How I unlocked a Nokia 3100 cell phone from Fido Canada

First published on May 6, 2007

I managed to get my hands on a perfectly functioning but cast-off Nokia 3100 cell phone that was previously with the Fido service… now, I wanted to use it with a 7-Eleven Speak Out Wireless SIM card I had (which came in a pleasant but black & white Nokia 1112), but of course the moment I put the 7-Eleven SIM card into the Nokia phone, the phone said that it was locked to Fido…

So I guess this is my first foray into the whole cell phone unlocking thing. Luckily, I’d heard that Nokia phones are usually easy to unlock… just find the correct code! I was a bit scared as I tried a few codes from a Google search and they were wrong. And, as I’ve read:

If the unlock code has been entered incorrectly 4 times or more then only a professional unlocker can help you by using an expensive cable solution.

Thankfully I found this site (there’s Peter in the address, but it’s got nothing to do with me): http://www.peters1.dk/webtools/nokia/nokiaonline.php?sprog=en

All I had to do was:
1) Find the IMEI code, which can be found behind the battery
2) Enter the code into the form on that website (along with model number, service provider, and country) to generate the unlock password
3) Turn on the phone without a SIM card in it, then enter the unlock password

Success! Perhaps I was lucky with the Nokia 3100, as I’ve read that with some phones, you have to use some sort of unlocking clip, or connect them to the computer to interact with software, or even pay someone to unlock it.

Got a Nokia phone that isn’t listed on the site above? Try posting in ~~this forum~~ (edit: that site is no longer around) and they’ll probably reply with an unlock code for free.

August 31, 2007 Update: I’ve also found this site, where I was able to unlock a Nokia 6101b that was locked to Rogers Wireless in Canada.

This entry is filed under Consumerism, Telephony, Vancouver / BC / Canada and written by Peter Keung. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

16 Responses to “How I unlocked a Nokia 3100 cell phone from Fido Canada”

May 9th, 2007 at 10:30 pm
Julia says:

Wow really? Hmm and you didn’t have to pay for that. Pretty cool! Glad it worked
May 17th, 2007 at 9:07 am
Ransom says:

I’ve tried too many codes and now it says: “cannot undo restriction”. Do anyone know how to unlock my phone (Nokia 3100) with a cable? Can i use my usb data cable to unlock it?
May 17th, 2007 at 9:42 am
Peter says:

From what I’ve read, once you’ve hit the restriction, you’ll probably have to go see someone who will try other methods (what those methods are, I don’t know).
July 20th, 2007 at 11:51 pm
jess says:

353783001319270

CAN YOU HELP ME UNLOCK MY PHONE?
July 21st, 2007 at 1:05 am
Peter says:

Sorry, I have no ability to do that. This post is simply chronicling my one experience. Search on the site that I linked to:

http://www.peters1.dk/webtools/nokia/nokiaonline.php?sprog=en
September 6th, 2007 at 11:13 pm
tom says:

hey there, congrats on the unlocking success..do you remember by any chance, when you unlock the phone which code did you use? was it the recommonded one? Better yet, what was the numerical number at the end of your sequence for the unlock code?

thanks
September 7th, 2007 at 9:15 am
Peter says:

I don’t remember the numerical number, but I did successfully use the recommended one. I know it’s a bit confusing — why all the codes? I wish someone could provide some guidance as to which codes would apply under which circumstances… especially since you’re only supposed to get a few tries to unlock the phone!
November 13th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Hesham says:

Thanks a lot for recommending this website. I unlocked my 3100b Nokia from Fido using Fido special code.
January 4th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Angela says:

Hello, that website is awesome, especially since many of them want anywhere between $5 and $25 for the codes, but my Nokia model is not included. Does anyone know how to unlock a Nokia 6102i from AT&T (U.S.). I want to use it in Canada. Thank you and Happy New Year! Angela
October 11th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Fizil says:

How do u unlock a 3100 from the uk.
November 25th, 2008 at 4:54 am
My nokia 3100b pls unlock. It is restricted lock says:

I m from india. I want use my nokia3100b pls help me. It is restricted lock. Imei-353791003877765
April 14th, 2009 at 6:41 am
libra says:

hi, Plz help me to lock and unlock my NOKIA 3100 to avoid unathorised use.
April 27th, 2009 at 9:32 am
leroy says:

well ive tryed use’n this website but it doesnt hav a vodafone service provider ??

need sum help
July 31st, 2009 at 3:09 am
Martin says:

I have successfully unlocked 3 phones, out of interest I have tried running the same details on at least 5 other code generating websites and never been given a duplicated number!!!
March 14th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
Sandra says:

Extremely useful blog. Have followed lonks which lead to other links, which have gotten me to exactly where and what I needed. Thanks very much. I’m Canadaian, but after living in south east asia for a decade, coming back here to the shite phones, bs contracts, ‘activation fees’, thieving cell services providers which screw me every month like clockwork (ROGERS you evil slime), I’m beyond frustrated. As is my husband, who was born in south east asia. Canada is pathetically beyond the times and far beyond even third world countries in the way of technology. And it’s pathetically embarrassing. Just told Rogers to eat my #$%& tonight. They can take the remainder of their 3 year contract – 2 years – and wipe their arses with it. We’re leaving the country again anyways, so good luck to them collecting on the bill. I’ve had enough of them scalping us every month and having to spend bloody hours on the phone getting my bill adjusted every month because they constantly overcharge us for the same amount month after month, for 12 months in a row. In the mean time, we will be getting a couple of 7-11 sim cards and using those in the phones we brought from Asia. Which are, truly, far more technologically advanced than anything Canadians can get here.

I know this is an ancient blog post, but wanted to say thank you anyways. Had I known 7-11 offered cell services when we came back to Canada, we never would have hooked up with FUC*ERS in the first place. Thanks again
July 14th, 2014 at 6:08 pm
Victor says:

It worked!! Great!! Thanks!