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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Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
Thanks, I'll give it a try! And nah I use Vodafone. Virgin has no signal at all in my area.
I am completely clueless of what bootloader is and after some googling, I think that it's the locking of a phone's network to a specific company like verizon, at&t etc. But, here in India, we don't have such contracts, so do I need to unlock bootloader before rooting my phone? I previously had galaxy ace and there was no mention of bootloader even when I installed all sorts of custom roms.
nitish159 said:
I am completely clueless of what bootloader is and after some googling, I think that it's the locking of a phone's network to a specific company like verizon, at&t etc. But, here in India, we don't have such contracts, so do I need to unlock bootloader before rooting my phone? I previously had galaxy ace and there was no mention of bootloader even when I installed all sorts of custom roms.
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Click to collapse
you just won't get root if your bootloader is locked
Unlock it for root, CWM, ROMs , etc
No, a bootloader doesn't do what you assumed, it just restricts your devices from any alteration by giving you limited access. Region locked or carrier lock is a different thing.
Thanks all, one more thing, if I unlock bootloader then can I get my warranty back?
nitish159 said:
Thanks all, one more thing, if I unlock bootloader then can I get my warranty back?
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NO, you won't. When you apply for the code on Motorola site you lose your warranty. Even if you somehow manage to trick them, Moto G will still show status code as 2 (meaning relocked) instead of 1 (locked) or 3 (unlocked). Anybody feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
Hello,
I purchased recently a Galaxy S7 from Ebay, but have seen after the purchase, that it is sim locked from EE. I never before had a sim locked device. So my question now: Is it possible to flash over the sim locked rom a international rom with odin or is it necessary to unlock it with a code?
Thank you!
Oberbergler said:
Hello,
I purchased recently a Galaxy S7 from Ebay, but have seen after the purchase, that it is sim locked from EE. I never before had a sim locked device. So my question now: Is it possible to flash over the sim locked rom a international rom with odin or is it necessary to unlock it with a code?
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To unlock any network locked phone you have to buy a code for it or you give it to software/repair center to unlock it with a gsm box
Network locked is a lock which is stored in efs partition not in firmware or ROM so flashing or changing rom doesn't unlock it
Br
Shahzaib Jahangir
My phone is unlocked. When i flash new uptade does it go back to locked?
hrnsn23 said:
My phone is unlocked. When i flash new uptade does it go back to locked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No once its unlocked it will not locked without doing certain operations in efs partition to lock it again
Do anything safe with your phone without touching efs it will not be locked again
Br,
Shahzaib Jahangir
Shabby The Dev said:
No once its unlocked it will not locked without doing certain operations in efs partition to lock it again
Do anything safe with your phone without touching efs it will not be locked again
Br,
Shahzaib Jahangir
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you recommend the cheapest and reliable source for unlock code?
tim1988 said:
Can you recommend the cheapest and reliable source for unlock code?
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Click to collapse
The lowest cost to unlock samsung uk variant phones by code is 14 to 16 usd but I recommend you to give it to any software service centre to unlock it by cable and if you afraid for knox trip so don't be afraid there is a way to unlock S7 and S7 edge without tripping knox and much reliable
Br
Shahzaib Jahangir
Shabby The Dev said:
The lowest cost to unlock samsung uk variant phones by code is 14 to 16 usd but I recommend you to give it to any software service centre to unlock it by cable and if you afraid for knox trip so don't be afraid there is a way to unlock S7 and S7 edge without tripping knox and much reliable
Br
Shahzaib Jahangir
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay thanks!
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
I'm thinking about buying a Google Pixel 3 XL on Amazon, it's renewed. It is factory unlocked and I was wondering if it means it can be OEM unlocked. Does factory unlocked mean it doesn't come with a carrier?
Factory Unlocked means it's unlocked for all carriers.
xXx yYy said:
Factory Unlocked means it's unlocked for all carriers.
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Click to collapse
Thank you, so that means no blocking of OEM unlock?
xXx yYy said:
Factory Unlocked means it's unlocked for all carriers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because I heard Verizon blocks OEM unlocking.
Factory Unlocked ( read: device without network/SIM lock ) and OEM Unlock ( read: device's bootloader is unlocked ) are completely different things, they don't relate.
