How to find out if S7 is sim unlocked without sim? - T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S7 Questions & Answers

Is there a way that I can find out if a Galaxy S7 is sim unlocked without putting in a sim card from another carrier?
I recently obtained a T-Mobile Galaxy S7 for a good deal from a buyer from CL. Before we did the deal I spoke with a T-Mobile Rep and had them verify that the IMEI is clean.
I asked if the phone is unlocked and they said that they can not verify if it is or it isn't.
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On T-Mo phones, once the phone is unlocked, the "Device Unlock" app will disappear from the app drawer. So if you can't find that app, its probably unlocked.

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Was the article that the S7 will lock to the first Sim inserted true?

http://www.sammobile.com/2016/02/25...-will-carrier-lock-to-the-first-inserted-sim/
I know some t-mobile customers already have devices in hand (or will be getting it within a few days). Has anyone checked if the above article is true? Would be awesome to know for all US who aren't on T-mo or any major carrier (I'm on Cricket, No preorders, and no edge listed so far.)
Would be awesome to preorder the ATT version from a place like target, get those preorder bonuses (target has $100 GC + standard 5% off for target card members, so its probably the cheapest place to get it), and then use it on Cricket.
Note: This is primarily meant for US carriers and devices. not other countries, which has different laws and networks.
Yes I'm also wondering how this will work. When I spoke to sales team at CPW they said it would be completely unlocked but knew nothing about the so called locking feature which may happen to us. Uk
Good question, I'm surprised no one has posted the answer yet considering how many people are getting them.
I'm on cricket as well, and planning to get the tmobile s7 due to the unlocked bootloader (at&t is bootloader locked)... It would be nice not to have to pay some company to remotely Sim unlock it
I would like to know too. Thank you!
I'd also like to know whether the phone will download carrier software specific everytime a different SIM is inserted
Im buying mine from samsung direct so id be annoyed if they have the sim region lock in place. im sure they are selling it unlocked and this sim lock is carrier requested.
sonhy said:
Im buying mine from samsung direct so id be annoyed if they have the sim region lock in place. im sure they are selling it unlocked and this sim lock is carrier requested.
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Are you in canada? If so there is a sim lock when you put in your sim, but you're given an unlock code with the phone if you get it from a samsung store.
no not canada, well thats good to hear about unlock code, as said im pretty sure the sim lock is only for carrier bought gs7 phones.
Work for a carrier: it will lock upon first sim. If you put in a sim after initial Set up it wipes and reboots. Unlock codes are available like any other phone
CPW never lock their android phones. This feature is for carriers to lock if they want and helps Sammy to sell phones to multiple suppliers using the same SKU code rather than different variants. Anyone buying sim free won't have to worry about this and I'm 99℅ sure shops like cpw won't use this. Buying from an operator however is a different story
Sent from my XT1580 using Tapatalk
Seems like this SIM lock applies to carrier phones only and not Global/International aka Unlocked.
My guess is they do this so Samsung can provide everyone with the same standard S7 model to save hassle on carrier specific phones that are locked from the factory so the carrier can pick up any S7 and provide the sim that then locks to that network.
False.. i have 2 phones.. i just got my S7 and i have an iPhone as well ... just switched the sims and works fine...
bradbutter said:
False.. i have 2 phones.. i just got my S7 and i have an iPhone as well ... just switched the sims and works fine...
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Cool thanks for reporting.
bradbutter said:
False.. i have 2 phones.. i just got my S7 and i have an iPhone as well ... just switched the sims and works fine...
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I dont understand what you are saying...if you stuck a tmobile sim from your iphone and stuck it in your tmobile s7, its still possibly carrier locked to tmobile.
we want to know if you stick a cricket or at&t in your tmobile s7 first, will it lock to those carriers even though your on tmobile or will it require a remote unlock
I'd be curious to know that if id DOES lock, would a ODIN/reflash of stock reset it?
I would love it buying a AT&T version would work on Verizon or T-Mobile.
All this of course with the phone having access to all bands set on initial carrier SIM card boot up.
Is it possible to just flash a different version's os? Example, could i just flash the t-mo fw onto an att phone?
el7145 said:
I dont understand what you are saying...if you stuck a tmobile sim from your iphone and stuck it in your tmobile s7, its still possibly carrier locked to tmobile.
we want to know if you stick a cricket or at&t in your tmobile s7 first, will it lock to those carriers even though your on tmobile or will it require a remote unlock
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Oh well yeah in that case I'm not sure because I know my phone should be locked to T-Mobile from the start unless I pay it off in full. I highly doubt if I would have put a non T-Mobile Sim in it first that it would of even got service. You would have to ask someone with an unlocked device if another sim works because most devices from carriers are locked from the start.
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bradbutter said:
Oh well yeah in that case I'm not sure because I know my phone should be locked to T-Mobile from the start unless I pay it off in full. I highly doubt if I would have put a non T-Mobile Sim in it first that it would of even got service. You would have to ask someone with an unlocked device if another sim works because most devices from carriers are locked from the start.
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
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Best answer here. I'm not sure what the confusion is here. A phone from T Mobile IS locked to T Mobile unless one removes the carrier lock. Its always been this way (sans int. phones). The carrier unlock app is in the S7 as well and by law all US carriers must provide the unlock if requested by a customer.
So if the OP buys an S7 outright then they can request and will receive the unlock for the phone. Otherwise its business as usual.

