A Motorola that has been unlocked works with SIM cards from any network, at home or abroad. Motorola has sold phones for decades, so the unlock screen looks different depending on the age of your handset. Whatever the model, the process is the same: you order a code against the IMEI, we email it to you, and you type it into the phone.
What does the Motorola unlock screen say?
The wording depends on the generation of phone. Older Motorola keypad and flip phones, such as the RAZR range, typically ask you to enter a subsidy password or a special code when they detect another network’s SIM. Android models, including the Moto G, Moto E and Edge families, show a box headed SIM network unlock PIN instead.
| Motorola generation | Typical unlock prompt | IMEI location |
|---|---|---|
| Flip and keypad phones, including the RAZR range | Enter subsidy password, or enter special code | Under the battery, or *#06# |
| Early Android Motorolas | SIM network unlock PIN | Settings > About phone > Status |
| Moto G, Moto E and Edge | SIM network unlock PIN | Settings > About phone, then IMEI |
Some older Motorolas show a short message such as Contact service provider before the prompt appears. That message is a sign of a network lock rather than a fault, and the code entry screen normally follows it.
How do I prepare my Motorola for unlocking?
Note the IMEI, the network the phone is locked to and the exact model, which on Android Motorolas is listed under Settings > About phone. Charge the battery so the phone does not switch off partway through. Then find a working SIM from a different network, because the code box only appears when the phone detects a SIM it does not accept.
- Dial *#06# to show the IMEI on screen. Our page on how to find your IMEI number lists other places to look.
- On an older flip phone, the model number is usually on the label under the battery, next to the IMEI.
- If a family member set up the phone, ask which network it came from before ordering.
How do I enter a Motorola unlock code?
Power the Motorola off, place the other network’s SIM in the tray or slot, and switch on. When the subsidy password or SIM network unlock PIN prompt appears, enter the emailed digits and confirm. The phone reports that the network is unlocked, then registers on the new network. Check the signal and make a short call to finish.
- Choose your model in our Motorola unlock codes, adding its IMEI and original network.
- Settle the order by bank transfer, quoting its number as the reference; the code is requested once the money is confirmed.
- Wait for our email, then swap in the different SIM with the phone off.
- Switch on and enter the code at the prompt. On keypad Motorolas, press OK or the centre key to confirm.
- Once the network name appears, test a call and a text.
What if my Motorola shows no unlock prompt?
If nothing appears, first confirm that the new SIM is active by trying it in another phone. Some Motorolas only ask for the code after a full restart with the foreign SIM fitted, rather than after a SIM swap with the power on. If the handset simply connects to the new network, it was already unlocked and does not need a code.
If the phone shows an error but no entry box, write down the exact wording and contact us with your order number. Older handsets occasionally need a different route to the code screen, and we can advise before you try anything.
Is there a limit on wrong Motorola codes?
Yes. Like most phones, a Motorola only allows a handful of incorrect attempts. Once they are used up, the phone may stop accepting codes, and an ordinary network code can no longer help. Type slowly, double-check against the email, and stop after one failure so that the remaining attempts are kept in reserve while we look into it.
Older keypad models can be particularly unforgiving, as the keys are small and a missed press is easy. Read the code back on screen before you confirm.
Will my older Motorola work on today’s networks?
Unlocking opens the phone to any network, but it cannot add technology the handset never had. UK networks have been switching off older mobile signals, so a basic Motorola that relies on them may have patchy service even when unlocked. Check the phone’s specifications and your chosen network’s coverage information before you buy a code.
For a modern Moto G or Edge this is rarely an issue, and any of our pay as you go SIM cards will suit it once unlocked.
Frequently asked questions
Will unlocking erase my Motorola?
No. A network code leaves your apps, messages and photos untouched, and the unlock stays in place after updates and resets.
Can I cancel a Motorola code order?
Only before the code is delivered. Once it has been emailed, the right to cancel no longer applies, as our refunds and cancellations policy explains.
How long does a Motorola code take?
Timescales vary with the model and network and are listed on each product page. You will receive an email when your code is ready.
Browse all Motorola unlock codes, or see our full unlock range.