[Q] Region Locked? - Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I just replaced the girlfriends phone with a new Samsung S4 and it came with a massive sticker on the side to say it will only work in Europe but is sim unlocked etc.
After reading a few pages it seems that Samsung now lock phones to regions similar to the Note 3 but now seems to be present on the 3rd S4 I have.
I was wondering does this mean she cannot buy a sim from outside of Europe and use it in the phone and is there a way to unlock it without rooting because it came with knox and she replaces her phone every other month due to damage.

A|ex said:
I just replaced the girlfriends phone with a new Samsung S4 and it came with a massive sticker on the side to say it will only work in Europe but is sim unlocked etc.
After reading a few pages it seems that Samsung now lock phones to regions similar to the Note 3 but now seems to be present on the 3rd S4 I have.
I was wondering does this mean she cannot buy a sim from outside of Europe and use it in the phone and is there a way to unlock it without rooting because it came with knox and she replaces her phone every other month due to damage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to use the phone with a European sim for about 5 voice call minutes (total gsm conversation, any received our sent call or calls), and then it will get region unlocked.
Enviado desde mi GT-P7510 usando Tapatalk 2

This is what i thought but after speaking to a Samsung Service Centre they said that the only way to remove / disable it is to bring the device to them, leave it for a week so they can contact Samsung with software codes etc and unlock it.
I am not too sure what they can do as other reports say that this cannot be disabled.
This will be put to the test tomorrow when i test out a foreign sim in it

Related

[REQUEST][MOD] Region lock removal tool

REQUEST][MOD] Region Lock Removal Tool
hello modders
I and others who travel a lot will need a tool which will remove region lock provided to all new galaxy phones since July 2013
Reference: http://gigaom.com/2013/09/26/seriously-samsung-sorry-european-roamers-but-the-new-galaxy-note-3-is-region-locked/
we need to find the code that was used to unlock the note 2 but now does not work on note 3 we can then acess secret menu and maybe unlock all regions hope we can find the engineer code.
This one below
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2037017
Yah, this is true and for me it doesn't make sense.
I can confirm that when i got the Galaxy note 3 yesterday it has a sticker on it, I checked the retailers here also S4 boxes have that sticker too.
okloub said:
Yah, this is true and for me it doesn't make sense.
I can confirm that when i got the Galaxy note 3 yesterday it has a sticker on it, I checked the retailers here also S4 boxes have that sticker too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just purchased mine in Hong Kong, No Sticker or warning of any kind.
No idea where this information comes from and which countries Note version/s it refers to, but I just got my N9000 (SM-N900) here in Bangkok, Thailand and tried it with European SIM cards (roaming, as I am still in Bangkok) and they all work just fine.
EDIT: Also no sticker or warning of any kind.
It is only for the first time you activate the phone. E.g. If you are in Europe with an European phone, activate using a European sim, you are OK to use other Sims when you travel.
But if u try using a say a American sim to activate the European ph on first boot then u are ****ed.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk 4
dcracks said:
It is only for the first time you activate the phone. E.g. If you are in Europe with an European phone, activate using a European sim, you are OK to use other Sims when you travel.
But if u try using a say a American sim to activate the European ph on first boot then u are ****ed.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not exactly ****ed. You can still unlock it via code or the service center.
Updated details here: http://www.sammobile.com/2013/09/27...cking-works-and-its-not-as-bad-as-we-thought/
Others have already shown that this is a software lock done via the CSC. I don't have a Note 3, but based on my experience with the Galaxy S4, this is something that would be very easy to remove.

