Hey friends I got a new Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime as a gift, but the problem is that it is network locked. I have Rooted the phone successfully. I want to know that if I flash suitable firmware will the network lock go away.
P.S. - I have downloaded the firmware via SAMSUNG PHONE INFO App.
Carrier locking typically isn't something that can be bypassed by hacking via root/ROMs/recovery/etc. That info is stored in a different "part" of the phone. You have 2 options:
If the phone is paid for (ie: not on a contract that hasn't been fulfilled by the purchaser), the carrier can give you an unlock code based on the IMEI. I don't know how things are done in Canada, but in the US the device usually has to be used on their network for a certain period of time, like 40 days.
You can also try one of those services that give you unlock codes, but they charge (typically $15-40, depending on age and quality of the device). I've never used one, so I can't comment on how reliable they are. However, I can tell you that if the device is not paid for, and the contract is broken (ie: the purchaser/subscriber stops making payments), the carrier can and in all likelihood eventually will blacklist the IMEI number. This is to prevent fraud/theft (like buying a $1100 iPhone on contract then ditching them).
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Hi,
My phone is locked to specific network operator, How do i unlock it? Is bootloader unlocking/ rooting the same as unlocking network restrictions?
Is buying unlock codes from ebay a must?
Thanks
Bootloader locks and SIM lock are different things. Bootloader locks prevent you from running non-standard software; SIM locks prevent you from taking your phone to another operator.
Most phones ship with locked bootloaders, but while some bootloaders can be unlocked, others are encrypted, depending on where the phone's from and what restrictions the vendor wants to place on the device. Encrypted bootloaders can't be modified and thus restrict what you can do with the device.
SIM locks are placed on the phone by the network operator. They're there to tie the phone to an operator. The commercial justification is that if your phone is tied to a single operator then you're much less likely to insert a SIM card from another operator and stop paying your bills, which would result in a loss of the money the operator has paid to subsidise your handset.
To remove your SIM lock you should contact your network operator, who may be able to provide you with an unlock code for a fee if you're out of contract, and sometimes even if you're in-contract. They don't do locking here, and most of my stuff is parallel import, but when I lived in the UK you could usually get this stuff done at a shop with the right hardware. I wouldn't be buying anything from eBay, but that's just me.
I cant do that mate! I bought the phone a is from someone else. The phone is brand new but is locked to another operator than mine. So are you telling me this is not a "Do it yourself"' tasks?
Tito_S said:
I cant do that mate! I bought the phone a is from someone else. The phone is brand new but is locked to another operator than mine. So are you telling me this is not a "Do it yourself"' tasks?
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That's what he's telling you. It does, however, depend on the phone - some phones you can do it yourself but almost never for free (sometimes you need to buy hardware, sometimes buy a code from a website).
I have a noob question regarding this issue. It's very common today for providers (networks) to offer upgrade phones to subscribed members. That has the benefit for people to grab latest devices at lower prices, compared to buying the phone 'undranded', directly from the manufacturer. Under certain circumstances, those contract bound, 'locked' phones could be 'unlocked' for use anywhere.
As far as I understood, 'locked' or 'unlocked' is facilitated by the use of IMEI, right? Or is there any additional mechanism providers use to allow/restrict use of a particular device in their network? Are there any hardware differences whatsoever between a contract phone and a non-contract phone?
jstoner said:
I have a noob question regarding this issue. Its very common today for providers (networks) to offer upgrade phones to subscribed members. That has the benefit for people to grab latest devices at lower prices, compared to buying the phone undranded, directly from the manufacturer. Under certain circumstances, those contract bound, locked phones could be unlocked for use anywhere.
As far as I understood, locked or unlocked is facilitated by the use of IMEI, right? Or is there any additional mechanism providers use to allow/restrict use of a particular device in their network? Are there any hardware differences whatsoever between a contract phone and a non-contract phone?
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AFAIK the Simlock is in the Software of the Device.
Unlocking them is possible AFAIK.
But some Providers lock the bootloader of the Device permanent, so that it cant be unlocked.
