How to unlock a Cricket phone: 365 days of paid service, then on request
In short
Cricket Wireless unlocks a phone upon request after 365 days of paid service on that phone (checked on October 29, 2026, Cricket device unlock policy). For phones bought before July 1, 2026, Cricket’s unlock help page asks six months of paid service. The phone must be locked to Cricket and not reported lost or stolen.
On this page
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Staying on Cricket abroad? Then the lock does not matter: Cricket unlimited plans include Mexico and Canada, and its Passport pass adds more countries (Cricket abroad). The lock matters once you want another carrier’s eSIM on the phone.
Who qualifies for a Cricket unlock?
Cricket unlock eligibility starts with 365 days of paid service on that device, in a policy marked “Revised July 1, 2026” (checked on October 29, 2026, Cricket). The phone must also be locked to Cricket’s network, with no lost or stolen report and no link to a fraudulent account.
Nothing unlocks by itself: Cricket unlocks “upon request”. The count is paid service on that device, not days since you bought it.
Bought the phone before July 1, 2026? Cricket’s unlock help page says those phones “must have been active for at least six months of paid service” (checked on October 30, 2026). The policy page lists 365 days with no date split; ask Cricket which rule covers your phone.
One exception to the 365 days: Cricket unlocks one device for active and deployed military personnel, with deployment verification. To ask, call 1-800-CRICKET, dial 611 from your Cricket phone, or visit a Cricket Store.
Neither Cricket page says how a gap in paid service counts. If your line went unpaid for a while, ask Cricket.
The CTIA code, as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) describes it, sets prepaid unlocks “no later than one year after initial activation” (FCC guide). It is an industry code, not an FCC rule and not Cricket’s promise (checked on October 29, 2026). The FCC’s 2024 proposal of a 60-day unlock for all carriers, FCC 24-77, is not in force.
How to request it and check it worked
How to unlock a Cricket phone depends on the phone. Current customers request an iPhone unlock online, and most Android phones unlock in the myCricket App (checked on October 29, 2026, Cricket unlock help).
Cricket’s help page lists these routes, and the phone needs an internet connection:
- iPhone, current customer: sign in to Cricket’s online device unlock process, find the phone’s number and select Request Unlock. An eligible iPhone shows “Your device is now unlocked” and gets a confirmation text; you may need to restart it.
- iPhone, former customer: call 1-800-CRICKET (274-2538) to request the unlock.
- Most Android phones: in the myCricket App, sign out, tap Unlock Device on the sign-in screen, then Unlock, and restart. Former customers use this route too.
- Motorola or Cricket-branded phones launched in 2025 or later: use the Cricket Device Unlock app.
- Other Android phones: sign in at cricketwireless.com, go to manage your account and choose How to Unlock My device.
Labels can change; Cricket’s page has the current ones. If you meet the terms and an unlock request still fails, Cricket says to call 1-800-CRICKET.
To check, an iPhone shows “No SIM restrictions” next to Carrier Lock when it is unlocked (Apple). The taps and the Android checks are on Is my phone unlocked?. Apple adds: “Only your current carrier can unlock your iPhone.”
Neither Cricket page gives a turnaround time, so request the unlock as soon as the phone qualifies. Worked example (our arithmetic): paid service on a phone bought July 15, 2026 reaches 365 days on July 15, 2027. A July 17 flight leaves 2 days, so plan on Cricket’s own roaming (below).
Third-party unlock services and “free unlock” videos are not Cricket’s route, and we link none.
Cricket eSIM limits to know before a trip
Cricket’s eSIM page says an eSIM can’t move from one Android phone to another, or between an Apple and an Android device. Between two unlocked iPhones, XS or newer, you can transfer it during setup (checked on October 29, 2026, Cricket eSIM).
Apple’s and Samsung’s transfer pages list Cricket for routes Cricket rules out. The pages disagree; ask Cricket first (Cricket’s eSIM section).
Cricket’s QR code works one time only, on the device given at activation, so don’t delete the Cricket eSIM before a trip. Before activating, Cricket points you to an IMEI check of the phone.
What to do if your Cricket phone is still locked before a trip
A locked Cricket phone can’t take a travel eSIM, but the Cricket line can travel. Passport costs $10 a day, and speeds on partner networks may drop to 2G (checked on October 29, 2026, Cricket international roaming).
Passport works with Cricket unlimited plans that include Mexico and Canada roaming; check your plan. Those plans already cover both countries, with a usage limit in Canada: details on Cricket abroad.
Two other routes: use a phone that already meets its carrier’s unlock rule, or buy one sold unlocked. Before any eSIM purchase, check Is my phone unlocked? and Does my phone support eSIM?, then pick a plan on our country pages.
Other carriers set their own rules: all unlock rules, for example AT&T.
Frequently asked questions
Will Cricket unlock my phone for free?
Under the CTIA industry code, as the FCC describes it, participating providers don’t charge existing or former customers additional fees to unlock an eligible device. That is the code’s wording, not Cricket’s promise, so ask Cricket before you pay anyone. Cricket’s own route is a request in the myCricket App or online.
How do I check if my Cricket phone is unlocked?
Look for “No SIM restrictions” next to Carrier Lock in an iPhone’s settings: Apple says that means it is unlocked. After a request, Cricket says an eligible iPhone shows “Your device is now unlocked” and gets a confirmation text. If you don’t see Apple’s message, Apple says to contact your carrier. Android checks are on our lock check page.
Can I use a travel eSIM on a Cricket phone?
Not while it is locked: a travel eSIM is another carrier’s plan. Once Cricket unlocks the phone, add the eSIM beside your Cricket line.
Sources checked: Cricket: device unlock policy · Cricket: device unlock help · Cricket: what is eSIM · Cricket: international roaming · Apple: check if your iPhone is unlocked · Apple: travel eSIM and carrier lock · FCC: cell phone unlocking · FCC 24-77 proposal.
Sources are linked in the text. Carrier terms change: for your own plan, check with Cricket.
Change log
| Date | What changed |
|---|---|
| October 29, 2026 | Facts checked on Cricket’s pages, with Apple and FCC pages; first version |
Unfamiliar term? See the eSIM glossary.
Not sure how much data to take? Work it out from your trip length and how you use your phone.