Before buying Note 3 (3UK), advise pls

Hello there,
Need your advise guys before buying Note 3. (I own Note 2)
- I am thinking about getting this phone from buymobiles.net cos the deal is better than directly from 3 (£120 for handset + 24x£30) and also I need an unlocked phone.
3 says they start providing 4g next month. The phone is 4g ready - does it mean, I can use it with 3 now (3g only) and next month when they switch to 4g?
- I know there are 2 types of processor, which one is the most common on xda regarding cooking and how to check it if I order the phone by phone or website, please?
- any tips about buying this phone, is there anything I should know before buying pls?
Cheers
qwerty1q said:
Hello there,
Need your advise guys before buying Note 3. (I own Note 2)
- I am thinking about getting this phone from buymobiles.net cos the deal is better than directly from 3 (£120 for handset + 24x£30) and also I need an unlocked phone.
3 says they start providing 4g next month. The phone is 4g ready - does it mean, I can use it with 3 now (3g only) and next month when they switch to 4g?
- I know there are 2 types of processor, which one is the most common on xda regarding cooking and how to check it if I order the phone by phone or website, please?
- any tips about buying this phone, is there anything I should know before buying pls?
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi mate yes it works with 3g when 3 go 4g they will send you a new 4g sim and all N3 in uk are snapdragon 800
unlocked phone no! go to carphonewarehouse for unlocked phones
Sent from my SM-N9005 using xda premium
jowett69 said:
unlocked phone no! go to carphonewarehouse for unlocked phones
Sent from my SM-N9005 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
?
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2
qwerty1q said:
?
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3 don't do unlocked phone if you want unlocked you have to go to Phones4u or carphone warehouse
Not really, I purchased my note 2 from buymobiles. Net on 3uk network, the phone was unlocked, I asked a few times before ordering
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2
Phone 4 u don't deal with 3 anymorr and carphonewarehouse deals are expensive
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2
You may be better off getting the carrier-locked phone from 3 and unlocking it, rather than going for a SIM-free phone from Carphone Warehouse or Phones 4u which are all regionally locked. This is because the network carrier unlock is better understood, can be unlocked by the carrier without involving Samsung and is less susceptible to unilateral change than Samsung's opaque regional lock. As it is, Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4u cannot unlock the regional lock on Samsung phones (ie Note 3, new S4s etc) which they sell and Samsung are refusing to do so.
An unofficial unlock of a regionally locked phone is always going to stand out if Samsung has never agreed and never will agree to release the regional lock associated with the sales code/IMEI of the regionally locked phone. The risk is that Samsung will have ways to reapply the regional lock on such a phone. I am not sure I would want to risk Samsung seeking to reapply its regional lock and would rather take my chances with a carrier lock and getting that unlocked instead.
Thank you for some useful information.
Can I easily unlock a phone locked to 3UK?
Is it expensive?
Are you sure that the locked phone from 3UK or any other provider doesn't have a regional lock?
Can the phone have both locks?
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2
qwerty1q said:
Can I easily unlock a phone locked to 3UK?
Is it expensive?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have not tried it but reports are of unofficial network unlocks costing around $20 and being quite easy to obtain. Whether 3 would do it for a long-standing customer I have not explored. 3 might well require its use for a period before 3 would consider unlocking it themselves.
qwerty1q said:
Are you sure that the locked phone from 3UK or any other provider doesn't have a regional lock?
Can the phone have both locks?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A determining factor for the inclusion of a regional lock seems to be the "sales code" of the phone. If you buy a phone from a 3 store then it is likely to be branded and have the sales code H3G. The sale code H3G has in the CSC a carrier NetworkLock for 23420 and 23594, both of which I believe are "3" networks in GB. There seem to be no other NetworkLocks in the H3G systems/csc/customer.xml file, either for network or regional lock.
If you buy the phone from a general retailer like Carphone Warehouse or Phones 4u and the phone is unbranded then the phone may well have the regional lock in it. This seems to be the case even if it is being bought with a contract to a network like Vodafone or 3. You would be able to see it has a CSC like N9005OXABMJ3 - dial *#1234# in stock dialler to see version of CSC.
Not yet seen any example where there is both a regional lock and a carrier lock in the same CSC.

[Q] American Sim only-Working on GreecE?

