Database Users

SIM network unlock PIN for Samsung Galaxy S

Probably a silly question but I have the following problem:
I have 3 cards (Orange and 2 x T-Mobile). When I put either T-Mobile SIM in my phone, it requests a SIM network unlock PIN. I have the option of entering this in or clicking a dismiss button which will take me pass this screen but doesn't register onto the GSM network. This doesn't happen on my Orange SIM as this registers straight away onto the GSM network.
All 3 SIM cards do not request a PIN when I use them with two other phones that I have (HTC Hero and HTC TyTn 2).
On the SGS I have tried the pins 0000, 12345 and 1234 which are default PINs that I recall. I've checked the manual for the SGS and the literature that came with my T-Mobile SIM card and neither give any hints about a default PIN or about a SIM network unlock PIN.
I'm not sure if the PIN request is coming from the phone or the SIM card. I'm guessing it's coming from the phone but I don't know why it doesn't request this when I use my Orange SIM card.
I purchased the phone SIM free. The Orange SIM is a PAYG and the two T-Mobile SIMs are pay monthly contracts. I know all 3 SIMs work without PINs in my other phone.
Can anyone help? I'm assuming I'm missing something really simple but can't figure out what. I've already tried a dozen google searches with no luck. Please please help. I feel I'm being deprived of my 2 hour old SGS phone

I've now taken a video of the boot up sequence to show you what it looks like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D-RvvCK2bM
Can anyone confirm or refute whether this is happening on their SGS too? It seems like it's a Security Code on the handset but I can't find any setting for such a code.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Techno79 said:
Can anyone confirm or refute whether this is happening on their SGS too? It seems like it's a Security Code on the handset but I can't find any setting for such a code.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't think your phone is actually SIM free... no issues here using any SIM I like (purchased from Unlocked Mobiles). Where did you get yours?

n4nick said:
Don't think your phone is actually SIM free... no issues here using any SIM I like (purchased from Unlocked Mobiles). Where did you get yours?
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Click to collapse
I purchases it from handtec. I don't think it is Sim free for the following reasons:
1. It was listed as Sim free
2. The box it came in also seems to indicate it is Sim free
3. There is no carrier logo on the phone or anything it came with
4. Seems to work with my Orange Sim card (which implies the phone came from orange if it was Sim free and this phone hasn't been released on Orange).
I'm guessing by the single thread reply that no one else has come into this issue before? And it's probably not just a simple default security code?

I don't know if this will help, but when I was asked for a sim code on a new Nokia phone, about two years ago, I rang Voda and asked for the pin code. In your case you would need to ask T Mobile.

I have the exact same issue with my Galaxy from Handtec which arrived today. I hope they aren't selling sim-locked phones as sim-free... Time to call Voda...

Ok, apparently it's a known issue. Just spoke to handtec, they say they got a batch of phones from Samsung which are locked to Orange. Call them for a replacement/refund. Don't mess about with the phone support line, it just points you to the website and disconnects you, call them and speak to sales. 01733 298500

mcleancraig said:
Ok, apparently it's a known issue. Just spoke to handtec, they say they got a batch of phones from Samsung which are locked to Orange. Call them for a replacement/refund. Don't mess about with the phone support line, it just points you to the website and disconnects you, call them and speak to sales. 01733 298500
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah ok, that makes sense and which is why my Orange SIM card worked but not T-Mobile. I may have come to this conclusion if I had a Vodafone and O2 SIM knocking about.
Thanks for the info. Will be returning the phone for a replacement.

n4nick said:
Don't think your phone is actually SIM free... no issues here using any SIM I like (purchased from Unlocked Mobiles). Where did you get yours?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@n4nick: It appears as though you were right although the phone doesn't look like an Orange locked phone. Orange are notorious for plastering their big ugly logo on the physical phone and all over the software. They even put their logo on the box, accessories and manuals. This phone really looks like a SIM free version.
I wonder if the Orange locked batch were due to go to Orange for them to do their usual carrier differentiation before they then go out to customers.