Whether the phone in question can get OEM unlocked or not I don't know: I don't own such a device.
xXx yYy said:
Factory Unlocked ( read: device without network/SIM lock ) and OEM Unlock ( read: device's bootloader is unlocked ) are completely different things, they don't relate.
Whether the phone in question can get OEM unlocked or not I don't know: I don't own such a device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So factory unlocked doesn't have a carrier and can choose any or not have any?
xXx yYy said:
Factory Unlocked ( read: device without network/SIM lock ) and OEM Unlock ( read: device's bootloader is unlocked ) are completely different things, they don't relate.
Whether the phone in question can get OEM unlocked or not I don't know: I don't own such a device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Pixels on Verizon can't be bootloader unlocked, I want to make sure I don't get Verizon. Factory Unlocked mean you don't have any, right?
ATBG said:
Google Pixels on Verizon can't be bootloader unlocked, I want to make sure I don't get Verizon. Factory Unlocked meand you don't have any, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Factory unlocked means it is SIM/Carrier unlocked so that the device can be used on any carrier network. This has nothing to do with OEM unlocking.
OEM unlock only applies to unlocking the bootloader so that the software on the device can be modified or install custom software.
Verizon blocks OEM unlock on all of its devices, you can't unlock the bootloader on Verizon devices, this means you can't use Magisk, TWRP, custom ROMs and you can't modify the software on the device.
Do you understand the difference now? If you want to be able to root a device or install TWRP and custom ROMs, do not buy a Verizon device because you will not be able to do these things on a Verizon device. Don't waste your money on a Verizon device.
Droidriven said:
Factory unlocked means it is SIM/Carrier unlocked so that the device can be used on any carrier network. This has nothing to do with OEM unlocking.
OEM unlock only applies to unlocking the bootloader so that the software on the device can be modified or install custom software.
Verizon blocks OEM unlock on all of its devices, you can't unlock the bootloader on Verizon devices, this means you can't use Magisk, TWRP, custom ROMs and you cant modify the software on the device.
Do you understand the difference now? If you want to be able to root a device or install TWRP and custom ROMs, do not buy a Verizon device because you will not be able to these things on a Verizon device. Don't waste your money on a Verizon device.
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Click to collapse
Okay, so factory unlocked means no Verizon?
Droidriven said:
Factory unlocked means it is SIM/Carrier unlocked so that the device can be used on any carrier network. This has nothing to do with OEM unlocking.
OEM unlock only applies to unlocking the bootloader so that the software on the device can be modified or install custom software.
Verizon blocks OEM unlock on all of its devices, you can't unlock the bootloader on Verizon devices, this means you can't use Magisk, TWRP, custom ROMs and you cant modify the software on the device.
Do you understand the difference now? If you want to be able to root a device or install TWRP and custom ROMs, do not buy a Verizon device because you will not be able to these things on a Verizon device. Don't waste your money on a Verizon device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand.
ATBG said:
Okay, so factory unlocked means no Verizon?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, Verizon may offer factory unlocked devices, but, that only means the device can be used on non-Verizon networks, it does not mean that it can be rooted, customized, modified or use custom software.
All devices have a bootloader, whether they are factory unlocked or not, the bootloader has nothing to do with "factory unlocked" and whether the bootloader is unlocked or not has nothing to do with "factory unlocked" and has nothing to do with whether or not a device has a bootloader. We are talking about two different kinds of "unlock" and they each have nothing to do with the other, they are each, their own specific purposes. "Factory unlocked" applies to the network(s) a device can be used on, "OEM unlock" applies to what software is allowed to be used on the device itself. You are confusing the two of them and associating them to each other in a way that is not correct, separate the two ideas in your head and understand each of them alone, without the other.
If you want a device that you can root and modify or use TWRP and custom ROMs on it, DO NOT BUY A VERIZON DEVICE. None of these can be done on Verizon devices unless you go all the way back to using devices such as a Verizon Galaxy S3 or S4 or older devices. Everything that Verizon has sold since the Galaxy S5 era has been bootloader locked to prevent root and custom software modifications.
Droidriven said:
No, Verizon may offer factory unlocked devices, but, that only means the device can be used on non-Verizon networks, it does not mean that it can be rooted, customized, modified or use custom software.
If you want a device that you can root and modify or use TWRP and custom ROMs on it, DO NOT BUY A VERIZON DEVICE. None of these can be done on Verizon devices unless you go all the way back devices such as a Verizon Galaxy S3 or S4 or older devices. Everything that Verizon has sold since the Galaxy S5 era has been bootloader locked to prevent root and custom software modifications.
