How to check if android phone is unlocked | A quick guide for everyone

Well, let me tell you, figuring out this phone thing ain’t as easy as shucking corn. But I learned a thing or two about how to check if android phone is unlocked. This newfangled technology, it’s something else. My grandson, he’s always on his phone. I asked him about this unlock thing. He tried to explain, but I just got more confused.

Try a Different SIM Card, They Say

First, you gotta know what a SIM card is. It’s like a little tiny brain for your phone. It tells the phone who you’re calling with. So, if you wanna check if android phone is unlocked, you gotta find a SIM card from some other company, not the one you use now. Like if you use that Smith family phone company, you borrow a SIM card from the Jones’ phone company. If your phone is like mine then you need to open the back of your phone. If not, use that little pointy tool, pop out the little tray. Take out your own SIM card and put in the other one.

Now, if that phone asks for some code, some secret password, then, well, your phone’s locked up tighter than a drum. But if that phone just starts working, ringing and all that, then it’s unlocked. Simple as that. But what if you don’t have another SIM card? Well, I hear there is another way.

Look at Your Phone Settings

My grandson showed me this. He said to tap on that “Settings” thing on the phone. I don’t know where it is on your phone. Mine looks like a small gear or a wheel. After you find it, tap it. Then you gotta scroll, scroll, scroll. Just keep moving that screen up with your finger.

Then you gotta find something called “About Phone” or “Connections”. You will see lots of words and numbers. Just don’t care about them. Just find the words that talk about carrier or network. If you see “Unlocked” or “No SIM restrictions”, or something like that, then your phone is unlocked. Just like a door without a lock, anyone can use it. If you see “Locked”, then only one company can work with this phone. That means your phone is locked. You can’t use any other company’s SIM card.

What is This IMEI Number Thing?

Now, this one I don’t rightly understand, but I’ll tell you what I heard. Every phone has a special number. Like a secret code. I heard some folks say it is like a fingerprint. They call it the “IMEI” number. I don’t know what that stands for. Don’t matter. But apparently, there are places on that internet where you can type in this number, and it tells you if your phone’s locked or not. That’s what my neighbor said. But I don’t know how to use the internet. So, I don’t know much about that.

• First, you gotta find this IMEI number.
• They say you can find it in the phone’s settings, somewhere near that “About Phone” thing.
• Or, and this is what my grandson does, you can type some star and pound signs and numbers into where you usually type the phone number.
• He said it is like #06#.
• Then this IMEI number pops up.

But then what? I don’t know. You gotta find one of those internet places, I guess. And type it in. I don’t mess with that internet stuff. Too confusing for me.

Why Do You Need to Unlock Your Phone?

Well, let me tell you another story. When my daughter went to another country, her phone didn’t work. Something about the phone being locked. She had to buy a new SIM card from that country to make calls. She said if your phone is locked, you can only use one company. If it is unlocked, you can use any company’s SIM card. Just like you can use any key to open the door if it is not locked. It is like when you switch to a different TV channel. If your phone is locked, you only get one channel. If it is unlocked, you can watch many channels. But make sure you know what you are doing. Or you will end up with a mess like my old TV after I tried to fix it.

So, that’s what I learned about how to check if android phone is unlocked. It’s a bit like figuring out which hen laid which egg. Confusing at first, but once you know what to look for, it’s not so bad. It is not easy, but I hope you understand. I am not good at this technology thing. If you still don’t understand, go ask your kids or your grandkids. They always know these things.