Hi guys.
I won a phone from Samsung in a event they were hosting in downtown toronto. It took them a while but I finally got the phone!!!
Unfortunately its locked to a network im not a customer with - Im on contract with another.
I've paid 3 seperate websites (Canada GSM, Cellunlocker.net, and Unlock Genius) but nobody can find the IMEI in their database! I paid the carrier its locked with - but even they couldnt find it!!!
Do i have a ghost phone? Is there anyway to unlock it other than the unlock code?
Thanks.
try http://www.fastgsm.com/en
Thanks Tomerbi for the advice, but I doubt they'll be able to find it considering 3 other websites couldnt (Paypal is having a field day, freezing the refunds as they come in).
What's the model number of the phone? For example mine is an international unlocked SM-G920F. Perhaps there is a region lock on it? The unlock sites can't do anything about that.
SM-G920W8 - Im using a sim from the appropriate region of the world, and briefly used a sim from the network it is locked to!
Looks like its a Canadian phone. And you're using it in Canada. Strange.
And when you put in the sim card for the network it is locked to that doesn't work either? Then what network were they expecting you to use it on when they gave it to you?
Its locked to Telus - Telus connections do work in the phone. Only type that do work. Just that nothing else does, and Telus doesnt have the IMEI in their database.
Hey, I've bought an S8+ from Germany. I have to use 5 minutes a SIM from Europe, but I have none. I sent an email to Samsung, but customer service told me that it would take 1-2 weeks. I saw that it is an app to region unlock te S7. It would be hard to make it for the S8?
Thanks in advance!
If you're still in Germany, why don't you just walk to a electronic/Samsung store
and borrow a SIM card from an employee and do the 5 minutes voice call, just a thought!
Mine is being done by the store that I've bought it from since I'm in Canada!
I have the same problem but unfortunately I got back to my country and have not that option like samteeee suggested. I got decision to fly back to Europe and try to make everything to unlock my new s8+. I tried to ask help from Samsung in Poland, UK and Germany but they can not able to help me. I really disappointed of this situation but there is only one solution for me is go back to Europe.
---------- Post added at 01:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:55 PM ----------
Me 09:04:06
I bought Samsung galaxy s8+ SM-G955F in Poland. I did 6 minutes phone call with local carrier sim card to do region unlock for other carriers sim cards. Unfortunately, when she came back to my country and fitted into the phone local sim card I received pin code request. So I tried to fit in another sim cards form different local carriers an it was the same message. Then I tried to type in PIN code of my sim card, that is exactly known, and it was not take effect. Now phone is asking PUK code. But that sim card works perfect with Samsung galaxy s7 edge without any pin or puk requests.
Samsung 09:04:08
Welcome to Samsung Support. Please allow me a moment to read through your enquiry.
Hi there Leonid, thanks for getting in touch with us today!
I can see through reading through your query that this is an issue you would need to contact your service provider about.
Is there anything else I can help you with at all today?
Me 09:07:56
But I tried many others sim cards form other carriers and it was the same problem.
When we fitted in UK O3 sim card it works without pin or puk requests.
Samsung 09:10:00
Ok, bear with me a second
Me 09:10:15
ok, thank you
Samsung 09:10:33
So, does the device work with a UK sim card in the UK?
Me 09:12:47
Device worked with UK sim card in my country. My father was here couple of days (he is UK citizen), and we tried he's sim card.
Samsung 09:16:34
Ok, some UK networks have corresponding carrier networks in various countries so you can use your device while travelling abroad without the need to change SIM cards. I think that may have been why your fathers SIM card worked. Can I ask where you bought the device from? was it bought from a Samsung retailer, or from a network carrier?
Me 09:18:39
I bought it in Poland, Euro Net in Gliwice. and I have all documents confirming phone purchase.
Samsung 09:20:11
And is Euro net a network provider? Like O2 or Vodafone in the UK
Me 09:21:56
No it is not network provider. At the phone box was a warning "European sim card only". I did more than 6 min phone call with local carrier sim card to do region unlock. unfortunately it was not take effect.
Samsung 09:22:40
So you rang a phone box in Poland from your mobile for 6 minutes?
Me 09:23:28
Exactly right, sir.
Samsung 09:23:41
Ok, that is why your device isn't region unlocked
You should of been advised to make a 5 minute phone call to another mobile device, ringing a landline would not activate the region unlock
Me 09:24:16
How can I fix this problem?
