Can You Put a Giffgaff SIM in a Tesco Phone?

If you are changing phone carriers, you could be asking can you put a Giffgaff SIM in a Tesco phone?

This is a simple question that could get complex in some instances.

For instance, changing your mobile carrier could be complicated if you are using a locked phone.

Yes, you can put a Giffgaff line in a Tesco phone. However, it depends on whether the Tesco phone is unlocked or not. Both Tesco and Giffgaff operate on the O2 network. Even so, this should not fool you to assume that they share SIM cards.

To fully understand how Giffgaff and Tesco lines operate keep on reading.

This article provides details on when you are allowed to use your Giffgaff line in a Tesco phone.

Can You Put a Giffgaff SIM in a Tesco Phone That Is Locked?

You cannot put Giffgaff in locked Tesco phones. Tesco phones are double-locked, which means that they only use Tesco SIM.

Although they use an O2 network, similar to Giffgaff, they do not share SIM.

Are All Tesco Phones Locked

The good news is that not all Tesco phones are locked. It is only Tesco phones that are purchased from mobile providers that are locked.

If you purchased your Tesco phone from the shop it could be unlocked.

You can simply check to see if your Tesco phone is locked. If you are considering purchasing one, simply ask the seller if it is locked.

As long as you are purchasing from a retail shop and not a network provider.

Below are the steps to follow to check and see if your Tesco phone is locked:

• Put any other SIM card into the Tesco phone apart from your Tesco SIM card.
• If the SIM card is accepted and works your phone is not locked
• If the SIM is not accepted and does not work your Phone is locked to the Tesco Mobile SIM alone.

Thankfully, you can actually unlock a Tesco phone. As a matter of fact, you can unlock any locked phone.

However, there are rules and guidelines to be observed when unlocking carrier phones.

Unlocking Locked Phones

It is necessary to unlock a device when you want to move to a new carrier but keep the phone.

Like in our case, you want to move to Giffgaff but keep your Tesco phone. Different phone providers have different rules that guide the unlocking of phones.

Some mobile providers tend to be too strict with unlocking. For instance, Vodafone and EE can lock you to a network provider for a long time.

In some cases, you must pay for your device fully before unlocking it.

Fortunately, there are some mobile providers that are fully open to unlocking the device.

Some even sell devices that are already unblocked. Tesco is among the mobile providers that allow for free unlocking.

Note: You may be required to pay a part or whole of your contract for the device to be unlocked.

Steps to Unlock Your Tesco Phone to Use Giffgaff

If you are inclined to use a Giffgaff line, you have a chance with your Tesco phone. There are a few steps you can follow to unlock it.

This is much easier if you have finished paying for your device. If you are yet to finish paying, you should have used it for at least a year.

Here are the steps to unlock your Tesco device so that it can use the Giffgaff line:

Step #1: Submit a Request to Unlock

The only way to unlock your Tesco phone is by launching an online request.

The same can be done if you visit Tesco service centres but it is something you can do from home.

To start the process, visit the Tesco unlock page and open a phone unlock request.

To do this, you will be required to provide your phone’s IME. Dial *#06# on the same phone to receive your IME.

Step #2: Wait for Unlock Message

Once you submit your IME online, you will have to wait for a message. The unlock message from Tesco mobile should arrive within 7 days.

The message usually contains a code or a link you will need to complete unlocking the device.

Step #3: Complete Unlocking the Device

On the message you provide, click the provided link. Follow the prompts provided step by step to complete the unlocking.

Different devices will undergo different prompts.

Note: The time taken for unlocking devices varies depending on the make. Some devices can be unlocked within hours while others could take days.

Unlocking Tesco Terms

Different network providers determine the legibility of the device for unlocking based on the plan.

Devices that are on Pay as You Go plans are not subjected to the same terms as pay monthly ones.

In the case of Tesco, you are free to unlock any device that is on Pay As You Go.

Devices that are on monthly payment plans can also be unlocked. Unlocking such devices, however, depends on how far you are in your contract.

Even so, unlocking the device may not allow you to abandon your contract.

Note: If you are on a SIM-only contract, you are not tied to the network However if your SIM came with a device you may still request to unlock it.

How Soon Can You Use Giffgaff in Tesco Phone After Unlock?

If you urgently want to move to Giffgaff do not worry. Those wondering can you use a Giffgaff SIM in a Tesco phone after unlocking, it’s possible.

You are allowed to use your Giffgaff SIM in your Tesco phone as soon as it is unlocked.

However, it takes some time for the phone to get unlocked. You will need approximately three days to get your Tesco device unlocked.

With some devices, you could wait a whole week. It is a good idea to have some patience in the process.

What to do When Shifting From Tesco to Giffgaff

The fact that you are enquiring about using Giffgaff in a Tesco phone indicates you want to shift.

While you are allowed to shift to any network, remember that you have to pay your debts.

You must see all your contracts to the end if any.

For those shifting from Tesco to Giffgaff, you have these options once you have unlocked the phone:

Cancel Your Tesco Contract

You must cancel your contract with Tesco if you are a pay monthly user. You are required to provide a one-month notice to Tesco.

Within this period, the company will provide all the charges you are supposed to pay.

Unless you pay the required amount, you may not be allowed to cancel your contract.

Note: Failure to cancel your contract will mean that you will be billed every month even if you are not using your line.

Ending Tesco Pay as You Go Contract

For PAY contracts, you do not have to take any action. You can simply change your SIM card and start using a Giffgaff one. I

n case you wish to retain your old number, request a PAC code. Issue your PAC code to Giffgaff and you will retain your old number.

To get a PAC code text the word PAC to 65075 using the line you wish to migrate. To enquire about your contract termination charges call Tesco on 4455.

Summary

You can use a Giffgaff SIM in a Tesco phone as we have seen. To answer the question can you put a Giffgaff SIM in a Tesco phone, we must consider variables.

One of the variables is whether the phone is locked or unlocked.

If your device is locked, follow the steps above to unlock it. Once a device is unlocked, you can use your Giffgaff SIM in your Tesco device.

Read Next: How to Get Past Giffgaff Age Restriction?