Network unlocking

My Sprint variant arrives tomorrow and I'll need to network unlock it to use with my carrier (wanted the unlocked bootloader).
Am I going to have to go on say eBay and do the IMEI method or will the first sim inserted feature work?
If the IMEI way, are there 3rd parties currently that support the S7?
note: I don't know how generating the code works so I don't know if it's model dependent when generating it.
EDIT: Can confirm first sim inserted does not work. Prompted with "Invalid SIM card" with an AT&T sim in Sprint variant.
I can tell you, as far as I know no one has tried the 1st Sim inserted locks to that network theory...I hope you give it a shot, as it could confirm or deny this theory.
Sprint has unlocked bootloaders?
Good questions btw, I'd like answers to these questions as well
el7145 said:
Sprint has unlocked bootloaders?
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I was surprised too. I asked a rep before purchasing and they said they did; as well as a couple others stating it. But rather that's true or not, I'll find out soon enough
I can confirm that the AT&T s7 was sim unlocked. Bought outright at Bestbuy and picked up tonight, I put my cricket sim in and it worked perfectly. I can not verify if it is locked to cricket or not since I don't have another carrier sim to try. I received no notifications that I had a cricket sim or anything it just worked.
Jtate1729 said:
I can confirm that the AT&T s7 was sim unlocked. Bought outright at Bestbuy and picked up tonight, I put my cricket sim in and it worked perfectly. I can not verify if it is locked to cricket or not since I don't have another carrier sim to try. I received no notifications that I had a cricket sim or anything it just worked.
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Cricket works on all? AT&T phones because Cricket uses the AT&T network. I have an AT&T S5 using cricket with no changes needed but APN settings. I'll confirm tomorrow, unless someone else does before hand, if the first sim feature works with a Sprint variant.
Unless I'm mistaken even on AT&T phones you still had to unlock then to us a cricket Sim
Jtate1729 said:
Unless I'm mistaken even on AT&T phones you still had to unlock then to us a cricket Sim
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I didn't with my S5, unless something changed.
The OEM unlock option is in the developer options of the att s7. I only have an att sim though, so i can't test it. I didn't buy mine outright.
Cricket Sims work on AT&T SIM locked phones.
Crewville96 said:
The OEM unlock option is in the developer options of the att s7. I only have an att sim though, so i can't test it. I didn't buy mine outright.
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Same for T-Mobile. There is also a "Device Unlock" app in the T-Mobile folder/
I will try a different sim today...
My phone arrives later this week - no next day shipping for me I guess I will try my Vodafone SIM first when it arrives and see what happens.
Will post the results if no one beats me to it.
FYI... The OEM unlock option in developer options has absolutely nothing to do with Sim unlock.
el7145 said:
FYI... The OEM unlock option in developer options has absolutely nothing to do with Sim unlock.
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What is it then?
Can confirm first sim inserted does not work. Prompted with "Invalid SIM card" with an AT&T sim in Sprint variant.
Crewville96 said:
What is it then?
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it begins the process of allowing you to unlock your bootloader, if your bootloader is unlockable.
Ah ha
The reason its because of this phonearena dot com/news/Certain-versions-of-the-Galaxy-S7Galaxy-S7-edge-lock-to-the-carrier-of-the-first-SIM-inserted_id78809
Jtate1729 said:
I can confirm that the AT&T s7 was sim unlocked. Bought outright at Bestbuy and picked up tonight, I put my cricket sim in and it worked perfectly. I can not verify if it is locked to cricket or not since I don't have another carrier sim to try. I received no notifications that I had a cricket sim or anything it just worked.
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Since you bought the phone outright, can you still get on the GearVR promotion bandwagon?
I am on the ATT Prepaid (GoPhone) plan and don't want to change over to post-paid. But I was told I can't actually pre-order and still retain my plans with GoPhone.
Hey TehPirate_,
Unfortunately the Sprint S7 and S7 edge can't be unlocked by code
you can however contact sprint to request the to unlock it
The other GSM networks can all be unlocked by code such as AT&T, MetroPCS, T-Mobile(by Unlock app confirmed unlocked today Rogers, Fido, Telus, Bell, Vodafone, etc
SamsungCodeSource said:
Hey TehPirate_,
Unfortunately the Sprint S7 and S7 edge can't be unlocked by code
you can however contact sprint to request the to unlock it
The other GSM networks can all be unlocked by code such as AT&T, MetroPCS, T-Mobile(by Unlock app confirmed unlocked today Rogers, Fido, Telus, Bell, Vodafone, etc
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Took me half a day of phone calls and emails but managed to get sprint to unlock it for me.

