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Softbank SIM Unlock for free - Find out how to Unlock your Softbank iPhone with an IMEI SIM Unlock service

Unlocking your Softbank iPhone with a Softbank SIM Unlock method and/or service is possible. In fact, it is even possible to unlock it without getting charged if you meet some requirements.

Even if you do not meet the requirements for a free Softbank SIM Unlock, it is very easy to do so with a Softbank IMEI Network Unlock service.

If you believe that your iPhone does not meet those free unlocking criteria or it is not CLEAN, you can simply use a Softbank IMEI Unlock service to fully and permanently unlock it.

In this post, we will dive in detail into the following topics, that will help you to fully unlock your Softbank iPhone with a Softbank SIM Unlock method and/or service:

  1. Softbank SIM Unlock through Softbank
    • Requirements for a successful Softbank SIM Unlock
      • Step 1: Registration Process
      • Step 2: Deactivate Softbank SIM Lock after registration
    • Online Softbank SIM Unlock through “My Softbank”
    • Get a Softbank SIM Unlock through Softbank shops
  2. Softbank SIM Unlock with a Softbank IMEI Unlock service
    • Why pay for a Softbank IMEI Unlock service?
    • What should you do before ordering a Softbank IMEI Unlock service for your iPhone?
  3. FAQs for Softbank iPhone by users
    • What iPhone models and status is supported by Softbank IMEI Unlock?
    • What networks you can use after a successful unlock?
    • What is the Success rate of Softbank IMEI Unlock service?
  4. iPhone Softbank SIM Unlock solutions: Which should you use?
Softbank SIM Unlock

Softbank SIM Unlock through Softbank

One of the first things you should always do when you get your hands on a SIM-locked device is to try and unlock it through the carrier that locked it.

Of course, all mobile networks including Softbank, have specific requirements and unlocking policies. If your Softbank phone meets their unlocking requirements then you can start the Softbank SIM Unlock process through them.

Requirements for a successful Softbank SIM Unlock

Softbank has a detailed online list of all its requirements but I will list below the most common ones:

  • The device is active and it was purchased for at least 101 days
  • The device should not be damaged (malfunctions or got wet)
  • The device should not have unpaid bills
  • The device should not be reported as lost, stolen, or fraud

 

If all the above is true about your Softbank device, then you can start the Softbank SIM Unlock procedure.

Step 1: Registration Process

There are two ways to register your device, which depend on the current contract and the retailer you used. The first is registering online through “My Softbank” and the second through a Softbank shop.

Through online registration the whole SIM Unlock process is FREE and there is no need to prepare anything (such as documents).

If you register through a Softbank shop, then there is a SIM Unlocking fee of around $30 (¥3,300) and you need to have with you your Softbank device and some identification documents.

Identification Documents (check the complete identification documents list on Softbank website):

  • Residence Card and Passport
  • Special Permanent Resident Certificate
  • Driver’s License
  • Japanese Passport
  • Individual Number Card
  • and a few other options

 

Have in mind that you do not have to bring all of them, just one of the above.

Step 2: Deactivate Softbank SIM Lock after registration

After successfully completing the registration process you will be ready to finalize your Softbank SIM Unlock.

The actual process depends on the device you own, an iPhone (iOS device) or a non iOS device.

For deactivating the Softbank SIM lock of an iPhone or iPad, you should follow the steps below:

  1. Remove your SIM card.
  2. Insert the new SIM card. Your device will activate.

 

If you don’t have another SIM card to use:

  1. Back up your iPhone.
  2. After you’ve made a backup, erase your iPhone.
  3. Restore your iPhone from the backup you’ve just made.

 

For deactivating the Softbank SIM lock of a non iOS device, follow these steps:

  1. Turn OFF your device
  2. Insert the SIM card you want to use and turn ON your device
  3. You should see the SIM lock deactivation key input screen
  4. Enter the deactivation key and tap “lock deactivation” to complete the deactivation process

Online Softbank SIM Unlock through “My Softbank” (Registration in 6 steps)

The whole process takes place on Softbank’s website and for some reason, they do not support English. This means that you either have to translate everything (you can use Google’s Chrome browser to do this automatically) or copy-paste everything you see in Google Translate (Which will be very time-consuming).

  1. Go to My Softbank and log in
  2. Open the menu (top right corner), go to “Contract/Option Management” and then to “Option”
  3. Scroll down and find and click the “SIM unlock procedure” option
  4. Add your device’s IMEI number (dial *#06# to quickly find it)
  5. Click the “Proceed with Unlocking”
  6. The deactivation of Softbank SIM lock is now completed

 

In some cases, you might see the following message: “SIM unlock is not finished yet”.

If you have an iPhone, follow the “deactivating the Softbank SIM lock of an iPhone or iPad” guide we wrote above.

