created by killmonger_v1 on 04/07/2023 at 17:10 UTC*
480 upvotes, 35 top-level comments (showing 25)
If you want a dumbphone that runs on android, is somewhat modern and looks aesthetically pleasing, chances are that you are looking for a keitai. Unfortunately, Japan is infamous for gatekeeping its technology, and there's always the risk that the beautiful keitai arriving at your doorstep is as good as a shiny paperweight. And then the next logical step would be to ask reddit for help, but oftentimes you must dig through tons of old posts and comments to find help for your particular keitai model (and even then, it might not be of much help). So, if you're like me who ran into almost every roadblock imaginable and spent countless hours googling for help, I hope this post can save your time and be of some use~
Before you click the tempting 'Buy' button, you have to do research on the keitai that you're buying--especially whether it is compatible with your local network (aka frequency bands). There are websites that simplify this process, such as this[1] for the US where you only have to enter the IMEI number of the keitai you're interested in. If you see something like this:
1: https://sim-usa.mobi/phone-compatibility-check/
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..best to click away and try your luck on another keitai. As an example, this is the result for a Digno 902KC:
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Another important thing to take note when buying a keitai is to make *absolutely sure* that it is sim-unlocked (or 'sim-free' as translated by Google sometimes). If this phrase does not appear anywhere in the listing, it is recommended to stay far away to avoid an unnecessary headache :p
Once you're certain that the keitai would not become a glorious paperweight in your country and bought it, now it's time to put in your sim card and boot it up! If everything goes well, you should see signal bars at the top right corner--and depending on your luck ,you may have to manually set up your carrier's APN in the settings (the APN can usually be found with a quick google search like '[carrier] APN setting android]'. After that, you're done! Enjoy your keitai~
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You see a 'Please enter unlock code' screen upon booting the phone up
This means that your keitai is sim-locked. Now, your next step pretty much depends on what carrier your keitai came from. If it's from AU (eg the KYF39, KYF37 and KYF31), this post[2] by u/dottogummy and the comments are a lifesaver (can confirm it works personally).
However, if it's from Softbank/Docomo, you have a problem. See, Docomo and Softbank dislikes people unlocking their phones without having a phone number registered on their network. So unlike AU, practically the only thing you can do is shell out some $ for someone in Japan to help you unlock your keitai. The best and cheapest one I've found is from a eBay seller "unlockjp"--but **do not** go to their website. You'll only be confused as heck.
Instead, use WhatsApp and message their number directly at +81 70-4375-2587. You have to format your message in the following template:
Carrier name:
Model name:
IMEI:
ebay Username:
The seller will reply with a picture/text indicating if your keitai can be unlocked by them. If yes, simply click 'buy' on their ebay listing with the title that goes '**Factory Unlock Code** [the carrier your keitai is from] **Android**' and message them that you've paid the $. They'll come back to you with a string of numbers--and there's your unlock code.
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You see 'APN setting not available for user' when trying to set up your APN
There is a button named 'Edit' or something that you can press to edit and add an APN regardless of this error message, and if you're lucky, the APN will appear on the screen after you're done. If you're out of luck, your keitai may reject the APN and show you the same error. If this happens, simply google '[your carrier] APN setting LG G3' and copy that APN setting. I have no idea why, but at least for my carrier, somehow the LG G3 has a unique APN different from the rest that can work on my keitai...
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Invalid SIM/Emergency Calls Only
You probably bought a keitai that has incompatible bands, and unfortunately it's going to remain as a paperweight.
You bought a keitai and subjected yourself to all these potential trouble for probably the following reasons: you're in love with the aesthetic of Japanese flip phones/you want to use android apps. This post[3] by u/Bananakaya will come in handy for the second reason. And for the first, I highly recommend buying a keitai strap to pair with your keitai! Before you know it, you'll spend many hours buying and customizing the things that you want to hang on your keitai~
My completed custom keitai strap on my 701KC!
Hope this helps!
Comment by borntoQC at 06/07/2023 at 03:01 UTC
25 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Ok but where'd you buy your strap!? So cute.
Outside the US, I found the overseas pages of the Japanese carriers SUPER helpful:
It helped me find so many options I wouldn't have thought would work in Canada, plus the providers :)
1: https://www.au.com/english/mobile/service/global/au-world-service/area-charge/
2: https://www.au.com/english/mobile/service/global/au-world-service/area-charge/
3: https://www.softbank.jp/en/mobile/service/global/overseas/area-rates/
4: https://www.softbank.jp/en/mobile/service/global/overseas/area-rates/
5: https://www.docomo.ne.jp/service/world/roaming/area/
6: https://www.docomo.ne.jp/service/world/roaming/area/
For Au unlocks, I just got the Google translate app and held it up to the computer as I navigated the page. I even had a chat with their customer service agent about my Qua tab using ChatGPT translations lol ("translate this to Japanese, the way a native speaker would say it"). For SoftBank unlocks, I used UnlockMySIM.com[7]...I have a Docomo on the way, so I'll see how that goes LOL.
