How To Unlock Your T-Mobile Dash
It doesn’t matter who your carrier is, unlocking your cell phone can be a huge pain. Call your carrier’s customer service department and ask them about unlocking if you don’t believe me. Why do I need to unlock my phone you ask? Well, you don’t need to, but there are a few reasons why you might like to. First, unlocking your cell phone allows for it to be used on different carrier networks. For example, you could unlock a Cingular phone and use it on T-Mobile’s network. The only thing to keep in mind with using phones across different network is that GSM and CDMA do not mix together. Secondly, a phone that is application unlocked allows you to install basically whatever you want on it, making it essentially as customizable as you want.
Before we get into how to unlock your T-Mobile Dash, I want to note that there are two types of locks on a cell phone: SIM and CID. The SIM lock is what marries the phone to a specific service provider, and as mentioned above removing this will allow you to use it on multiple carriers. The CID lock is what ties the phone to a specific OS and software, and as I just said removing this will allow you to install whatever you want.
OK now that we know what we’re doing and why we want to do it, let us proceed.
Unlocking your T-Mobile Dash is very easy but not free.
1. Go to http://www.imei-check.co.uk/dashunlock.php
2. Enter your IMEI into the form and hit continue. To find your IMEI number just dial *#06# on your Dash.
3. Complete the necessary PayPal form — comes out to around $40.
4. Save the DASHv2Unlock Program to your computer — downloadable from the Web site in Step 1 .
5. Go into your email account on file with PayPal and save the UNL file that matches your IMEI to your computer.
6. Turn on the Dash and establish an ActiveSync connection.
7. Extract and run the DASHv2Unlock program from Step 4.
8. Supply the DASHv2Unlock program with the UNL file from Step 5.
9. That’s it, just wait until the program finishes and your phone reboots.
53 Comments, Comment or Ping
David
40$ to unlock the phone? That’s absurd.
Jun 1st, 2007
Jon Holato
Not necessarily. It would cost much more to buy it unlocked on eBay than to buy it subsidized and pay $40 to unlock it.
Jun 1st, 2007
Josh Nelson
You can unlock a nokia for far less than $40. Try here: http://www.newmobilefreedom.com/unlock-nokia-c-26.html
Jun 3rd, 2007
Derby
I hve bought a Dash but unable to use unless it is unlocked.
Pls let me know how I can get the unlock code FREE for SIM & CID.
Look forward your assistance.
Awaiting your.
Derby fm Bangladesh
Jun 8th, 2007
Derby
I have bought a Dash but unable to use other operator service as it’s SIM & CID locked.
Pls let me know how I can get Free Unlock code.
Look forward your assistance.
Derby fm Bangladesh
Jun 8th, 2007
Jon Holato
@ Derby - Unfortunately I don’t know of any way to do both SIM & CID unlock for free — otherwise I would have posted that.
I think your best bet would be to either pay the fee or return the phone and buy an unlocked one from eBay.
Jun 8th, 2007
Muustafiz
I have a motorola T- mobile ta 7300. its from usa but i cant open the subsidy lock code.
So would u plez help me how can i unlock my mobile.
thank u.
Jun 20th, 2007
Jon Holato
@ Muustafiz - sorry I can’t help you out with that model, I’ve only got experience with unlocking the T-Mobile Dash. But I did a bit of research for you and there seems to be some promising Motorola unlocking sites on the first page of Google. Remember, this is all a risk so nothing is guaranteed, but it’s worth taking a look at:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=unlock+motorola+phones
Jun 22nd, 2007
BP
Has this worked for anyone?
Jul 5th, 2007
fabio
i have a sidekick3 from t-mobile can u unlock this phone? send me an invoice.
