Telstra removes unlock fee for Apple iPhone for jet-setting Aussies
Filed under: Apple, consumer, customers, gadgets and gizmos, iphone, iPhone 4, lifestyle, mobile phone, Next G™, smart phone, unlocked
Pre-Paid iPhone unlocking instructions:
Check and pay your iPhone unlocking fee by either calling our Pre-Paid Unlocking Centre or visiting a Telstra store. Instructions are found online.
You will then be transferred to the iPhone Unlocking Centre who will submit the unlock request for your iPhone, after verifying the unlocking fee has been paid.
To unlock your Post-Paid Apple iPhone from Telstra:
Step 1: Provide your Apple iPhone details to Telstra
A. Before contacting Telstra, write down the IMEI and Serial Number for your iPhone. To locate these details, tap Settings > General > About
B. Call 13 2200 and say “Unlock” when asked why you’re calling.
C. The Telstra consultant will take your details and pass them to Apple to complete the unlock. This process can take up to 72 hours.
Step 2: After 72 hours, connect your Apple iPhone to iTunes to finalise the unlock process
- Ensure you have the latest version of iTunes, you can find this within iTunes underiPhone > Summary tab
- Insert a non- Telstra SIM in your iPhone handset. If you do not insert a non-Telstra SIM, the unlock process will not work
- Back up your iPhone and ensure you check that all your applications and iTunes data are listed in the relevant sections in iTunes
- After you have backed up all your data, click on restore to factory settings which is also found within iTunes under iPhone > Summary tab
- On your iPhone download the latest version of iOS by going into Settings > General > Software update
- On iTunes within devices > iPhone, depending on the carrier you are switching to, you will see a message stating ”Your iPhone has been unlocked” signalling your unlock is complete. Some carriers may not display this message.
- Reconnect your iPhone and sync with iTunes
Hello,
can some body help me?
my 3gs have a telstra simlock, can i unlock it from germany ?
and how can i unlock it from germany… ?
Thank you
call Telstra from overseas is +61439125109.
i chat with Telstra, but they told me that only the the customer how bought it can unlock the iPhone
Is there any chances to get IPhone unlocked if you are not an first owner? I got my IPhone few months back, from a friend from Aus. He bought IPhone on free market, all I know is that it was on contract who had expire…
Hi Stephan – if the phone was sold by Telstra, we can unlock it. Our customer service team can help you out.
hello, i want to know if i could unlock my iphone, its from telstra, i`m living in Argentina now, and i need the phone, how can i do it? thanks a lot!
Hi Bernardo,
Have a chat to our 24×7 Live Chat customer service team online via this link: http://tinyurl.com/24×7-service they’ll be able to help you with this.
Please be aware that your phone may not be compatible with the Argentinian phone network so I would recommend Googling the spectrum frequency that your phone operates on (or ask the customer service team) and making sure that it is the same as the ones in Argentina (850 and 1900, which can be found on this website: http://www.gsmarena.com/network-bands.php3?sCountry=ARGENTINA )
I hope that all makes sense!
Hi,
I have contacted Telstra regarding unlocking an IPHONE 3GS
The telephone line was really bad and I am not sure what I need to do next and how I will know its been unlocked.?
I don’t have a sim card in the phone at the moment.
The lady got me to reset the phone back to factory settings She took all the details of the phone.
Thanks
Greg
Hi Greg,
If the line was good enough for our customer operative to hear the request then it should be unlocked as it happens automatically. But just to be sure, if you have a spare five minutes today I recommend you jump online with our 24×7 Live Chat customer service team and ask them. You can find them here: http://tinyurl.com/24×7-service
Just called to have my iphone 4S unlocked, which was needed for a work sim card on another network. The call was very pleasant with no problems at all, I just gave the reason and provided the IMEI number. No charge, and I was advised it would take 5 hours. Tried 5 minutes after the call and it was already unlocked. No connecting to itunes, no backup, nothing. All I did was power off and on, put in another SIM card and it asked for Activation at the unlock screen and all I did was swipe and started using the phone and off I go. I called at 7:30pm on a saturday night not expecting to get anyone at all. Awesome service from Telstra, very impressed!
Hi, I’ve just cancelled my contract with Vodafail and have a telstra sim. My Iphone is locked to Voda’s network. Can I get you guys to unlock it? Or do I have to go back to them?
Welcome Luke! Glad to have you on board
You’ll have to get them to unlock it from their network.
I have just bought a second hand Iphone4 which is locked to the Telstra network even though the contract has now expired. The instructions above indicate that I would need to know the previous owner’s mobile number and type of contract, which I don’t have. Can you help me to unlock the phone please?
Hi Meg,
Please call our mobiles customer service team on 1800 303 302 or speak to them via 24×7 Live Chat here: http://tinyurl.com/24×7-service
They’ll be able to help you out with getting your iPhone unlocked.
I am no longer a telstra customer but my phone is still locked to Telstra. I called them up and they tell me you have to be a customer to have it unlocked!
