Vodafone UK unlock policy in 2026, for the UK shop holding the phone

Vodafone was one of the three UK networks still locking handsets when Ofcom announced the ban in 2020, so there is a real population of locked Vodafone phones from before December 2021 in the second hand market. Vodafone's route for them is a free online form that issues a Network Unlock Code, and its current pages are short on the conditions older guides describe. This page gives what Vodafone says today, flags what it no longer says, and sets out the trade-in case.

Last reviewed 2026-10-28. Written for shops by STACKS. Not affiliated with any carrier.

The Ofcom rule since December 2021

Ofcom's ban on selling locked handsets came into force on 17 December 2021, with a 24 month cap on bundled handset contracts in the same package (source). At the October 2020 announcement, O2, Sky, Three and Virgin already sold only unlocked phones; EE and BT, Vodafone and Tesco Mobile did not and were given a year to switch, and Ofcom said unlocking "usually costs around GBP 10" with about half of people who tried running into difficulties (source). Ofcom's own page returned 403 to fetches on 2026-10-28, so it is cited through press (source). The rule stops locked sales; it does not unlock what was sold earlier.

Free, by form

Vodafone's help page answers the price question directly: "Yes. Unlocking your Vodafone phone or SIM is free of charge" (source). It also separates the two codes a customer might ask for: "A PUK code unlocks your SIM card, while a NUC code unlocks your phone from the Vodafone network, allowing you to use another network provider" (source). If the device is locked to Vodafone, the instruction is to "request a NUC by filling out our online form" (source).

What the form checks

The NUC form runs through screening questions before it asks for details (source):

• The device must be locked to Vodafone and blocking other networks: "If your device is locked to our network and isn't allowing you to use a different network, you will need a network unlocking code (NUC)."
• "Make sure you try a SIM from another network before requesting a code."
• The phone must have been bought directly from Vodafone. One bought from another retailer cannot be unlocked by Vodafone: "You will have to contact them directly."
• "Unfortunately, we can't unlock a device that's been reported lost or stolen."
• Large business and corporate customers download the form from Vodafone Corporate Online, or call 191 free from a Vodafone mobile if that is not available.

Past those questions the form says "Great, you can get an unlock code!" and asks for an email address (where updates and the code arrive), the mobile number, the manufacturer and model, and the IMEI, found by dialling *#06#, each entered twice (source).

Apple devices

Vodafone's code article says "All Apple devices are now unlocked as standard", and the form says most of its Apple devices should already be unlocked and to test with another network's SIM first (source). Where one is still locked, there is no code to type: Vodafone emails confirmation that the handset has been unlocked, and the owner inserts a non-Vodafone SIM and follows the on-screen steps for iCloud and iMessage (source). For Android the procedure is to power off, insert a non-Vodafone SIM, power on, and enter the NUC when prompted (source).

What Vodafone no longer states

How to check lock status

Vodafone's own first step is the test: put a SIM from another network in the phone (source). If it registers, there is nothing to unlock; if it asks for a code or rejects the SIM, it is locked. On an iPhone, Settings > General > About > Carrier Lock shows "No SIM restrictions" when the lock is gone.

The trade-in case

Our Vodafone services are listed near the top of this page as STACKS sells them: each row states the condition it applies, the turnaround and whether it is refundable if it fails. A network unlock does nothing for Activation Lock; Apple's guidance is not to take a used iPhone that still asks for the previous owner's Apple Account (source).

If it is your own phone

Fill in the NUC form with your IMEI; it is free (source). Unlock STACKS serves approved businesses. See how approval works.

Questions shops ask

RELATED EE (UK) O2 / Tesco (UK) Three (UK) All carriers Locked vs unlocked value Financed and blacklisted

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