SIM Unlocking Procedures

The following are procedures and important considerations for unlocking a SIM card with an au mobile phone.

FAQ - SIM unlocking procedures for using another company’s SIM card

Will my coverage area/transmission speed be affected?

It is possible that you will be out of your telecommunications provider's coverage area or that your transmission speed will drop due to the fact that different telecommunications providers use different frequency bands. Also, you will not be able to use VoLTE voice services on an au VoLTE-compatible au mobile phone without an au VoLTE-compatible SIM.

Are any special settings required to continue using my device?

In some cases you will need to input the APN settings (APN, user name, PW, authentication type, etc.) of your telecommunications provider. Please check your telecommunications provider's website.

Will au still fix or replace my smartphone if it breaks?

Even if you perform SIM unlocking on your smartphone, au will still handle your smartphone issue regardless of whether or not you have a subscriber agreement with au. However, if you do not have a subscriber agreement with au, you cannot receive a temporary replacement phone while your phone is being repaired. Also, please understand that even if you do have a subscriber agreement with au, the temporary replacement phone loaned to you will not be SIM-unlocked.

*The scope and details of the guarantee will differ based on the level of service (e.g., the Keitai Guarantee Service Plus LTE) purchased.

Will I still be able to use au services like before?

au makes no guarantee regarding the operation of any au mobile phone which is being used with another company's SIM card. In addition, restrictions may apply to the usage of functions, applications and services, such as the au Smart Pass.

List of Frequency Bands Accessible to Mobile Phones and Devices Allowing SIM Unlocking

Follow the below link for a list of frequency bands accessible to mobile phone models allowing SIM unlocking.

Go here for a list of accessible frequencies by model

Unlocking Procedures

After you have read and understood the Important Considerations Regarding Sim Unlocking, please follow the procedures below.

PC / Smartphone

Check if your au mobile phone can be SIM unlocked and perform the procedures. (No processing fee)

* The My au reception hours are from 09:00 to 21:30.
* IMEI information is required to unlock the SIM of a mobile phone (including post-cancellation and used devices) which is not accompanied by an au line contract.

SIM unlocking procedures
My au（au Customer Support) (Japanese only)

You can check the detailed method of the SIM unlocking procedure in English on My au.
Click here for the detailed method of the SIM unlocking procedure

au distributors

You can apply for a SIM unlock while purchasing an au mobile phone at an au distributor.
After purchasing a mobile phone, you can only apply for a SIM unlock at an au Style / au shop or au Square.
- * When receiving an application for mobile phones which are not accompanied by an au line contract (including post-cancellation and used devices) or from an applicant who is not the purchaser, each customer is limited to two devices per day.

Store Locator

Items to subscribe

au mobile phone to SIM unlock
Click here for models eligible for SIM unlocking

Resident card
Personal identification documents necessary for completing procedures at the au Style / au shop

Charge (free or ¥3,300 tax included)
- * A charge of ¥3,300 tax included is required when applying after the time of purchase.
- * The charge is added to the usage fees for the following month (payment must be made at the counter for devices (including used devices, etc.) without an au line contract).

Requirements for phone model eligibility: Please confirm in advance

SIM unlocking is possible on any au mobile device meeting the following conditions.

Model released after April 23, 2015 that supports SIM unlocking
Click here for a list of all of such models.
au mobile phones without any network-use regulations.(in Japanese only)
Any new au mobile device purchased no more than 101 days before.
However, SIM unlocking procedures may be performed for the desired au mobile phone even within 100 days from the model purchase in the following cases.
- There is no outstanding balance from an installment plan (the model was purchased with a lump payment, or a lump payment was made to settle the outstanding balance, etc.)
- 100 days have passed since the previous SIM unlock application was received^*1 for the au line used with the device which is subject to the SIM unlock request
  - *1 Applies to SIM unlocking applications received after July 11, 2017.
- When the installment payments for the device which is subject to the SIM unlock and the au usage fees for the associated line are configured for payment by credit card

Important Considerations Regarding SIM Unlocking

Data stored on au mobile phones or other devices

SIM unlocking may result in the alteration or loss of data (such as address books, image data, content and e-mails) and settings information. au assumes no responsibility for any such alteration or loss which may occur as a result of SIM unlocking, and customers are encouraged to backup their data on an external medium (SD card, PC, etc.).

Using another company's SIM card in an au mobile phone or device

<Device Operation>

au makes no guarantee regarding the operation of any au mobile phone which is being used with another company's SIM card.
In addition, restrictions may apply to the usage of services, functions, applications (both those pre-installed on your phone and those which you have downloaded), content, etc.

<Usage Fees>

The usage fees established by the SIM card provider shall apply.
For details about usage fees, please contact your telecommunications service provider directly.

<Phone/Device Repairs>

Even if you performed SIM unlocking, au will still handle repair issues for the physical au phone/device.

*Depending on the nature of the problem, you may be directed to contact your telecommunications service provider.
*However, if you do not have a subscriber agreement with au, you cannot receive a temporary replacement phone while your phone is being repaired. Also, please understand that even if you do have a subscriber agreement with au, the temporary replacement phone loaned to you will not be SIM-unlocked.

Handling of Personal Information

The personal information obtained by au as part of the SIM unlocking process will be used to perform confirmation at the time the SIM unlocking request is made, to facilitate management of the SIM-unlocked au mobile phone or device, to respond to inquiries and requests and to perform other relevant duties and services. This personal information shall be handled in accordance with au's separately established privacy policy.

Exemption of Liability

Excluding cases of willful or gross negligence, au is neither financially liable nor in any way responsible for anything which may result from SIM-unlocking an au mobile phone or using a SIM-unlocked au mobile phone with another company's SIM card.

Other

An application to perform SIM unlocking cannot be canceled after it has been completed.
A SIM-unlocked mobile phone cannot be reverted to a SIM-locked state.

Setting up your au mobile phone following completion of the SIM-unlocking application

Set-up for Android

<Set-up Procedure>

1.Insert your chosen service provider's SIM card into your au mobile phone
2.Turn on your au mobile phone and connect to Wi-Fi
3.Perform the following to update your settings file
1. Settings
2. Device Information
3. SIM Card Status
4. Update SIM Card Status
- * Operations may differ depending on your phone model. Check the section on "SIM Unlocking" in your user manual to find out the SIM unlocking operations for your phone model.
4.After downloading the settings file, restart your mobile phone
5.Set-up is complete

<Checking the Setting Status>

Check the "Status" shown on the SIM Card Status screen (the third operational screen above).

If "Authorized": Your phone can be used
If "Unauthorized": Your phone cannot be used
- * Setting status terminology may differ depending on your phone model.

Set-up for iPhone

Please check the Apple support page regarding SIM-unlocking of iPhones.
Check the Apple support page (in Japanese Only)