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How to Unlock the Galaxy S8: What to Know

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Do you need to SIM unlock the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ for use on another carrier or network? If so, today we’ll show you how. Our guide will explain the many different ways to unlock the Galaxy S8. Use it on another carrier with a lower bill, take it internationally and more. There are many advantages to unlocking a phone and here’s how to do it.

Now that the Galaxy S8 release date is here and users are getting their new phone, they’ll have lots of questions. Whether you want to use it on another carrier or simply be prepared for anything, unlocking is a good first step.

Read: 8 Neat Things You Didn’t Know About the Galaxy S8

Carriers lock down devices in an effort to tie customers to their network. Thankfully SIM unlocking the Galaxy S8 or S8+ is an easy task. Those in Europe or Asia can do this instantly, but owners in the US will want to read on for more details. This is how to get an unlock code, and how to use it.

Most who buy the Galaxy S8 will do so at a discount through carriers. Paying a small monthly fee to save money. Which means you now have a SIM-locked phone. As a result you can’t put a T-Mobile SIM card in your AT&T Galaxy S8 and use it. Or vice versa. Not until you unlock it first.

Once unlocked, phones can be used with almost any carrier, or different regions around the globe. See the benefits? First you’ll need an unlock code.

Additionally, considering the Galaxy S8 is brand new most in the US aren’t eligible for unlocks. Carriers will not unlock a phone unless it’s paid off or bought outright. This means owners need to use a 3rd party site like Unlockunit.com and follow our steps below. Either way, it doesn’t take very long and is completely fool-proof. Lets get started.

How to Sim Unlock the Galaxy S8

To begin we’ll start with the initial instructions for those that already have a SIM unlock code. Just follow the easy steps below and you’ll be done in minutes. For everyone else needing more details, keep reading.

Instructions

  • Dial #06# from your phone and find the IMEI number (or check the box)
  • Use the IMEI to request a SIM unlock code from your carrier, or on a 3rd party website
  • Turn off the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+
  • Remove SIM card tray (near the top) and insert a SIM card from a different carrier (put a T-Mobile SIM into an AT&T device, etc)
  • Reboot your phone
  • When prompted, enter the provided SIM unlock code in the pop-up box and click Unlock

Below is a sample of the popup owners should see after rebooting with an incompatible sim. This is on the Galaxy S7, but the same steps and interface will be present on the Galaxy S8.

  • If correct the phone will say Network unlock successful 
  • That’s it, now use the phone on any carrier you’d like

Easy right? Anyone can do without even leaving the house. That said, a big aspect of these steps is actually getting a SIM unlock code to enter in the first place. Don’t worry though, we have you covered.

SIM Unlock the Galaxy S8 for Free

Now we’ll explain how to get a SIM unlock code and do this for free. There are two ways to get a code. One is from carriers for free, and the second is to pay around $20-25 from websites dedicated to this process.

As a quick note, if you have a Verizon Galaxy S8 congratulations. Your phone is already unlocked. Verizon Wireless no longer locks phones, regardless of what you might hear from friends or family. Simply drop a T-Mobile or AT&T SIM card in a Verizon model and it works. It may require manually configuring the APN settings though, so keep that in mind.

Read: 8 Best Galaxy S8+ Screen Protectors

Those with AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint or other carriers will need to request a code or buy one.

AT&T SIM Unlock Code for S8

All carriers require any phone be paid in full or bought outright before they will unlock it. Some circumstances will change this rule, but usually not. You can’t have early termination fees, any monthly installment payments remaining, and the device can’t be tied to another AT&T account. Also, if it has been reported lost or stolen (you bought on Craigslist) they probably will not unlock it.

If you meet all those requirements, follow these instructions.

