Does AT&T charge to unlock a Samsung?

No. If the phone meets AT&T’s rules, AT&T unlocks it free of charge, including for former customers.

Which Galaxy phones does this cover?

Any Samsung Galaxy sold by AT&T in the US, including the S series, the Z Flip and Z Fold, and the A series. How you check the lock depends on when the model came out, as this page explains.

My Samsung’s software version doesn’t mention ATT. What does that mean?

The phone wasn’t locked by AT&T, so AT&T can’t unlock it. Contact the network that originally sold it.

How many times can I try the unlock code?

Only a few, and a phone that runs out of tries can stay locked. Type the code slowly and check each digit before you confirm.

Does unlocking remove the Google account lock?

No. A network unlock lets the phone use other networks. The Google account lock after a reset is a separate thing, and our guide to that lock explains what to do.

Network unlock

Unlocking a Samsung Galaxy on AT&T (USA)

AT&T’s current rules, where a Samsung shows whether it’s locked (it depends how new it is), and what to do if AT&T won’t help.

6 minute read Facts checked 11 October 2026

Checked against AT&T’s unlock policy. Networks change their rules, so check there before you rely on a detail.

Rather not do it yourself? Let us handle it.

Tell us the phone, the country and the network. We check the phone first, then arrange the unlock with a specialist, so there are no forms or rules for you to work through.

We check the phone first: which network it’s locked to, and whether it’s been reported lost or stolen.
You don’t need to be the account holder, or track down whoever was.
No forms, account numbers or confirmation emails to chase.
If our check shows a lost or stolen report, we tell you before you pay for an unlock.
The phone stays with you the whole time.

Enter your IMEI number

It’s a 15-digit number. You can find it in Settings › About phone, or by dialling *#06#.

Country the phone is from

Network it’s locked to

Where do I find my IMEI?

The check costs $9.99. If the phone can be unlocked, you pay the specialist for the unlock itself, and you see their price first.

Doing it yourself, or letting us handle it

Doing it yourself with AT&T (USA)

Every one of AT&T’s rules has to be met: 60 days since it was bought, nothing left to pay, and not active on anyone else’s account.
You have to work out which menu shows the lock, which depends on when your Galaxy came out.
Some Galaxy phones need a code typed in, with only a few tries before the phone can stay locked for good.
Bought it second-hand? A balance on the seller’s account blocks the unlock, and AT&T won’t discuss someone else’s account with you.

Letting us handle it

Type in the IMEI, pick the country and network, and pay for the check.
We check the phone before you spend anything more.
We send you to the unlock specialist with everything filled in. You don’t need the account holder.

Let us handle it

If you’d rather do it yourself

A Samsung Galaxy bought from AT&T in the US is usually locked to AT&T until it meets AT&T’s rules. After that, AT&T unlocks it for free, and many Galaxy phones now unlock by themselves. The way you check depends on how new your phone is.

Check whether it’s locked

Galaxy phones released after 1 September 2025: open Settings, tap Connections, then More connection settings, and look at Network lock status.

Older Galaxy phones: open Settings, tap About phone, then Software information, and look at Service provider software version.

Service provider software version	What it means
Ends in ATT/ATT	Locked to AT&T. You can ask AT&T to unlock it.
Contains ATT but ends in something else	Already unlocked.
Doesn’t contain ATT at all	Not an AT&T phone. Contact the network that sold it.

Another quick test: put in a SIM card from a different network. If the phone says the SIM isn’t supported, or asks for a network unlock PIN, it’s still locked.

AT&T’s rules

AT&T will unlock a Galaxy when all of these are true:

It was bought more than 60 days ago.
It’s paid off in full, with nothing left on an installment plan.
It isn’t active on someone else’s AT&T account.
It hasn’t been reported lost or stolen, or linked to fraud.
If you’re an AT&T customer, your bill isn’t overdue.

An AT&T Prepaid phone needs 12 months of paid service instead. AT&T says eligible Samsung phones on an AT&T plan should unlock by themselves, so check again before you ask.

Asking AT&T to unlock it

Find the IMEI

Dial *#06#, or open Settings, About phone. Galaxy phones with two SIMs show two IMEIs; use the first one.
Fill in AT&T’s unlock request

Go to att.com/deviceunlock. You don’t have to be an AT&T customer, as long as the phone meets the rules.
Confirm the email

AT&T emails you to confirm the request. Open it and confirm, or the request won’t go ahead.
Wait for the result

AT&T emails you with the outcome. Some phones unlock remotely; for others, the email includes an unlock code.

If AT&T sends you a code

Switch the phone off

Take out the AT&T SIM and put in a SIM from another network.
Switch it back on

The phone asks for a network unlock PIN, sometimes called a SIM network unlock PIN.
Type the code carefully

Enter the code from AT&T’s email and tap Unlock. You only get a few tries, so check each digit first.

Don’t guess the code

If the code is rejected, stop and contact AT&T rather than trying again. Too many wrong codes can leave the phone permanently locked.

If AT&T says no

There’s money owing on it. A second-hand phone may still be on the seller’s payment plan. Ask them to clear the balance, then try again.
It was bought less than 60 days ago. Wait until the 60 days are up and ask again.
It’s been reported lost or stolen. It can’t be unlocked. Our guide to buying a blacklisted phone explains your options.
The software version doesn’t mention ATT. It isn’t an AT&T phone, so the unlock has to come from the network that sold it.
Still stuck? Our diagnosis checks which network the phone is locked to and whether it has been reported. If it can be unlocked, we direct you to a specialist provider, with your IMEI already filled in.

Seeing a Google account screen after a reset rather than a network message? That’s a different lock. Our guide to an Android asking for the previous Google account covers it.