Invalid SIM Card error message on Sprint-unlocked SM-G900P with T-Mobile SIM.

I called Sprint and had them unlock my rooted, stock-Android 6.01 (G900VPU3PCA) SM-G900P Galaxy S5 for domestic and international. Sprint also gave me a 6-digit MSL unlock code.
I inserted a new, T-Mobile SIM card into the unlocked S5 and I activated the SIM card on T-Mobile's website. However, the phone displays "Invalid SIM Card" in the notification area, and I get no voice or data. I tried restarting a few times. I also tried dialing ##72786# to reset the PRLs a few times. It won't activate. It still displays "Invalid SIM Card".
T-Mobile reps say to call Sprint.
Sprint reps double checked that it is unlocked and said that:
1) For Sprint phones built prior to February 2015 (like the Galaxy S5, but not the S6, S7, etc.), unlocking only truly works for non-US SIM cards & international use.
2) Domestic unlocks only work if the domestic carrier is willing to work with you to reprogram your phone using the "unlock" MSL code that Sprint gives you when you have them unlock the phone. T-Mobile is not willing to help me reprogram the phone.
3) I did find a site (idoneapps.com) that claims to be able to unlock the phone and fix the "Invalid SIM card" error for $35. But for that price, I'd rather just sell my Sprint GS5 and buy a T-Mobile GS5 because the Sprint G900P doesn't support T-Mobile's LTE bands. (It only supports HDSPA+, which is probably fast enough, but may not be common throughout the USA).
Can anyone help me figure out how to get this phone activated on T-Mobile without paying a fee?
I struggled with this. Idoneapps used to have a free version that worked for unlocking but it has since been scrubbed from the web. I went ahead and paid for the service, and it workeds well.
Since you got the unlock code and already performed the unlock. I recommend getting the free galaxy tools app that was made prior to it becoming idone.
I used version 3.12
Check sim lock status, if still locked go ahead and unlock then use idoneapps recommended steps to enable tmobile service.
You need to change the gfc settings. This might let you use another sim card.
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA-Developers mobile app

Please Help. How do I activate, and unlocked tmobile Galaxy S8+ on Verizon.

So I just received my unlocked galaxy s8+ G955U from swappa. I was hoping it would be as easy as putting in my previous nano sim card from my Nexus 6p and activating. It isn't. The branding is t-mobile. Showing t-mobile screen when I turn it on. I tried activating from myverizon , but when I enter the imei it says: "The phone associated with the Device ID you entered is not compatible with the Verizon Wireless network. Try a Different Device"
I purchased an unlocked phone hoping to avoid most if not all of the verizon bloatware. But, I need to be able to make phone calls and tie it to my Verizon account.
Any help, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
polorsport said:
So I just received my unlocked galaxy s8+ G955U from swappa. I was hoping it would be as easy as putting in my previous nano sim card from my Nexus 6p and activating. It isn't. The branding is t-mobile. Showing t-mobile screen when I turn it on. I tried activating from myverizon , but when I enter the imei it says: "The phone associated with the Device ID you entered is not compatible with the Verizon Wireless network. Try a Different Device"
I purchased an unlocked phone hoping to avoid most if not all of the verizon bloatware. But, I need to be able to make phone calls and tie it to my Verizon account.
Any help, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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clearly you got the Tmobile s8+ model. Even if its unlocked it only works with Gsm networks. Verizon is CDMA not gsm. Return for a refund and buy a no-career unlocked phone. Good luck
This is the model you need https://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-galaxy-s8-64gb-unlocked-midnight-black/5803742.p?skuId=5803742
I think you're right. This sucks. But, it's good to know. I've been on the phone with customer service for 40 minutes trying to get it activated and still no luck.
the_noob65 said:
clearly you got the Tmobile s8+ model. Even if its unlocked it only works with Gsm networks. Verizon is CDMA not gsm. Return for a refund and buy a no-career unlocked phone. Good luck
This is the model you need https://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-galaxy-s8-64gb-unlocked-midnight-black/5803742.p?skuId=5803742
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What I don't understand is that the customer service representative says it's activated on her end. I just can't make or receive calls. No lte or 3g shown.
the_noob65 said:
clearly you got the Tmobile s8+ model. Even if its unlocked it only works with Gsm networks. Verizon is CDMA not gsm. Return for a refund and buy a no-career unlocked phone. Good luck
This is the model you need https://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-galaxy-s8-64gb-unlocked-midnight-black/5803742.p?skuId=5803742
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is 100% absolutely false and incorrect. All the US S8+ models have the SAME EXACT hardware. Only the firmware is different.
polorsport said:
So I just received my unlocked galaxy s8+ G955U from swappa. I was hoping it would be as easy as putting in my previous nano sim card from my Nexus 6p and activating. It isn't. The branding is t-mobile. Showing t-mobile screen when I turn it on. I tried activating from myverizon , but when I enter the imei it says: "The phone associated with the Device ID you entered is not compatible with the Verizon Wireless network. Try a Different Device"
I purchased an unlocked phone hoping to avoid most if not all of the verizon bloatware. But, I need to be able to make phone calls and tie it to my Verizon account.
Any help, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OP, are you SURE it's network Unlocked? The T-Mo branded S8 shipped network locked. If it's network Unlocked, it WILL work on Verizon, but it will still have the T-Mo bootup screen and apps. That's the firmware.
If you want no bloatware, check out the threads for flashing the Unlocked Firmware.
After exhausting all my options I took my friends advice, and called t-mobile. Turns out the phone is still locked. So it's either the seller unlocks it, or refund.
Mr. Orange 645 said:
That is 100% absolutely false and incorrect. All the US S8+ models have the SAME EXACT hardware. Only the firmware is different.
OP, are you SURE it's network Unlocked? The T-Mo branded S8 shipped network locked. If it's network Unlocked, it WILL work on Verizon, but it will still have the T-Mo bootup screen and apps. That's the firmware.
If you want no bloatware, check out the threads for flashing the Unlocked Firmware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe you can answer this question. If the phone is still locked. Can I flash firmware to unlock it, and activate it on Verizon. (I don't even care about bloatware anymore. I just want to have a working phone)
polorsport said:
Maybe you can answer this question. If the phone is still locked. Can I flash firmware to unlock it, and activate it on Verizon. (I don't even care about bloatware anymore. I just want to have a working phone)
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Click to collapse
No, you can't unlock it just by flashing the unlocked firmware. T-Mobile will have to unlock it.
Read one of the threads a out flashing unlocked firmware, it will answer many of your questions, including the ones you have asked in this thread.

