Hybrid Sim

Everything Related to Sim Cards

How to Find Airtel PUK Code

Find Airtel PUK Code

PUK code is required when your SIM card gets blocked mistakenly or accidentally. In case you didn’t know, you can lock a SIM card similarly to the way you put a padlock on your phone, so to say. To do so, you utilize a feature called SIM PIN (Personal Identification Number) which is actually a 4-digit code. When you enable it, you will be asked to enter that number every time you try to use your SIM card. If you enter the SIM PIN wrong three times consequently, access to the SIM will be forbidden. To regain access, you’ll need to find your SIM PUK which is an 8-digit code, which applies to Airtel, too.

SIM PIN by default is often 0000 or 1234, but for Airtel, it is mostly 1111. You can change it to any combination you wish, so long it consists of four digits. The other one, however, can only be provided by your network operator. If you are an Airtel user in India and you want to know the way to remove the block from your SIM card, you’re at the right place. Officially, the PUK code is printed on the plastic body around the Airtel SIM card. You can also find it on the certificate you got from the carrier. Only when you lose both the plastic body and the SIM certificate should you employ the techniques below.

You need to understand that a SIM card lock is different from a phone lock. Consequently, when you can’t access your SIM, it has nothing to do with your phone, hence factory reset won’t help. Now that you know you have no alternative and need to find your Airtel PUK code, we’ll show you a variety of procedures you can employ.

1. Find PUK Code for Airtel SIM Through SMS

We’re starting with perhaps the most convenient avenue to explore—getting the PUK code via SMS. However, you need to know your SIM serial number first. This is a 15-digit number printed on the back of the card. Thus, note the number for the blocked Airtel SIM card before following the steps below.

  1. Take another Airtel SIM card or another phone with a different Airtel SIM card inside, such as from a friend or family member.
  2. Open the messaging app, type your blocked Airtel SIM card’s phone number, and send the text to 785.
  3. Now send another SMS typing PUK<space>the 15-digit blocked Airtel SIM number and send the text to 121.
  4. After a few seconds, you will receive a text containing your 8-digit PUK code.
  5. Enter the PUK code to unblock the blocked Airtel SIM card.

2. Using USSD Code to View PUK

If you don’t feel like sending texts, USSD codes are the next best thing. Once again, because your Airtel SIM is blocked, you can’t use it to do so. Therefore, do what we explained in step 1 above. With either of the conditions met, follow the instructions below.

  1. Dial the USSD code *121*51# from the Airtel phone. 
  2. Tap the Send/Call/OK button.
  3. After a few seconds, a flash message will pop up. Tap OK. After that, you will receive another pop-up message with many options to choose from.
  4. Select the PUK option.
  5. Another message appears on-screen, showing you two options, i.e., “PUK for you” and “PUK for others”. Select the “PUK for others” option.
  6. Enter the locked Airtel SIM card’s 15-digit serial number and your date of birth for verification purposes.
  7. Your Airtel blocked SIM card’s PUK code will appear on the screen so note it down.

3. Open the Airtel Thanks App to Find PUK Code

Using the Airtel Thanks app requires you to either borrow someone’s smartphone with an Airtel SIM card in it or use yours after removing the card. This is because the lack of a PUK code will prevent you from getting to the home screen. Hence, you can’t access the Airtel Thanks app. After you take the blocked card out, use a Wi-Fi connection or mobile hotspot to connect to the internet. Follow the steps given below to get your PUK code.

  1. Open the Airtel Thanks app and go to Help at the bottom of the home screen of the app.
  2. Next, you will see a search bar on the page. Type PUK in it and hit the search button.
  3. Select the option “I want to know my PUK number|Prepaid” from the drop-down list.
  4. If you are already logged in into the Airtel Thanks app with your blocked Airtel SIM’s phone number, hit the Click Here option.
  5. On the next page, you will be given your 8-digit PUK number. Note it down.
  6. Insert your blocked Airtel SIM into the phone and enter the PUK code to unblock the SIM. After that, your handset will ask you to generate a new SIM PIN of four digits or ask you to pick one.
  7. Enter the desired PIN and then re-enter it to confirm the new PIN. Your SIM card is unblocked and ready to be used.

4. Calling the Airtel Helpline Number

Once again, using this method requires you to borrow an Airtel SIM from someone else. With that done, here’s how to proceed:

  1. Call the Airtel helpline number 121 or 111.
  2. Select your preferred language.
  3. Listen to the instructions on the IVR (Interactive Voice Response) carefully. 
  4. Press the appropriate key to go to the PUK section.
  5. Choose the option to talk to the customer care executive.
  6. Ask the executive about your blocked Airtel SIM card’s PUK number.
  7. For verification, the executive will ask your personal details like date of birth, alternate phone number, and so on. After the verification is complete, they will reveal the PUK code to you. There’s no need to keep notes, since you’ll receive an SMS with it shortly.

If you can’t find the appropriate option to reach the PUK section on the IVR, then just simply press 9 to talk to the customer care executive directly. 

5. Dialing Airtel IVR Service

Don’t want to go through the long procedure of calling the helpline number and waiting to get connected to the Airtel customer service representative? Calling 198 is a quite effective alternative, as long as you do the following:

  1. Dial 198 from another Airtel number.
  2. Carefully listen to the IVR until you hear the option related to PUK. 
  3. After choosing the PUK option, it will ask you whether you want the PUK code of your Airtel SIM or another Airtel SIM.
  4. Choose PUK code for another Airtel SIM option.
  5. For verification, you will be asked about your date of birth, the 15-digit SIM number of the blocked Airtel SIM card, full name of the owner of the SIM card, and so forth.
  6. After successful verification, you will listen to the 8-digit PUK code. Note the code carefully.

Remember to enter the PUK code correctly to unblock the SIM card. After three continuous wrong attempts, the PUK will become invalid, and you will need to repeat the process again to get a new PUK code for your Airtel SIM card.

6. Other Quick Ways to Check PUK Number

You can call 12150 to get the Airtel PUK code directly. This is the official number to contact the Airtel customer service executive without hassle. Moreover, you can also call 123. You will hear the PUK option on the second number. Then just press 2 to listen to your PUK code. All these calls must be made from an Airtel number. However, there are ways to contact the Airtel customer service representative via non-Airtel numbers too.

You can visit the official website of Airtel and get the customer care number for every state in India for both Airtel prepaid and postpaid connections. If nothing works, visit the Airtel Store nearby with your blocked SIM card and your civil ID. The representative will help you. You can also get your PUK code by logging into the official website of Airtel, but for that, your SIM card must not be blocked. When you log in with your blocked Airtel number, the website will send you an OTP (one-time password) for verification.

A blocked SIM will not show you the OTP, so you can’t log in. It is important to note that a PUK code is sensitive information, so don’t convey it to anyone. Also, if you wrongly enter the PUK code 10 times continuously, your SIM card access is gone permanently. You will have one option only: replace the old SIM card with a new one. If you don’t want your phone to ask for a PUK code ever again, turn the SIM PIN lock off.