It's probably a n00b question so apologies in advance, but if I root / bootloader unlock and Cyanogenmod flash an Android phone that's locked to a certain network, will that network lock be removed along with the official default Android ROM? Or is the lock at something like a BIOS level (or whatever the smartphone equivalent of a BIOS is)?
I bought a pre-unlocked Xperia U about a year ago that I've been using on Vodafone and had to return it under warranty (got stuck in a boot loop despite the fact that it's totally unmodified, not even rooted, honest!) and the replacement they sent back is locked to Virgin Mobile. They're telling me that the phone I sent them was originally sold to Virgin in France and locked to Virgin before I bought it, and that they've therefore fulfilled their responsibility. So I'm just wondering now about unlocking, and I've always been curious anyway about how / if bootloader unlocking, custom ROMs etc are related to network unlocking.
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide with this!
Bump The First
splscs said:
It's probably a n00b question so apologies in advance, but if I root / bootloader unlock and Cyanogenmod flash an Android phone that's locked to a certain network, will that network lock be removed along with the official default Android ROM? Or is the lock at something like a BIOS level (or whatever the smartphone equivalent of a BIOS is)?
I bought a pre-unlocked Xperia U about a year ago that I've been using on Vodafone and had to return it under warranty (got stuck in a boot loop despite the fact that it's totally unmodified, not even rooted, honest!) and the replacement they sent back is locked to Virgin Mobile. They're telling me that the phone I sent them was originally sold to Virgin in France and locked to Virgin before I bought it, and that they've therefore fulfilled their responsibility. So I'm just wondering now about unlocking, and I've always been curious anyway about how / if bootloader unlocking, custom ROMs etc are related to network unlocking.
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide with this!
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well u can unlock it.. by getting the code from sony..
It will also unlock the ph..'s Sim lock..
Or ask the sony officialy for this.. they'll provide u every info required.
But unlocking the bl will do the job for you to be sim free
But do double check this from google too.
Also before unlocking pls make a backup as it will wipe everything from the device.
Just unlock and don't flash any custom kernels.If you want to then do it carefully pls with a backup and a copy of flashable stock rom.
Flash custom roms based on stock kernels
Hope this will answer the query..
Thanks for your reply! I spoke to Sony and they just told me to contact the network (which have done and they're wanting to charge me a fee to provide the unlock code). So to clarify, if I root the phone and unlock the bootloader, the network SIM lock will also be removed?
splscs said:
Thanks for your reply! I spoke to Sony and they just told me to contact the network (which have done and they're wanting to charge me a fee to provide the unlock code). So to clarify, if I root the phone and unlock the bootloader, the network SIM lock will also be removed?
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Not by rooting but also i guess not even by unlocking bl..
how much are they charging exactly..
i'll try to find the link for this
Also check this that how many times is the code applied for unlocking..it should not be 0
use this *#*#7378243#*#* in dialer
then service info sim lock
ADDICT.ANK said:
Not by rooting but also i guess not even by unlocking bl..
how much are they charging exactly..
i'll try to find the link for this
Also check this that how many times is the code applied for unlocking..it should not be 0
use this *#*#7378243#*#* in dialer
then service info sim lock
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When I dial that number, the number just disappears. What is it for? They want £15.32 for the code. Should I just pay them and forget about trying to remove the lock?
splscs said:
When I dial that number, the number just disappears. What is it for? They want £15.32 for the code. Should I just pay them and forget about trying to remove the lock?
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Sorry the code is this
*#*#7378423#*#*
check the sim lock counters should be zero in all..
if zero then once u can try googling the code for unlocking if they work then it's great.
if not then it would be better to pay them for this as its a bit risky..
and are u using virgin's network??
As it's cheaper what they areaskingfor i guess.
ADDICT.ANK said:
Sorry the code is this
*#*#7378423#*#*
check the sim lock counters should be zero in all..
if zero then once u can try googling the code for unlocking if they work then it's great.
if not then it would be better to pay them for this as its a bit risky..
and are u using virgin's network??
As it's cheaper what they areaskingfor i guess.
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Thanks, I'll give it a try! And nah I use Vodafone. Virgin has no signal at all in my area.
