Thu
Jul
23
2009

How to unlock your BlackBerry Storm (if you need to)

in an oft demanded follow up to this article about unlocking some of the older BlackBerry devices

these are the instructions for unlocking BlackBerry a Storm from its network operator lock (if you have the relevant code)

to get the code you need to ask your network operator (they will need your IMEI). This is more difficult to get than the other BlackBerry unlock codes as these devices are exclusive to some carriers, however those of you on 12 month contracts might be coming up to break clauses soon enough (usually 3 months before the end of your contract) so could possibly get an unlock code from your mobile / cellular carrier. (other options are available from commercial websites, some of the commenters in the earlier post have found some websites that have worked for them – If I get the time I may test a few of them out)!

On to business, so assuming you have a valid unlock code here is a simplified step by step to getting it unlocked…

  1. Insert SIM card
  2. Turn off all “wireless connections”
  3. Go to Options / Spanner / Wrench in the menu
  4. Select “Advanced Options”
  5. Select SIM Card
  6. Press the menu / BlackBerry button and select “show keyboard”
  7. Rotate the device to horizontal mode (makes typing easier)!
  8. Enter “mepd” on the keypad (you will not be able to see it as you type)
  9. Enter “mep2” on the keyboard
  10. Now it will say enter network mep code
  11. Now enter your unlock code

good luck with that, if you have better instructions please let me know and if I find any I will post them here as an update.

P.S if you are a Storm owner please make sure you regularly sync it with your PC and check for updates … it will be worth it.

P.P.S if you have screen locked it this is not the right article but try pushing down on the left side on the top edge of the device.

See also this article on getting your unlock code

Posted by Alex Laurie, Jul 23, 02:40 AM
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Comment

  1. This will only unlock the network side of the storm, i.e. voice and sms will start working with an international GSM provider.

    However if you subscribe to the BlackBerry Data Service with that same provider, you come to realize that data doesn’t work.

    Is data lock another kind of lock?

    — Hadster · Sep 17, 04:20 PM · #

  2. Hadster,

    thanks for your comment, you are correct in your assumption – voice and sms / mms will work with any other sim after you have unlocked it.

    however for the browser and email to work you will need your new network providor to be able to supply you with either the BIS service or BES service (latter if you are on a corporate BES server).

    so if you are travelling overseas for a few weeks obviously this is not the solution!! as it would cost too much to get the BIS/BES enabled on your new sim

    if on the other hand you are unlocking your storm so that you can move to another mobile network operator that you prefer, and if that MNO has a BlackBerry BIS service for instance, then you can ask the new MNO to enable it on your new sim and off you go, full Email / Web / Apps available to you.

    (this is one more step and more expensive than network unlocking an iPhone as you will have to pay a monthly BIS fee).

    hope this helps clear it up.

    alex

    — Alex Laurie · Sep 24, 05:37 PM · #

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