Hi!, I've bought Samsung Galaxy S from handtec too and I get the same message: sim network unlock pin. I've just sent request to Handtec support.
What about you? Did you somehow unlock? Or did you change your phone?

Speak to Handtec about it and get a replacement or a refund as the item sent out is the wrong item. As mentioned previously, I believe the mistake was from Samsung as they sent a batch of Orange locked handsets as unlocked handsets which Handtec then sold accordingly. Handtec seem to be handling the whole mixup very well with good customer service so you should be ok.

Yeah I'm experiencing this issue as well. Phone worked fine for 7 days then today out of nowhere I get the SIM network unlock PIN alert upon startup. I contacted Handtec and this is all they had to say.
Thanks for your email,
Unfortunately this is an error with Samsung and we will require all of the items back, postage will be covered once back and confirmed it is an orange locked device but we will require this back to replace it for you.
Please advise,
Kind regards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't be bothered with sending it back and being without a phone for atleast a week.

UltimaRB said:
Yeah I'm experiencing this issue as well. Phone worked fine for 7 days then today out of nowhere I get the SIM network unlock PIN alert upon startup. I contacted Handtec and this is all they had to say.
I can't be bothered with sending it back and being without a phone for atleast a week.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Legally they have to give you a full refund including the postage cost for both ways. Therefore you could purchase a new handset while you are in the process of getting a refund for the existing one. You'll know if it is an Orange locked phone because there was one or two Orange specific applications pre-installed on the phone.
If it was working before and not now then it's possible it could be a different issue though.

I work for t-mobile and samsung sent us some unbranded phones that were locked to orange by mistake. That chances are we wernt the only ones to receive them
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

had this problem myself on O2
went to store to use their phone to ring around (they were sorry)
after time on the line with O2 support they had no answers, so i rang samsung
samsung took literally seconds on the phone, i said about the 'sim network unlock pin' and he simply turned round and said its dead, a dead chipset thats in every phone they sent out in the last week, i was told this on friday 11th
samsung then spoke to the staff at the O2 store and advised them to mark all other galaxys they had as 'dead on arrival' and return them and for others to do the same
looks like a big batch issue so best thing u can do is send your dodgy one back like i have done, hopefully this replacement will work

I just got the Network Unlock PIN Message myself randomly after a reboot 7 days after purchase.
Has anyone tried using a TurboSIM to see if it works?
Sad thing is it was working one day and then broke the next.
Pretty bad that we have to pay postage to get their doa replaced. ( Specially considering that's about $50 for me. )
EDIT: Does anyone know what the STOCK firmware was when you got your handtec handset? ( From what I can tell it could be XXJF3. )
EDIT2: Success! After contacting Handtec they sent me a code to use, it seems to have permanently network unlocked my phone.

After a few emails with Handtec they were able to provide me with an unlock code after giving them my IMEI number. All is good again

I have a similar problem with T959 from TMobile USA. The phone was obviously locked to TMobile but I got the code from TMobile, entered it and phone was unlocked. My customer took home, used it for about a week and now the phone is network lock again and ask for network pin. So I enter the same code that was used to unlock it but now it DOES NOT work. So strange. But this happened before on other android phone and it worked, just re-enter the code. Anyone has a solution yet on this problem?

aaarrrggghhhh!
I have same problem but.... the unlock code Handtec sent me does not work
I have tried every method I can find on the internet to enter the unlock code (eg #0111*code#, #7465625*638*code# and even #7465625*638*# which pops up with a seperate box to enter the unlock code) and each time it fails. I've even done this after various full hardware resets.
Hantec have said the phone might be faulty with a software problem and to send it back to them.
I am in Cyprus and its going to cost me 50 euro to send it back. If I had paid an extra 50 euro on the Handtec price I could have bought it locally! Doh!
Mark.

