Database Users

Question to those who have their S4 _successfully_ unlocked by Sprint

Did you received any sort of OTA when Sprint unlocked your phone?
Currently Sprint claims that they just mark the phone as unlocked in their DB and then you need to restart it.
It clearly doesn't work for many, the phone still shows "Invalid SIM" message and the consensus is that this is not normal and the phone is not unlocked.
So the question for those who have their phones _successfully_ unlocked, was there anything in addition to Sprint saying that they unlocked your phone?

when sprint unlocked my phone? I don't follow?

s4nut said:
when sprint unlocked my phone? I don't follow?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You call them (or chat) and ask to unlock the phone to be used with 3rd party GSM carriers. That's what I meant.

obender said:
Did you received any sort of OTA when Sprint unlocked your phone?
Currently Sprint claims that they just mark the phone as unlocked in their DB and then you need to restart it.
It clearly doesn't work for many, the phone still shows "Invalid SIM" message and the consensus is that this is not normal and the phone is not unlocked.
So the question for those who have their phones _successfully_ unlocked, was there anything in addition to Sprint saying that they unlocked your phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know if my phone has been successfully unlocked - but I can swap in a US T-mo Sim and it doesn't show an Invalid SIM message on my phone.
I only got an Email from InternationalDeviceUnlock <[email protected]> with the following message
Hello xxxxx xxxxxx
This email is intended to confirm that Sprint has successfully unlocked your Samsung Galaxy s4 Device. Please follow the steps below to unlock the device after you have the third party SIM:
Turn off device > Insert 3rd party SIM > go to Settings > More (tab) > System Update > UICC unlock. You will receive the update and it should change to GSM Mode.
Phone number: xxxxxxxxxx
If you have any additional questions comments or concerns please contact Sprint World Wide care 24/7 at 888-226-7212

jj14 said:
You will receive the update and it should change to GSM Mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So did the phone actually do the above?

it wont work on tmobile
tmobile is on different bandwidths when they say unlock they mean international not any us carriers and even if it did work you would only get edge no 3g or lte

johnfred1987 said:
tmobile is on different bandwidths when they say unlock they mean international not any us carriers and even if it did work you would only get edge no 3g or lte
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, tmobile and att bands are supported by the hardware.. but are blocked by samsung/sprint regardless of unlocked sim status. if we can unblock it 3G would also be supported. WCDMA band support on the Sprint GS4 includes 850mhz and 1900mhz... so that means 3G works just about everywhere for ATT... and Tmobile would have no AWS band support but would have 3G in areas where Tmobile has refarmed 1900mhz.
Again.. the hardware itself supports these bands... its just an extra block thats stopping us. I am working on the unblock for ATT/Tmobile.
And to the OP @obender, @jj14's post show exactly what Sprint sends when the device is unlocked. Other than that... go thru the steps and that's that. As jj14 also states.. he can pop in a tmo sim and gets no error... proving he is truly unlocked.

jj14 said:
I don't know if my phone has been successfully unlocked - but I can swap in a US T-mo Sim and it doesn't show an Invalid SIM message on my phone.
I only got an Email from InternationalDeviceUnlock <[email protected]> with the following message
Hello xxxxx xxxxxx
This email is intended to confirm that Sprint has successfully unlocked your Samsung Galaxy s4 Device. Please follow the steps below to unlock the device after you have the third party SIM:
Turn off device > Insert 3rd party SIM > go to Settings > More (tab) > System Update > UICC unlock. You will receive the update and it should change to GSM Mode.
Phone number: xxxxxxxxxx
If you have any additional questions comments or concerns please contact Sprint World Wide care 24/7 at 888-226-7212
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had my phone unlocked, and I did the above as per the email I received. However it just said that the profile had been successfully updated, which was the same thing it said before it was supposedly unlocked when I pressed UICC unlock. It also didn't change to GSM mode automatically. So I wasn't really sure it had worked, but I was able to put in the AT&T SIM from my Nexus 7 and I didn't get an invalid SIM error.
When I went to Costa Rica, I was successfully able to use my phone with a prepaid SIM (GSM and HSPA/WCDMA). That said, I had to go into the Testing menu and force it to use only WCDMA, otherwise it would only use GSM/EDGE (even selecting WCDMA preferred didn't work... it would switch back to GSM pretty quickly). I also had to make a build.prop edit to be able to add an APN to use data. So you basically need root if you want to use data.

obender said:
So did the phone actually do the above?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know - because I was still in the US and using a SIM from US based T-Mo

autoprime said:
no, tmobile and att bands are supported by the hardware.. but are blocked by samsung/sprint regardless of unlocked sim status. if we can unblock it 3G would also be supported. WCDMA band support on the Sprint GS4 includes 850mhz and 1900mhz... so that means 3G works just about everywhere for ATT... and Tmobile would have no AWS band support but would have 3G in areas where Tmobile has refarmed 1900mhz.
Again.. the hardware itself supports these bands... its just an extra block thats stopping us. I am working on the unblock for ATT/Tmobile.
And to the OP @obender, @jj14's post show exactly what Sprint sends when the device is unlocked. Other than that... go thru the steps and that's that. As jj14 also states.. he can pop in a tmo sim and gets no error... proving he is truly unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Be sure to let us know if at some point you do unlock it for T-Mobile/ATT - following you on twitter nowhoping to see a tweet at s ome point saying that you got it! Good luck!

