• Around The HomeToggle Menu

    • Entertainment
    • Productivity
    • Smart Home
  • FamilyToggle Menu

    • Parenting
    • Toys
    • Pets
    • Travel
  • Product ReviewsToggle Menu

    • Phones
    • Tablets
    • Laptops
    • Desktops
    • Wearables
    • Audio
    • Cameras
    • Headphones
    • Printers
    • Smart Home
    • TVs
    • Gaming and Video
  • One Cool ThingToggle Menu

    • Frugal Tech
    • Kickstarters
    • Videos
Techwalla
  1. Home
  2. Around The Home
  3. Entertainment
  4. How to Flash a Cell Phone for Free

How to Flash a Cell Phone for Free

March 31, 2015
By: Kenneth W. Michael Wills
  • Share
  • Share on Facebook

If you have a cell phone and your contract has expired with your current provider, you can take the phone to another provider and sign up for service. Before you can use your phone with a new provider, however, you will need to flash the phone, or overwrite the settings on the phone from your previous provider. In order to accomplish this, you will need a flash software program, readily available online without charge.

Video of the Day

...
You can dowload flash software for free to flash your cell phone.

Step

Download a free software flash program to your computer. You want to make sure before you download that the software is compatible with your operating system, such as Windows 7; otherwise, the software will not work. The software will come with all the required files and reprogramming tools to flash the phone.

Step

Right-click on the zip file you downloaded and select the option for "Unzip" to unpack the files from the zip folder. Save them to your desktop.

Step

Hook up your cell phone to your computer using the USB cable that came with your phone.

Step

Read the user's manual that comes with your software, usually a "Read Me" text file that will detail how to use the software. User instructions vary according to flash programs; therefore, it is important to know what steps to take and when, in order to complete the flash process. The flash procedure will disable your current provider's settings and reprogram them to your new provider.

Step

Click your "Start" button once your flash procedure completes, then go to "My Computer" and select "Systems Task." Click on the option for "View System Information." Select the "Hardware" tab and click on "Device Manager." Click on "USB Controllers and Ports" to view your cell phone and make sure your new provider shows up as evidence of a successful flash.

Show Comments

Related Articles

How to Install an Operating System on a Flash Drive

How to Install an Operating System on a Flash Drive

Around The Home
Productivity
By: Kyle Gibson
How to Use MSI M-Flash

How to Use MSI M-Flash

Around The Home
Productivity
By: Ruri Ranbe
How to Reset a Panasonic Plasma

How to Reset a Panasonic Plasma

Around The Home
Entertainment
By: James Clark
How to Program SD Cards

How to Program SD Cards

Around The Home
Productivity
By: Tammy Clevenger
How to Transfer Outlook Calendar Items to Another Computer

How to Transfer Outlook Calendar Items to Another Computer

Around The Home
Productivity
By: Eric Brown
How to Turn Off DHCP on Netgear

How to Turn Off DHCP on Netgear

Around The Home
Productivity
By: Mikhail Polenin
  • HOW WE SCORE
  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • TERMS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • COPYRIGHT POLICY
  • Advertise

An error occurred. Try again later.

Thanks for signing up!
© 2018 Leaf Group Ltd. Leaf Group Media

Get great tech advice delivered to your inbox.

Keep your family productive, connected, entertained, and safe.

Please enter a valid email.