How To Unlock Your BlackBerry For Free

by Robb Dunewood on February 23, 2009 · 88 comments

Win One of 100 Unlock Codes From CellUnlock

I know that there are a lot of GSM BlackBerry users out there that want to use their BlackBerry on antother network, however, don’t want to pay to get an unlock code so that they can do so.

Well, some good Samaritan has posted the process of unlocking your BlackBerry for free via your carrier to wikiHow and the 13 steps that it takes appear to be pretty easy and straight forward.

I didn”t have access to a GSM BlackBerry at the time of this posting so I cannot vouch for the process, so, if you decided to try it out, and it works or doesn’t work, please leave us a comment and let us know how you made out.

How To Unlock Your BlackBerry For Free

Call your carrier.
Ask for the MEP code.
Give them your IMEI number.
To get your IMEI number, type this on your phone, *#06#, and it should pop up.
Once you get your MEP code, turn off your wireless radio on your phone.
Go to SETTING or OPTIONS.
Then go to ADVANCE OPTIONS.
Then go to SIM CARD
Type “MEPD” on your phone.
You should see “Network as Active”
Hold SHIFT + type “MEPE” or “MEP2″
You should see “Network as Disabled”
You are now the proud owner of an unlocked Blackberry

[Source | Via]

Tagged as: Unlock Your BlackBerry

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Unlock your BlackBerry 8900 Free | Gear Diary: February 23, 2009 at 10:17 am

{ 87 comments }

1 Robb Dunewood February 23, 2009 at 8:14 am

The first question that comes to mind is how willing are the carriers to give up the MEP code? Will you have to concoct some story about how you are going to be touring Europe for the summer with friends and that you want to be able to buy pre-paid SIM cards depending on what country you are in?

2 Beilks February 23, 2009 at 8:32 am

AT&T would not give me the MEP code over the phone. Said it was against their procedure. Anyone know of a way to get around this?

3 Wayne Schulz February 23, 2009 at 10:01 am

I bought my BlackBerry 8900 on 2/11 from Amazon.

I just called T-Mobile to check on how easy this would (or would not be).

1. T-Mobile requires that you be outside of your remorse period (14 days) – so in my case I have to wait a few more days to be able to request this.

I bounced around between a few people who did not seems to know what a MEP code was. Finally I hit BlackBerry support where once I said MEP code she replied “Oh, you want to unlock”

She asked ” Why ”

The only reply I’ve ever used is “I’m going to be traveling to Bahamas” and would like to use a prepaid SIM card (this is pretty standard excuse to give and they seem to take it no questions asked)

2. Assuming you are outside of the remorse period, T-Mobile will take your information (which I believe is IMEI ) and generate an unlock code.

3. This unlock code is sent to you via email with instructions to enter it into your phone.

I’ve done this once before with T-Mobile on a different device – and I can confirm that the above does indeed work.

I’m unsure how other GSM carriers handle this though if I have a free minute I may try calling on my Bold just to see what the response is.

4 Juan Zamora February 23, 2009 at 11:07 am

I don’t know why you need the MEP code?? the article says in the point 2.- ASk for the MEP code but in the next steps never says why do you need this.
In the point .11 says you have to hold shift and type “MEPE” or “MEP2″.. it never says where to type the MEP code the carrier gave you. Anyone help?

5 chad July 24, 2009 at 8:26 pm: you need to click the black berry button and click show keyboard and you just type the word mep not the other one cuz it will screw it up an realy dont try putten any code till it works they block ur card then

6 Juan Zamora February 23, 2009 at 11:11 am

ok i got it now.. they forget to put that after .11 hes gonna ask you to type in the MEP code the carrier gave you. now i get it the .12 should say Now type the MEP code the carrier gave you. XD

7 new user February 23, 2009 at 11:19 am

This only works for BB that use SIM card right?

AT&T provides international plan by default, so they will never give you the MEP code. Not sure after you fulfill the 2 year contract, getting a new phone with signing a new contract.

Last time when I travel overseas, turned on the BB after getting off plane. It started to download the e-mail and txt msg. I made couple quick phone calls to make sure it worked. It costs me like $10 just for that.

8 chad July 24, 2009 at 8:30 pm: wen u get a blackberry storm you call verizon and tell them they tell you no matter ur responce as long as it is activated and you can cancle ur contract with them as long as u dont have it longer then 30 days just tell them u dont like it and keep the phone

9 Ben February 23, 2009 at 1:13 pm

I don’t know what a MEP code is but I can tell you how to unlock your phone with AT&T.

Just ask them for an unlock code and tell them that you will be out of the country for awhile.

They’ll email it to you. When that doesn’t work because the wrong phone is on file with them, they’ll just tell you right over the phone.

No hassles and no worries!

Ben

10 Ben February 23, 2009 at 1:29 pm

will not work in the UK whilst your in your commitment period. most networks charge £20 for a Network unlock code

11 Ed February 23, 2009 at 2:28 pm

AT&T unlocks a used 8300 I received as a gift, over the phone. No lies nor excuses was required. I just told them I got it as gift and the prior owner got a new phone. He came back with the Unlock code and gave it to me over the phone. The call took 15 minutes (woulda been quicker if he was familiar with the procedures).

