The SIM test
- Borrow a SIM card from a different carrier, for example a friend’s
- Turn the Galaxy off, swap in that SIM and turn it on again
- Wait a minute: signal bars and mobile data mean your Galaxy is unlocked
Samsung explains that a lock usually shows up exactly at this moment: when a SIM from another provider goes in.
What you might see
- Signal and mobile data: unlocked
- A request for a network unlock code, or a network lock error: still locked to the carrier that sold it
- No signal, but no message: check that the borrowed SIM is active and restart once more. Samsung notes that a SIM PIN, network settings, old software or a network on other frequencies can also block the connection
Getting the unlock code
- Contact the original carrier or the shop you bought the Galaxy from
- Have the IMEI ready: dial *#06# and it appears on screen
- Expect conditions: an account in good standing and the phone paid off
- Enter the code when the Galaxy asks for it, then restart
Avoid unofficial unlock services. All options in one place: how to get your phone unlocked.
Unlocked? Add a travel eSIM
Not every Galaxy has eSIM, and some A models depend on the country. See which Samsung phones have eSIM, then install it at home and switch it on when you land.
Questions and answers
Can I check without another SIM card?
Not with certainty on the phone itself. Ask the carrier that sold it: it can tell you whether the phone is still locked.
Can Samsung unlock my Galaxy?
No. Samsung says carriers set the lock, and sends you to the original carrier or shop for an unlock code.
Will a travel eSIM work on a locked Galaxy?
No. The Galaxy must be unlocked first. Your own SIM keeps working abroad through roaming, at your carrier’s prices.
Is a Galaxy bought outright unlocked?
Usually, if you bought it from Samsung or a shop without a contract. The SIM test takes two minutes, so check before you travel.
Updated 3 Nov 2026 · checked against our live catalogue
How we check our data · Prices and plans come live from our catalogue; facts come from official sources, listed where we use them.