Locked out of your phone? Let’s find out why.
Type in your phone’s IMEI number and we’ll run a full check on it. You’ll get a plain-English report of what is locking it and, where it can be fixed, exactly how.
-
1
Enter your IMEI. It’s the phone’s 15-digit ID number. We’ll show you where to find it.
-
2
We diagnose it. One small fee. Your results usually arrive within minutes.
-
3
Choose a fix, if you want one. If we can’t help, we’ll say so plainly.
On an iPhone
- On the “iPhone Locked to Owner” or Activation Lock screen, tap the small ⓘ button. The IMEI is shown there.
- Or pull out the SIM tray. On most iPhones the IMEI is printed on it in tiny writing.
- Or look on the barcode sticker on the box it came in.
On an Android phone
- Tap Emergency call on the lock screen and type *#06#. On most phones the IMEI pops up straight away. Nothing is actually dialled.
- Or look on the sticker under the battery or on the back of the phone.
- Or check the barcode sticker on the original box.
What’s happening with your phone?
Pick the one that sounds most like you. Each page explains what’s going on and what you can do about it.
Why we check first, before we sell you anything
A locked phone can look the same on the screen whatever the cause. Two iPhones can show the identical “Activation Lock” message, and one can be released in a day while the other can’t be released by anyone except its original owner.
Plenty of websites will take your money for an “unlock” without knowing which of those you have. We’d rather look first. The diagnosis reads your phone’s records so that whatever we recommend is based on your actual phone, not a guess.
And if the honest answer is that nothing can be done, you hear that from us for the price of the diagnosis, not after paying for a service that was never going to work.
Who the phone is locked to
Whether an Apple ID, Google account or Samsung account is holding it, and what kind of lock it is.
Whether it has been reported
If the phone is on a lost or stolen list, which affects what can legally be done.
Which network it’s tied to
If it will only work with one network’s SIM, and whether that network can release it.
Exactly which phone it is
The precise model, so any fix we offer is the right one for your handset.
What you can expect from us
Plain English, always
No jargon and no codes to decode. If we have to use a technical word, we’ll explain it.
The truth, even when it’s “no”
We never promise a result we can’t deliver. If a fix isn’t possible, we tell you and don’t offer one.
Only for rightful owners
We help people get back into phones that are theirs. We won’t help with a phone reported lost or stolen.
Questions people often ask
What is an IMEI, and is it safe to give it to you?
An IMEI is a 15-digit number that identifies the phone itself, a bit like a car’s registration. It doesn’t give anyone access to your photos, messages or accounts. It’s simply how we look up your phone’s records.
Why do I pay for the diagnosis?
Each check we run on your phone costs us money with the services that hold those records. Charging a small fee up front means we can look properly instead of guessing, and it means you’re never pushed into buying a fix you don’t need.
Do I have to buy a fix afterwards?
No. Plenty of people only want to know what’s wrong. Your results are yours to keep, and if a fix is available you can decide in your own time.
Do I need to post my phone to you?
No. Everything is done using your phone’s IMEI, so the phone stays with you the whole time.
What if my phone can’t be fixed?
Then we’ll tell you that, explain why, and point you towards whatever options you do have, such as contacting the seller or your network. We won’t offer you a service that won’t work.
Ready to find out what’s wrong?
It takes about a minute to start, and you’ll know where you stand by the end of it.
Check my phone