How to SIM unlock the Samsung Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+ for free

• Tyler Lee
• 4 years ago

Buying a phone on contract from a carrier means that you get to pay the cost of the phone over the course of the contract’s duration. This is good if you can’t afford to pay the full price of the phone upfront, but the downside is that carriers usually use this as a reason to lock you into their services.

This can be problematic if you need to travel and want to use a local SIM card instead of paying data roaming fees, so what can you do? This is where SIM unlocking comes into play with services like Android SIM Unlock, but if you’re willing to put in a bit of extra work and wait a few days, you can also SIM unlock your Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ for free.

Getting the unlock code from your carrier for free

If you’re looking for a free alternative to Android SIM Unlock, there is a method where you can actually get the SIM unlock code from your carrier. Do note that there will be some requirements you’ll need to meet first in order to qualify for a free SIM unlock, 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 S21 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 S21’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’re good to go

That being said, the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ are brand new devices so there is a chance that your carrier might reject your request, but it’s not a bad idea to ask and it probably wouldn’t hurt.

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 service provider, services Android SIM Unlock and often the only option. By paying a small and minimal fee, you can get the SIM unlock code for your Galaxy S21 handset and start to enjoy the taste of (SIM) freedom:

• On your Galaxy S21 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 Android SIM Unlock’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 S21’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 S21 SIM unlock

If your phone was purchased through either T-Mobile or MetroPCS, the methods to unlock the phone will be slightly different, but the process still very much quick and easy and painless. This is due to the fact that these carriers go about SIM unlocking in a different way which comes in the form of a SIM unlocking app on your phone.

For those who own a Galaxy S21 or Galaxy S21+ that was bought through T-Mobile or MetroPCS, here’s what you need to do:

1. Launch the Phone app and dial *#060# to get the device’s IMEI number
2. Write the number down
3. Find the T-Mobile Device Unlock or MetroPCS Device Unlock service on DoctorSIM’s website for your phone
4. Enter your phone’s IMEI number and complete the checkout process
5. You might have to wait a bit, but you will receive an email upon confirmation that your phone has been successfully unlocked
6. Insert a non-T-Mobile or MetroPCS SIM card
7. Launch the Device Unlock app and select “Permanent Unlock”
8. 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 S21 and Galaxy S21+ should now be unlocked and you will not have any issues with swapping between carriers or SIM cards, such as when you’re traveling overseas and need to use a local SIM with your phone.

We would like to remind you that unlocking your phone’s SIM 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 if you need to use the phone with another carrier or SIM card.