You do not need a SIM card to unlock a bootloader. You only need an active internet connection (Wi-Fi) to communicate with the manufacturer's servers to retrieve an unlock code or verify a token. The computer you use for the process acts as the primary interface, not the cellular network.
Once the phone displays the bootloader/fastboot screen, verify the PC recognizes it: fastboot devices how to unlock bootloader without sim card
If adb devices works but fastboot devices returns a blank line, your PC lacks the correct fastboot interface drivers. Fix this by opening on Windows, locating the Android device showing a yellow exclamation mark, right-clicking it, selecting Update Driver , and manually pointing it to your extracted OEM or Google USB driver folder. You do not need a SIM card to unlock a bootloader
This is almost always a driver issue. Open Windows Device Manager while the phone is connected in fastboot mode. If you see a yellow triangle next to "Android," manually update the driver using the Google USB Driver package. Open Windows Device Manager while the phone is
Download an application like or Shizuku from the Google Play Store.
On Windows, hold Shift , right-click an empty space in the folder, and select or Open Command Prompt here . (On Mac/Linux, open a Terminal and change directory to the folder using cd /path/to/platform-tools ).
Unlocking an Android bootloader without a SIM card depends entirely on the device manufacturer. While most brands—including —do not require a SIM card,