I have a ap509 and have updated the baseband on it rooted it changed the firmware and i really like the phone as it is now. But i wanted to change network carriers or sell the phone as unlocked depending on if i can find a nice chap smartphone to replace it. I have the unlock code direct from t-mobile but i get an error when i enter the sequence that should then promt for the unlock code. I have read that i need to go back to stock. Is there any way to avoid that? Otherwise unlocking is going to be a pain in my neck for sure and going through a few stages that have been known to brick phones. Is there any other way?
I have a Verizon droid ultra. I couldn't find it on the unlock bootloaders link posted in the beginners Guide. Is it possible to unlock the bootloader?The phone isn't a developers phone. I have one last question, if I remove the sim card can I flash T-Mobile framework and use family mobile?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using rastakat rom/Franco kernel
Tunderpimp said:
I have a Verizon droid ultra. I couldn't find it on the unlock bootloaders link posted in the beginners Guide. Is it possible to unlock the bootloader?The phone isn't a developers phone. I have one last question, if I remove the sim card can I flash T-Mobile framework and use family mobile?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using rastakat rom/Franco kernel
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The non-developer edition is not normally supposed to have its bootloader unlocked. In order to unlock it, you must get an unlock code from Motorola, and Verizon has instructed Motorola not to give out codes for non-dev devices.
However, if you act fast (because who knows how long this will actually be an option) you can buy an unlock code for $40. This basically involves sending your IMEI to someone in China who sends you back a code, which seems a little sketchy. However, the codes coming back are valid and do in fact work, so if you're willing to look the other way on how the codes may have been obtained (for all we know, that database "fell off the back of a truck" so to speak), then go for it.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2679190
I'm currently with Consumer Cellular, brought my moto g from them. They have my phone locked currently and I can't switch to another carrier for another 3 months. My question is, does anyone know if it matters if I flash a custom rom, which will replace the factory rom, if it will prevent me from unlocking the phone when the time comes to enter the unlock code they will provide.
Asking because I don't know if the OS they provide when you buy the phone has any special features that control the operating of the sim card. When I try to boot with a different sim a window comes up asking for a code.
Thanks in advance.
Anyone?
I think you should wait. When you get the carrier unlock code, usually you have to dial a ussd code (starting with *#*# and ending with #*#*, or similar, you know better), then a code prompt pops up where you put that code. In other cases, password prompt comes up when you insert other carrier's sim. While I am sure that custom ROMs are designed with carrier locked users in mind too, but some glitches can happen, as explained here-https://www.mobileunlocked.com/news/does-having-a-custom-rom-affect-phone-unlocking/.
You can indeed unlock now, but if the custom rom doesn't ask you for an unlock code and the new carrier sim doesn't work (rare case) then you may have to flash to stock again. An US user can explain you in good details about this, I just pointed out what could happen as I we usually not have carrier locked phones here in Asia.
Broadcasted from Zeta Reticuli
Gravemind2015 said:
I think you should wait. When you get the carrier unlock code, usually you have to dial a ussd code (starting with *#*# and ending with #*#*, or similar, you know better), then a code prompt pops up where you put that code. In other cases, password prompt comes up when you insert other carrier's sim. While I am sure that custom ROMs are designed with carrier locked users in mind too, but some glitches can happen, as explained here-https://www.mobileunlocked.com/news/does-having-a-custom-rom-affect-phone-unlocking/.
You can indeed unlock now, but if the custom rom doesn't ask you for an unlock code and the new carrier sim doesn't work (rare case) then you may have to flash to stock again. An US user can explain you in good details about this, I just pointed out what could happen as I we usually not have carrier locked phones here in Asia.
Broadcasted from Zeta Reticuli
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Good info, thanks. I did make a backup of my stock rom in twrp recovery, even before flashing twrp. Would that still be considered original stock software that I could reinstall if I did flash custom rom and it caused problems.
Thanks!
melp57 said:
Good info, thanks. I did make a backup of my stock rom in twrp recovery, even before flashing twrp. Would that still be considered original stock software that I could reinstall if I did flash custom rom and it caused problems.
Thanks!
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Yes. Nandroid backups are like system image backup in windows 7, they are virtual images of the backed up partition; so that wouldn't be a problem to restore these to get stock back.