Greetings they will bring me galaxy s5 from fujairah,my bro said me that inside the phone writes ''american sim only''.
The person who sell it to my bro told him that with an adapter works for all countries (europe and non europe)
my question is: will it work with an adapter? :/
I am on Greece..
PS.dont ask about shops etc..my bro is travellings with cargo ships..
Airboner said:
Greetings they will bring me galaxy s5 from fujairah,my bro said me that inside the phone writes ''american sim only''.
The person who sell it to my bro told him that with an adapter works for all countries (europe and non europe)
my question is: will it work with an adapter? :/
I am on Greece..
PS.dont ask about shops etc..my bro is travellings with cargo ships..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your brother will need to SIM Unlock the Galaxy S5 he is bringing to you for it to be able to work in your region.
Sent from my iPhone 5s using Tapatalk
SolarTrans said:
Your brother will need to SIM Unlock the Galaxy S5 he is bringing to you for it to be able to work in your region.
Sent from my iPhone 5s using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sim unlock how?
the seller told him that with an adapter will work..
but here i asked some friends and told me that will not work..
btw i will go tomorrow to cosmote and ask them..
Airboner said:
sim unlock how?
the seller told him that with an adapter will work..
but here i asked some friends and told me that will not work..
btw i will go tomorrow to cosmote and ask them..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no SIM "adapter" that will make a phone work in different regions.
Maybe he was talking about the outlet plug in the wall for power?
Sent from my iPhone 5s using Tapatalk
SolarTrans said:
There is no SIM "adapter" that will make a phone work in different regions.
Maybe he was talking about the outlet plug in the wall for power?
Sent from my iPhone 5s using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no he didnt tell to my bro about plug power..
he told him about sim adapter
i searched it and i find this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-in-1-Na...170?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item417f57de22
there is sim adapter..
but dude what do y mean with sim unlock?what i have to do?
Those SIM adapters change the physical size of the SIM card to fit in different devices, and have no effect on network compatibility.
Google SIM unlocking Galaxy S5, and you'll get much more information than what I can give you.
Sent from my iPhone 5s using Tapatalk
As far as I know, Samsung reacted to the outcry against region locking by not really region locking them - the just need to be first used (I guess activated, so to speak) with a sim from the original region. After doing that, you should be able to use them with any sim. At least that's what it says on the side of my box (this is an S5 bought in Germany though, US carriers may have locked their phones down)
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
cherrytontonne said:
As far as I know, Samsung reacted to the outcry against region locking by not really region locking them - the just need to be first used (I guess activated, so to speak) with a sim from the original region. After doing that, you should be able to use them with any sim. At least that's what it says on the side of my box (this is an S5 bought in Germany though, US carriers may have locked their phones down)
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and if you dont have a sim of original region?
SolarTrans said:
Those SIM adapters change the physical size of the SIM card to fit in different devices, and have no effect on network compatibility.
Google SIM unlocking Galaxy S5, and you'll get much more information than what I can give you.
Sent from my iPhone 5s using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok i will search it,meanwhile i will go to cosmote and ask them wtf is going with locks..
i asked on samsung hellas and they told me that it cant be unlock cauze is non europe..
and its has region lock..
so my question is..here in xda forum is there any app so we cant unlock facking phone on our region?
No. You'll have to activate the phone with a SIM card from the carrier it was purchased from, and make a 5 minute phone call. After that, it is ABLE to be region unlocked. You'll then need to contact the original carrier and request an unlock code.
There are some websites that will sell you unlock codes, but 1. They won't work unless you activate on the original carrier and make a 5 minute call
2. I have no idea of the legitimacy of some unlock websites.
I've heard good things about many of those sites, but I've never used one myself so I can't vouch for their validity.
Sent from my iPhone 5s using Tapatalk
Airboner said:
i asked on samsung hellas and they told me that it cant be unlock cauze is non europe..
and its has region lock..
so my question is..here in xda forum is there any app so we cant unlock facking phone on our region?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off, where did your brother get the phone?
In he got it in the United States, then the phone is not region locked but it would probably be carrier locked (unless it is from Verizon).
If he got it from the European Economic group then it is region locked and it has to be activated first in the original region and then can be used anywhere.
Good luck to you
koyanishi said:
First off, where did your brother get the phone?
In he got it in the United States, then the phone is not region locked but it would probably be carrier locked (unless it is from Verizon).
If he got it from the European Economic group then it is region locked and it has to be activated first in the original region and then can be used anywhere.
Good luck to you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my bro works on cargo ships as 2nd captain.
he was on fujairah and he bought it but when he opened the device he saw that the back of the phone writes ''american sim only''
..
yesterday he told me that he put on galaxy s5 greek sim from iphone and it worked perfect..
so i guess that the seller he done all the job before he sell it
btw today i will have news cauze its returned his home

