EnglishIf your HTC phone is locked to a single carrier, or you have simply forgotten your screen lock, you are in the right place. This guide separates the two problems clearly, because they need completely different fixes, and then walks through the full process for whichever one applies to you.
Most people who search for this are trying to do one of two things:
If you are not sure which one you need: if your phone turns on normally and only refuses a SIM card from a different carrier, you need a network unlock. If your phone will not let you past the lock screen at all, you need a screen unlock, covered later in this guide, so you are not stuck following the wrong instructions.
A carrier lock is a software flag your original network sets on the device, tied to its IMEI number. It restricts the phone to that one carrier's SIM cards. Unlocking removes that flag permanently at the network level, so the phone works with any compatible carrier. This is a different process from a screen lock, which is a user-set PIN, pattern, password, or fingerprint that only your Google account can reset.
For a deeper technical breakdown, read what is IMEI unlock and the difference between SIM unlock and carrier unlock.
Dial *#06# on the phone, or check Settings, then About Phone. If the phone is unavailable, use our IMEI calculator or read the full walkthrough on how to find your IMEI number.
Run a carrier lock check and a blacklist check first, or use the unlock eligibility check tool. This confirms the phone is not reported lost or stolen and is genuinely eligible before you request a code.
EasySimUnlocker's IMEI database covers the HTC range by series. If your exact model is not listed below, submit it through the free SIM unlock online form selector, which checks the full model database directly.
HTC One M7, One M8, One M9, One M9+, One A9, One A9s, One X, One X10, One S, One Mini, One Mini 2, One Max, One SV
HTC Desire, Desire HD, Desire S, Desire 12, Desire 12+, Desire 20 Pro, Desire 20+, Desire 21 Pro 5G, Desire 22 Pro, Desire 530, Desire 625, Desire 626, Desire 650, Desire 825, Desire 828, Desire Eye
HTC U11, U11 Life, U11+, U12+, U12 Life, U19e, U20 5G, U23, U23 Pro, U24 Pro, U Play, U Ultra
HTC Wildfire, Wildfire S, Wildfire X, Wildfire E, Wildfire E1, Wildfire E1 Plus, Wildfire E2, Wildfire E3, Wildfire E4 Plus, Wildfire E5
HTC 8X, HTC 8S, HTC Titan, HTC Radar, HTC Trophy, HTC Sensation, HTC EVO 4G LTE, HTC ThunderBolt
Every model above uses the same IMEI-based process described in Step 1 through Step 5.
AT&T-locked HTC phones: submit your IMEI through the free SIM unlock online form and select AT&T as the network. A dedicated model listing is also available: HTC AT&T unlock, all models.
T-Mobile-locked HTC phones: use the dedicated T-Mobile device unlock app service page for T-Mobile-specific steps.
MetroPCS-locked HTC phones: use the dedicated MetroPCS device unlock app service page.
Any other carrier: the free SIM unlock online form covers 100+ carriers worldwide. Select yours from the dropdown.
If your phone will not let you past the PIN, pattern, or password screen, this is not a carrier lock, and an IMEI unlock will not fix it. The legitimate built-in options are:
Backup PIN. After several failed pattern attempts, HTC's Android build shows a "Backup PIN" option, if you set one when the pattern was created.
Google account recovery. After enough failed attempts, a "Forgot Pattern" or "Forgot Password" link appears. Sign in with the Google account already linked to the phone to reset the lock.
Find My Device. From another device or a computer, sign in to the same Google account and use the remote "Erase Device" option. This resets the lock but also wipes the phone, so treat it as a last resort.
Factory reset via hardware buttons. Power off the phone, then hold Volume Down and Power together to reach recovery mode, and select Factory Reset. This also erases all data, and you will need the original Google account credentials afterward to get past HTC's Factory Reset Protection screen.
Back up anything you can beforehand, since three of the four methods above erase device data. None of these require paying a third party.
Before using any paid service, read how to avoid scams when choosing a SIM unlock service.
Skipping the eligibility check. Confirm first with the unlock eligibility check tool.
Entering the wrong IMEI. Double-check it with the IMEI calculator before submitting.
Guessing at unlock codes. Repeated wrong attempts can hard-lock the SIM slot permanently.
Using an unverified paid service. Read the scam-avoidance guide first.
Not backing up data before a factory reset, if you are solving a screen lock rather than a carrier lock.
The unlock code is not working. Confirm the code was entered exactly as sent, with no extra spaces. Test the SIM slot with a second SIM from a different carrier to rule out a hardware issue. Review the full unlock instructions.
Phone is stuck on the SIM Network Unlock PIN screen. Restart the device and re-enter the code once. If it fails again, contact support rather than retrying repeatedly.
Phone will not accept any SIM card, even the original one. This usually points to a SIM tray or hardware fault rather than a lock issue. Contact support for next steps.
For anything model-specific, check the FAQ.
The IMEI-based process is the same across brands, but eligibility rules and carrier partnerships differ. See the brand-specific guides:
Samsung unlock, LG unlock, Motorola unlock, Huawei unlock, Xiaomi unlock, and Apple iPhone unlock.
If your issue is a forgotten screen lock rather than a carrier lock, our related guides on unlocking an Android phone step by step and unlocking a Motorola phone by IMEI cover the same distinction for other brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlocking your HTC phone by IMEI is free through EasySimUnlocker, does not touch your data, and works permanently once completed. Start with an eligibility check, then submit your IMEI through free SIM unlock online. If you would rather see what other customers experienced first, read our testimonials, or review the terms and conditions before you start.
Go to the EasySimUnlocker homepage, select HTC as the brand, choose your model and carrier, and submit your IMEI through the free SIM unlock online form.
You will get a confirmation by email. Insert a SIM card from a different carrier, and when the phone shows "Enter Network Unlock PIN" or "SIM network unlock PIN," enter the code exactly as provided. Full walkthrough: unlock instructions.
If your unlock is still processing, check the status any time on the order tracking page.
Carriers will unlock a device directly if you meet their eligibility rules: paid off, active for a minimum period, account in good standing, and not reported lost or stolen. Contact your carrier, provide the IMEI, and follow their instructions. This route is free if you qualify, but it can take longer, and some carriers restrict it to postpaid accounts only.
Do not guess at an unlock code or re-enter an incorrect one repeatedly. Most HTC devices permanently hard-lock the SIM slot after a small number of failed attempts, and a hard-locked device usually cannot be unlocked by any method afterward. Always confirm the code through a legitimate source first.
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