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Click to collapse
How do I make sure it's not Verizon?
ATBG said:
How do I make sure it's not Verizon?
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Click to collapse
By not buying a device that is branded by Verizon, sold by Verizon or has a Verizon model number. Do a search using the model number, if it is a Verizon model number, your search results will show that it is Verizon. All or most of the US versions of Pixel devices for the different US carriers(i.e. Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc...) are bootloader locked, buy directly from Google or by an international version of pixel with an international model number.
Droidriven said:
By not buying a device that is branded by Verizon, sold by Verizon or has a Verizon model number. Do a search using the model number, if it is a Verizon model number, your search results will show that it is Verizon. All or most of the US versions of Pixel devices for the different US carriers(i.e. Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc...) are bootloader locked, buy directly from Google or by an international version of pixel with an international model number.
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Click to collapse
What about OnePlus devices? I found a OnePlus 7 Pro, I kinda want to use OnePlus instead. Does Verizon lock OnePlus too?
ATBG said:
What about OnePlus devices? I found a OnePlus 7 Pro, I kinda want to use OnePlus instead. Does Verizon lock OnePlus too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are you trying to do? What kind of "unlocked" are you looking for?
Do you want a device that is SIM/Carrier unlocked (also known as "factory unlocked") so that it can be used on a different network than it was "made" for?
Or do you want a device that has an unlocked bootloader or has a bootloader that can be unlocked by using the "OEM unlock" in order to root the device, install TWRP and custom ROMs or otherwise modify the stock software?
If you want a device that can be used on any network, you're looking for any kind of "factory unlocked" device. Many different carrier branded devices can be factory unlocked but I know that Verizon does not like allowing this on their devices.
If you're looking for something that can be customized and can use custom software, you are locking for a device that has an unlocked bootloader or at least a bootloader that can be unlocked via the "OEM unlock" setting or via fastboot commands, then, you do not want any kind of Verizon device, as in, NONE OF THEM. Stop asking about Verizon devices because I'm sure a Verizon device will not allow whatever it is you're wanting to do. Stop considering Verizon branded devices/model numbers. Stay away from Verizon devices, you'll only be wasting your money on a device that you will not be able to do anything with except use the device on their network using only the software that they install/allow.
Please stop beating your head against the wall, it isn't going to give or miraculously change into the answer that you "want" it to be.
Droidriven said:
What are you trying to do? What kind of "unlocked" are you looking for?
Do you want a device that is SIM/Carrier unlocked (also known as "factory unlocked") so that it can be used on a different network than it was "made" for?
Or do you want a device that has an unlocked bootloader or has a bootloader that can be unlocked by using the "OEM unlock" in order to root the device, install TWRP and custom ROMs or otherwise modify the stock software?
If you want a device that can be used on any network, you're looking for any kind of "factory unlocked" device. Many different carrier branded devices can be factory unlocked but I know that Verizon does not like allowing this on their devices.
If you're looking for something that can be customized and can use custom software, you are locking for a device that has an unlocked bootloader or at least a bootloader that can be unlocked via the "OEM unlock" setting or via fastboot commands, then, you do not want any kind of Verizon device, as in, NONE OF THEM. Stop asking about Verizon devices because I'm sure a Verizon device will not allow whatever it is you're wanting to do. Stop considering Verizon branded devices/model numbers. Stay away from Verizon devices, you'll only be wasting your money on a device that you will not be able to do anything with except use the device on their network using only the software that they install/allow.
Please stop beating your head against the wall, it isn't going to give or miraculously change into the answer that you "want" it to be.
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Click to collapse
Okay, I understand now. I choose OnePlus now instead of Google since I want a fully de-Googled experience.
ATBG said:
Okay, I understand now. I choose OnePlus now instead of Google since I want a fully de-Googled experience.
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Click to collapse
As long as it isn't a Verizon model of OnePlus.
Droidriven said:
As long as it isn't a Verizon model of OnePlus.
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Click to collapse
I chose the Google Pixel 3a XL and it said it was international. That's good, right?
ATBG said:
I chose the Google Pixel 3a XL and it said it was international. That's good, right?
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Click to collapse
Yes.
Droidriven said:
Yes.
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Thank you for helping me, man.