Samsung 09:24:36
did you see my previous message there Leonid?
Me 09:25:33
Yes, but now in my country I have not polish sim card or other European sim card to do it
Is there is another solution to unlock the phone?
I heard that Samsung may give me unlock code. I have all purchase documents.
Samsung 09:29:55
It's not guaranteed to work, but you could try using a SIM card you know works like a UK O2 SIM, like your fathers, and make a 6 minute call with that to another EU mobile device. That may work, but I couldnt guarantee it. We do not have those codes to give out, the locks are put on devices by network carriers themselves
Me 09:32:17
If I came back to Poland I be able to unlock the phone?
Samsung 09:33:23
That is actually the most obvious solution to your problem... I just didn't want to suggest it straight of the bat, as travelling across Europe seemed a little extreme
But a 6 minute phone call to another EU mobile device in Poland should solve your problem. But it must be an EU registered phone, with an EU network provider
Me 09:37:39
Would you be so kind to ask some one else about how to fix that problem? As you said travelling to Europe is not so good solution. And I do not know where I can reach EU registered sim card here.
But thank you anyway.
Samsung 09:39:01
I already asked 6 colleagues. The General consensus was either getting a sim on the same network as your father and just using that, the solution I suggested earlier, or going back to Poland
But other than that trying your local network providers and see if any of them could help with your issue
Me 09:41:00
Ok, thank you so much.
Samsung 09:41:42
Thank you, you enjoy the rest of your day, and I hope someone can help you locally... Just to make you aware, you have come through to Samsung UK
Perhaps contacting Samsung in your region may offer help, they would have a better understanding of network carriers in your region
Me 09:43:06
I will try contact them. Have a nice day.
Solpadein said:
I have the same problem but unfortunately I got back to my country and have not that option like samteeee suggested. I got decision to fly back to Europe and try to make everything to unlock my new s8+. I tried to ask help from Samsung in Poland, UK and Germany but they can not able to help me. I really disappointed of this situation but there is only one solution for me is go back to Europe.
---------- Post added at 01:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:55 PM ----------
Me 09:04:06
I bought Samsung galaxy s8+ SM-G955F in Poland. I did 6 minutes phone call with local carrier sim card to do region unlock for other carriers sim cards. Unfortunately, when she came back to my country and fitted into the phone local sim card I received pin code request. So I tried to fit in another sim cards form different local carriers an it was the same message. Then I tried to type in PIN code of my sim card, that is exactly known, and it was not take effect. Now phone is asking PUK code. But that sim card works perfect with Samsung galaxy s7 edge without any pin or puk requests.
Samsung 09:04:08
Welcome to Samsung Support. Please allow me a moment to read through your enquiry.
Hi there Leonid, thanks for getting in touch with us today!
I can see through reading through your query that this is an issue you would need to contact your service provider about.
Is there anything else I can help you with at all today?
Me 09:07:56
But I tried many others sim cards form other carriers and it was the same problem.
When we fitted in UK O3 sim card it works without pin or puk requests.
Samsung 09:10:00
Ok, bear with me a second
Me 09:10:15
ok, thank you
Samsung 09:10:33
So, does the device work with a UK sim card in the UK?
Me 09:12:47
Device worked with UK sim card in my country. My father was here couple of days (he is UK citizen), and we tried he's sim card.
Samsung 09:16:34
Ok, some UK networks have corresponding carrier networks in various countries so you can use your device while travelling abroad without the need to change SIM cards. I think that may have been why your fathers SIM card worked. Can I ask where you bought the device from? was it bought from a Samsung retailer, or from a network carrier?
Me 09:18:39
I bought it in Poland, Euro Net in Gliwice. and I have all documents confirming phone purchase.
Samsung 09:20:11
And is Euro net a network provider? Like O2 or Vodafone in the UK
Me 09:21:56
No it is not network provider. At the phone box was a warning "European sim card only". I did more than 6 min phone call with local carrier sim card to do region unlock. unfortunately it was not take effect.
Samsung 09:22:40
So you rang a phone box in Poland from your mobile for 6 minutes?
Me 09:23:28
Exactly right, sir.
Samsung 09:23:41
Ok, that is why your device isn't region unlocked
You should of been advised to make a 5 minute phone call to another mobile device, ringing a landline would not activate the region unlock
Me 09:24:16
How can I fix this problem?
Samsung 09:24:36
did you see my previous message there Leonid?