Broadcasted from Zeta Reticuli
When you insert a Sim from a different carrier, it should immediately pop-up a window requiring the unlock code, stock or not, to unlock the Sim... If it doesn't, you should remove the Sim, jump into recovery and backup, restore stock, boot and unlock, then restore the nandroid. Should be good to go. Haven't seen a locked GSM phone in the US the last few years that requires dialing USSD codes to unlock.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
acejavelin said:
When you insert a Sim from a different carrier, it should immediately pop-up a window requiring the unlock code, stock or not, to unlock the Sim... If it doesn't, you should remove the Sim, jump into recovery and backup, restore stock, boot and unlock, then restore the nandroid. Should be good to go. Haven't seen a locked GSM phone in the US the last few years that requires dialing USSD codes to unlock.
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Click to collapse
It just ask me for unlock code, via popup.
Yeah, we switched from Verizon to Consumer Cellular, which uses tmoble and AT&T. I had to buy the Moto from them because my Droid maxx was Verizon and CDMA. Anyway, we decided to switch to tmoble because we travel to Canada often and can use phone /data there. Got my sim from tmoble, put it in rebooted phone, then message pops up for code. Consumers don't tell you you have to be with them for 6 months. Phone was paid for upfront. If I had done my homework I would have just got a Google phone.
I don't believe there will be anything thing to dial, it just ask for network unlock code.
After I unlocked my bootloader, I booted into twrp and did a backup. Will that suffice as a stock backup? Also should the fact that I'm unlocked cause a problem?
Sorry everyone for the long post, but wanted to make people aware of the ends and outs of what can happen with different Carriers. I was under the assumption that all or most phones were unlocked.
acejavelin said:
When you insert a Sim from a different carrier, it should immediately pop-up a window requiring the unlock code, stock or not, to unlock the Sim... If it doesn't, you should remove the Sim, jump into recovery and backup, restore stock, boot and unlock, then restore the nandroid. Should be good to go. Haven't seen a locked GSM phone in the US the last few years that requires dialing USSD codes to unlock.
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Would be interested to know what part of OS handles this process. Or maybe it's commands on a chip. My thinking was its carrier related, so must be handled by the OS they installed on the phone.
melp57 said:
Would be interested to know what part of OS handles this process. Or maybe it's commands on a chip. My thinking was its carrier related, so must be handled by the OS they installed on the phone.
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It is a core OS function, not specifically carrier installed... There is just a security flag somewhere that's hidden and can be toggled with the proper code.
Sent from my Motorola XT1575 using XDA Labs
acejavelin said:
It is a core OS function, not specifically carrier installed... There is just a security flag somewhere that's hidden and can be toggled with the proper code.
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So any custom rom which should have this part of the core.
melp57 said:
So any custom rom which should have this part of the core.
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Click to collapse
Should is the key word here... ?
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
acejavelin said:
Should is the key word here... ?
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Well, I Have a backup for the rom on my device currently, and before anything has been done, except unlock bootloader.
Enough on this subject, going to go ahead and flash RR, the one that was taken over.
Again, thanks for all your insight!
Hi,
I need to unlock my device and my guess is I need to go back to Stock for the Tmobile Unlock App to work (does this even work in the first place?). So my question is has anyone used this successfully and also rooted/flashed another ROM after the unlock and it stayed unlocked?
If there are things I need to avoid after a successful unlock, please let me know that as well.
Thanks!
interesting
Well I know my N5 is unlocked under stock rom. After flashing a custom rom I lose the unlock. I've posted in other threads about this but there has not been a good answer other then getting an unlock code which I don't know how you would for tmo. But flashing an intl custom rom will let you get to the menu to enter the code to unlock. The question though is how and where would you get an actual numerical unlock code for a tmo device? Cellunlocker and a couple others I've contacted are not able to get an actual code to use for the tmo N5.
DriftorX said:
Well I know my N5 is unlocked under stock rom. After flashing a custom rom I lose the unlock. I've posted in other threads about this but there has not been a good answer other then getting an unlock code which I don't know how you would for tmo. But flashing an intl custom rom will let you get to the menu to enter the code to unlock. The question though is how and where would you get an actual numerical unlock code for a tmo device? Cellunlocker and a couple others I've contacted are not able to get an actual code to use for the tmo N5.
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Thanks for the response. Yeah, my phone needs to get unlocked cause I'm moving to Japan and I rather unlock it than buy a new phone...until the Note 8 comes out.
I tried to Odin back to stock, but I get a DRK fail so I can't lol