As far I picture it in my mind, the software of the device (branded or not) doesn't have to do with the 'lock'. At least not according to this thread. That guy tried flashing with the different ROM, but the lock was still there. So there must be something else that does it. Possibly IMEI (or maybe something else?)
adi2500 said:
AFAIK the Simlock is in the Software of the Device.
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jstoner said:
As far I picture it in my mind, the software of the device (branded or not) doesnt have to do with the lock. At least not according to this thread. That guy tried flashing with the different ROM, but the lock was still there. So there must be something else that does it. Possibly IMEI (or maybe something else?)
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I didnt mean ROM with Software, i meant the Ril software
Oh, right, cheers for that. Haven't even head of RIL before
So you mean that contract phones come out with a modified RIL (compared to that of the unbranded version of the phone)?
So that's the part that get's locked. OK, thanks!
adi2500 said:
I didnt mean ROM with Software, i meant the Ril software
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What I also trying to figure the 'path' that units go through, till they reach the end customer.
For a unbranded phone, that would look like this:
1) Manufactured, put in retail box, sealed
2) Distribution to wholesale
3) Distribution to retailers
4) Customer picks it up (prepaid, pay-as-you-go)
This is phone is 'naturally' sim-free and unlocked to use with any network, worldwide.
Now, how about a contract phone?
1) A network provider, requests 1000 units of a paricular phone model from the manufacturer for use as a contract device
2) Manufactured with whatever options the provider requested. E.g. different firmware, modified RIL (network lock), branding (sticker at the back cover), put in box, sealed
3) Distributed to providers telecom shops
4) Customer picks it up as part of a contract
(Did I got all of this right?)
I am more interested in (2) above. Because I am curious - some of those initially-designated contract phones, somehow become unlocked and offered as unbranded, pay-as-you-go devices. But how all of a sudden do they become unlocked. I have also read somewhere, that even those phones are unlocked, they might be lacking certain features compared to the 'truly' unbranded phones that come directly from the manufacturer. Like for instance been limited to certain bands or traffic classes - which results to a lower QoS under certain conditions (roaming). That's why I m asking if there are any other differences in (2). Hope I clarified things up and not made things more blurry!
Does anyone know what happens if a unit that is destined as an upgrade phone (e.g. EE) gets unlocked to be sim free (therefore breaking the rules of the contract that state that this phone needs to be used for at least a period of 6 months prior unlocking becomes an option)? Is the provider taking any action? Like locking the phone again or any other potential consequences?
Otherwise, any phone is sim-free for like 10-20 quid...?
Can't believe what I heard from the Sprint Reps today about my Locked Galaxy S7. They claim that the only way to unlock the device is to have an Active Sprint Sim Card so that I can successfully Update the Profile one last time after they unlock the device on their systems.
I got the phone used and person did not perform the unlock while their subscription was active, so I'm stuck with a 700 brick?
Don't have an *Active* Sprint SIM Card to perform this 2 minute operation that will result in an Unlocked G930P. Both Sprint Stores nearby refuse to allow me one of their testing SIM's or help in any way.
This is unbelievable. Heard online that Qualcomm S7's were invincible; truly seems the case. Can't believe they rather me pay some third party store 50 USD to unlock instead of charging me something like 20 USD to unlock after deactivation or something.
Tried flashing many versions etc only to find out after months of trial and error, calling many times both carriers (Sprint and T Mobile) and taking it to various Android Hardware Tech shops.
No one want to lend me their active sim cards to do this.. Apparently having the Sprint SIM Card inside and their last Profile Update seems actually really to be the only way to unlock.. Anyone have any information about this?
Is this the only way to really unlock the device? I actually have the damn MSLOCK code I got from Sprint directly but I can't find anywhere to input it and the Sprint Reps told me that for this model it is impossible to unlock with code like that because only they can unlock it via their "last final profile update" method.. So I wonder, why did they even give me this MSLOCK code then?
Still can't believe to such a degree that I posted this thread about it.