newtonthecat said:
aaarrrggghhhh!
I have same problem but.... the unlock code Handtec sent me does not work
I have tried every method I can find on the internet to enter the unlock code (eg #0111*code#, #7465625*638*code# and even #7465625*638*# which pops up with a seperate box to enter the unlock code) and each time it fails. I've even done this after various full hardware resets.
Hantec have said the phone might be faulty with a software problem and to send it back to them.
I am in Cyprus and its going to cost me 50 euro to send it back. If I had paid an extra 50 euro on the Handtec price I could have bought it locally! Doh!
Mark.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To enter the code you should put a SIM in, and start the phone, it will ask you straight away...
If you attempted to enter wrong codes too many times it will stop asking you and your phone is permanently locked until you return it to the manufacturer.
Oh noes, mine better not relock... :\
Just out of curiosity, how many 5's does your code have?

[Q] Unlocking phone without using another carrier's SIM Card

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
Click to expand...
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
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

Network sim unlock pin tmousa?

I'm having a dispute with tmousa regarding them locking my phone to their network. I own my phone but put one of their prepaid sim cards in my phone. I guess they thought it was one of their phones and they locked my imei number to their network. Now for over a month I have been trying to get them to provide me with the network sim unlock pin so I can take my phone to another network but they're saying my phone has been modified and they can't find my imei number in their database so my phone is basically a brick now. They claimed they contacted HTC to get the number with no luck. Is there anything that I can possibly do now? Thanks.

11PCX said:
I'm having a dispute with tmousa regarding them locking my phone to their network. I own my phone but put one of their prepaid sim cards in my phone. I guess they thought it was one of their phones and they locked my imei number to their network. Now for over a month I have been trying to get them to provide me with the network sim unlock pin so I can take my phone to another network but they're saying my phone has been modified and they can't find my imei number in their database so my phone is basically a brick now. They claimed they contacted HTC to get the number with no luck. Is there anything that I can possibly do now? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IMO you should contact one of the ebay's unlockers and check if your IMEI is unlockable(it is cheap to unlock, about 2-5US$).

11PCX said:
I'm having a dispute with tmousa regarding them locking my phone to their network. I own my phone but put one of their prepaid sim cards in my phone. I guess they thought it was one of their phones and they locked my imei number to their network. Now for over a month I have been trying to get them to provide me with the network sim unlock pin so I can take my phone to another network but they're saying my phone has been modified and they can't find my imei number in their database so my phone is basically a brick now. They claimed they contacted HTC to get the number with no luck. Is there anything that I can possibly do now? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you give them imei number shown in the phone software (not the back)?

Wow thanks for the eBay tip! Just paid for the code so waiting for it now... I thought this was a different type of lock. I thought the Rom itself (tbd sense) unlocked the phone to other networks but I tried a wipe and re-flash and it was still locked so I should have asked the question sooner. Will post the result.

11PCX said:
Wow thanks for the eBay tip! Just paid for the code so waiting for it now... I thought this was a different type of lock. I thought the Rom itself (tbd sense) unlocked the phone to other networks but I tried a wipe and re-flash and it was still locked so I should have asked the question sooner. Will post the result.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also just so you know it was not the sim card you put in it that placed a lock on the device to just use T-Mobile. The lock was on the device from factory, all US cellular providers do this to all devices they sell. It is a effort by the providers to keep you from changing providers so easily. They figure if you have to buy another device to change providers you would not be so willing to change to another provider because it will hit you in the pocket book harder. It is a very under handed practice in my opinion and should not be illegal. We pay for ower devices and should be able to use them how we want and with what ever provider we want. But then again we live in the worlds greatest country right.......what a joke.

I have had an HD2 since they first arrived at T-Mobile. As stated, all phones in the US are carrier locked by default.
It was easy for me to have mine unlocked. I called T-Mobile and told them I would be traveling out of the country. I asked for the unlock, gave them my IMEI, and serial (maybe). That was all it took. I got a text message with the code.

Sim Unlock Sprint Galaxy S5 for use on the AT&T Network?

