Database Users

How to sim unlock galaxy s5?

How to....

BUMP.... Same question?
NOTE: this is a legal and legitimate question
I travel A LOT and have a box of 20 different (ACTIVE) sim cards, most places don't support AT&T (my US carrier) plus I want to keep the same foreign number that I had for the past 5 years. Anyway, I have a legitimate need and as such the carrier will unlock but their rules have apparently gotten really strict. [I flew to Canada when I bought my iPhone4 so as not to deal with this.]
T-Mobile requires 40 days of service or will unlock for military after the grace period (14 days) is over
AT&T requires 5 months of service
It just not right! Especially when I paid $720 for my phone -- the no contract price from TMobile ($660) plus 10% California tax.
I even paid this service (http://www.unlock-code-world.com) to unlock my phone and they came back after 2 days and said they couldn't do it. So, don't go to them for S5 although their price was REALLY good ($5.99).
So, what's a guy to do?
My plan is to return my phone to TMobile today and rebuy an AT&T one and try their customer service because I got no where with TMobile, even after requesting a supervisor.

I'd actually like to know this myself.
I don't want to root or flash any firmware, which is why I'd like to buy from the UK (as I've always had their firmware previously)
Happy to pay for an unlock code if that's the way to go, but are they reputable?

If you buy the phone from a online store (not a service provider) it will be unlocked. If you buy it under contract then it will be locked to the Network, at least Vodafone is.
I have tried to get an unlock code but the IMEI numbers are not in the databases yet. Most places online selling these are reputable and you get the code pretty quickly via e-mail, well if they can provide it that is.
For my phone, even Vodafone did not have the unlock code so have had to go back to Samsung for it.

alex_tytn said:
NOTE: this is a legal and legitimate question
I travel A LOT and have a box of 20 different (ACTIVE) sim cards, most places don't support AT&T (my US carrier) plus I want to keep the same foreign number that I had for the past 5 years. Anyway, I have a legitimate need and as such the carrier will unlock but their rules have apparently gotten really strict. [I flew to Canada when I bought my iPhone4 so as not to deal with this.]
T-Mobile requires 40 days of service or will unlock for military after the grace period (14 days) is over
AT&T requires 5 months of service
It just not right! Especially when I paid $720 for my phone -- the no contract price from TMobile ($660) plus 10% California tax.
I even paid this service (http://www.unlock-code-world.com) to unlock my phone and they came back after 2 days and said they couldn't do it. So, don't go to them for S5 although their price was REALLY good ($5.99).
So, what's a guy to do?
My plan is to return my phone to TMobile today and rebuy an AT&T one and try their customer service because I got no where with TMobile, even after requesting a supervisor.
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Click to collapse
If you paid full price call customer care and tell them that you need a sim unlock code for your phone I had my note 3 for a week not paid in full but on the EIP and I've been a long time customer I told them what I needed and they took my IMEI and emailed me back with an unlock code within 24 hours, they will do it for you easily since your phone is paid for trust me.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Personal rant. ;|
dawgboy1783 said:
If you paid full price call customer care and tell them that you need a sim unlock code for your phone I had my note 3 for a week not paid in full but on the EIP and I've been a long time customer I told them what I needed and they took my IMEI and emailed me back with an unlock code within 24 hours, they will do it for you easily since your phone is paid for trust me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not TMobile -- I called multiple times and even waited for a supervisor. PLUS multiple visits to the store.
I bought another one from AT&T yesterday and can hopefully get my money back from T-Mobile without a restocking fee (which I just learned about).
My whole S5 purchase has been quite a nightmare but the phone is cool.
Recapping...
Pre-ordered from Radio Shack to save $50 but their price was $100 more than AT&T so that was not good -- also forced to buy a $50 nonrefundable gift card in order to get the coupon. Then, they tell me later that the $50 coupon was only for people who bought plans but I clearly said that I wanted to pay full price and have no contract. [ Going back to talk to manager there to try and get them to give me my $50 deposit back. ]
Bought a phone from TMo for $720 (with tax) and they salesman told me it was unlocked. Multiple calls to TMobile, etc. no luck. [Going back to return that phone today.]
Bought the phone from AT&T yesterday only to find that I can't root it -- yes, they have a $35 restocking fee. Unlocking from them requires all these things but I'm hopeful that I can at least have that part.
TMo version (G900T) could be rooted -- and mine was so I'm hoping they miss that when I return it. AT&T version (G900A) has a locked bootloader so my understanding is that it will not ever be unlocked by the simple Chainfire method.