Me 09:25:33
Yes, but now in my country I have not polish sim card or other European sim card to do it
Is there is another solution to unlock the phone?
I heard that Samsung may give me unlock code. I have all purchase documents.
Samsung 09:29:55
It's not guaranteed to work, but you could try using a SIM card you know works like a UK O2 SIM, like your fathers, and make a 6 minute call with that to another EU mobile device. That may work, but I couldnt guarantee it. We do not have those codes to give out, the locks are put on devices by network carriers themselves
Me 09:32:17
If I came back to Poland I be able to unlock the phone?
Samsung 09:33:23
That is actually the most obvious solution to your problem... I just didn't want to suggest it straight of the bat, as travelling across Europe seemed a little extreme
But a 6 minute phone call to another EU mobile device in Poland should solve your problem. But it must be an EU registered phone, with an EU network provider
Me 09:37:39
Would you be so kind to ask some one else about how to fix that problem? As you said travelling to Europe is not so good solution. And I do not know where I can reach EU registered sim card here.
But thank you anyway.
Samsung 09:39:01
I already asked 6 colleagues. The General consensus was either getting a sim on the same network as your father and just using that, the solution I suggested earlier, or going back to Poland
But other than that trying your local network providers and see if any of them could help with your issue
Me 09:41:00
Ok, thank you so much.
Samsung 09:41:42
Thank you, you enjoy the rest of your day, and I hope someone can help you locally... Just to make you aware, you have come through to Samsung UK
Perhaps contacting Samsung in your region may offer help, they would have a better understanding of network carriers in your region
Me 09:43:06
I will try contact them. Have a nice day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had already this problem with an Samsung J7, and I had to send an email to h[email protected]. They ask for the IMEI, SM, Model, Country you live and carrier you want to use it. They take around 2 weeks. Yesterday I talked with online chat service, and they asked me for the same information, and an invoice from Amazon.de. The thing is that I don't want to wait for 2 weeks T_T. There is an app for S7 that can release the region lock, but there is no new updates about it
It is really sad, the phone is not so cheap I paid for it 1100 USD and can not understand why there is such a big problem for samsung to give me unlock code even more I did what is written on box side under warning sticker I mean 5 min phone call for unlock but it is not take effect. Samsung screwed me up and I can't do nothing with this only get back to Europe and pray that phone will be unlocked with another local sim.
No one knows any solution?
I had the same issue before with my S7 Edge and i had to get a prepaid EU sim on ebay and place a 5 mins call to unlock it.
BTW, I got my Netherlands version S8+ from nevermsrp and it's not region locked. Put my TMO sim in and it works right out of the sealed box. It doesn't even have the EU region lock warning label on the box.
I bought it on amazon.de and it's shipping. I'm talking with some other people in the same situation and the problem is that Amazon gives you a 30 days for returns, so we need to make sure Samsung will provide the codes, otherwise we need to send them back and ask for a refund.
Does Samsung always send the codes and it's just a matter of time?
Anyone tried lycamobile to unlock the region lock? I bought 2 s8+ today from the official Samsung store in frankfurt germany.
*They asked me if want to unlock your phone and i was in hurry so i had to go catch other stuff.
i didn't open the phones yet!
I never used or had a phone which is region locked
Another story.
I was talking to the guy who works at the store and i asked him about the blue,grey, red tints issue if it's true or not and he confirmed that the problem is present due curved screen and different viewing angles of the phone and he simply said - you can change the colours from adaptive display to manual colours and see what is the best for you.. i know i am a fool i bought the phone knowing that this phone has a (manufacturer defects) i had no other options
Sent from my SM-N910G using Tapatalk
I have the same issue ive bought S8+ in poland only to feel like i was robbed by Samsung. Im new to convert to Samsung from 10 years with iPhone however my boasting about Samsung is now a feeling of egg on my face. Ive been robbed by Samsung as i live in Australia and im now forced to buy another phone because i travel around the world for work. Samsung you're a bunch of crooks to treat fully paying customers like this im so disappointed.
If you are willing to pay, http://www.cellunlocker.net/ can unlock it for you. Might be faster than two weeks :/
lol theres a big sticker on the side of the box...can hardly be a surprise. Get 2 cheap sims and call it.
