Sony and Sony Ericsson Unlocking Troubleshooting Guide

Have you tried to, or want to, unlock your Sony with doctorSIM but are having problems?

Unlocking your Sony via IMEI is the fastest, easiest and safest way to be able to use your phone on any network, save on your monthly bill and increase its resale value.

However, occasionally questions arise during the unlock process. Below we have listed the most common ones and what to do in each case:

  1. My Sony doesn’t prompt for the unlock code when I insert a SIM card from a network provider different to the original.
  2. My Sony is locked to T-Mobile or MetroPCS and does not prompt for the unlock code.
  3. The phone accepts the unlock code but has no coverage with the new SIM card inserted.
  4. My phone prompts for the unlock code but I get an error when I type it in (Sony).
  5. My phone prompts for the unlock code but I get an error when I type it in (Sony Ericsson).
  6. My Sony does not connect to the internet.
  7. I'm not sure if I selected the correct original operator of my Sony or Sony Xperia.

If you are still unable to unlock your phone, please reply to the email we sent you with the unlocking instructions for further assistance.

 

1. My Sony doesn’t prompt for the unlock code when I insert a SIM card from a network provider different to the original

Check that the device recognizes the SIM card being inserted

Verify that the phone prompts for the SIM card’s PIN. This number is a security measure your Sony will normally request by default (if activated).

If your phone doesn’t prompt for this security number it means the phone is not recognizing the SIM card being inserted, reason for which it neither prompts for the network unlock code.

Make sure the SIM card is correctly inserted inside the SIM card reader. If that doesn’t solve the issue, we recommend inserting a different SIM card to rule out the possibility that the first SIM card is defective.

The SIM card is recognized but nonetheless doesn’t prompt for the unlock code

  • Check the phone works with the new SIM card inserted. If so, your Sony is unlocked.
  • We recommend restoring the phone to its factory settings. This process eliminates possible errors preventing the phone from prompting for the network unlock code. You can find the option to restore to factory settings under Settings on the phone’s menu.

If having tried all of the checks above and the phone still doesn’t prompt for the unlock code, it means your Sony cannot be unlocked via IMEI. If you have any questions and/or doubts, send an e-mail to info@doctorsim.com.

 

2. My Sony is locked to T-Mobile or MetroPCS and does not prompt for the unlock code

If this is your case, it means that your phone is locked via Device Unlock. At the moment, we cannot unlock your device because we only provide unlock services by code. We hope to reactivate this service as soon as possible.

 

3. The phone accepts the unlock code but has no coverage with the new SIM card inserted

If the phone doesn’t prompt for the network unlock code again it means the phone is unlocked.

Press the Settings icon on your Sony, find Network operators and then select the Automatic option. If the phone doesn’t register on the network, change to Manual and select the network you want to connect to directly.

If the phone still won’t connect to the network, there are 3 possible reasons:

  • The SIM card inserted doesn’t work with the phone you want to unlock or has not been activated for that network. To rule out either possibility, insert a different SIM card.
  • Hardware failure. We recommend contacting Sony’s technical support team for assistance as there could be an issue with the SIM card reader, the phone’s antenna or something else.
  • The Sony’s IMEI number has been blacklisted due to loss, theft or unpaid bill by the original operator. Check if your Sony is Blacklisted here.

    Blacklists are updated regularly, however it is possible that very recent changes are not included in the report you receive. If your Sony is blocked, you must contact the original operator to confirm if the IMEI number has been reported due to loss, theft or unpaid bill.

 

4. My phone prompts for the unlock code but I get an error when I type it in (Sony)

IMPORTANT: Do not retype the unlock code if you get an error message.

Reply to the e-mail we sent you with the unlock instructions with the following information:

  • A photograph or screenshot displaying the IMEI number of the phone (type *#06# on the keypad).

  • The network provider your Sony is locked to.

  • The number of unlock attempts remaining, following these steps:
    • Turn on the phone with a SIM card inserted (this is IMPORTANT, because without a SIM card you may be told you have unlock attempts remaining when in fact you do not).

    • Type the following: *#*#7378423#*#*

    • Select Service Info/Sim Lock.

    • Look on the first line (Network):
      • [X] Network 10
      • [0] Network 10

Send us the number you see after the word Network. If there is an X and a number that is not 0, you can unlock your Sony. If instead you see a 0, you will not be able to unlock your Sony even if the unlock code provided is valid. This is why we recommend performing this check before making your request.

Also, check that your Sony hasn’t been rooted or modified at some point in the past. If your phone’s software has been modified, we recommend restoring the phone to factory settings so it responds correctly to the unlock instructions.

 

5. My phone prompts for the unlock code but I get an error when I type it in (Sony Ericsson)

IMPORTANT: Do not retype the unlock code if you get an error message.

Reply to the e-mail we sent you with the unlock instructions with the following information:

  • A photograph or screenshot displaying the IMEI number of the phone (type *#06# on the keypad).

  • The network provider your Sony is locked to.

  • The number of unlock attempts remaining, following these steps:

    • Turn on your Sony Ericsson without a SIM card inserted.
      1. Press the Home button once.
      2. Press the Back button twice.
      3. Press the Home button once.
      4. Press the Back button once.
      5. Press the Home button twice.
      6. Press the Back button once.

In summary, the sequence is as follows: 1-2-1-1-2-1. It doesn’t matter if nothing appears on screen.

You have now accessed the service menu:

      • [x] network 5
      • [x] network subnet 5
      • [x] service provider 5
      • [x] sim 5

Send us the number on the first line next to the word Network. That is the number of unlocking attempts your phone has remaining. If you see a 0, you will not be able to unlock your Sony Ericsson even if the unlock code provided is valid. This is why we recommend performing this check before making your request.

 

6. My Sony does not connect to the internet

To connect your Sony to the internet, you have to configure the phone for your new network provider. We show you how to do this here:

HOW TO CONNECT YOUR ANDROID PHONE TO THE INTERNET

If you still cannot connect to the internet after the configuration, contact your network provider’s customer support team to check that internet service has been activated on your phone.

 

7. I'm not sure if I selected the correct original operator of my Sony or Sony Xperia

To successfully unlock your cell phone via IMEI it is necessary to indicate the correct network provider. 

Regrettably, we are unable to issue you a refund if any of the information provided in the request form is incorrect and which prevents the phone from unlocking successfully.

Select either "Original Country Unknown" or "Network Operator Unknown or Not in List" if you prefer not to use our IMEI phone check and are unsure to which network your Sony or Sony Xperia is locked.

 

If we did not answer your questions or you have a different problem unlocking your Sony, reply to the instructions e-mail we sent you including the message history with a detailed explanation of the problem you are having. In this way, we will be able to locate your request and assist you much quicker.

If you didn’t make your request through doctorSIM, we recommend you unlock your Sony Xperia or Sony Ericsson making sure you’ve followed the steps indicated above so the unlock instructions work correctly.

UNLOCK YOUR SONY

UNLOCK YOUR SONY ERICSSON