alex_tytn said:
Not TMobile -- I called multiple times and even waited for a supervisor. PLUS multiple visits to the store.
I bought another one from AT&T yesterday and can hopefully get my money back from T-Mobile without a restocking fee (which I just learned about).
My whole S5 purchase has been quite a nightmare but the phone is cool.
Recapping...
Pre-ordered from Radio Shack to save $50 but their price was $100 more than AT&T so that was not good -- also forced to buy a $50 nonrefundable gift card in order to get the coupon. Then, they tell me later that the $50 coupon was only for people who bought plans but I clearly said that I wanted to pay full price and have no contract. [ Going back to talk to manager there to try and get them to give me my $50 deposit back. ]
Bought a phone from TMo for $720 (with tax) and they salesman told me it was unlocked. Multiple calls to TMobile, etc. no luck. [Going back to return that phone today.]
Bought the phone from AT&T yesterday only to find that I can't root it -- yes, they have a $35 restocking fee. Unlocking from them requires all these things but I'm hopeful that I can at least have that part.
TMo version (G900T) could be rooted -- and mine was so I'm hoping they miss that when I return it. AT&T version (G900A) has a locked bootloader so my understanding is that it will not ever be unlocked by the simple Chainfire method.
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Click to collapse
Wow man I cant beleive they wont give you an unlock code, they had no problem giving me mine and I have only made one payment on it so far, what exactly are you telling them and are you currently a tmobile customer?.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

dawgboy1783 said:
Wow man I cant beleive they wont give you an unlock code, they had no problem giving me mine and I have only made one payment on it so far, what exactly are you telling them and are you currently a tmobile customer?
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Click to collapse
They said they'd unlock but I had to be a customer for 40 days -- no, I wasn't previously a customer. 40 days won't work for me because I have an AT&T GoPhone plan while in the US and I'm leaving this weekend. Besides, I didn't want to subscribe to the TMobile one which is waaaaay more expensive.
I spent $40 for two phones for 5 months while in the US. My wife and I don't talk/text a lot and I use Skype out for all my voice calls. It also seems that I always have Wifi in SoCal -- especially since I get my home internet from Time Warner and they give free wifi coverage.
$0.10 per minute and $0.20 per SMS and only when you use it. :good:
Sorry to hijack this thread.
I really want the same answer.
HOW TO SIM UNLOCK THE S5?

alex_tytn said:
They said they'd unlock but I had to be a customer for 40 days -- no, I wasn't previously a customer. 40 days won't work for me because I have an AT&T GoPhone plan while in the US and I'm leaving this weekend. Besides, I didn't want to subscribe to the TMobile one which is waaaaay more expensive.
I spent $40 for two phones for 5 months while in the US. My wife and I don't talk/text a lot and I use Skype out for all my voice calls. It also seems that I always have Wifi in SoCal -- especially since I get my home internet from Time Warner and they give free wifi coverage.
$0.10 per minute and $0.20 per SMS and only when you use it. :good:
Sorry to hijack this thread.
I really want the same answer.
HOW TO SIM UNLOCK THE S5?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think they are afraid that if they give you an unlock code and you unlock the phone then you will sell it, I think that was included in my conversation with customer support when I requested my unlock code but I assured them that was not my intentions, also being a customer for at least 40 days would makes sense, because I believe that I did read that in the support section for unlocking prerequisites, I wish I could help you but it seems the only method would be to buy an unlock code which I hear is a fast process and I've seen them advertized pretty cheap under $30.00 US, wich is not bad because if you ever decide to sell it, unlocked device's are always worth more.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60EsHfH6eVw

hemander said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60EsHfH6eVw
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's about the only way for now.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

hemander said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60EsHfH6eVw
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!
Worked for me UK Vodafone handset.
Either all IMEI unlock codes have now been released to all databases or these are the only guys that have them at the moment. I tried a couple of online places last week and they did not have the unlock codes.

chippyuk said:
Thanks!
Worked for me UK Vodafone handset.
Either all IMEI unlock codes have now been released to all databases or these are the only guys that have them at the moment. I tried a couple of online places last week and they did not have the unlock codes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have on my web site mobileunlock24.com access to unlock galaxy s5 from All European networks unlocking code is ready up to 1 hour.

Would this somehow work on sprint?

goodboynyc said:
Would this somehow work on sprint?
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Click to collapse
Should do! Try it, if they cannot provide an unlock code they will refund you straight away.

I usually use this site: http://unlockphonenetwork.com/
They always when i had a phone to unlock they did it flawlessly.
I had a AT&T phone and needed to get it unlocked, found it cheaper then anywhere else.
Cellunlocker.net sells it for 29.99$
Unlockthaphone.com 34.99$
and they sell it for 24.99$ which is awesome!
Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVkhvWMQe08&list=UUxk75HVldBdY7jgRFlyfIcw
Hope ti helps you guys!
Cheers!

got my Note 4 unlocked

I just bought my note 4 about 3 days ago and called T Mobile to see if I could get unlock code (I paid full price) but have not heard back from them yet. Since I am leaving on a trip to Asia on Tuesday I decided to try cellunlocker.net and within a few hours or less they got me the unlock code. It cost about $30.00. Nice service.
Bill

bkkcnxsi said:
I just bought my note 4 about 3 days ago and called T Mobile to see if I could get unlock code (I paid full price) but have not heard back from them yet. Since I am leaving on a trip to Asia on Tuesday I decided to try cellunlocker.net and within a few hours or less they got me the unlock code. It cost about $30.00. Nice service.
Bill
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Click to collapse
I used them as well and was very happy. I called up TMobile twice for it and both times they said they could not do it if the phone was never used on the TMobile network - so you took the right path.

msherman123 said:
I used them as well and was very happy. I called up TMobile twice for it and both times they said they could not do it if the phone was never used on the TMobile network - so you took the right path.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is their recent response to me a few days ago, paid full price for phone.
Thank you for taking the time to contact T-Mobile. We have received your SIM Unlock Request. Unfortunately, this subscriber is not eligible to receive the unlock code at this time. In order to be eligible, the IMEI must have usage by the mobile number requesting the unlock code and the account must have a minimum of two monthly service payments since first use of requested device.
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

MMakoto said:
This is their recent response to me a few days ago, paid full price for phone.
Thank you for taking the time to contact T-Mobile. We have received your SIM Unlock Request. Unfortunately, this subscriber is not eligible to receive the unlock code at this time. In order to be eligible, the IMEI must have usage by the mobile number requesting the unlock code and the account must have a minimum of two monthly service payments since first use of requested device.
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have been with TMO for almost 8 years so i have never had a problem with the last part but your IMEI must register on the network for them to unlock. However, i have gotten round this once by calling in and talking to the accounting depart i think it was. she looked up that the device was paid off in full and i told her i need the phone unlocked for business. depending on who you talk to when you call that department the IMEI being registered on the network doesnt matter. I will also state that when i made a regular request my unlock was denied but she got my unlock code sent the same/next day. I also have a history of unlocking all my phones and been with them for that long. but it never hurts to try right?

Mine unlocked in less than 20 minutes. Freedommobile.com
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

So just wait 2 months and call Tmo and they get it unlock for you?
On my last HTC One M7, they email me the unlock code within 1 day.

Some have gotten the unlock code without waiting two months, some have not. Depends on how T-mobile feels that day. I paid full price and they did not send me an unlock code. I had to use a web service to send me the unlock code.

I got the unlock code from tmobile. Took 3 times talking to them but got it eventually.

kendonsh said:
i have been with TMO for almost 8 years so i have never had a problem with the last part but your IMEI must register on the network for them to unlock. However, i have gotten round this once by calling in and talking to the accounting depart i think it was. she looked up that the device was paid off in full and i told her i need the phone unlocked for business. depending on who you talk to when you call that department the IMEI being registered on the network doesnt matter. I will also state that when i made a regular request my unlock was denied but she got my unlock code sent the same/next day. I also have a history of unlocking all my phones and been with them for that long. but it never hurts to try right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my first time was talking to csr, got rejected. yesterday i did the live chat and asked to unlock it again, told them it was for a business trip and phone has been paid. a few hours later i got the email with the unlock code. so i guess it really depends on which rep you are dealing with at that moment. btw, i have been with them for 8 1/2yrs.

I suppose my question to you guys simply, why? T-Mobile's outright purchased Note 4 can be used in say, India (can use t-mobile data/text while overseas). Are you saying that if the phone isn't 'unlocked' I cannot purchase a pre-paid SIM card from India and pop it in and it work? Is that why you guys are SIM unlocking? If I wanted to get mine SIM unlocked, will it affect anything with my use here in the states? Thanks all!

MMakoto said:
This is their recent response to me a few days ago, paid full price for phone.
Thank you for taking the time to contact T-Mobile. We have received your SIM Unlock Request. Unfortunately, this subscriber is not eligible to receive the unlock code at this time. In order to be eligible, the IMEI must have usage by the mobile number requesting the unlock code and the account must have a minimum of two monthly service payments since first use of requested device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just went through this with an iPhone.
Sadly, this is the current T-Mobile policy. Even if you pay full price for the phone you MUST have the phone in service in their network for 2 billing cycles or 40 days. Just then, and only then, they will unlock it. It doesn't matter if you've been with them for 8 years or 1 months, the 40 days of active service for the specific device being unlocked must be met. I'm sure there must be a way to skip this talking with someone over there but you have to get lucky. It's all explained here: http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-1588 . This applies to the Note 4 too.

bartolo5 said:
Just went through this with an iPhone.
Sadly, this is the current T-Mobile policy. Even if you pay full price for the phone you MUST have the phone in service in their network for 2 billing cycles or 40 days. Just then, and only then, they will unlock it. It doesn't matter if you've been with them for 8 years or 1 months, the 40 days of active service for the specific device being unlocked must be met. I'm sure there must be a way to skip this talking with someone over there but you have to get lucky. It's all explained here: http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-1588 . This applies to the Note 4 too.
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Click to collapse
then can you explain how i got my note 3 unlocked in the first week and the imei not being registered on the network.
you have to have 40 days of active service, now with new policy, but that does not mean that specific phone. the imei just has to register on the network and have no EIP for it on your account.
and yes being with t-mobile longer makes a difference, at least for me it does when i call.
---------- Post added at 08:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:26 PM ----------
inco9nito99 said:
I suppose my question to you guys simply, why? T-Mobile's outright purchased Note 4 can be used in say, India (can use t-mobile data/text while overseas). Are you saying that if the phone isn't 'unlocked' I cannot purchase a pre-paid SIM card from India and pop it in and it work? Is that why you guys are SIM unlocking? If I wanted to get mine SIM unlocked, will it affect anything with my use here in the states? Thanks all!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to answer your question, freedom lol. but seriously if i am paying full price for a phone i should be able to do what i want with it and use it on whatever supporting carrier i want.
you could use that phone in india with a tmobile sim inside but thats roaming with free data and text.
however if you wanna put in a non tmobile sim in your phone, like a prepaid one from india like you said, your phone would need to be unlocked. you can of course buy an unlock code but i rather have tmobile do it for free since its a service they offer lol.

So with that said, there's ZERO harm in requesting a SIM unlock for my N910T for primarily use in the states and it's a nice feature to have implemented such that when I travel abroad, simply replacing my TMO SIM with an out-of-the-country pre-paid GSM SIM (so I can make calls/data/text) is simple as pull-out/push-in and VOILA?!?
kendonsh said:
then can you explain how i got my note 3 unlocked in the first week and the imei not being registered on the network.
you have to have 40 days of active service, now with new policy, but that does not mean that specific phone. the imei just has to register on the network and have no EIP for it on your account.
and yes being with t-mobile longer makes a difference, at least for me it does when i call.
---------- Post added at 08:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:26 PM ----------
to answer your question, freedom lol. but seriously if i am paying full price for a phone i should be able to do what i want with it and use it on whatever supporting carrier i want.
you could use that phone in india with a tmobile sim inside but thats roaming with free data and text.
however if you wanna put in a non tmobile sim in your phone, like a prepaid one from india like you said, your phone would need to be unlocked. you can of course buy an unlock code but i rather have tmobile do it for free since its a service they offer lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

inco9nito99 said:
So with that said, there's ZERO harm in requesting a SIM unlock for my N910T for primarily use in the states and it's a nice feature to have implemented such that when I travel abroad, simply replacing my TMO SIM with an out-of-the-country pre-paid GSM SIM (so I can make calls/data/text) is simple as pull-out/push-in and VOILA?!?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No harm, it would be the same as you buying an unlocked phone.
And I've heard some people say they get better roaming on AT&T or other carriers after, specially since we have free roaming but I haven't noticed if it has
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Got both my mom's and my note 4 unlocked from tmobile. Just had to pay 2 months of EIP.

noob question, what's EIP?

m3lover1 said:
Got both my mom's and my note 4 unlocked from tmobile. Just had to pay 2 months of EIP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same, here. I did lose some time because the first CSR put in an unlock request for me without discussing any payment. The next morning I got a rejection from ARSystem Notify. I then called T-Mobile and asked for a supervisor. He wanted both two months of installment payments and two months of payments on the account as a whole. After I politely questioned why I should I have to pay in full for a five-member family plan, he settled for two months of EIP. After I paid, he read me the unlock code over the phone, which I also got in an email from T-Mobile.
Now all I need is a non-T-Mobile SIM. Sooner or later ...

inco9nito99 said:
noob question, what's EIP?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Equipment installment plan

Anyone get their Note 4 unlocked and using it on something like Cricket? I'd like to know if the mobile hotspot app on the tmobile version will allow me to tether. Currently, I have an ATT Note 4 that I bought outright but ATT has locked down the hotspot app so even if I use it with another carrier it's trying to verify that I have a hotspot plan with ATT which obviously fails. And of course the ATT Note 4 doesn't have root yet. So I have no options. I'm coming from a Nexus 5 which was completely stock without carrier interference and this was simple. Hoping someone can help. Thanks in advance.

Asked tmobile on phone for unlock code for international use. They made me pay only one months of device payment which was 17.99. the next day received the email telling me the device has to be paid in full. Called again asked to talk to supervisor as soon as she came on the phone she said don't worry will unlock right now. I got my unlock code within 2 min.
Just ask to talk to manager guys and be nice and respectful say that is very important business travel and u need ur phone. 99.9% they will do it. Just don't complain or be rude. I guerantee u will get it

Starting today, wireless carriers have to unlock your phone

Once you've paid off your contract, carriers can't say no.
by Jon Brodkin - Feb 11 2015, 8:31am CST
Major wireless carriers in the US have promised to unlock customers' phones or tablets once they've paid off their contracts, beginning today. This is the result of an agreement the carriers made with FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler in late 2013; the deadline to comply with all portions of the agreement arrived today.
http://arstechnica.com/business/2015/02/starting-today-wireless-carriers-have-to-unlock-your-phone/

Lovely in theory so far but not working for two of my devices. I used the AT&T page to request the unlock code and got it 2 days later not working.

I will try this with T-Mobile and let you know how it goes.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

re: T-Mobile unlock codes
It has long been tmobs policy to give unlock codes simply by request. They limit it to a
Few devices per year, but don't hassle you for b.s. like some carriers do. I had a phone I
Got in a trade, they never asked anything about it. Att has jerked me around every time I've tried to get any info they don't like to give out.

SIM card unlock for the Sprint variant ?

Does anyone know if a method to unlock the SIM card has been found on the Sprint variant?

its not locked

The sim card itself is locked, but you can just take it out and throw any other carriers sim in and it should work dandy.

I'm using TMobile on my sprint version

No so.
What they do now is when you go into the Sprint store they activated on the network and try to download updates so you can factory reset it however when you do and you put in a new Sim card it gets stuck on activating cellular service when you try to enter Sim card and after that is not of the sprint it basically just says invalid Sim will have to work on and unlock method

so what happened was i got them to exchange it with an unopened one, t-mobile works just fine. going to try att and "maybe" pop the sprint sim in however one might assume (I have little working knowlege) that if a sprint sim is put in it carrier locks it?

any more info on this?

from what I heard from here and on this reddit post" https://tinyurl.com/essentialsprint" it only locks if a sprint sim is put in first activating it with another sim keeps it unlocked gonna try this method when i get mine thursday. hopefully this works and ill pay off the cheap lease promotion they have which allegedly can let you get the phone for as little as 130 or so then use it with my mint sim service.

glasscitysd said:
from what I heard from here and on this reddit post" https://tinyurl.com/essentialsprint" it only locks if a sprint sim is put in first activating it with another sim keeps it unlocked gonna try this method when i get mine thursday. hopefully this works and ill pay off the cheap lease promotion they have which allegedly can let you get the phone for as little as 130 or so then use it with my mint sim service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm really curious if this works. Keep us posted. I would love to score one and use it on T-Mobile. I've heard some people have had success harassing live chat support into unlocking them.

benjmiester said:
I'm really curious if this works. Keep us posted. I would love to score one and use it on T-Mobile. I've heard some people have had success harassing live chat support into unlocking them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sadly they forced me to activate in store so I'm sim locked for 50 days then they will unlock it but I may try harrasing live chat lol cause sprints service is a hit or miss here in Toledo ohio

The lower option for end of lease payment is an extra. You still have to pay the whole amount when deactivating from Sprint. plus the lower amount you see as your End Of Lease buy out price. Yes after activating the phone first with Sprint the Sim will be locked. If you are traveling outside the country and you have been a customer for years Sprint will unlock your sim for International Usage. But for Domestic usage no. As long as the phone remains Unpaid on the Lease program they will Not provide the Msl to Unlock the device. In order to get the Msl the device will have to be Fully paid.

These phones are shipping locked before you put a sim in now. It happened to my and hours of calls to Sprint won't change a thing. I have to wait 50 bloody days. There's a thread for this on slick deals where this is explained in red text.

Weird, I just called and paid it off, and requested unlock and guy submitted for me right away. He said 24-48 hours, so I'll update this when I know more.

MSL is easy to get on other phones. Is that all you need to unlock?

JoRocker said:
Weird, I just called and paid it off, and requested unlock and guy submitted for me right away. He said 24-48 hours, so I'll update this when I know more.
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Click to collapse
keep us posted im keeping mine a few days before I pay it off to make sure i have no errors id need to return it for although so far so good especially after upgrading to the oero beta. hopefully getting unlocked is that easy cause id rather be back on my cheap mvno plan with this phone lol but 50 days isn't too long a wait if not

glasscitysd said:
keep us posted im keeping mine a few days before I pay it off to make sure i have no errors id need to return it for although so far so good especially after upgrading to the oero beta. hopefully getting unlocked is that easy cause id rather be back on my cheap mvno plan with this phone lol but 50 days isn't too long a wait if not
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Less than 24 hours with phone and paid off. I am now unlocked.
More details:
Purchased through flex lease on 10/14 on Free BYOD line
Received phone 10/15 then immediately called to pay off ($90+$30).
After payoff I asked to have a ticket submitted for unlock. My rep said that was fine, since I legally own the device, and promptly did it for me.
10/16 it's unlocked
If you're wondering who I spoke to, I went through tech support instead of traditional customer service route.