Hello everybody, sorry if this has been asked I tried searching everywhere and have come up with nothing that has been helpful to me. I am new here so if I'm posting in the wrong place I'll be happy to remove this.
I will try to provide you with every detail but my main problem is this: I have obtained an unlock code I received directly from Sprint for a Galaxy S5 I received from a friend. The friend made sure the device and his account met their qualifications, and he received a six digit "MSL Code" that he was told is the unlock code.
I have been told by Sprint, AT&T, countless YouTube videos and forums that the sequence for unlocking this phone is as simple as 1.) Entering a foreign sim into your device. 2.) When you turn the device on you will be prompted to enter the sim unlock code. 3.) Enter the unlock code and your device will be unlocked.
Of course it's turned out to be way less simple than that. My most obvious problem is with step #2. I am never prompted to enter the sim unlock code and instead only receive the message "Invalid Sim card."
Okay here is a back story if you want more details: I am on a family plan with AT&T right now that I believe is a good deal and would not like to switch carriers, although AT&T hires some of the biggest idiots I've ever encountered to work in their retail stores and tech support. I have been tempted to switch to Sprint because throughout all of this they have been the only ones to give me straightforward information and any help at all so far.
The Galaxy S5 in my possession meets all of Sprint's requirements to be unlocked and the previous owner received the unlock code directly from Sprint. It should be good to go.
I went to AT&T retail store with the locked device and unlock code for assistance and to make sure the process would go smooth and easy. The first time I was told it's impossible to sim unlock a phone and all I can do is sell the phone on eBay. I called tech support after this and they told me my problem was that I was using the AT&T sim card from my old HTC One, that SIM Card would be incompatible with the Samsung, so therefore I am receiving an "Invalid Sim card" error. The second time I went in I requested a sim card for a Samsung Galaxy S5 because AT&T tech support told me the SIM card in my HTC will not work. The dude grabbed an empty SIM card and gave it to me without asking me for my information or anything about my account and when I asked him about this he told me that it's not necessary, "SIM cards don't have any memory or carry any information on them for the phone to read other than what service the phone is supposed to use". I honestly don't know much about cell phone technology but I knew this was bull**** but he was no further help after I told him I think he might be wrong about that. I called AT&T tech support and they told me that guy was an idiot and to go back to them and request another SIM card.
I don't want to go back into that stupid store until I'm absolutely sure what the **** I need to do to get this stupid phone to work with my AT&T account. Please educate me on how this process works and what the correct steps I need to take are. Thanks a million times in advance for whatever help you can give me, and again let me know if this is being asked in the wrong place I'm still new here.

LG V20 LS997 successfully unlocked with Oreo update

I finally unlocked my LG V20 LS997 (Sprint version). There is no trick.
I bought my LG V20 LS997 from ebay and the seller claimed it is unlocked. I called Sprint and they also told me the phone is unlocked domestically and internationally.
However when I put non-Sprint sim card, I always got invalid sim card icon in the status bar and cannot get the phone work. Many people had the same issues.
Some people can unlock it and work but after update to Oreo, the phone will be locked again.
I found place in Sprint community talking about the unlocked LG V20 but still getting invalid sim card. I read through all the articles one by one. And I found that there are basically three steps:
1) Update PRL;
2) Update Profile;
3) Unlock UICC;
I can do the first two without any problem. But I never succeeded in step 3. So in Sprint community, I sent Em_Will_I_Am (please remember this guy, he is really good and can help you out) a private message telling him my IMEI, ICCD(sim card) and what problem I had. He will check if the phone is unlocked in the system or not first and make sure the phone can be unlocked by Sprint standard (fully paid, not stole phone, no unpaid charge etc.). Since my phone is in good standing and can be unlocked. He first re-locked my phone and I had to restart my phone using ##72786# to reset network settings. After that he unlocked my phone. After I do ##72786# again and wait for my phone is hand-free activated and wait for several minutes. I did
1) Update PRL;
2) Update Profile;
3) Unlock UICC;
What I got was something like 'Your phone is unlocked to any UICC that supported by the phone.'
Then I removed my sprint sim card and into a H2O wireless (AT&T MVNO) sim card. It works! You have to manually configure the APN in order to get data working. Since this is Sprint version V20, it only support 3G in at&t network. But at least I can have voice and 3G data from other vendor. I tried rebooting my V20 and factory resetting my V20. All of these operations have no impact on accepting the non-Sprint sim card. It looks to me is really unlocked now. My LG V20 was update to Oreo OTA one week back. so it is on the latest version of android now.
Thanks a lot to Em_Will_I_Am. When he relocks and unlocks your phone, he basically sends out a signal and your phone will pop up and say 'Updating profile' and then 'Profile update is completed'. During the whole process, Em_Will_I_Am will send you private message to tell you what he did and what you need to do.
My LG V20 was still in Sprint network and was active. I don't know if you don't have your phone actively on Sprint network will that work. But I would suggest to send private message to Em_Will_I_Am and seek his help. He may be able to help.

