How to unlock a Sprint phone without account details

Choice is a beautiful thing. Symbolising freedom, it opens doors, presents opportunities and, most importantly perhaps, it gives control. It's easy to underestimate its importance, but having choice over the decisions we make (both big and small) matters.

Having the power to choose how you use your mobile phone may seem trivial compared to many other of the life decisions we have to make. But given that for most of us our phones are a daily lifeline, it really can make a difference, both financially and practically. The problem comes when you've got a phone that's locked to a particular mobile network. Why? Because locked phones limit choice and take control away. The good news is you can get your phone unlocked and free your phone, even if you don't have any of the account information linking the device to the network.

In this guide, we look at mobile devices locked to the Sprint network. We show how easy it can be to unlock Sprint phones that may have been bought secondhand and may still be registered to a previous owner or missing all of the account details. And we explore the many benefits that unlocking your Sprint phone will bring.

But we leap ahead with the 'how', we start with the 'why', providing a bit of background information to give context to the unlocking process.

What's a locked phone and how does it work?

A locked smartphone has a software code associated with it that instructs your device to work exclusively with one network, for example Sprint. This code is unique to your device and stops you from being able to tap into the signal of any other mobile networks, such as T Mobile. This applies to both Apple iPhones and Android brands that have been bought through a carrier as part of a contract.

The lock on your phone is hidden behind the scenes and the unlock code needed to remove it from that specific network is equally as elusive. In fact, there

What does this mean in practice? Well, put simply, if you've got a new SIM card that you want to install it won't work on that phone unless the lock is removed.

If you've bought a phone secondhand or been gifted a phone, the chances are it will be locked to the network of the previous owner.

So what are your next steps? Let's take a look.

How to unlock a Sprint phone without any account information

If you're not the original owner of your Sprint phone, it's unlikely you'll know any of the account details. And it's quite natural to think that, without these, you won't be able to unlock your Sprint phone.

Calling Sprint customer care won't work because they'll need the account information before they'll even engage in a discussion with you.

There's also no way you can personally make the phone automatically unlock yourself because your phone access is limited without the right account data.

These are all logical, and perfectly accurate, trains of thought. And may prompt you to give up and write your new (used) phone off as a bad investment. But before you do, stop. There is a solution. And it's an easy, affordable and safe one too.

An online, carrier unlock service has the power and reach to locate the lock on your code and remove it. And it doesn't require any information about your phone or the network other than the IMEI number linked to the device.

Consider the leading Sprint phone unlock service provided by Mobile Unlocked U.S.

Add your Sprint phone IMEI number below

IMEI numbers and how to find them

An IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number consists of 15 digits and is uniquely associated with your phone and the SIM card inside it. Think of it as your smartphone's DNA profile or fingerprint.

Now, you're unlikely to know your device's IMEI unless you've been asked to provide it before (we know, we've been there!). But that's no problem at all, because finding it is as easy as picking up your phone and doing one of the following:

Option 1.

Type *#06# into your smartphone keypad.

Option 2.

Go to 'Settings/About Phone/Status/IMEI Information' on your phone.

Option 3.

Remove the battery and look for it on the white label underneath (the first 15 digits will be the number you're after).

How does the unlocking process work?

Using a third party unlocking service, you can request and process your entire phone unlock online in just a few hours. Here's how simple it is to do.

Step 1. Connect

Connect to the wifi or internet

Step 2. Select

Select the network (Sprint) the model of phone

Step 3. Submit

Type your IMEI into the webform and submit your request.

What now?

Using this information your phone unlocking service provider's software will interrogate all available phone manufacturing databases to find the data needed to perform your Sprint phone unlock.

10 reasons to unlock Sprint phones

Using a third party mobile unlocking service the process is so simple there really isn't any reason not to use one. See our full guide on how to unlock a phone from a carrier.

But if you need convincing, here are a few more reasons:

• It's remote.

  Your phone stays with you the whole time. Meaning no annoying break in service.

• It's safe.

  The warranty for your device is unaffected, which means your phone's protected.

• It's admin-free.

  All you need to provide is the IMEI. No account info required. Or need to contact the Sprint customer service line.

• It's non-intrusive.

  Everything happens behind the scenes with no risk to the hardware or functionality of your device.

• It's fast.

  The process is usually completed in hours not days.

• It's permanent.

  This isn't a temporary fix or interim unlock.

• It's economical

  You get access to cheaper deals.

• It's global

  Eliminate roaming charges when traveling by using local providers.

• It's an investment

  An unlocked phone is worth more than a locked one.

• It's legal.

  Unlocking your phone is a recognised consumer right.

My phone's blacklisted. Can I still unlock it?

One of the risks of buying a secondhand or used device is that, often, you don't know its provenance. You may have bought it in good faith, without any of the paperwork, not knowing that the person or company selling the phone doesn't legally own it.

The market for used mobile phone sales is huge. And while there are lots of reputable vendors, not every sale is legitimate. Many lost or stolen devices are being sold on to consumers who then won't be able to use them.

Why?

Because if a phone’s been reported as lost or stolen it's added to a shared database of blacklisted devices which is accessed by most network providers. Mobile phone operators will not provide a service to blacklisted devices included on this list. So, if your device is registered as blacklisted you won't be able to use it to make calls, send texts or connect to the internet. And, if you try to get them unlocked, blacklisted phones still won't work.

This also applies to mobile phones in contract with outstanding payments, and those flagged as being used fraudulently.

Can you get the phone unlocked or have it removed from the list? The quick answer is, no.

The only solution to avoid this is to do your due diligence before you buy a secondhand phone. Check it's clean before you buy it by using an online blacklist checking service.

Next steps

So, you don't need to know your Sprint phone's account details or any additional information to arrange for it to be unlocked. As long as you know where to go for help. With our Sprint unlocking service you can kickstart the process in just a few seconds online. No awkward account questions to answer. Or eligibility requirements to meet. Get started now or speak to our customer support team to find out more.