If you have an Android, an unlock code will be issued. NOTE IT DOWN because you will need it for finalizing the SIM Lock deactivation procedure.

PRO TIP:
If you do not have a SIM card from a different carrier to check whether your device is unlocked, you can check this by dialing [157].

Get a Softbank SIM Unlock through Softbank shops

If you decide to get your Softbank phone unlocked in a Softbank shop, then you are not required to do anything during the whole SIM Lock deactivation procedure.

You just need to bring with you the identification documents that we mentioned previously, the device you want to unlock, and the $30 to pay the unlocking fee.

The whole process will be handled by Softbank’s customer support agents. You can also ask them to finalize the unlocking procedure for you.

Softbank SIM Unlock with a Softbank IMEI Unlock service

The Softbank IMEI Unlock services will provide the same outcome as the previous methods, which is a fully unlocked Softbank iPhone. The reason that we mention iPhone, is because the IMEI Unlocking services are only available for iOS devices.

In simple terms, a Softbank IMEI unlock service, will change the status of an IMEI number, from Locked to Unlocked. That way, the iPhone associated with that IMEI number, will be able to use ANY mobile network you want. Also, this method has permanent results, like the official methods that we analyzed previously (Through My Softbank and Softbank stores).

Why pay for a Softbank IMEI Unlock service?

In short, the only reason to proceed with a paid Softbank SIM Unlock service is when you do not meet the requirements of a Softbank SIM lock deactivation through My Softbank or Softbank store.

Some of the most common reasons are:

  1. When the iPhone is not activated for at least 101 days with Softbank
  2. When the iPhone has outstanding financial balances with Softbank, such as unpaid contract bills
  3. When the iPhone is reported as Lost, Stolen, or Fraud (blacklisted)

What should you do before ordering a Softbank IMEI Unlock service for your iPhone?

We always recommend to our users and customers to check their Softbank iPhone IMEI number before unlocking it with an iPhone IMEI Unlock Check service.

There are a few reasons why we recommend this:

  • Double-check that the iPhone is locked on Softbank Japan network and not in a different network or Japan Policy
    • If the device is locked to a Japan policy, it might still be able to use the Softbank network, but technically it will not be locked by Softbank.
    • If that is the case, the IMEI Unlock service will fail and a refund will not be issued
    • To secure your payment in case of an unlock failure, get your IMEI checked before unlocking it
  • To find out if the Softbank iPhone has other kinds of issues or locks
    • Blacklist status check to identify if the device is clean, lost, stolen, or fraud
    • Financial status check to identify if the device has outstanding financial balances
    • iCloud status check to identify if the device is iCloud locked
  • To make sure that your Softbank iPhone will be able to work without any restrictions after the completion of the IMEI unlock procedure
  • To find out if the available Softbank Japan IMEI Unlock services fully support your exact iPhone model
    • Usually, IMEI Unlock services have very specific requirements, which means that in order to unlock it without any complications, you need to be 100% sure that your iPhone meets all criteria

 

PRO TIP: Our iPhone IMEI Unlock Check service does all the above and also locates available Softbank SIM Unlock services specifically for your iPhone.

FAQs for Softbank iPhone by users

We gathered some of the most common questions we received from our users and from other forums/websites.

1 – What iPhone models and status is supported by Softbank IMEI Unlock?

All iPhone models are supported, even the latest ones.

But when Apple releases a new iPhone model, it might take a few weeks to be supported by an IMEI Unlock service.

Also, it is always better to wait for a few months (2 to 3) before getting an IMEI Unlock service for the latest iPhone models. You need to be 100% sure that those services were tested on multiple iPhones to avoid waiting for an IMEI Unlock service to fail.

2 – What networks you can use after a successful unlock?

After a successful Softbank SIM Unlock you can use any mobile network you want worldwide. The only restriction you might encounter is the radio technology your iPhone and the carrier you want to use transmit.

To be more clear, IMEI services unlock the GSM part (GSM iPhones are the ones that require a SIM-Card to operate). So, if you want to use a different network that requires a SIM-Card, you will be able to use it without any problems.

3 – What is the Success rate of Softbank IMEI Unlock service?

Currently, Softbank IMEI Unlock services are fully online and they have a success rate of 99%, which is great.

You can proceed with a Softbank IMEI Unlock order from here.

iPhone Softbank SIM Unlock solutions: Which should you use?

If you are the owner of Softbank locked iPhone, then you should use the following Softbank SIM Unlock methods:

  1. Through My Softbank online process – FREE
  2. Through a Softbank store – Identification Documents required – $30

 

If you are not the owner of the Softbank locked iPhone and you are not able to unlock it with one of the above methods (missing identification documents, iPhone does not meet Softbank’s unlocking requirements, etc…), then you should go for a Softbank IMEI Unlock service: