Hi guys
I purchased a t-mobile mytouch 4g outright last week (no contract). When I contacted t-mobile about getting the phone unlocked, they were happy to provide me with an unlock code. The only problem for me is that unlocking the phone requires using a SIM card from other phone provider, something which I dont have access to atm. Is there any way for me to unlock the phone without having to use a SIM card from another provider. Buying a SIM card isnt cheap (eg $25 for AT&T SIM card), and I would like to get the phone unlocked before I head overseas (in case the unlock code doesn't actually work, I won't be able to return the phone to t-mobile without having some difficulties.
The only way you would be able to do that, that I know of would be to root it and do the s off procedure. I think that also will do the sim unlock for you too. Read over the method that uses gfree and visionary. I think it talks a little about the sim unlock and when in the process it occurs.
Maybe you could just go to att and ask them if they have a sim card you can pop in to complete the process.
borrow one if possible, or do the root method. Worked perfectly fine for me doing that method
First of all to correct True if you go that path you van manually do it via Radio S=OFF, since you have the code why go though all of that? Just do as Osu said and barrow any GSM based carriers SIM. This is another example of Android fail as WinMo has simlock.exe as toolkit for this very reason to unlock it without SIM card.
Sent from my HTC Glacier
Is this a new process for unlocks from T-Mobile, that you need to have another provider's SIM card? If I recall correctly (dubious) from getting an unlock code for an MDA and an SDAseveral years ago they would just email you the unlock code and you would enter it into the phone.
Related question if I may: Does T-Mobile still give unlock codes to people who purchased a subsidized smartphone (in particular the MyTouch 4G)? I am considering buying three to replace aging original iPhones and a major reason for me sticking with T-Mobile over the years is their unlock policy. Just want to make sure it's not significantly different for smartphones.
Thanks ... Mike
wenglish said:
Is this a new process for unlocks from T-Mobile, that you need to have another provider's SIM card? If I recall correctly (dubious) from getting an unlock code for an MDA and an SDAseveral years ago they would just email you the unlock code and you would enter it into the phone.
Related question if I may: Does T-Mobile still give unlock codes to people who purchased a subsidized smartphone (in particular the MyTouch 4G)? I am considering buying three to replace aging original iPhones and a major reason for me sticking with T-Mobile over the years is their unlock policy. Just want to make sure it's not significantly different for smartphones.
Thanks ... Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is their unlock policy?
tmobile's unlock policy is 1 unlock code every 90 days.
If the phone is taken on a contract, I believe the unlock policy is that it can only be done after 90 days. I bought the phone without a contract outright, which is why I was able to get the unlock code within a week (although I had to call them up and argue a little).
With regards to the unlocking itself, from what I understand if the phone is not rooted (I don't wanna do it yet as I'd rather keep the warranty for the time being, at least while Im still in the US), then the only way it can be unlocked is with another carrier's SIM card because that is the only way that you get prompted to enter the code. I have a code available for my phone, it's just getting the damn card so I can actually unlock it.
btw Im currently in a country with no contacts who are with AT&T, so getting their SIM card is easier said than done. It costs 25 bucks to purchase a AT&T SIM, something I would rather not do to get the unlocking procedure done. From what I've experienced At&T is the only major provider aside from t-mobile which still uses SIM cards, and Boost mobile/Sprint cards won't work with regards to unlocking because they use a completely different type of network, so the phone can't even detect their SIM card (I tried a Boost SIM and it didn't work)
wenglish said:
Is this a new process for unlocks from T-Mobile, that you need to have another provider's SIM card? If I recall correctly (dubious) from getting an unlock code for an MDA and an SDAseveral years ago they would just email you the unlock code and you would enter it into the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just recently unlocked some of my older T-Mo phones to sell them more easily. They will provide you unlocks for a retail price phone in one week, or a contract subsidized phone in 90 days. You can even request unlocks for phones you no longer use (like my T-Mo Dash I found in a box in the garage).
To "complete" the unlock process you must insert a non-TMo SIM card and the device will prompt you for the code. After entering the code, the phone is unlocked and will remain that way. Borrow a friend's SIM, it's what I ended up doing. Alternatively, if you are just wanting to unlock to resell the phone later, the code is "always valid" for that phone's IMEI and you can just provide the next owner with the code.
Off-topic posts removed...please don't post if you have nothing helpful to say.
holdup said:
With regards to the unlocking itself, from what I understand if the phone is not rooted (I don't wanna do it yet as I'd rather keep the warranty for the time being, at least while Im still in the US), then the only way it can be unlocked is with another carrier's SIM card because that is the only way that you get prompted to enter the code. I have a code available for my phone, it's just getting the damn card so I can actually unlock it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can unlock without rooting using gfree, if getting a SIM is truly an issue just to complete the process. See the gfree thread.
gfree usage:
gfree [-h|-?|--help] [-v|--version] [-s|--secu_flag on|off]
-h | -? | --help: display this message
-v | --version: display program version
-s | --secu_flag on|off: turn secu_flag on or off
-c | --cid <CID>: set the CID to the 8-char long CID
-S | --sim_unlock: remove the SIMLOCK
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Click to collapse
Just run gfree only with -S and that should do the trick and leave the phone still S-ON and unrooted.
What happens if you boot your phone without SIM card? Maybe you can unlock then?
I'm unlocked so can't check that myself
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
mr.tenuki said:
What happens if you boot your phone without SIM card? Maybe you can unlock then?
I'm unlocked so can't check that myself
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
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Last time I did this it functioned normally aside from no cell service. WiFi and everything else worked fine. No unlock prompts.
Holdup & Genocaust you are right. I found the unlock email from T-Mobile when I last did this in 2007, and yes, you do need to insert a foreign SIM.
holdup, not sure what you mean about only being able to use an AT&T SIM. I know for a fact you can use any UK-based SIM (T-Mobile, O2, Orange, Vodafone, even Tesco). You might look on fleaBay or Craigslist to see if anyone near wherever you are at has one for sale. It doesn't need to have credit on it as far as I recall.
I know that any international gsm Sim will work, but part of the problem is I won't have one until I leave the country, and if the code by some chance doesn't work getting it exchanged or refunded. The At&t sim im referring to is a US sim, not Uk (might have been some confusion there), which t mobile assured me would work. I don't want to buy a sim online right now because I don't have a fixed address for more than a few days at a time (currently doing a tour of the Us).
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
You could just go to the AT&T store, and do one of the following:
1. Flat out ask them if they could let you borrow an AT&T SIM so you can unlock the phone. BTW, the SIM they lend you does not have to be activated for this to work. It just needs to have a different network ID in it, which it will, because it will either be blank or it will be AT&T's; and in either case it wont match the TMobile network id.
2. Tell the AT&T store rep that you are wanting to bring-in your mytouch into their network (you'll buy service), but that you first want to see how it would behave in their network... And so, could they let you borrow a SIM to "test drive" it in their network... tell them you heard the phone has a radio that is compatible with their 3G frequency and that you want to verify that...
BTW, there is another way to access the unlock screen. It's just that the easiest way to trigger that software is to insert a SIM with a different network ID. Call tmobile or HTC and they may give you the other process. I have done this in the past for other handsets...
holdup said:
I know that any international gsm Sim will work, but part of the problem is I won't have one until I leave the country, and if the code by some chance doesn't work getting it exchanged or refunded. The At&t sim im referring to is a US sim, not Uk (might have been some confusion there), which t mobile assured me would work. I don't want to buy a sim online right now because I don't have a fixed address for more than a few days at a time (currently doing a tour of the Us).
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
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Click to collapse
It only takes 5 minutes. You don't have any friends or coworkers with a GSM SIM you could borrow? That's how I used to do it for my old dumb phones.
i know it takes 5 mins, but if you bothered to read my post you would read that Im in a foreign country with no contacts, currently working in a hospital. Virtually all doctors I work with have an Iphone or some CDMA phone, haven't come across anyone with AT&T.
Anyway, got the phone unlocked, just went to an AT&T store n pretended to be interested in buying a SIM, then used a sim card they provided to unlock, thanks to everyone for their help
I have an Atrix running stock 2.3.4 on AT&T in the US. In the coming months, I'll be traveling to europe for a few weeks. I'd love to be able to take my phone and just buy a temp SIM while I'm over there.
I know the process of removing the AT&T-only restriction is called unlocking - is that the same as unlocking the baseband? If not - where can I find a guide to unlock it for international use?
Also - will the Atrix even work (I'm guess does it even have the right cellular bands for Europe?) Thanks in advance!
I used my Atrix recently in Asia and the middle east. Worked like a charm with local sims. I paid like $15 to blowfish unlocks on ebay and followed the instruction to unlock. When you put the new SIM in it will ask for the motoblur login so make sure you know it. I thought it would need to activate over wifi or something with motoblur but just entering my already registered account was good enough. Hope this helps.
Gotcha. So the "unlocks" are two different things. I'll check out ebay if that seems to be the easiest way to get the code? Thanks!
Try here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=960771
Yes, essentially you have to unlock your baseband which can be done through an unlock code. The unlock which we have for Atrix out here is bootloader unlock, not baseband unlock!
I've read about this region lock and hope someone can help clarify my situation.
I am getting a T-mobile from ebay (supposed to be clean IMEI)...I plan to sim unlock as I am using in Canada. I read about the region lock...and some say as long as you use it with the same region sim it's clear....so does it mean if I use a Canada SIM it will be ok since it's same region (North America)...or does it have to be T-mobile or US sim? Some of the unlock code providers says you need to unlock with original carrier...does it haev to be?
Also, is there anyway to tell if it's region lock if you're using in your original region...i.e. if sim unlocked and I use in Canada (assuming that's consider same region)...how can I tell if region lock has been disabled if I don't have a foreign sim to check? Is tehre a way to see?
Thanks
newr said:
I've read about this region lock and hope someone can help clarify my situation.
I am getting a T-mobile from ebay (supposed to be clean IMEI)...I plan to sim unlock as I am using in Canada. I read about the region lock...and some say as long as you use it with the same region sim it's clear....so does it mean if I use a Canada SIM it will be ok since it's same region (North America)...or does it have to be T-mobile or US sim? Some of the unlock code providers says you need to unlock with original carrier...does it haev to be?
Also, is there anyway to tell if it's region lock if you're using in your original region...i.e. if sim unlocked and I use in Canada (assuming that's consider same region)...how can I tell if region lock has been disabled if I don't have a foreign sim to check? Is tehre a way to see?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-mo phones are region locked, but not as much as some international phones, I think there were somewhere around 15 entries , where normally you would have around 40. If you root your phone, you can use Chainfire program to get rid of region lock if your phone is on Android 4.3, not sure about 4.4.2 update. You can see list of region codes that are locked on your phone inside customer.xml (network lock with numeric code), file is located inside /system/CSC directory, but you need root to see it. Your bigger problem may be a SIM lock (I don't think Canada is region locked on US phones anyhow), but some people claim Chainfire unlocks SIM as well, but I have no way to confirm it. Otherwise T-mo can unlock the phone if it was fully paid for or you can use paid service to unlock the SIM.
I hope you understand risks involved with buying phones on e-bay? If the phone was not fully paid for, it may not be locked in Canada, but if it was reported stolen, I think that info may be distributed to other carriers? Phone could have some defects or may even be a fake, so just be careful and understand the risks. And finally make sure frequencies are compatible , but I can't help you with that.
Anyway, good luck if you decide to go ahead with it, Note 3 is awesome phone.
pete4k said:
T-mo phones are region locked, but not as much as some international phones, I think there were somewhere around 15 entries , where normally you would have around 40. If you root your phone, you can use Chainfire program to get rid of region lock if your phone is on Android 4.3, not sure about 4.4.2 update. You can see list of region codes that are locked on your phone inside customer.xml (network lock with numeric code), file is located inside /system/CSC directory, but you need root to see it. Your bigger problem may be a SIM lock (I don't think Canada is region locked on US phones anyhow), but some people claim Chainfire unlocks SIM as well, but I have no way to confirm it. Otherwise T-mo can unlock the phone if it was fully paid for or you can use paid service to unlock the SIM.
I hope you understand risks involved with buying phones on e-bay? If the phone was not fully paid for, it may not be locked in Canada, but if it was reported stolen, I think that info may be distributed to other carriers? Phone could have some defects or may even be a fake, so just be careful and understand the risks. And finally make sure frequencies are compatible , but I can't help you with that.
Anyway, good luck if you decide to go ahead with it, Note 3 is awesome phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But the idea of region lock is if you use the sim from the same region the first time, it will not activate the lock anymore according to Samsung. So if a t-mobile (north america) phone is activated on a canadian sim..would that prevent the region lock? I am aware of the Sim lock issue...had bought t-mobile phones before for here....trying to see if I should root or get code this time. HOpefully won't be problem with the IMEI...seems like more problem nowadays than in the past..guess lots of people are scamming T-mobile by paying $200 and taking the phone and run.
I've owned my J5 (SM-J510GN; globe-locked) for almost a year now. I've been keeping a close eye, both, on the unlock sites and the kiosks here in Manila and - still - no unlock code is available for this phone. Is it still 'too new?' When do these codes usually start to trickle out?
If anyone has one (that will work for my Globe lock), please PM me.
TIA
aydanmonty99 said:
Hi,
Unfortunately, I don't think you're able to unlock it via code. Since it's a dual SIM model, it has two IMEIs, so pretty much any unlock code provider is unable to help you.
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Hmm....when i put in a non-Globe SIM, it asks for an unlock code. My experience tells me that if I had the code, it would unlock that IMEI.
Let's just say it wouldn't....how are dual SIM phones being unlocked then? I've yet to root it as it's still under warranty and there's no way (as of yet) to not flip the Knox value of this phone via root (hence, immediately ending warranty).
Thanks for the reply. Hope this thread becomes active and I find a sol'n.
Hi guys,
I've recently purchased and S7 Edge thinking that it would be easy to unlock and use in Canada. The phone isn't on any blacklist that I can find and I've contacted T-Mobile and they said no problem for the unlock using the app. But every time I try the app to unlock it based on the email from T-Mobile the app says unlock failed: device is permanently unlocked. But none of my SIM cards work.
I'm wondering if I was to flash it to a Canadian carriers ROM would the device then work with a carrier here or would it still somehow be locked to T-Mobile?
Looking for some advice on what maybe I can do here. Love the phone but it's useless unless I can get a SIM to work.
ahlerl said:
Hi guys,
I've recently purchased and S7 Edge thinking that it would be easy to unlock and use in Canada. The phone isn't on any blacklist that I can find and I've contacted T-Mobile and they said no problem for the unlock using the app. But every time I try the app to unlock it based on the email from T-Mobile the app says unlock failed: device is permanently unlocked. But none of my SIM cards work.
I'm wondering if I was to flash it to a Canadian carriers ROM would the device then work with a carrier here or would it still somehow be locked to T-Mobile?
Looking for some advice on what maybe I can do here. Love the phone but it's useless unless I can get a SIM to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Locking/Unlocking is not dependable on which firmware your phone is. If your phone is locked/unlocked no matter what you flash it will stay the same.The unlocking process with the app, you will need a Tmobile sim in the first place to do it. After that, you will need to turn off your phone and introduce the non-tmobile sim. When you introduce the non-tmobile sim, do you get a sim unlock message?
One thing that I noticed (I have 2 Tmobile S7 edge at the moment) is the unlocking app is not that accurate or Tmobile servers not up to date. I had a fully paid Tmobile that showed for months my phone was not eligible for unlocking, then one day that I decided to try it again and it showed it was unlocked.
It's weird because at one point it said it was unlocked.... But still wouldn't work... I've called t-mobile 3 times now and have gotten the different answers. First time no problem, will send you to the unlock team... They said use the app, to no avail. Next time, there's a balance owing on the phone you can't and you need an unlock code too, third time oh we'll do it just need to get you the unlock code....
Needless to say I never got an unlock code. And even though I checked the blacklist before getting it, t-mobile keeps their own so it may have a balance owing according to their site. Media device it is then I guess.