S8 sim unlocked but not taking local sims

My brother bought an s8 from Uk, he pre ordered it and got it from the samsung outlet and brought it home to Bangladesh. It isnt carrier branded or anything, when I tried using local sims (we have 3g sims and carrier bands shouldnt be an issue) it asked for a sim unlock code. Could anyone help me out?
One week with this sexy but useless paperweight.
That mean you didn't buy a unlock phone from first time? Never hear other people have this kind issue
I figured it out. My brother didnt make 5 mins worth of voice calls to disable the region lock that samsung uses. Now the problem is that i dint have a UK sim at hand
the s8 as far as iknow well the international variant is not sim locked in fact is unlock the problem is that is region locked on the s7 international variant i used an app called region lockaway but i dont think tgat work for the s8.

Galaxy Note Fan Edition

Hi Guys,
Im on holidays in Asia and I found a Samsung dealer with stock of the Galaxy Note FE black onyx, international version (not the Korean), dual SIM (new).
Do you think it's worth it to buy them? I'm tempted to buy one and maybe sell one on eBay.
How much are they currently selling at? I just found some second hand ones on eBay.
Thanks!
Best regards
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
So I'm currently using the international note fe. I live in Malaysia so that's why it's the international variant.
I noticed when unboxing that it has a warning saying that this note fe can only be used with an sea sim card only.
There was a regional lock guide in it saying that this note fe is a sea model and only should be used with sea sim cards.
It also stated that to use sim cards from other regions, a cumulative call over 5 mins must 1st be made with a sea sim card. If a sim card from other regions is used for activation, the phone may not work.
Hi!
I guess yours is from a Malaysian carrier, the ones I saw here are being sold directly by Samsung, therefore there are no such limitations.
Best regards
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
Hi,
I bought it, it works flawless with my European SIM card.
There was no card included mentioning any restrictions.
The current price here is around 500usd.
Best regards
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
Rhodesfreak said:
Hi,
I bought it, it works flawless with my European SIM card.
There was no card included mentioning any restrictions.
The current price here is around 500usd.
Best regards
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I may ask...does Samsung Pay work with your European SIM card...or is it the same as the Korean versions...i.e. can't use Samsung Pay without a Korean SIM?
hello Guys,
My brother bought me the Note FE and send it to me here in Egypt,Unfortunately,I didn't accept our carrier sim card (appeared to be Sim Locked,What shall I do now? is there any workaround or I just have to return back ? How to unlock it?
Rhodesfreak said:
Hi Guys,
Im on holidays in Asia and I found a Samsung dealer with stock of the Galaxy Note FE black onyx, international version (not the Korean), dual SIM (new).
Do you think it's worth it to buy them? I'm tempted to buy one and maybe sell one on eBay.
How much are they currently selling at? I just found some second hand ones on eBay.
Thanks!
Best regards
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
alaasagaa said:
hello Guys,
My brother bought me the Note FE and send it to me here in Egypt,Unfortunately,I didn't accept our carrier sim card (appeared to be Sim Locked,What shall I do now? is there any workaround or I just have to return back ? How to unlock it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which exact model number do you have? (S, K, L , F, F-DS)
If it's the F or F-DS, no SIM Unlocking is required.
If it's one of the Korean variants (S, K. L), it might be SIM locked, if the phone was purchased on contract & still has an outstanding balance.
The only other scenarios I can think of is that your service provider is selective in which phones it allows on their network, or, the phone just isn't compatible with your service provider.