  • Dial #06# from your phone and find the IMEI number
  • Head to AT&T’s device unlock website portal
  • Fill out form with your number, name, IMEI and other steps
  • Once complete hit next and request a SIM unlock code
  • Remove the SIM card and replace it with a SIM from a different carrier
  • Reboot phone and enter the code and hit Unlock per the instructions above

Sprint Galaxy S8 SIM Unlock

The steps are the same for Sprint and AT&T, then T-Mobile does things their own way. However, Sprint is the least user-friendly in this regard. With Sprint owners will get an international unlock code, or a domestic (US) unlock. It’s one or the other, not both. You can unlock it to take to another country, but it will still be tied to Sprint in the US. Frustrating, right?

Instructions

Your Sprint Galaxy S8 or S8+ must be unlock eligible, like mentioned earlier. The account must be in good standing, device is paid in full, and device hasn’t been reported as stolen or used for fraudulent activities. Additionally, the device needs to be active on the network for at least 50 days. So brand new S8 owners need to wait almost two months.

  • Dial #06# from your phone and find the IMEI number
  • Call Sprint customer service by dialing 1-866-866-7509
  • Request a Galaxy S8 or S8+ SIM Unlock code
  • Select either domestic or international SIM unlocking. If you request international, the phone will not work on other US carriers. Choose wisely
  • If all requirements are met, a code will be sent within 1-48 hours

Once you get the code from Sprint, simply follow the same instructions at the top of the page. Enter a non-Sprint SIM, reboot, enter the code and hit unlock.

T-Mobile Galaxy S8 SIM Unlock App

As we all know, T-Mobile likes to be a little different. Which is why they have an app pre-loaded on phones for unlocking procedures. With this move the “unlock popup” mentioned earlier has been removed from the software. Everything is done via the dedicated unlock application.

Again the phone must be paid off, active for over 40 days on T-Mobile, and not reported lost or stolen. No late payments or fees can be on the account, or it won’t work.

Instructions

  • Find and open the T-Mobile Device Unlock App in the application tray
  • If all requirements are met hit Continue, then select Permanent Unlock
  • The phone will unlock itself and reboot

The T-Mobile app does everything for you, making it the easiest of all four major carriers in the United States. Not to mention, T-Mobile owns MetroPCS so the process is nearly identical. As a reminder, those on a monthly installment agreement need to pay the phone off first, before it will be eligible for SIM unlock.

Pay to Unlock the Galaxy S8 or S8+

And finally, we can simply skip dealing with carriers and pay for an unlock code. This is the route most owners will take. If the phone was a gift, bought used online, or doesn’t meet carrier requirements you can STILL unlock it. Using all the same steps mentioned above, we simply acquire a SIM unlock code from online sources.We’d recommend websites like Unlockunit, Androidsimunlock, or Unlockriver. Follow their steps to get a code as described below.Instructions

  • Dial #06# from your phone and find the IMEI number (write it down)
  • Use the IMEI to request a SIM unlock code from a 3rd party website as mentioned above
  • Turn off your Galaxy S8 or S8+
  • Remove SIM card tray and insert a SIM card from a different carrier (put a T-Mobile SIM into an AT&T device, etc)
  • Reboot your phone
  • When prompted, enter the provided SIM unlock code in the pop-up box and click Unlock 
  • You’re all done, enjoy your Galaxy S8 on any carrier you’d like.

You may notice these sites offer more than one code with the purchase. This is in case one doesn’t work, and other scenarios. Furthermore, services like UnlockUnit.com have a regular unlock code, and a “freeze” code that will freeze the SIM lock. We’d recommend following that sites specific instructions for the best experience.

For whatever reason if the codes do not work, request a second set or a refund. In case you’re wondering, I’ve never had a problem using these sites. The code unlocks my phone every time, without fail. So buy one with confidence and enjoy an unlocked Galaxy S8 experience today.

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Kloe

    06/27/2017 at 3:10 pm

    recently i had a good experience with Unlockauthority

  2. Joegage

    02/10/2018 at 10:15 pm

    my wife’s galaxy s8 sprint got unlocked by unlockpolice.

  3. elizee

    10/19/2018 at 6:37 pm

    I think you guys should add SPU (Samsungphoneunlock) in the list they are good website

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