nothing to enter

Put in the new SIM or activate the eSIM, connect to Wi-Fi, and the phone finishes on its own in about a minute.

iPhones never use unlock codes. Anyone selling you one is running a scam.
Most Android phones

One code, entered once

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

It survives updates and factory resets.
Android with no code screen

A booked Remote USB session

Connect the phone to a computer by USB and one of our technicians finishes the unlock remotely while you watch.

You never post the handset anywhere.

You do not have to work out which one you have. Enter your IMEI and we tell you.

What we unlock, and how it finishes

Everything below happens remotely, from your device's IMEI. Your handset never leaves you.

More than phones

Cellular tablets, cellular watches, mobile hotspots and Cricket-branded routers all carry their own IMEI, and all are unlocked exactly like a phone.

The one thing to get right is which IMEI you send us. Dial *#06# on the device you want unlocked, or find it in that device's own settings — a watch or tablet has a different IMEI from the phone sitting next to it.

Legal, and your warranty is untouched

Unlocking a phone you own is legal in the United States. The Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act of 2014 settled that, and the wireless industry's own Consumer Code commits carriers to unlocking eligible devices. The difference is that we do it without the conditions Cricket attaches.

This is an IMEI unlock, recorded on the network side — not a jailbreak, a root, or custom firmware. Nothing is installed and nothing on the handset is modified, so a warranty inspection or trade-in check has no change to find. Your photos, apps and messages stay exactly as they are.

What we do not need from you

No app to install. Nothing is downloaded to your phone and nothing runs on it.
No Cricket account access. No password, PIN, account number or permission from the account holder — which is why a second-hand or business-account handset is no harder than your own.
No call to Cricket. You never have to call them, sit in a queue, or meet their eligibility rules first.
No store visit and no shipping. Keep using the phone normally while the unlock is processed.

All we need is your 15-digit IMEI and an email address to send the result to.

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.

My Samsung never asks for an unlock code. How does that work?

Many newer Samsung handsets have no code entry screen at all, so a code would be useless. Those are unlocked with a Remote USB session instead: you connect the phone to a computer with a USB cable and one of our technicians completes the unlock remotely while you watch. You never post the handset anywhere.

What is a Remote USB unlock?

A booked appointment where you connect the handset by USB and a technician does the work over a remote connection. It is used where the device has no unlock code prompt. We tell you if your model needs it, and it is still done from home.

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, or by Remote USB where the model requires it. 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.