How to Unlock PUK blocked SIM Cards

How to Unlock PUK blocked SIM Cards

In today’s guide, I’ll be sharing with you how you can get PUK code for all the major networks in Nigeria namely Glo, 9mobile, Airtel, MTN.

What is the PUK code?

To start with, let’s find out what the PUK code is. PUK is an acronym for personal unblocking key which is sometimes referred to as personal blocking code.

It’s usually required as a form of authentication and security to reset a forgotten or lost personal identification number (PIN).

Keeping your mobile phone secure is more important today than ever, even so, you should bother more about keeping your SIM card secure, because it’s costlier to recover a stolen SIM card than a stolen mobile. Sadly some people don’t get to recover quite a lot of data from their lost SIM.

Today, you perform different mobile banking transactions (internal link) on your mobile, it’s also hosting of your important files, best moments and secret codes, for your SIM it is connected to your bio-data on the government database, business databases and directories and a wealth of connection you’ve built over the years on your mobile phone.

You can’t afford to let your SIM card fall into the hands of unscrupulous elements in 2021; people who can go ahead impersonate with your ID to commit heinous cybercrimes of steal your hard-earned money.

The moment you have SIM card PIN enabled on your SIM, you need to always have or remember the correct PIN to gain access to use your SIM, if you mistakenly forget your SIM PIN and you go ahead an try the wrong values, BOOOOM! Your SIM will be locked and can only be re-opened with a PUK code.

Yes! you will your Personal Unblocking Code (PUK) to be able to perform a reset on your SIM card and create a new PIN. The PUK is a security level to make sure that SIM cards are accessed or retained by the original users. Usually, most SIM cards come with a PUK number, they are unique serial key combinations that are made available by Mobile telecom providers.

Since the advent of Android, not many people use SIM-level security anymore, but usually, in the days of CDMA mobile phones, you use the SIM to ward off unauthorized access to your contact and messages on your SIM, which means that even when you lose your phone, you can still have your contact and important information on your SIM safe and secure.

In modern times, there are now many more sophisticated security features that come with smartphones, people are seeing a lesser need to use SIM-level PIN protection on the SIM. On Android, you now have face scanner technology, fingerprint protection, PIN, pattern, and passcode protection.

However, let’s look at the various possible methods you can use to gain back your PUK code from all four major telecom providers in Nigeria.

Where to get PUK Code?

PUK code used to come with every new SIM though not in all cases, but most times, if you check the casement or pack of your SIM card, you should be able to find your PUK code.

In a situation that you’re unable to get your PUK from your SIM pack, then you might need to get in touch with your service provider.

Retrieve Glo line PUK

To retrieve your PUK Code if you’re a Glo User,  call a customer service agent for assistance. TO call Glo, use the details below:

• If you are using a Glo SIM card to call, dial 121 or 200 to make a toll free call to Glo
• Calling from another Network? Dial 08050020121 or 08050020200
• Calling from outside the country, use the country dialing code at the beginning of the above numbers, in this format+2348050020121 or +2348050020200.

You need to provide some personal information to the service agent in order to confirm that you’re the original owner of the SIM. Alternatively, you can visit the nearest Glo office with a valid ID card to retrieve your Glo PUK code.

Retrieve Airtel PUK

To retrieve your PUK Code if you’re an Airtel user,  call a customer service agent for assistance. To call Airtel, use the details below:

• Calling from an Airtel line, dial 111 to make a toll free call to Airtel
• If you’d be using another networks provider to call Airtel, use this number instead, 08021500111
• To call Airtel from outside Nigeria, append the country code as a prefix to the phone number; replacing the first zero with it, this way:+2348021500111 (please note that you may be charged for this call).

You need to provide some personal information to the service agent in order to confirm that you’re the original owner of the SIM. Alternatively, you can visit the nearest Airtel office with a valid ID card to retrieve your Airtel PUK code.

Retrieve MTN PUK

To retrieve your PUK Code if you’re an MTN user, you can visit the nearest MTN service center or call a customer service agent for assistance. To call MTN, use the details below:

• Calling from an MTN line, dial 180 to make a toll free call to MTN
• If you’d be using another networks provider to call MTN, use this number instead, 08031000180
• To call MTN from outside Nigeria, append the country code as a prefix to the phone number; replacing the first zero with it, this way:+2348031000180 (please note that you may be charged for this call).

You need to provide some personal information to the service agent in order to confirm that you’re the original owner of the SIM. You can visit the nearest MTN office with a valid ID card to retrieve your MTN PUK code.

MTN users can as well retrieve their PUK code through the MyMTN mobile app available for iOS and Android users.

Retrieve 9mobile PUK

To retrieve your PUK Code if you’re a 9mobile user, you can visit the nearest 9mobile service center or call a customer service agent for assistance. To call 9mobile, use the details below:

• Calling from a 9mobile line, dial 200 to make a toll free call to 9mobile
• If you’d be using another networks provider to call 9mobile, use this number instead, 08090000200
• To call 9mobile from outside Nigeria, append the country code as a prefix to the phone number; replacing the first zero with it, this way:+2348090000200 (please note that you may be charged for this call).

You need to provide some personal information to the service agent in order to confirm that you’re the original owner of the SIM. Alternatively, you can visit the nearest 9mobile office with a valid ID card to retrieve your 9mobile PUK code.

We hope you find this information on how to retrieve your PUK code in Nigeria useful. If you have any further concerns, do not hesitate to share in the comment section below.