How to Unlock Your Cricket Phone

Unlocking your Cricket Wireless phone is fairly easy as long as you meet the unlocking requirements for your account type.

This article will walk you through all of the steps you need to take in order to unlock your Cricket phone for use with any compatible SIM card. First we'll explain Cricket's unlocking requirements, followed by the procedure for requesting an unlock code from the carrier. 

Cricket Wireless unlock requirements 

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Before you can unlock your Cricket Wireless phone, there are a few requirements that need to be met, including:

• Your device has been active for at least 6 months of service on Cricket’s network.
• Your device is designed to be used on and locked to Cricket’s network.
• Your device is not reported lost or stolen.
• Your device is not linked to accounts with fraudulent activity.

It’s also worth noting that if you’re active military, you can request to have your Cricket device unlocked before meeting the 6-month mark, as long as you meet all the other requirements listed above.

Requesting an unlock code from Cricket Wireless

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If your Cricket device is eligible to be unlocked, there are a couple of ways to reach out to Cricket directly and request an unlock code. Your options include: 

• Reaching out to Cricket customer service via phone (1-800-CRICKET), email, or live chat, and requesting an unlock code with the help of a representative.
• Logging into your Cricket “My Account,” and requesting a code through your “Account Settings.” 

Before you request an unlock through Cricket Wireless, you’ll first want to make sure you have some information on hand, such as: 

• The phone number associated with the device you’re looking to unlock.
• The name on the device’s account.
• Your account PIN and/or SSN.

Requesting a military unlock code 

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The best way to request a military unlock code is by sending an email to [email protected], or by sending a fax to 770-360-4979 with your name, phone number, date of birth, and the email address you’d like Cricket to send unlocking directions to. You can also call Cricket customer service at 1-800-CRICKET and have a representative walk you through the process.

Requesting an unlock code using your online Cricket account 

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Another way to place an unlock request is through your online Cricket account. Here’s how:

• Sign in and navigate to “Account Settings.”
• Select “Get Code.”
• Select “Request Unlock.”
• If granted, you’ll receive and unlock code sent to your device.
  • Android devices will display your unlock code on screen (this should be fairly quick).
  • iPhones will receive an unlock code via text the following business day.

Unlocking your Cricket device once you’ve received your unlock code

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Once you’ve received an unlock code on your device, there are a few steps to take in order to complete the process. The steps are different for iPhones and Android phones.

Unlocking your Cricket iPhone/iOS Device

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If you are unlocking an iPhone/iOS device, there are two ways to go about unlocking your device—the quickest way to complete the unlock process is as follows:

• Remove your current Cricket SIM card from your iPhone.
• Insert your new, non-Cricket SIM card into your iPhone.
• Continue with the set-up process for your device.

Alternatively, if you don’t have a non-Cricket SIM, you can use iTunes to unlock your iOS device by following these steps:

• Make a backup of the iPhone using iTunes.
• After creating a back-up of your iPhone, perform a reset on your iPhone.
• After the “Welcome” screen appears, connect your phone to iTunes—you should see a message confirming that your iPhone has been unlocked.

Unlocking your Android device with the myCricket App

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If you’re an Android user, may need to complete your unlocking process using the myCricket App. You can do this by taking the steps below:

• Open the myCricket app on your Android device.
• Sign out of the app if you are currently signed in. 
• Select the “Unlock Device” button on the app’s sign-in screen. 
• Select “Unlock” displayed on the bottom of the screen.
• Once your phone is successfully unlocked, restart it to complete the process

Where can I use my unlocked Cricket device?

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Depending on the make, model, and year of your Cricket device, you should have access to a number of different carrier SIMs once it is unlocked.The best way to find out if your unlocked device is compatible with a specific carrier is by doing a compatibility/IMEI check on that carrier’s site.

If you’re unsure where to take your newly unlocked Cricket device, the best way to find the perfect plan is by using our coverage tool here at WhistleOut. It allows you to compare over 40 different carriers, including majors like Verizon and Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) like Visible and Mint Mobile.