Hi Sally,
Not sure who you spoke to, that’s incorrect
if the phone is locked to Telstra we can unlock it whether you’re a customer or not. I recommend re-calling them or speaking to our dedicated 24×7 Customer Service team via Live Chat (links above) who will be able to help you out.
I m from Malaysia and just got iPhone 4 from. Australia from a relative. How to unlock and what phone no should I call or website so that I could talk to them how to unlock my phone. Than you
Hi Jenny,
You can unlock your iPhone from this website: https://help.telstra.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/16952 or speak to our 24×7 Customer Service team online via Live Chat here: http://tinyurl.com/24×7-service – they’ll be able to help you out with this
hi i need help unlocking my telstra iphone 4s in south africaa
Hi lylw,
Lucky you – would love to be in South Africa! If you speak to one of our 24×7 Live Chat customer service team members online they’ll be able to help you out with this: http://tinyurl.com/24×7-service
Hi, i recently called Telstra to unlock my iphone 4, the consultant i spoke to asked for my imei number and said that she will put the request through and i was advised to sync my iphone on itunes which i did, how can i check if it is really unlocked as i tried placing another networks sim into my iphone and it says sos only.
Hi Phan,
If you’ve followed the steps then it should be unlocked and ready to go. Feel free to chat to our 24×7 Customer Service support team via Live Chat if you have any more questions about the process: http://tinyurl.com/24×7-service
My friend from Australia got a iPhones 4s given by her daughter. She brought the phone to Malaysia and will staying here for period of time, she can’t use the phone here because it is locked by Telstra, can I unlock it from Malaysia by calling Telstra? What is the contact number should I call? Thanks.
Hi Bill,
Get your friend to chat to our 24×7 Live Chat customer service team online via this link: http://tinyurl.com/24×7-service they’ll be able to arrange an unlock for her.
just used the telstra chat thing: https://livechat.telstra.com/TCOM:Crowdsupport:Consumer
the chick unlocked my iphone 4s in about 5 minutes, she said 5-72 hours but it worked instantly, all i did was give her the IMEI and she goes “wait a few minutes whle i sort it out” and bam done, soooo yeh it works that easily to all who are wondering
Can I unlock my iPhone if its still under contract with Telstra ?
Hi Linda,
Have a chat to our 24×7 Live Chat customer service team online via this link: http://tinyurl.com/24×7-service they’ll be able to assist.
-Az
Hi, my mum has finished her contract with a iphone 4s and has started a new contract. i am currently trying to use her old iphone that has been completely paid for but due to being on a different network, it does not register. do i need to pay an unlock fee, even though it has been brought completely?
Hi Emma,
Contact our 24×7 Live Chat customer service team online via this link: http://tinyurl.com/24×7-service and I’m sure they will be able to assist you.
-Az
Guys so easy. its 10pm in QLD bought a locked phone,
called the telstra number told them i bought a iphone locked and gave them the imei number. put a virgin sim in turned it off and back on, plugged into the pc and it was unlocked!
that easy and they were super nice took 3 mins max all up from calling to now
Tried the 24×7 link to unlock a phone that I bought. Was told I had to be a Telstra customer, and the original owner to unlock. The complete opposite to what it says above.
Can you take the phone into a bricks and mortar store and get them to do it?
Hi Liz,
If it’s a pre-paid phone you can take it to a Telstra store, otherwise if its a post-paid phone you’re best to call 13 22 00 and say “unlock” when asked the reason for the call – the Telstra consultant will then take down the details (see above steps) and submit the request to Apple to unlock the phone.
Hi All, Can I get my phone unlocked if I am on a plan with Telstra. I am going over to Europe and really want to use my I-phone without the all the charges as I received a $2k phone bill last year when I was over there!!Plus I use my phone as my camera so it’s just handy…
Cheers
Hi Kel,
Yes you can. You will need to follow the “To unlock your Post-Paid Apple iPhone from Telstra:” steps mentioned in the post above. Have a great trip
How come when trying to unlock my IPhone 4 on ringing Telstra they have said it costs $150 but the site clearly states it is free
Hi Helen,
Thanks for the comment – this is standard with Telstra’s pre-paid unlocking policy. The unlocking fee is only for pre-paid customers who are less than six months into their contract. If the contract is more than six months old then the unlocking fee is waived.
You are awesome
one of your agents help me so much 
to unlock my iPhone
Hello, I have an iPhone 4 encoded Telstra Australia, I can help you decode it? thank you
Hi Geo,
You should follow the instructions in the blog post to unlock your phone. There are different instructions for both Pre-Paid and Post Paid phones.
Cheers
Az
Hey, my boyfriend recently gave me his old Iphone 4. It is locked to Telstra and I can’t unlock it. What can I do?
Hi Marni,
Have you tried following the instructions in this blog post to unlock your phone? Give it a try and let us know how you go!
Az
Hi
I have 2 iPhone 4 I purchased from aust post outright. Can I unlock the for free as I am moving overseas?
Hi Shaun,
Yes you can. Please follow up the steps in the blog post above and we can sort this out for you.
Az