not received unlock, without phone during Corona

[DC3UK]

Hi, my original phone stopped working back in March. My friend gave me her old iPhone, which is locked to Vodafone, she requested that the phone be unlocked by completing the online form on the 20th March as I am on a different provider, however her sim/number is not in the phone as I have it. As we are on lock down, I am unable to put her sim in the phone that needs to be unlocked. Also I am now without a phone number, which has proven to be very stressful for the last month. I ordered a PAYG sim, however this has not been in use for the 30 days that is normally required. Is there any way that I can get this phone unlocked as I am struggling to keep in touch with my family and friends, who all have my EE number and some I cannot contact via e-mail/social media.

[BandOfBrothers]

Hello @DC3UK 

Your friends Vodafone sim card does not need to be in the iPhone to complete the unlocking request.

You will just need to insert an activated non Vodafone sim card to complete the process. 

More here about how an iPhone is unlocked. 

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. 

🌈 Stay Safe  🌈 

[DC3UK]

Hi BandOfBrothers,

Thanks for the answer.

I have been putting in a non-Vodafone sim in to keep checking whether or not it's unlocked. Also my friend has not had any e-mails from Vodafone letting her know that the phone is now unlocked. I guess it's been around 30 days since the request was put in, so I am hoping that it is unlocked soon!

Thanks

[BandOfBrothers]

Hi @DC3UK 

When your friend filled out the unlocking online form they should have received an email either accepting or declining the request.

Please ask them to check their spam folder in their email folders.

It's important that this email is received.

If not then I'd advise them to contact Vodafone to ask about the status of the unlock request. 

Edit.  The other option is you continue to use the Vodafone Payg simcard for the full 30 days in the phone making calls etc and then you request it's unlock using the new Vodafone Payg account details.

🌈 Stay Safe  🌈