How can I get in contact with him

How can I get contact with him?

I need help too. Bought V20 phone off ebay and it worked great for about 4 months with Straight Talk and Cricket and then it got the Oreo update and now it gives me the invalid SIM message. I never used it on Sprint but it was a Sprint phone. Any help would be appreciated or if you can pass along the way for me to contact the person that helped you that would be great.

dreorlando said:
How can I get in contact with him
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please go to Sprint Community website. Register a user if you don't have. Then you will be able to find user Em_Will_I_Am and ask him for help.

pscook said:
I need help too. Bought V20 phone off ebay and it worked great for about 4 months with Straight Talk and Cricket and then it got the Oreo update and now it gives me the invalid SIM message. I never used it on Sprint but it was a Sprint phone. Any help would be appreciated or if you can pass along the way for me to contact the person that helped you that would be great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please go to Sprint Community website. Register a user if you don't have. Then you will be able to find user Em_Will_I_Am and ask him for help.

i need more ppl conrfirming this

V20 Invalid SIM
pscook said:
I need help too. Bought V20 phone off ebay and it worked great for about 4 months with Straight Talk and Cricket and then it got the Oreo update and now it gives me the invalid SIM message. I never used it on Sprint but it was a Sprint phone. Any help would be appreciated or if you can pass along the way for me to contact the person that helped you that would be great.
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Click to collapse
I was able to contact Em_Will_I_Am and they helped me out. I think an unlock code was sent again. I also did a couple of things that I think finally allowed the unlock code to come through. I went into developer mode and turned on Enable OEM unlock and then powered off. Then I powered back on while holding the power button and volume down. When the menu came up I chose Wipe Cache Partition. Then when I rebooted it came up and recognized the SIM again and so far all is good. Thanks again to Em_Will_I_Am on the Sprint community forums for all the help.

i paid for a unlock via ebay after he was finish unlocking my phone i inserted my sim. sginal kept droping every few seconds. so i cleared the network settings via phone dialer couple of times, same issue everytime so i just fk it and just updated to oreo now its still unlocked and signal don't drop!!!

Greetings.
I can confirm this. The Sprint assistant knows exactly how to solve the issue in just a few steps. Had the same problem associated to the phone locked since Oreo update and he helped me in a matter of few steps. Create the Sprint account and message him. He'll give you the support.

How long did it take for you to get the support?

Sprint sim card
So the sprint agent Em_I_will asked me for a sprint sim card and i don't have one. Can someone help me out here?

