When you buy a phone directly from a cell phone carrier — for example, Boost Mobile — they partially own the device. This means that if you ever want to leave that company for another, you'll either need to give up the phone, or go through an annoying transfer process.
However, you can skip that process and gain full ownership of your phone by unlocking it. Unlocking a phone from a carrier makes it so you can switch companies and keep the same phone.
If you're a Boost Mobile customer, unlocking your phone just takes a phone call. Here's how to unlock your Boost Mobile phone.
How to unlock a Boost Mobile phone
Before anything, you need to make sure that you meet Boost Mobile's unlocking requirements. These are:
- The phone has been active on your Boost Mobile account for at least a year.
- Your Boost Mobile account is in "good standing," with no past-due balances.
- The phone hasn't been reported as lost or stolen.
Additionally, the phone needs to be "SIM unlock capable." You should ask about your specific phone's capabilities when you call Boost Mobile, but in general, if the phone was made in 2015 or later it should be fine.
Boost Mobile Phones Military Unlocked Policy
For US active military personnel living outside the country, Boost has their customized policy. It makes it possible for them to stay in touch with their relatives back at home through an international SIM. For them, the 12-month duration isn’t enforced and you can unlock your smartphone or flip phone within days after purchase. If you are military person, you should ensure you’ve fulfilled the following requirements to unlock your phone with Boost;
- You must be an active military member
- Have proof of overseas deployment
- You should have an active Boost account without negative standings
- Your Boost phone should be international SIM unlock
Non-Boost Customers
The process is a bit complicated for non-Boost customers. However, the good thing is that you can still unlock your phone even if you have never used their services. First of all, you need the last phone number previously linked to the account. If you don’t have the number, you can contact the person you bought the phone from to request the information. Without this data, Boost cannot approve your application.
Third Party Boost Mobile Phones Unlocking
If Boost declines your application to unlock your mobile phone, all hope isn’t lost. You can opt for third party unlocking. However, you should be prepared to part with a couple of dollars but not more than $60. Before committing on a certain third party, do background research about the company to make sure you are not scammed.
It helps you to avoid being scammed by unscrupulous people masquerading as professionals. You also need to ensure that you have access to the email provided during the purchase of the phone. The unlock activation code is send to that email. You shouldn’t worry about the carriers because the unlocking doesn’t raise any alarm on the operators so you’ll be safe to use your preferred network.
Unlocking Boost Mobile by Yourself
This is also an alternative method to unlock your boost phone if all the other methods don’t work. However, this is method is best suited for tech savvies otherwise you may end up compromising your phone. Whichever method you decide to use, you should ensure that the phone is not reported as stolen or lost. To unlock the phone by yourself, there are several applications you can use. One of the best is DirectUnlocks software which takes 24 hours to unlock your phone. To unlock your phone with DirectUnlocks, follow the steps below;
- Launch the DirectUnlocks unlocking page
- On the home page, click the menu tab. From the drop-down list, select the phone model and the country registered to.
- Fill in all the provided boxes including the IMEI. If you don’t know the IMEI, you can retrieve it by calling *#06#.
- Click continue Button, this should prompt the overview page.
- Enter the payment details. Once you’ve made the payment, your application will be processed and should receive a confirmation message within 24 hours.
FAQs
Are Boost mobile phones unlocked before purchase?
No. Boost phones are designed to work with only Boost network. However, after some time, you could meet the requirements to unlock your phone.
Does Boost unlock mobile phones from other carriers?
Boost doesn’t unlock other carrier phones. They only unlock mobile phones certified for their network. For Boost to unlock your phone, you must first initiate the process with the existing carrier.
Can you return your mobile phones to boost after it has been unlocked?
You can return your phone to Boost but there is no guarantee that it’ll work normally with the Boost network.
what is the difference between a locked and unlocked Boost mobile phones?
A locked Boost phone is programmed to operate with only specific carrier network. On the other hand, unlocked phones work with all networks. In short, unlocking your mobile phone removes network restrictions from your phone.
Is unlocking a Boost mobile phone legal?
There are no legal laws that prohibit unlocking Boost phones. However, depending on the governing laws of your country, unlocking your phone can be affected by certain regulations. As a matter of fact, some countries have rules that bar mobile network carriers from activating locks on phones.
How can I check whether my mobile phone is locked?
You may want to know whether unlocking worked on your phone or not. To check out, remove the Boost SIM card from the phone and insert an alternative SIM card from another network carrier. If the phone works then it is unlocked otherwise the new SIM card should be rejected.
Another option is contacting the Boost customer care if that’s the method you used. They will check your account and tell you whether your phone has been unlocked. They can also review your application and explain the probable reasons if it was declined.
Conclusion
Unlocking your Boost mobile phone gives you the freedom you need with your phone. You can use various network carriers as you want. The above methods should unlock your phone within two days. All the methods have proved to be effective and reliable. Therefore, it is upon you to decide which one is the affordable and most convenient for you. You should also compare the risks involved so that you don’t end up with another junk in your box.
Using the Boost customer care could be a sensitive process but it is very safe. If the process doesn’t go through, you can call the center again to request for explanations or review of the process. That doesn’t mean the other methods are bad. It’s all about preference and affordably considering the fact the Boost does this for free. All the other methods you’ll still have to pay although the prices are different.