If the phone is indeed SIM Locked, there's sites on the web that provide unlocking for a fee.If you end up having to go this route, contact the provider to make sure that they can indeed unlock your particular phone.
Sent from my Samsung SM-N935F using XDA Labs
Do the Korean versions come in dual Sims varient?
ka_ko said:
Do the Korean versions come in dual Sims varient?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, just the single SIM with SD Card slot.
I've had both the "S" & "K" versions (both single SIM), I'd imagine the "L" version is single SIM as well.
Sent from my Samsung SM-N935F using XDA Labs
Battery life
@KOLIOSIS
Hi, I just bought N935F DS and as you already have this model for some time can you tell me how long is battery lasting for you?
Are you using dual sim?
3eefc4ke said:
@KOLIOSIS
Hi, I just bought N935F DS and as you already have this model for some time can you tell me how long is battery lasting for you?
Are you using dual sim?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, I get an average of 6 hours SOT and 24+ hours battery.
The battery is much better than I expected.
Best regards
Sent from my SM-N935F using Tapatalk
3eefc4ke said:
@KOLIOSIS
Hi, I just bought N935F DS and as you already have this model for some time can you tell me how long is battery lasting for you?
Are you using dual sim?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Battery life is fine,I can make it through a workday or weekend day w/no problem.
I don't have any real hard data,I haven't bothered for the last few years to pay attention,most phones do fine any more.
FWIW,here's some info on my set-up:
1) Four G-Mail accounts,all syncing all day.
2) Bluetooth: Samsung Gear S2 & I use a B/T headset (streaming Google Play Music) for 30-60 minutes per day.
3) I don't do social media,if you do,use the browser of choice instead.......I hear most (facebook) social media disease apps kill battery life. If the mentioned app(s) do OK for you,carry on.
4) Screen on-time varies,probably about 3hrs/day tops,you could easily get another 2-3 hrs before you see a low battery warning.
5) As for SIM usage,it seems to have little effect whether I use one or two.
With this typical usage,I still have anywhere between 30%-50% battery left after about 12 hrs total on-time.
If you have less,check your WI-FI/data connectivity & check your social media apps (if you use 'em) for battery usage.
I have the dual sim model too but I'm using a single sim and an sd card. I dont do facebook as well but will do instagram occasionally. morning full charge usually will end up around 30+ percent with around 6 hours of screen on time with whatsapp, wechat and instagram.
Samsung Galaxy Note FE SM-N935F SIM locked
Hello guys, i recenctly bought a Note FE and it is not working in my country. It says SIM Network pin blocked. Enter SIM network PUK. Please i need help
Its not your phone, it is the sim card locked probably because wrong pin was entered 3 times and now you need PUK code to unlock. If u still have the original plastic frame for your sim or paperwork it should contain the pin and puk codes otherwise u need to contact your telco
Unlocked Phone
Guys is there a website or a software that you insert the IMEI number and it does provide you with the code that the phone requires when you insert an overseas SIM in it.
This is the phrase that you might probably see when you insert a SIM card in a locked phone "SIM network unlock PIN" then you should enter 8 digit numbers. Did anyone manage to get such an issue solved?
The story similar to the other people, the phone was purchased from the Middle East, but it didn't work overseas, and the message above kept appearing when a SIM card is installed.
Steps of the solution:
Called the network provider, they said they can't do anything
Contacted Samsung overseas, they said you gotta contact Samsung in the place the phone was purchased.
Contacted Samsung in the place the phone was purchased, they haven't replied yet.
So if you have solved such an issue, please do share the solution with us.
Thanks,
Medo
---------- Post added at 11:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:01 PM ----------
Guys did anyone use this website before to unlock the phone and did it work or it is a scam?

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