Jul 6th, 2007
Murray in Miami
I bought the unlock as u described they and i could not get it to work, they eventually sent me the ub=unlock codes well a number, however i do not know what to do with this number. Secondly just to be sure, I downloaded the unlock software to the desktop plus the key. I removed sim and flash, and disabled virus and firewall software. Made active sync connection but kept getting error messages, to cut a long story short it did not work , now i have this number and i have no clue where to type it or copy it to too make it work, can you help on either using software or using code
Thank you
Jul 8th, 2007
Chris K
So do you reccommend using http://www.imei-check.co.uk/dashunlock.php ? or is there a free method?
Jul 10th, 2007
Monika
I have a question. Just got an unlocked T-Mobile Dash, I am using it with the AT&T/Cingular SIM, text msgs work fine, MMS does not work, and I can’t connect to the msn Messenger or to any website unless using Wi-Fi. Are there settings that need tweaking, or this is just part of the deal? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Jul 18th, 2007
Inti M.
Hey Jon,
There are several unlock codes for the T-Mobile Dash on eBay. Do you know if the will unlock for both CID and SIM? These codes can be as cheap as $20. Are they good to fully unlock this phone?
Thanks.
Jul 20th, 2007
Martin
Hi jon,
I bought an unlock T-mobile dash from ebay. My question is if I update it with windows mobile 6.0 OS provided by T-mobile, is it still unlock? Thanks.
Jul 26th, 2007
Jon Holato
@ BP - It worked for me, twice (2 seperate Dashes).
@ Fabio - Sorry I have no experience with unlocking Sidekicks.
@ Murray in Miami - Are you still having issues? I’d be happy to try and help you out.
@ Chris K - I don’t know of any free methods, but by all means that would be preferred if it worked. Just be careful with that, make sure you have a backup.
@ Monika - I don’t have any experience with this, but from what I’ve heard/read you need to update your Internet settings for AT&T’s EDGE network. The phone comes with the T-Mobile settings configured. You should be able to find the AT&T EDGE settings and a how-to through a Google search. Let me know if you need any further information.
@ Inti M. - I can’t comment on that as I have no experience with purchasing unlock codes from eBay. Best bet may be to contact the seller or recent purchasers from the seller if you have any questions.
@ Martin - that’s a good question. I was forced with a similar question when I first got my Dash, whether to unlock and upgrade or upgrade and unlock. I choose upgrade then unlock, but I know there were people on HowardForums and other sites that had unlocked phones and upgraded to WM6. So my guess is it should be no problem, but you may want to visit a Dash forum first and clarify with the experts.
Jul 27th, 2007
congoman
I recently got a T-Mobile Dash as a gift. I live in Barbados and the phone is sim locked. Are there any free methods of unlocking?
Jul 31st, 2007
luther
i wanna too know who wanna sell there t-mobile dash for $200.00 if that you hit me up.at jboo234@yahoo.com or call me 773-544-2763 luther
Jul 31st, 2007
Bubba
If you’ve had your phone with T-Mobile for, I believe 90 days… Just call them up and tell them you want to unlock your phone. They will do it for FREE. If they ask for a reason, just say you are going to travel to Europe and are going to get a pre-paid sim card to make local call there. But I don’t even think they ask. I unlocked my last phone from T-Mobile this was. Free sure beats the crazy $40.
Aug 6th, 2007
DK
Um, we’re talking about $40 for CID unlocking, SIM unlocking is free.
Aug 16th, 2007
MAD
Ive got a Dash phone, but i want only to SIM unlock, u say its free, where?
Sep 6th, 2007
matt
hey i have a t- mobile dash i would like to sell for like $160 it looks grate. my e-maile is crazydriver88934@aol.com
Sep 14th, 2007
Jon Holato
@ MAD - Your carrier is *supposed* to unlock it for you if you request it. A lot of times they’ll give you the run around though to try and prevent you from unlocking it.
Sep 14th, 2007
Ethan
So if i unlonked a Dash and put a nextel SIM in it, it should work then?