Please verify total cost of phone.
$25 down.
$5*18 months
$30 payout?
Some taxes and fees?
$145? +Tax

avd said:
Please verify total cost of phone.
$25 down.
$5*18 months
$30 payout?
Some taxes and fees?
$145? +Tax
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's right. Just taxes and no fees.
I believe total was low $150s.

Black Friday comes early. They are going to shut this off I'm afraid.

I picked one up yesterday at the Sprint store. Sealed in the box. I took it home, unboxed it, and powered it on with my Verizon sim and it immediately connected to Verizon LTE and I tried a T-Mobile and it worked perfectly too. So I guess that trick still works to unlock the phone?

new sprint Essential phone already locked?

I ordered a new Essential ph-1 directly from Sprint. It arrived in shrink-wrapped box. Without turning it on, I pop-in a t-mobile sim card. Then I went through the setup using Wifi.
But then it showed "invalid sim card" on the front page of the phone.
Is the phone now come locked to Sprint, or setup using wifi is the problem? Do I have to choose using carrier data to setup to avoid it being locked?
Anyone experience the same issue?

brandedhome said:
I ordered a new Essential ph-1 directly from Sprint. It arrived in shrink-wrapped box. Without turning it on, I pop-in a t-mobile sim card. Then I went through the setup using Wifi.
But then it showed "invalid sim card" on the front page of the phone.
Is the phone now come locked to Sprint, or setup using wifi is the problem? Do I have to choose using carrier data to setup to avoid it being locked?
Anyone experience the same issue?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it comes locked from Sprint. It needs to be on Sprint network for 50 days for an unlock.

JoRocker said:
Yes it comes locked from Sprint. It needs to be on Sprint network for 50 days for an unlock.
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This is correct. Any information you see about paying off the phone and leaving it on the Sprint network for a few days might not be relevant anymore either as Sprint stopped this after they closed their $5/month deal. Not sure how it works with new phones but that's last I heard.

JoRocker said:
Yes it comes locked from Sprint. It needs to be on Sprint network for 50 days for an unlock.
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I saw several threads that said if we put a non-sprint sim card in it first, it will be unlocked. Does that trick no longer work?

brandedhome said:
I saw several threads that said if we put a non-sprint sim card in it first, it will be unlocked. Does that trick no longer work?
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That was with the early phones, it is no longer the case.

wolfhelm said:
That was with the early phones, it is no longer the case.
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Is there anyway to unlock the phone?
The phone is on a lease plan (not paid-off), would I still be able to get it unlocked by Sprint?

brandedhome said:
Is there anyway to unlock the phone?
The phone is on a lease plan (not paid-off), would I still be able to get it unlocked by Sprint?
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As far as I know, there is no other way around at the moment. I'm still waiting for my 50 days to end.

On the essential unlock: I got mine on 11/24. Wouldnt one think it would be unlocked on the 50th day- 1/12?
Sprint customer service is a little lacking in this area. I paid off iPhones leases on Monday of this week, called on Tuesday to unlock.
Said it would take 2 days. Called on Thursday because we hadn't heard anything. Rep said, "sir, they j-u-st unlocked."
Never got an email. Did get a text Saturday night at 6 pm, four days later.
Are unlocks automatic?
Sent from my PH-1 using Tapatalk

cfclay said:
On the essential unlock: I got mine on 11/24. Wouldnt one think it would be unlocked on the 50th day- 1/12?
Sprint customer service is a little lacking in this area. I paid off iPhones leases on Monday of this week, called on Tuesday to unlock.
Said it would take 2 days. Called on Thursday because we hadn't heard anything. Rep said, "sir, they j-u-st unlocked."
Never got an email. Did get a text Saturday night at 6 pm, four days later.
Are unlocks automatic?
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Unlocks happen automatically.
I was able to get in on the Sprint $5 lease deal, I paid it off the first day and after 3 days I checked the phone and it was unlocked. Although it was only for domestic Sim. I'm waiting to see how it works after my first month ends and I've cancelled my account.