My phone has been unlocked
zhuhuilin said:
I finally unlocked my LG V20 LS997 (Sprint version). There is no trick.
I bought my LG V20 LS997 from ebay and the seller claimed it is unlocked. I called Sprint and they also told me the phone is unlocked domestically and internationally.
However when I put non-Sprint sim card, I always got invalid sim card icon in the status bar and cannot get the phone work. Many people had the same issues.
Some people can unlock it and work but after update to Oreo, the phone will be locked again.
I found place in Sprint community talking about the unlocked LG V20 but still getting invalid sim card. I read through all the articles one by one. And I found that there are basically three steps:
1) Update PRL;
2) Update Profile;
3) Unlock UICC;
I can do the first two without any problem. But I never succeeded in step 3. So in Sprint community, I sent Em_Will_I_Am (please remember this guy, he is really good and can help you out) a private message telling him my IMEI, ICCD(sim card) and what problem I had. He will check if the phone is unlocked in the system or not first and make sure the phone can be unlocked by Sprint standard (fully paid, not stole phone, no unpaid charge etc.). Since my phone is in good standing and can be unlocked. He first re-locked my phone and I had to restart my phone using ##72786# to reset network settings. After that he unlocked my phone. After I do ##72786# again and wait for my phone is hand-free activated and wait for several minutes. I did
1) Update PRL;
2) Update Profile;
3) Unlock UICC;
What I got was something like 'Your phone is unlocked to any UICC that supported by the phone.'
Then I removed my sprint sim card and into a H2O wireless (AT&T MVNO) sim card. It works! You have to manually configure the APN in order to get data working. Since this is Sprint version V20, it only support 3G in at&t network. But at least I can have voice and 3G data from other vendor. I tried rebooting my V20 and factory resetting my V20. All of these operations have no impact on accepting the non-Sprint sim card. It looks to me is really unlocked now. My LG V20 was update to Oreo OTA one week back. so it is on the latest version of android now.
Thanks a lot to Em_Will_I_Am. When he relocks and unlocks your phone, he basically sends out a signal and your phone will pop up and say 'Updating profile' and then 'Profile update is completed'. During the whole process, Em_Will_I_Am will send you private message to tell you what he did and what you need to do.
My LG V20 was still in Sprint network and was active. I don't know if you don't have your phone actively on Sprint network will that work. But I would suggest to send private message to Em_Will_I_Am and seek his help. He may be able to help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm this. The Sprint assistant knows exactly how to solve the issue in just a few steps. Had the same problem associated to the phone locked since Oreo update and he helped me in a matter of few steps. Create the Sprint account and message him. He'll give you the support.

elixir92 said:
So the sprint agent Em_I_will asked me for a sprint sim card and i don't have one. Can someone help me out here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I assumed I would need a Sprint sim to do this, so I just bought a new Sprint sim card off of ebay for a couple dollars. Then you will be able to give the sim information to Em_Will_I_Am
He'll put you on the list if your phone is able to be unlocked (ie. not blacklisted, not listed as stolen etc) and soon you'll be unlocked.
I'm so thankful to have found this thread and so thankful to Em_I_will for all his help. Amazingly helpful person.

hgib said:
I assumed I would need a Sprint sim to do this, so I just bought a new Sprint sim card off of ebay for a couple dollars. Then you will be able to give the sim information to Em_Will_I_Am
He'll put you on the list if your phone is able to be unlocked (ie. not blacklisted, not listed as stolen etc) and soon you'll be unlocked.
I'm so thankful to have found this thread and so thankful to Em_I_will for all his help. Amazingly helpful person.
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I have the same problem; Em_Will_I_Am told me that I would be on the waiting list from last week and still no answer.
Could you please tell me more or less what time it took you to complete the unlocking process?

xian2786 said:
I have the same problem; Em_Will_I_Am told me that I would be on the waiting list from last week and still no answer.
Could you please tell me more or less what time it took you to complete the unlocking process?
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I waited just over a week. Keep in mind, they are done in the order they are received and I'm sure the first priority is dealing with customers actually staying with Sprint
Just keep your phone powered up so that you're ready when your time comes.

hgib said:
I waited just over a week. Keep in mind, they are done in the order they are received and I'm sure the first priority is dealing with customers actually staying with Sprint
Just keep your phone powered up so that you're ready when your time comes.
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Ok, then I'll keep waiting.

I can do these remotely but unfortunately not free

hec2k said:
I can do these remotely but unfortunately not free
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Thanks, but the Sprint Community Manager (Em_Will_I_Am) solved my issue and now my phone it's unlocked for free.

hec2k said:
I can do these remotely but unfortunately not free
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how much will it cost?