Sep 20th, 2007
Jon Holato
@ Ethan - I answered your question via email but since you posted a comment too I’ll paste it here for those who might be wondering the same thing:
I do not think that an unlocked Dash would work with a Nextel SIM card. The reason being is that Nextel is now Sprint which uses a CDMA network, and T-Mobile (the default Dash provider) uses a GSM network. The two are incompatible and one SIM cannot be used on another. AT&T/Cingular uses a GSM network which is why an unlocked Dash will work on that network.
Of course for official clarification contact Nextel/Sprint.
Sep 21st, 2007
mark
i have a code for the dash unlock through an ebay unlocking service. however they don’t provide instructions how to unlock it once i have the code and i don’t have a cable to hook up to activesync. i have unlocked several other phones before and there was always a sequence of numbers, *, and #’s to enter with the code. any idea on how to unlock once i have the code but don’t have instructions? thanks
Sep 25th, 2007
Jon Holato
@ Mark - Sorry but I have no experience unlocking the T-Mobile Dash in this way nor do I know anyone who has. Perhaps someone over in the T-Mobile forum at Howard Forums Web site would know?
Sep 26th, 2007
mark
jon,
thanks for the quick reply! actually the website i bought the code from on ebay finally replied and it is simpler than i had to do on other phones. all you do for the dash is put your cingular sim card into the phone and it asks for the code when you turn it on again. no long number sequences or anything. however, the phone numbers from the sim didn’t transfer to the dash, so i have to re-input those. other than that it seems fine. thanks again.
Sep 27th, 2007
marvin
im trying to unlock my dash w/ a cingular card. does anyone have an unlock key???
Oct 16th, 2007
hen
I have a question. Just got an unlocked T-Mobile Dash, I am using it with the AT&T/Cingular SIM, text msgs work fine, MMS does not work, and I can’t connect to the msn Messenger or to any website unless using Wi-Fi. Are there settings that need tweaking, or this is just part of the deal? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Oct 19th, 2007
poizin
Hello All -
My question is for MARK / Anyone who has the unlock code for SIM (The one where you put your cingular card in and it asks you for the number) -
Can someone provide this number please?
Thank you in advance
Oct 23rd, 2007
raul
how do i unlock my t-mobile dash for free???
Oct 25th, 2007
leanard
you can get the unlocked code for your t-mobile dash free of charge by calling T-mobile customer rep. Make up a story like your going on vacation
to another country and want to use your phone with a local sim. they help
you get the code from HTC and email it to you.
Oct 29th, 2007
Anon
If you simply call T-Mobile, they will gladly send you the code to unlock your Dash.
Nov 18th, 2007
Dominic
Please help, when I download the UNL file - windows cannot open it as it does not recognise the program. Any ideas?
Dec 15th, 2007
aaron
how do i find the way to un lock my tmobile dash
Jan 20th, 2008
aaron
can any ony explane how to unlock my t-mobile dash
Jan 20th, 2008
popo
i forgot my security phone lock code for my DASH and i cant get it open all i can do is make emergency calls only can to tell me how to unlock it ?
Feb 10th, 2008
Mike Rodz
Came on this site after a google search.
Wife wants to save cash by getting rid of the T mobile bill.
So we got a new phone did a family plan.
Then I just called T mobile. Told them I’m out of the country a lot for business, what are my options on plans overseas.
Rep” We can unlock your phone and you can buy a sim overseas”.
Hey that will be great…..
They send it via email within 24 hours….
My only issue is the wife got the new blackberry data plan.
Will i have to get another internet plan for my dash????
Will it have all the functions on the ATT network??????
I’ll find out later later today….
Thanks Yal
Mike r
Feb 11th, 2008
lynn
I hear that TMobile will unlock any of its phones for free–one free unlock every 3 mos…?
Mar 2nd, 2008
Mer
I’d like to buy a dash and use it with my sidekick data plan. Will all the functions still work, and will tmobile know?