You can unlock a Verizon BB8830WE or a Storm to be use with overseas SIM as well. Again, I just call Verizon and ask for the code. They don’t even required a reason from me. Ask—–>Received; over the phone.

12 chad July 24, 2009 at 8:33 pm: they told me that it had to be activated befor i could get it cuz they had to have the information to fallow up

13 The Rock February 23, 2009 at 5:32 pm

t-mo is quite fair in giving out un-lock info, even if your not a t-mo subscriber. Pay full price and they will give you the un-lock code. Thats how I got my first Pearl when it came out originally only on t-mo.

All this locked / branded talk again RIM should start selling unbranded / unlocked direct for those who don’t mind paying a little bit more for less restrictions

14 K4VKS February 23, 2009 at 6:59 pm

ALL Of my TMO phones are unlocked by TMO. Just call 611 and ask for your unlock code. A few days later I would get an email or txt with the unlock code and instructions….free, simple, and painless.

15 nathan February 24, 2009 at 12:03 am

I have a Blackberry peral that connects to the 2.5g network (EDGE), do I require this unlock code, or would I benifit from it at all rather? GSM is a slower network than the 2.5g (EDGE) or (EVO) Network, right? So only older blackberry’s would benifite from this? Sorry I’m still learning about the blackberry’s I just got mine 3 daysago.

Thanks

16 nathan February 24, 2009 at 12:05 am

Also is there any good downloads for the Peral 8220 going around? all I could find is downloads for the Storm.

Thanks again

17 trzmielina February 24, 2009 at 9:15 am

I’ll try to call to my carrier in brazil, but I think they won’t give me the mep#, let’s do it.

18 nikki March 1, 2009 at 9:30 pm

tmobile wont give it to me cause I owe them money can I get a key gen from some one for free

19 Bills on time March 5, 2009 at 12:09 pm

Pay your bill.

20 Blackberry unlock code March 12, 2009 at 10:06 am

Hi,
The Blackberry handset is good in use and relay able PC handset through which we can setting our documents on different file and can also give code it for lock or unlock security.

21 julian March 16, 2009 at 9:49 pm

well if you guys got it would be really great if you could send it to me at springcanon_34@hotmail.com

22 stef March 17, 2009 at 2:58 pm

i have tried this many times already and it does not work anyone help plzzzzz!!!!

23 Bayar March 19, 2009 at 1:37 am

hi all ! i have a blackberry 9530 but i can’t unlock bb mep code
please send e-mail . my phone imei code 359483.02.608197.1

24 Tia March 29, 2009 at 5:49 pm

Umm.. I wanna unlock my bbstorm to t-mobile ..( I have the blackberry curve. At the moment..) So do I call the carrier on my other cell phone and ask for my unlocking code for the bb storm..I’m confused

25 jeff May 27, 2009 at 9:31 am

do you need a sim card when you unlock a phone i have a blackberry 8830 from sprint and i want to unlock it for tmobile and the blackberry has no sim card

26 fredy May 29, 2009 at 12:14 am

I WANT FREE UNLOCK MY BLACK BERRY 8320
please send

27 Tereza June 4, 2009 at 11:15 pm

I brought a BB storm locked from Verizon. My carrier is a T-Mobile and they will not give the MEP code to unlock the phone. They claim only T-Mobile phones can be unlocked. Whe I turn the phone to try to get the IMEI number nothing happens. Do I need to put a SIM card from somewhere to get the number? Can anybody help?

28 sri June 9, 2009 at 3:19 am

Nice article.
I got the code for my blackberry pearl from mobile-unlocker.It’s also an low cost.

29 Kelly June 9, 2009 at 3:47 am

I haven’t been able to try to unlock the blackberry I bought off craigs list yet, but I have been doing my research and am finding that it depends on the customer service rep you talk to when your trying to get the mep codes. I wonder… is there anywhere online to get the codes free?
Also, I found a site that seems to exlpain how to unlock the bb free and pretty stright forward: crackberry.com/forums

30 Marietta June 12, 2009 at 3:08 pm

Hello, my bb is locked to Rogers in Canada… they are not forthcoming with info. Anybody have any suggestions?
Thanks…

31 Neka June 13, 2009 at 12:02 am

Hello,
I was givin a bb storm and i dont have the info on it so i cant call the carrier but its a verizon and i want to unlock to t mobile is there any way to get the code free? Someone help please!

32 Kelly June 16, 2009 at 12:54 am

Ok… here was my prob:
I bought a bb from craigs list, it was an atnt phone but I have t-mobile service, so I tried to unlock it. I am kind of retarded so this was an interesting experience, but heres what I learned. So, if you call ATnT for the MEP/unlock code, it definately depends on who you talk to…. I called 5 times, and two out of five people wouldnt give me the code, they told me that someone would call me to discuss a “case” with me, the others told me with the previous IMEI number they couldnt give me any info because the phone wasnt registered in my name, and then finally I emailed atnt and simply asked for the unlock code, and after only two days, they replied with the code and instructions on how to unlock it. So… my only advice to anyone trying to unlock the phone is that if at first you dont succeed, try and try again, you will eventually get someone who will give it to you.

