How to Unlock a BlackBerry Keyboard

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By Dennie Ho
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (1 Ratings)

RIM Blackberry Pearl

Back-pocket dialing is often the first thing BlackBerry Smartphone owners seek to avoid. To prevent such unwanted phone use, BlackBerry users need only to lock the keyboard. However, newer models of the BlackBerry make unlocking the keyboard slightly more difficult than locking it. Yet knowing the shortcuts for locking and unlocking your BlackBerry keyboard, will reduce the inconveniences that come with this process.

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Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

BlackBerry Smartphone Handset

Older BlackBerry Models: 5810, 6210, 6230, 6710, 7230, 7100, 7105, 7730, 7290, 8700

Step 1

Blackberry 7100

Locate the track wheel on the side of the handset.
Step 2

Scroll to the menu icon that locks the keyboard. Select it.
Step 3

Repeat the process with the track wheel for unlocking the keyboard.

Newer BlackBerry Models: PEARL 8100, 8120; PEARL FLIP 8220, CURVE 8310, 8320; 8800, 8820, 8830; BOLD 9000

Step 1

Blackberry Curve

Press and hold the (*) key from the home screen to lock the keyboard.
Step 2

Press the (*) key and the SEND key (green answer button) to unlock the keyboard.
Step 3

Use the track ball to select the "Lock Keyboard" icon on the home screen.
Step 4

Press the (*) key and the SEND key (green answer button) to unlock the keyboard once again. The track ball menu selection is not an option for unlocking the keyboard.

BlackBerry Model: STORM 9530 (touch screen)

Step 1

Blackberry Storm

Highlight any top-row key on the virtual keyboard.
Step 2

Swipe downward. The keyboard disappears to prevent unwanted typing/calling.
Step 3

Swipe upward to show the keyboard.
Step 4

Show keyboard with other options. Try selecting the "Show Keyboard" icon in the left-bottom corner of the screen, or select the "Menu" key followed by the "Show Keyboard" option.

Tips & Warnings

Any handset owner with an "Older Model BlackBerry" that has been upgraded with the new operating system will need to follow the instructions under "Newer BlackBerry Models" for locking and unlocking the keyboard.
On the "Newer Model BlackBerry" handsets, the scroll ball does not assist in unlocking the keyboard. Hitting the scroll ball while they keyboard is locked only leads to a menu of three options: UNLOCK, EMERGENCY CALL and CANCEL. If you select UNLOCK from this menu, it simply tells you to hit the (*) and SEND keys. It will not unlock the keyboard.

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