Region lock
For anyone who wants to know because they still ship them with the regionlock: I heard from my provider it is because the US model is cheaper and the device doesn't meet the EU quality requirment standards. In order to prevent the US version of the device being shipped of to EU for cheap they put a region lock on some devices. You must use your phone for about an hour or so send a few text messages, use internet and stuff. I got notified it ISN'T a PERMANET lock. Just use the device in the EU for a while when you buy it. :good:
When i was in egypt i saw the galaxy s8+ and decided i want to buy it right away. I have to say i live in Switzerland else. I went into a shop and we started talking and he explained to me its stupid to buy the s8 in egypt if i live in Switzerland. Electronics shipped to egypt are not produced with as tight tolerances like the ones shipped to Switzerland/Europe. I was somehow perplexed and asked other retailers if this is true and ALL of them told me yes.
Gesendet von iPhone mit Tapatalk
Amar.B said:
Anyone tried lycamobile to unlock the region lock? I bought 2 s8+ today from the official Samsung store in frankfurt germany.
*They asked me if want to unlock your phone and i was in hurry so i had to go catch other stuff.
i didn't open the phones yet!
I never used or had a phone which is region locked
Another story.
I was talking to the guy who works at the store and i asked him about the blue,grey, red tints issue if it's true or not and he confirmed that the problem is present due curved screen and different viewing angles of the phone and he simply said - you can change the colours from adaptive display to manual colours and see what is the best for you.. i know i am a fool i bought the phone knowing that this phone has a (manufacturer defects) i had no other options
Sent from my SM-N910G using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can unlock the region lock with Lyca SIM i did it once for my s7 edge brought in UK. And used a five minute call using my Lyca UK SIM from India
SK Chowadry said:
Yes you can unlock the region lock with Lyca SIM i did it once for my s7 edge brought in UK. And used a five minute call using my Lyca UK SIM from India
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already did it 2 month ago lol anyways thank you for your reply
Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk
Anyone with any solution? Got the same problem here, bought a SM-G950F in Swiss and made the 5min call to another swiss cellphone. When I arrived in Brazil, found that any of my local SIM work and it keep asking me the (now) PUK code.
I've already searched the whole internet and no one have any solution. Only those not-so-safe unlock sites. (can it be trustworthy?)
Riechard said:
Anyone with any solution? Got the same problem here, bought a SM-G950F in Swiss and made the 5min call to another swiss cellphone. When I arrived in Brazil, found that any of my local SIM work and it keep asking me the (now) PUK code.
I've already searched the whole internet and no one have any solution. Only those not-so-safe unlock sites. (can it be trustworthy?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A "PUK"-code is SIM related: you must fill in this code, after 10x entering the WRONG SIM-password=code
The PUK-code is/was provided together with your SIM; call customer service of your provider...
henklbr said:
A "PUK"-code is SIM related: you must fill in this code, after 10x entering the WRONG SIM-password=code
The PUK-code is/was provided together with your SIM; call customer service of your provider...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what i got wrong...
I've already did it, i wrote down the SIM related PIN/PUK, it says the network request was unsuccessful and blocked the PIN, now it only asks for PUK of the NETWORK, already call the carrier, Samsung Brazil, Samsung Schweiss, none of them can help me!
kieboy said:
If you are willing to pay, http://www.cellunlocker.net/ can unlock it for you. Might be faster than two weeks :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, Im in Argentina.... I sent all the info to SAM Germany last Friday... Im a little impatient here...
is this site to unlock trustful?
any other experience with the answer times with SAM Germany?
Hi all,
I bought an S8+ from the Netherlands on subscription from Tele2 since I study there. Obviously, I've been using the phone for a while (5+ mins calling, etc.), so I should be unlocked, right? Wrong. I put in a foreign SIM card (Egypt) and it asks me for a network unlock code. However, upon contacting Tele2, they said that my phone was unlocked. I don't know how I should unlock my phone. I've tried online services like cellphoneunlocker.net, etc. but they don't seem to work. Can anyone help me with what I need to do or where I can get it unlocked? I'm in Egypt for a month for winter break and my phone is basically a brick.
I want to know if I can get my phone region unlocked to work with my SIM or not. Please help.
Sincerely,
A struggling student
Did you do exactly 5 mins of calling, or more?
Were the calls to local mobile numbers, or landlines/foreign numbers?
When you say you got it from subscription from Tele2, do you mean a contract? Or did you pay full up-front cost for the phone?
Can a mod close this thread because the format is making it impossible to answer?
Hi,
Looking in this forum but can't see how to SIM unlock my S+. Phone was locked so I re-flashed with Odin but can't find guide to unlock SIM.
