I have read basically all the region lock threads so far......
My phone says "no sim card | emergency call only"....so i'm pretty sure mines is region locked (UAE Galaxy S6, used in the US now)
I tried contacting the country specific Samsung customer support. Here are a few responses from the UAE agent:
aeagent012 said:
Unfortunately in this case you will be in need to send the device to one of the service centres in UAE to remove the region lock.
and
If the device covered under warranty, we can unlock it for free.
and
We apologize for the inconvenience, you can send the device and provide us with the number that you will receive from the service centre and we can file complaint to unlock for free.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So basically....My response was....#1 I need to send/ship it over to UAE service center #2 Under warranty its a free unlock #3 I told them I wasn't under warranty and basically didn't want to pay......and the agent reasoned with me and said they will basically do the unlock for free if I send it.
At last, Now the agent told me to send my IMEI to their R&D department. I will try that
@saar17
Question: Without sending the phone in.....how is the region unlocked achieved? It is an actual code, if so where would I enter the code anyway, no pop-up menu says enter any code.....Or is it a dialpad code? The only indication of the lock is my phone saying "no sim card".....With card inserted and full signal. No type of "enter code" menu.
Secondly..........Has anyone tried to odin flash stock firmware from country you want the phone to work in? (Example: Flash North American firmware to my UAE region locked phone)
Can anyone disprove the theory of buying the original country specific sim to put in.....even in different country. Or does the call absolutely have to be made with region sim in that actual region?
I got a UAE S6 and when I first put my SIM card in it said the same no sevice thing. Then it updated to 5.1.1 and it was fine. Guess I dodged a bullet.
Sent from my SM-T710 using Tapatalk
I also have a UAE S6 but I never had SIM lock issues when travelling. Worked fine in Egypt and Lebanon as well as the UAE.
I got it in Canada so it would have been a real problem if I had to send it away.
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 (I pay monthly for it) from Tele2 since I study there. Obviously, I've been using the phone for a while (hours of calling to other local numbers, 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
UnrevealedM said:
Hi all,
I bought an S8+ from the Netherlands on subscription (I pay monthly for it) from Tele2 since I study there. Obviously, I've been using the phone for a while (hours of calling to other local numbers, 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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I asked a question in your previous thread, and you've answered it here, when you don't pay full up front for the phone, and you have it on a contract / pay monthly, it is NOT unlocked. You'll have to wait till the phone is paid off fully and then it'll be fully unlocked.
murtaza02 said:
I asked a question in your previous thread, and you've answered it here, when you don't pay full up front for the phone, and you have it on a contract / pay monthly, it is NOT unlocked. You'll have to wait till the phone is paid off fully and then it'll be fully unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not the way it works in the Netherlands. The phone is carrier unlocked (i.e. I can use a French, Spanish, German, etc. SIM card in it). It is not region unlocked; it is region locked to Europe. I messaged Samsung and they assured me that I was correct and it was a precaution on their end to try and stop the grey market from prospering. I was informed that it would take 6-8 weeks, but I was wondering if anyone had another faster solution, since in 6 weeks I'll be back in the Netherlands.
So does anyone have a quicker solution?
Region Locked = Call at least 5 mins using the regions sim to unlock.
Network Locked = You need to ask your network provider for this to unlocked. Common on postpaid plans and network provided phones.
If you get your phone from network provider then it is most likely to be region & network Locked. But if you get it from a mall, shops, or other source, then most likely it is only region locked.
Try putting different sim
Hi mate,
I had the same issue with Samsung S8+ and Tele2 Nederland. So apparently, you cannot region unlock you phone if you call with tele2 nederland. You need to use any other dutch sim to do so.
So ask one of your friends or get a free Lebara sim and call someone for 5+ minutes. After it, the phone will have no region lock.
Feels like Samsung forgot to put Tele2 in their "dutch operartors" list.