Earlier this year, Google launched the Pixel Fold. This is the first foldable Pixel phone from Google after years of rumors of the device’s existence. One of the biggest differences between the Pixel Fold and other foldables, like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series, is the display aspect ratio where it looks and feels more like a regular phone.
It also features a more optimized version of Android and as with all Pixel phones, it will be amongst the first to get updates when it’s released. Unfortunately, as with most foldables, the Pixel Fold does not come cheap. It is priced close to $2,000 which makes it a hard sell for many.
Thankfully, carriers do offer users contracts that lets them buy phones and pay it back through monthly installments. The only problem is that to make sure customers don’t just run off with their phones, carriers lock the SIM to their networks. If you plan to travel and want to use local SIMs to save on roaming charges, then unlocking the Pixel Fold’s SIM is probably a good idea, and we’ll show you a couple of ways to do it in the article below.
Unlock the Pixel Fold for free
As we mentioned, you can unlock the SIM of your Pixel Fold for free and this is actually done through your carrier. Keep in mind that there are a couple of things you’ll need to consider first:
- 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
Also, the requirements to unlock the SIM may differ from carrier to carrier, so your best bet is to give them a call and see what they need from you. Assuming you do meet the requirements for unlocking your Pixel Fold’s SIM for free, these are the steps you’ll need to take:
- On your Google Pixel Fold 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 Fold’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!
Android SIM Unlock
Seeing as how the Pixel Fold is still a relatively new phone and less than a year old, there is a chance that your carrier may not be willing to unlock the SIM of your phone. If you do need its SIM unlocked because you’re planning to travel, then you might want to take a look at Android SIM Unlock’s services.
Note that this is a paid service but it is more or less guaranteed to work, so if you want to unlock the SIM of your Pixel Fold without all the fuss, then this is the best method.
- On your Google Pixel Fold phone, launch the Phone app and dial *#06# to get the device’s IMEI number
- Write the IMEI number down
- Go to Android SIM Unlock’s website
- Enter your 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 Fold’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
Once your SIM on your Pixel Fold has been unlocked, you’re free to swap it out and use it on a different carrier or maybe use it overseas with a local carrier. We would like to remind you that unlocking the Pixel Fold’s SIM by no means releases you from any obligations you might have with your carrier.
If you’re still on contract, you’re expected to continue to make repayments and pay your bills promptly along with any other fees you may incur. The only difference is that you now have the freedom to use the phone on other networks if you choose.
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