Cannot unlock Vodafone iphone 7

[Hanlou82]

Hi all,

I had an old iPhone 7 on my Vodafone contract about 18 months ago, and my son's phone has just broken so I wanted to put his O2 Sim into my IPhone 7. It is saying the 'Sim is not supported' so I have tried to speak to someone about unlocking it which has proved difficult as I no longer have an account with them. I heard that I have to use a payg sim for 30 days and and then it can be unlocked but I read a recent thread where it said you no longer have to do that. I have synced my phone with ITunes and then tried to put the O2 Sim in, and that hasn't worked either. Any ideas anyone? Thank you 

[BandOfBrothers]

Hi @Hanlou82 

Vodafone have indeed removed most of the criteria in regards to unlocking phones I think to come in line to what ofcom are bringing in regards to only supplying unlocking phones from December 2021.

ofcom.org.uk/mobile-firms-banned-from-selling-locked-handsets. 

There will be 2 requirements: 

1. The device was purchased from Vodafone
2. The device is not currently blacklisted.

All other requirements will be removed.

Use the Unlock form here /unlock-code-request/  using your old Vodafone details and they'll unlock the iPhone.

If they can't for some reason then pick up a Vodafone Payg sim card and use it in the iPhone for a few days making calls etc to latch the iPhone's imei number to the Payg account and then fill out the Nuc using the new Vodafone Payg account details.

To add with iPhone's and unlocking.

An iPhone is not unlocked via inputting a Nuc {unlocking code} like other phone models are, but instead is unlocked remotely by Apple themselves and their Database.
So no actual Nuc is sent by Vodafone UK. 
The Vodafone Network lets a person know by email it's unlocking has been requested to Apple after accepting your Nuc online unlock request. (Please Check Spam Inboxes too)

Please Note > The iPhone isn't actually usually unlocked to all networks at this stage when Vodafone email you.

What happens is Apple then process the Networks request and occasionally this can take Apple approximately from a few days upto a further 30+ days sometimes from Vodafone's email to complete an unlock request made by a Network.
To complete the process please periodically insert an active i.e. connects to mobile network data, alternative Networks Sim Card in the iPhone with hooking upto iTunes is only typically needed if its an iPhone 4 or older although it wouldn't harm to do so. 
From the iPhone 5 onwards there's not normally the need to hook up to iTunes to complete the process.
When it's unlocked you should see a pop up message and the alternatives Networks name will show in the iPhone's status bar.