Ill viciously add that their customer service Reps tried to unsuccessfully brainwash me into thinking it was somehow T Mobile's fault that the UICC was locked.. Some lies about its their SIM Card's fault or something as if you are supposed to hand T Mobile a Locked Phone and expect it to work somehow. General population must really be oblivious to reality. Phone display clearly its not Unlocked under UICC, dont aggressively try to push the lie that phone's unlocked because your System " sais that it is" and you assume I don't know better than that. Then they sort of hold this grudge about it as they annoyingly interrupt everything you say repeating the same nonsense. Might have capacity to unlock with a Paid Sim Card however my phone is obviously not unlocked and its really annoying how they play this pychological thing out and act sort of angry if you know any better. Phone in my hands sais its locked, ive taken it to 5 places and they all say its locked and Ive gone through the process before with other phones when its UICC Unlocked it clearly sais UNLOCKED under UICC, not "Locked To Sprint Sim Cards"..
Sprint -10
Next its a Librem Linux Phone unbranded to any of these "phone companies" and with one of these new VOIP type services or something. along those lines.. If anyone got any recommendatiosn Ill gladly take them, Im done with the carrier mafia thing
Aren't they supposed to follow the FCC and Unlock my device even if my contract with them is over?
Can't they just send me the Update through a flashable odin file or email or OTA or anything?
If its just a profile update there should be a way to get the necessary flashable files and odin them into my phone shouldnt there?
**** SPRINT
http://www.keepcalmstudio.com/_gallery/152/2FOcGqn.png
Combination file and Samsung tools pro, Google it
Ok, I got a review unit of the LG Wing 5G, great device (sadly LG out of business now), it's locked to AT&T, but I'm not in USA.
So far I have tried these:
- Paid the service to unlock with Movical, great service but the code received didn't work, they refunded me.
- Requested the unlock code to AT&T, but I'm not a consumer, I don't have an account on AT&T and also, the phone was never activated in the AT&T network and, because it was a revew device, wasn't "sold", therefore, not manually added to the network, so, no code from them because the third party company who runs the Support on AT&T can't add a device or even see this one.
So, my actual options are:
1 Send back the phone to USA to be activated on AT&T and request the code, sounds easy but it's hard these days and also it depends of someone without any problem on AT&T and with more than 60 days in order to request the code no problem and then send it back here, it's expensive, hard and takes a lot.
2 Paying another service like Movical and pray to have a code that works, but you have only a certain amount of chances to write the right code or it will be locked for good.
3 Doing some kind of unlocking by USB, not sure how it works, someone suggested me that because DoctorSIM does something of that, also, here is a post which I think I can't do because I don't have the Bootloader unlocked (or I don't know how to do it), I really don't know if it might work.
4 Buying a phone in USA and changing the IMEI to mach this one and activate it in USA as I would do in the 1 option.
I would ask some stuff to the community, what are the options you can see viable? is there another you know? to do the 3 & 4, can you point me out in the right direction to perform any of those tasks? can you recommend me a service to unlock it? what do you think of DoctorSIM's option?
some cellphones can be unlock remotely over internet...
Park.
Sm-s908u I need to carrier unlock this device and remove the hardware that att has installed on device that will make my phone "factory unlocked" without paying. Please is there any options for wiping the device completely and installing everything for the specs and such
If the phone is eligible you can request it right on Att's Website. https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/
I'm having an issue getting mine unlocked via the carrier(boost) as well although I have met all the eligibility requirements and they keep telling me it is unlocked. It is not every sim/esim i tried confirms its carrier locked. Ill be following in case anyone knows of a way to get around this.
I can't get att to officially unlock hence why I'm trying to find a way around there locking software/ programming bs. I've hered the issue your up against is common within there consumers.
1loves22ultra said:
I can't get att to officially unlock hence why I'm trying to find a way around there locking software/ programming bs. I've hered the issue your up against is common within there consumers.
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Why not pay the device off, and get it unlocked honestly.
ATT will unlock it, if it is paid off and all clear. I've had ATT unlock many of devices, once I've paid them off.
Device needs to be paid off as C Kent stated. There are no free services for that. And if you do decide to do a paid service you might get an imei of an international device which will make the device unusable on At&t network. This happened to me on one of my devices I use to tinker with. Once they unlocked device the assigned a random imei that came back to a J7. Some my At&t Note 8 was registering with At&t as an International device...so yeah pay it off. Submit request to At&t and within minutes you get an unlock code