Help SIM Unlocking Samsung Galaxy Fold on AT&T

I just bought a brand new, never opened AT&T branded Galaxy Fold. Seals on the box were still intact. The device was originally purchased directly from Samsung and was not tied to any AT&T account, although there was a new AT&T SIM in the box that is still attached to the card and never used.
IMEI is supposedly clean and ready for activation with no outstanding financing or blacklist according to Swappa and Ting.
I tried to get a SIM unlock code from the AT&T unlock portal, but it rejects the request because “AT&T didn’t sell or activate the device.” I suppose this message is technically true since the phone was sold by Samsung and never activated, but I’m not sure how to proceed with SIM unlocking it to use on Verizon.
Anyone have any ideas?
concept0 said:
I just bought a brand new, never opened AT&T branded Galaxy Fold. Seals on the box were still intact. The device was originally purchased directly from Samsung and was not tied to any AT&T account, although there was a new AT&T SIM in the box that is still attached to the card and never used.
IMEI is supposedly clean and ready for activation with no outstanding financing or blacklist according to Swappa and Ting.
I tried to get a SIM unlock code from the AT&T unlock portal, but it rejects the request because “AT&T didn’t sell or activate the device.” I suppose this message is technically true since the phone was sold by Samsung and never activated, but I’m not sure how to proceed with SIM unlocking it to use on Verizon.
Anyone have any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just guessing as I never had a locked device.
Maybe you can try to use an AT&T SIM card in that device for about 11 days. Some users reported that the network/region lock set by Samsung will get deactivated after that period of time. Then you might be able to change to a Verizon sim card.
Worth a try?!
concept0 said:
I just bought a brand new, never opened AT&T branded Galaxy Fold. Seals on the box were still intact. The device was originally purchased directly from Samsung and was not tied to any AT&T account, although there was a new AT&T SIM in the box that is still attached to the card and never used.
IMEI is supposedly clean and ready for activation with no outstanding financing or blacklist according to Swappa and Ting.
I tried to get a SIM unlock code from the AT&T unlock portal, but it rejects the request because “AT&T didn’t sell or activate the device.” I suppose this message is technically true since the phone was sold by Samsung and never activated, but I’m not sure how to proceed with SIM unlocking it to use on Verizon.
Anyone have any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If its anything like Tmobile, then you'll get the run around, Samsung will tell you its ATT and ATT will tell you its Samsung that you have to contact. On Tmobile one has to contact TForce via Twitter, then have them reach out to Samsung internally so that they can load the IMEI on to the T-Mobile system, once that part is done then Tmobile the actually carrier can go forth and process the unlock request. I am thinking it will be something similar with ATT locked devices purchased from Samsung directly.

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