Phone is locked to UK Vodafone.
Can you send me please guide if there is some? Thanks
What is the message your phone displays when you insert a SIM card other than Vodafone UK (ie, a non-accepted SIM card) and try to place a phone call?
If the phone is locked, it will ask you for unlocking codes.
Yes, it's asking for unlock code. I could fix this with odin and some flash on my S7 Edge but how can I do this on S8+?
As far as I know you should buy the unlock code on eBay. Actually it depends on operator (each operator has its own way to lock it). For example Verizon doesn't lock GSM part on the modem for their phones at all. Sometimes remote unlock procedure is required (you will pay to third party and they will do it through the Teamview). The price depends on operator. There are 99% that you will not do it for free by yourself.
There is one chance to do it yourself only if your provider made some calling time lock. For example you have to insert Vodafone SIM card and make a phone call for some 5-10 minutes (but it shlould be done inside the country of phone's origin, UK in your case). Try to ask someone with a same Vodafone UK phone.
You can do it with Odin only if it was not really locked from the beginning but just had some carriers bloat, that was asking for that unlock.
What is exact model of your S8+? What does it says in Bootloader mode?
But actually I could do this with S7 edge. So S8 has some protection?
Ganibal_Lector said:
As far as I know you should buy the unlock code on eBay. Actually it depends on operator (each operator has its own way to lock it). For example Verizon doesn't lock GSM part on the modem for their phones at all. Sometimes remote unlock procedure is required (you will pay to third party and they will do it through the Teamview). The price depends on operator. There are 99% that you will not do it for free by yourself.
There is one chance to do it yourself only if your provider made some calling time lock. For example you have to insert Vodafone SIM card and make a phone call for some 5-10 minutes. Try to ask someone with a same Vodafone UK phone.
You can do it with Odin only if it was not really locked from the beginning but just had some carriers bloat, that was asking for that unlock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lew1s said:
But actually I could do this with S7 edge. So S8 has some protection?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was it the same Vodafone UK? What is exact model number of your S8+? What was original firmware and firmware you have feflashed with?
Ganibal_Lector said:
Was it the same Vodafone UK? What is exact model number of your S8+? What was original firmware and firmware you have feflashed with?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no was Irish. Model: G955F and I used this guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qcBBQ4rwis
lew1s said:
no was Irish. Model: G955F and I used this guide:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Based on other operators experience I would say you cannot do it by yourself as usually simple flashing will not unlock the phone. You will really need one of paid methods to unlock it. It is still better to ask someone with a same Vodafone phone. As unlockers on ebay etc. make money with those methods I don't really believe that someone here will tell you how to do that by your own.
There was a thread where the guy was discussing unlock for his Austrian locked phone. Finally he paid twice as first seller sold him some wrong unlock code and phone became network blocked completely. However he bought some "unfreeze" code from different seller and that worked for him. If it would be so easy to unlock operators phones they will never sell them cheaper than unlocked.
Another option is still to perform call with original Verizon UK SIM card for 10 minutes. After that you should reboot your phone and it should be unlocked. If it will not work you can approach Vodafone UK and ask them for unlock code. If there was no any financial issues for that phone and it is registered more than 6 months in the network they should provide you with unlock code for free.
Sorry if I didn't help you too much.
Hello, I have a problem with my phone (galaxy note 10)
I bought it from Amazon as a renewed phone
When it arrived in my country (Egypt) I put my sim It turned out locked to Verizon, not fully unlocked as the seller said on the title...
I heard about unlocking it with an EDL cable How I can do that... Need help
kerolos98 said:
Hello, I have a problem with my phone (galaxy note 10)
I bought it from Amazon as a renewed phone
When it arrived in my country (Egypt) I put my sim It turned out locked to Verizon, not fully unlocked as the seller said on the title...
I heard about unlocking it with an EDL cable How I can do that... Need help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the seller still owes Verizon, the device has a lien on it, and is considered stolen. If you want to use the device, either the original owner will need to settle their account, or you need to offer to do so on their behalf.
Also, Samsung devices are typically region specific, so it might not work on networks outside of North America.
First, do not update the firmware, what version exactly is running on it?
Second, there is Verizon bloatware and Verizon branding, and a notificaiton about SIM card at startup, however the phone should be operational everywhere.
Please post picture of the thing you want to remove from the device, I have several ideas about it.
Thank you.