Mar 15th, 2008
Gavin
Tmobile will send you instructions and code via email on unlocking the phone if you are a customer of theirs. All the functions will still work and tmobile will not know. However you may need them to send downloads via the phone to make all the functions work if you are having problems. In that case they will still help you as you are their customer and they dont care what phone you are using if its a tmobile phone. It doesnt matter where you bought it from.
POPO the default security lock code is 1234. If that doesnt work then you will have to reboot your phone via hard reset by First turn off the phone. Hold the two DASH - - buttons down. While holding them down, hold the power button down for 1.5 seconds and then release the power button, but keep holding the dashes down all the time,…it will go into a reinitialization mode ( you can release the dash buttons now) just follow the instructions on the device and you are set back in factory default.
Mar 28th, 2008
Gavin
I forgot to mention that yes tmobile will send you the unlock code and instructions via email for free for their customers. But you have to call them 800-937-8997. I tried emailing them initially but no response. When I called they were so accomodating and didnt even ask why I wanted the phone unlocked. How many unlocks for free and for how many phones I dont know.
Alot of cell phone stores and kiosks will unlock any cell phone for you for about $30.00. You may have to leave the phone with them and pick it up later like an hour or two later if they are busy.
Mar 28th, 2008
Jim
can some1 give me the unlock code for the dash?
Apr 2nd, 2008
scoop
If you’re looking to unlock your T-Mobile Dash, just call T-Mobile. They managed to give me the unlock code — FREE — within 24 hours. I told them that I was traveling abroad.
That said, I’ve been having trouble with my new SIM card I bought in South America.
Apr 5th, 2008
Tamer F
so i bought this dash off ebay, it came with the unlock code…i unlocked the phone…however the phone takes a lot of time to find a network and most of the time doesnt …and i have to try and search for it manually a million time till i can get it to connect…then when it does connect, it doesnt make or receive calls…the guy who sold has a very good reputation and said the phone was working fine for him…did the unlocking code ruin something???
any help will be appreciated (otherwise i will have to return the phone asap)
thx
May 2nd, 2008
hafeez
I bought the software by paying 20 quit, i unlocked the phone but my the mobile is not reading the sim. what should i do.
May 3rd, 2008
Crystal
Hello! well i just recently came across a dash someone is selling for REALLLLLY cheap! & i don’t want to pass it up! but im guessing the person bought it off the street or something i don’t know. & its locked! the code is with in the phone? i have no idea someone help!!
May 3rd, 2008
Crystal
helppp
May 3rd, 2008
Eric
I already have the unlock code, but i dont know how to unlock it? Please show me the steps I have to follow
May 17th, 2008
Chloe
I have a Brand NEW T-Mobile Dash FOR SALE plus lots of extras. Unit is a manu. warranty fullfilment replacement, T-Mo mailed to me for free with prepaid return label for defective unit. I have only powered it on to insure its working. 98% positive I can have it unlocked by cust. service prior to sell.
Included: New T-Mobile Dash, orig Box (UPC cutout), wall charger, data cable, all original manuals and papers, car charger, brand new hard case w/ belt clip, etc, (Going from memory but a good but of items all in new, pristine, or unused condtion. Can accept PayPal, Google Checkout, and other forms of payment. Will ship with tracking. Serious offers only please. Fast shipment, can provide actual pics.
ctc Chloe at kiddzakemi (at) gmail.com
Jun 4th, 2008
Orlando Andujo
I have a tmobil dash that i have had problems with since i got it. I get dropped calls, and when i get online, it kicks me out within aound 2 to 3 minustes on. Would i need to unlock it or what do i need to rectify this and what can i do to see TV, download my attatchments, and also hear radio stations on my phone if possible. PLease let me know, i am frustrated iwht this phone, ready to chuck it out the window.
Jun 9th, 2008
Luke
I unlocked my Dash however the keyboard does not work properly. When texting and hitting the numbers it scrolls through like a regular phone so it’s not seeming to be a true keyboard to me.
Jul 11th, 2008
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