33 cory June 30, 2009 at 11:51 am

i just unlocked my bb storm and the lady that did this for me sayed to turn on connections and it accepted the code it sayes sim disabeld network inactive and everything eles disabeld i dont know if this is bad or good please help me!

34 jason July 2, 2009 at 5:35 pm

I just unlocked my ROgers 8900 with unlockanyblackberry.com

i paid $30 and had my code in 3 hours.

i would definately use them again. im thinking about getting a storm so if i find a good deal on a storm ill buy it and have them unlock it for me. sweeeeet

35 Talia July 5, 2009 at 8:12 pm

I need a code to unlock my blackberry storm, and I have AT&T could someone please give me some info on how to do this or a code???

36 Sam - Cellfservices July 12, 2009 at 8:04 am

Carriers do not give away codes easily. As mentioned by Wayne Schulz, T-mobile has a lengthy list of requirements as does AT&T. Rogers and Fido will not give you a code whatsoever.

The reasons why carriers do not provide these codes easily is because they are technically killing their potential in racking up on your roaming fees or to potentially lose you to another GSM carrier. Makes sense doesn’t it? Why would you stay with AT&T if T-mobile is providing you with a better rate plan and you have an unlocked Blackberry Bold?

This is the reason why we unlock phones for $20. You avoid the headaches, time and trying to find a sly way to trick your carrier.

Feel free to pop me an e-mail if you have any other questions or checkout at our website. If you got your code for free, awesome!

37 kyle July 15, 2009 at 1:40 pm

if you unlock a bb phone do you get free internet without buying a data plan

example, i have att service and i want to get an unlocked bb tour which is not availible to att customers…would i be able to use the internet or not?

38 Hafiz July 15, 2009 at 9:28 pm

Hey,

If anyone has the software i need an unlock code….locked to rogers, bb bold, IMEI 359614.02.034390.6

Please email code to 123hv@live.com

39 shahzad July 16, 2009 at 6:40 am

sir I need a code to unlock my blackberry8900 t-mobile imei 358453024823253 send unlock mep code

40 tomiwa July 16, 2009 at 6:55 pm

please any one .. i need help unlockin my bb .. i dnt evn know ow to get the imei numb or the mep code free please

41 mohammed July 17, 2009 at 2:15 am

I just purchased an unlock code for my Blackberry Bold.
But the MEP code did not work. any ideas on what to do next?

42 JDizon July 17, 2009 at 11:32 pm

i have a blackberry curve 8900 orange uk. if you guys can help me with the codes, it be most helpful. IMEI – 355383031647689.

Email me the MEP code @ sneakerhead89@hotmail.com

43 balogun July 18, 2009 at 2:18 am

please i need an MEP code for my blackberry and i dnt have access to a prepaid card can some one help here is my IMEI numb-352110.03.312334.1

44 benjamin July 19, 2009 at 5:40 am

i need an mep code for my blackberry my imei number is 351961.02336595.8

45 unlock blackberry storm July 19, 2009 at 8:14 am

Well not in the case of verizon,they told me to wait for 4 months and asked 150 bucks for unlock code ,but soon i realized there are better unlock code providers which provided me unlock code..

46 Semtex July 19, 2009 at 1:39 pm

Hi everyone,

PLEASE, can anyone help me obtaining the MEP code for my BB 8320?

IMEI – 358264019279462

Thanks in advance.

47 Semtex July 19, 2009 at 1:40 pm

Hi everyone,

PLEASE, can anyone help me obtaining the MEP code for my BB 8320?

IMEI – 358264019279462

email – kdg246@hotmail.com

Thanks in advance.

48 Martin July 20, 2009 at 2:54 am

Hy
I have a blackberry 8120 O2 uk. if you guys can help me with the codes, it be most helpful. IMEI – 359181010085186.

Email me the MEP cod mk79copper@yahoo.co.uk

49 G July 20, 2009 at 8:26 am

i have a black berry storm that i need the mep code for my service it with tmobile. if anyone can help me please email me at grngordon@yahoo.com

50 Mike July 25, 2009 at 1:01 am

Alaska AT$T sucks anyone have a code for 354672015986415

email it to me at akmuscle49@yahoo.com

51 Randell Miller July 27, 2009 at 9:25 pm

Having problems with Verizon, and want to go to Sprint. I want my Blackberry storm unlocked so I can sell it online. Under contract with Verizon for 2 months. Feel like I’ve been sucked into this provider and don’t care for them at all.

52 LAVANYA July 28, 2009 at 10:23 pm

I am having blackberry storm.. i need an MEP code to unlock it… where do i get it…. who is the carrier here?pls send me reply to lavanyasrimohan@gmail.com

53 Icko July 30, 2009 at 1:30 pm