I've used all the sites on Zenmarket (Y!Auctions, Mercari, Rakuten, etc) but I usually browse the original site on Safari with auto-translate. Mercari is my favourite, because it's literally someone's old phone. My KYF31 is from a seller whose only other listings were corn.
Comment by ZombieVoodoo at 05/07/2023 at 05:50 UTC
10 upvotes, 0 direct replies
it’s great to see that someone finally made a guide to keitai! i had to do so much research on this sub hunting posts and comments about the 903kc and information was just kind of hard to find (albeit pretty fun too.) i hope this post can make it easier for people to get into keitai!
Comment by jbriones95 at 04/07/2023 at 17:21 UTC
9 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Thank you for this guide! I'll add it to the main pinned post!
Comment by budgardner at 04/07/2023 at 19:12 UTC
7 upvotes, 3 direct replies
this is great but you forgot an important step - where can I buy one?
Comment by tageteserecta at 05/07/2023 at 00:12 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
thank you for posting this! i feel like ive seen a lot of people posting on this subreddit looking for keitais, i hope they see this and it helps them! 🩷😊
Comment by sandinonett at 15/08/2023 at 06:42 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Sugoi desu ne!!
Comment by Da12thKind at 18/04/2024 at 23:41 UTC
5 upvotes, 1 direct replies
So, I thought it was interesting that you had said "Digno 902KC." I just got, what I was led to believe, a Digno Keitai 3, but it was actually a Digno Keitai *2* with the model being 701KC, a detail I failed to see was inconsistent. I feel so incredibly stupid that my own research wasn't that thorough in the end. Your guide probably saved me some time with trying to get it to work with my carrier, but now I have to try to get the seller to work with me on an exchange or refund...
Otherwise, this is a great guide! Thanks!
Comment by cv990 at 08/07/2023 at 12:45 UTC
4 upvotes, 1 direct replies
This is a great guide. Thanks for posting it.
I have a question: where can I check its compability outside USA? I live in Brazil and I'd like to find a way to check this.
Comment by SPODemonic at 05/07/2023 at 02:37 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Anyone run one of these in Australia?
Comment by [deleted] at 20/12/2023 at 22:05 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I messaged unlock Japan on whatsApp and asked if I could use eBay to pay.. they said no. What do I do since I don't see a listing.. any help?
Comment by Puzzleheaded-Back-32 at 30/05/2024 at 08:46 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
im going to japan and im wondering where i should go to buy one
Comment by [deleted] at 04/07/2023 at 22:03 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
[deleted]
Comment by MikLaPhantom at 06/07/2023 at 16:45 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
please can someone help, I am in the uk and really want one of these phones but I need it to work with the monzo or starling banking app, is there anyone who can please just see if it is possible to install any of these apps on Ione of these phones before I drop 100s of £ on a paperweight
Comment by Spac3_Aztec at 06/06/2024 at 09:58 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Hey OP thank you so much for this guide! I seem to be having trouble though with step 1, specifically finding the IMEI. See i looked on Ebay and other places but can not seem to find the IMEI for the phones im looking at so I cant find out if service is possible where I live. How did you find the IMEI or do I simply have to message the seller?
Comment by Spare-Comfortable416 at 21/06/2024 at 12:25 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
So I actually got back a string of numbers but It's not unlocking the sim network. On the wesbite that helped me they say after 5 attempts its just permanently bonded to softbank. Is there anything else I can do before I just slowly retype the number?
Comment by sweatpeajodi at 15/07/2024 at 18:29 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
This is so informative thank you so much for explaining every step!!!
Comment by ShinBubblegum at 24/07/2024 at 20:48 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Hi I do not know how to find my IMEI code ... Ive seen people say to dial 06 but it wont work since i cant use my phone with a sim and when i put in a sim it asks for a code which I need to unlock my SIM. its a loop lol. can someone help me ?
Comment by cherry_bean_bunnn at 01/08/2024 at 03:49 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
do keitai's work on 4g networks
Comment by Mom_said_I_am_cute at 14/08/2024 at 11:28 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Wondering when sending the whatsapp message to the unlock guy, does Carrier name mean I have to say it's from Docomo, or my Carrier name that my SIM card is from?
Comment by amarised at 20/08/2024 at 05:18 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
this is SO helpful, ty for posting!
Comment by Ok-Interaction-6687 at 09/09/2024 at 13:07 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Hey, what’s the approximate price range for unlockjp to unlock my sim?
Comment by BullfrogFun765 at 13/09/2024 at 15:38 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Hey just wondering it runs on Android 5 is it not like updatable too anything higher I saw a post saying it can be updated to android 8 but idk also apps like Spotify and WhatsApp how would I go through with getting them?
Comment by MammothBag8969 at 13/11/2024 at 16:09 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
On the whatsapp message, do I use the carrier name I am trying to use or the carrier that the phone is locked to?
Comment by Kurodesu96 at 05/12/2024 at 16:14 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Hi! How am I supposed to get an IMEI of a phone I haven’t bought? Seems like the only way to get the keitai IMEI is to buy it and then try my luck
Comment by jjackmihoff at 07/12/2024 at 11:26 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
is the ebay seller still around? i can't seem to find them