cfclay said:
On the essential unlock: I got mine on 11/24. Wouldnt one think it would be unlocked on the 50th day- 1/12?
Sprint customer service is a little lacking in this area. I paid off iPhones leases on Monday of this week, called on Tuesday to unlock.
Said it would take 2 days. Called on Thursday because we hadn't heard anything. Rep said, "sir, they j-u-st unlocked."
Never got an email. Did get a text Saturday night at 6 pm, four days later.
Are unlocks automatic?
Sent from my PH-1 using Tapatalk
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I was told that it's going to be unlocked automatically on the 51st day with a pop up message on your phone letting you know that your phone is now unlocked!
I'm a day behind you so let wait and see...

The phone is on a lease plan (not paid-off), would I still be able to get it unlocked by Sprint?
Sprint has changed its plan, so now it takes $699 to pay it off (even though it is $6/mo lease for 18months, it still takes $699 to pay it off), so it is not an option to pay it off. I am staying with Sprint service for a while (I have been using Sprint for like 10 years), but I really like my phone unlocked.

brandedhome said:
The phone is on a lease plan (not paid-off), would I still be able to get it unlocked by Sprint?
Sprint has changed its plan, so now it takes $699 to pay it off (even though it is $6/mo lease for 18months, it still takes $699 to pay it off), so it is not an option to pay it off. I am staying with Sprint service for a while (I have been using Sprint for like 10 years), but I really like my phone unlocked.
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I doubt Sprint will unlock it without it being paid off.
You'll probably have to wait out your lease program so you don't get hit with the big pay out fee for paying it off early.

NaterTots said:
I doubt Sprint will unlock it without it being paid off.
You'll probably have to wait out your lease program so you don't get hit with the big pay out fee for paying it off early.
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I know they wont
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Mine came Sprint sim locked out of the box
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avd said:
Mine came Sprint sim locked out of the box
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Mine too.
It also won't unlock right now.
I'm almost 30 days in, so no big deal.
Mine is paid off. Waiting for day 51 to cancel service.

I called on day 51 to get the phone unlocked domestically and internationally. They told me it would take 48 hours. That was on Saturday. The phone is still locked. It may take numerous calls and escalation in my case to get this to happen. The domestic unlock is handled differently and separately than the international unlock.

huzordaddy said:
I called on day 51 to get the phone unlocked domestically and internationally. They told me it would take 48 hours. That was on Saturday. The phone is still locked. It may take numerous calls and escalation in my case to get this to happen. The domestic unlock is handled differently and separately than the international unlock.
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Well, I believe when they said 48 hrs or 2 business days so you probably have to wait until Wednesday.
Keep us posted. My 50 days is ending next week!

My 50th day is Friday. Sheez....I have to wait until Tuesday possibly (2 business days)?
Also; I am porting out to Cricket. Isn't there some monkey business where the phone has to be on the Sprint network to receive the unlock?
What happens to someone who leaves sprint on say day 45?! How do they get this unlocked?
Sent from my PH-1 using Tapatalk

cfclay said:
My 50th day is Friday. Sheez....I have to wait until Tuesday possibly (2 business days)?
Also; I am porting out to Cricket. Isn't there some monkey business where the phone has to be on the Sprint network to receive the unlock?
What happens to someone who leaves sprint on say day 45?! How do they get this unlocked?
Sent from my PH-1 using Tapatalk
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Don't leave on day 45.
They specifically state in the terms 50 days.

tech_head said:
Don't leave on day 45.
They specifically state in the terms 50 days.
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Very pissed at the customer services. Placed order on Dec 12, received phone on Dec. 21. Paid it off next day. Received bill today. Found out I have to pay the service between Dec12-21, when I was waiting for my phone. What company does that? Phone is not unlocked till today. How to account 50 days then? From Dec12 or Dec21?