Buying a phone on contract is probably the most affordable way of owning a brand new smartphone. This is because contracts with carriers allow users to pay back the cost of the phone over a period of time, usually 12-24 months depending on the carrier and contract in question.
If you have recently bought Google’s Pixel 6a on contract with a carrier, you might have realized that the SIM of the phone is locked. This is done to prevent users from running away with the device and using it on another carrier, but thankfully, the unlocking process is actually really easy, and in some instances even free.
If you own the Pixel 6a and would love to unlock its SIM, then read on to find out what you need to do in order to unlock your phone.
Unlock the Pixel 6a for free
Did you know that your carrier can actually unlock the SIM of your Pixel 6a for free? Before you get too excited, keep in mind that there are certain requirements you will need to meet in order for this to happen, which includes:
You need to be in good standing with your carrier, meaning that you don’t have any outstanding bills and that the contract with your carrier for the phone has expired
You’ll also need to make sure that you have owned the device for at least 60-90 days
Obviously this might be different from carrier to carrier so the best thing to do is give them a call to find out what you need beforehand. Assuming you meet those requirements, then the process of unlocking the SIM is pretty easy, just follow the steps below:
On your Google Pixel 6a handset, launch the Phone app and dial *#06# to pull up your phone’s IMEI number
Write the IMEI number down somewhere so you can refer to it later
Call your carrier and request for your SIM unlock code
You will probably be asked to provide the IMEI for the Google Pixel 6a’s
If 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, swap out the SIM with a SIM from another carrier
Enter the SIM unlock code that you received in your email when prompted and you’re set!
Unlocking using Android SIM Unlock
In the event that your carrier has refused your request for whatever reason, like you not meeting their requirements, don’t worry. This is because there are services like Android SIM Unlock where for a small and very affordable fee, you’ll be able to unlock the Pixel 6a’s SIM card quickly and easily, even if you’re still tied to a contract with your carrier, and here’s how.
On your Google Pixel 6a phone, launch the Phone app and dial *#06# to get the device’s IMEI number
Complete the checkout process with your payment and contact information
Once payment is made, you should then receive the Google Pixel 6a’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
Now, once your Pixel 6a’s SIM has been unlocked, you’re free to use it with whichever carrier you may want. This is useful if you’re traveling overseas and want to buy a local SIM to save on roaming charges.
Keep in mind that unlocking the SIM does not release you from any contractual obligations you might have with your carrier. If you’re still on an installment plan you’ll have to keep paying those, along with your bills and any other related charges.
Note: this article may contain affiliate links that help support our authors and keep the Phandroid servers running.