autoprime said:
no, tmobile and att bands are supported by the hardware.. but are blocked by samsung/sprint regardless of unlocked sim status. if we can unblock it 3G would also be supported. WCDMA band support on the Sprint GS4 includes 850mhz and 1900mhz... so that means 3G works just about everywhere for ATT... and Tmobile would have no AWS band support but would have 3G in areas where Tmobile has refarmed 1900mhz.
Again.. the hardware itself supports these bands... its just an extra block thats stopping us. I am working on the unblock for ATT/Tmobile.
And to the OP @obender, @jj14's post show exactly what Sprint sends when the device is unlocked. Other than that... go thru the steps and that's that. As jj14 also states.. he can pop in a tmo sim and gets no error... proving he is truly unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You seem to be digging in the unlock for the S4, but are you just working on domestic, or also international unlock. Have anyone tried pulling all the nv items before and after the unlock?

obender said:
Did you received any sort of OTA when Sprint unlocked your phone?
Currently Sprint claims that they just mark the phone as unlocked in their DB and then you need to restart it.
It clearly doesn't work for many, the phone still shows "Invalid SIM" message and the consensus is that this is not normal and the phone is not unlocked.
So the question for those who have their phones _successfully_ unlocked, was there anything in addition to Sprint saying that they unlocked your phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just recently got my S4 from sprint I had them unlock it for international use all the available networks now show up, but in regards to invalid sim msg I will not know till the end of September when i am out of country. and on a side note if you call Sprint before you own the phone for less than 90 days you have to go through a lot of loops but they will unlock it for international use. out side of that I am unsure as too how far the unlock actually goes.
will keep you updated as to my findings I will be trying a different sim card while over there

Ingenium13 said:
I had my phone unlocked, and I did the above as per the email I received. However it just said that the profile had been successfully updated, which was the same thing it said before it was supposedly unlocked when I pressed UICC unlock. It also didn't change to GSM mode automatically. So I wasn't really sure it had worked, but I was able to put in the AT&T SIM from my Nexus 7 and I didn't get an invalid SIM error.
When I went to Costa Rica, I was successfully able to use my phone with a prepaid SIM (GSM and HSPA/WCDMA). That said, I had to go into the Testing menu and force it to use only WCDMA, otherwise it would only use GSM/EDGE (even selecting WCDMA preferred didn't work... it would switch back to GSM pretty quickly). I also had to make a build.prop edit to be able to add an APN to use data. So you basically need root if you want to use data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info, im going out of country soon and was wondering how you do the "build.Prop" Edit to edit the APN.
Thanks

Sprint SIM unlock for international GSM - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2415587

sprintomatic said:
Thanks for the info, im going out of country soon and was wondering how you do the "build.Prop" Edit to edit the APN.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See info here. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=44200619&postcount=58

Unable to register to any network..???

Hey guys,
So I recently purchased a N900W8 (canadian version) from the internet and it doesnt seem to register to the Bell network. They said it was with the Bell network, but the sim does not work. I also tried a Rogers sim, and it still doesnt register. For both sims, the network bars show up, the voicemail notification icon even shows up, but when I try to make calls it says "Not registered on network". I also just rooted the phone.
So my question is.. if it is SIM locked... how come the sim lock window isnt popping up for either of the sim cards? Since that is not popping up, is there another issue here? The phone is rooted, so would flashing a stock bell rom revert it somehow?
I am stuck.. thanks for all help.
Mike

azngreantea said:
Hey guys,
So I recently purchased a N900W8 (canadian version) from the internet and it doesnt seem to register to the Bell network. They said it was with the Bell network, but the sim does not work. I also tried a Rogers sim, and it still doesnt register. For both sims, the network bars show up, the voicemail notification icon even shows up, but when I try to make calls it says "Not registered on network". I also just rooted the phone.
So my question is.. if it is SIM locked... how come the sim lock window isnt popping up for either of the sim cards? Since that is not popping up, is there another issue here? The phone is rooted, so would flashing a stock bell rom revert it somehow?
I am stuck.. thanks for all help.
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
-I have the exact same problem with n9005 version
-check your IMEI by dialling *#06# then pull you battery your find IMEI number......they wont be the same
I think the problem is here

Its possibly a stolen phone?
If it has been reported stolen it won't work on any network in the country it was reported stolen...

[Q] Can't get I337 to work with Verizon after following unlock guide.

I have a SGH-I337 (AT&T) that I'm trying to get to work with a Verizon sim. I followed the steps in the post below.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...aranteed-free-sim-unlock-mk2-nb1-nc1-t2852979
I follow the steps as stated but at the end the phone has no signal/loses signal using Verizon sim's.
Usually after a fresh boot, the phone will have bars but no data and cannot make calls. The phone states EMERGENCY CALLS ONLY at this point. After a few minutes the service bars will disappear and be replaced with a NO SERVICE indicator.
The phone no longer indicates an invalid sim, but does not auto load APN settings. Manually inputting the Verizon APN settings does not fix it either.
I have checked and it does NOT show the NULL IMEI on the *#06#. Also with the Verizon sim the hidden menus don't always function (*#0011# and such) although I've read that is an AT&T only thing, I'm not sure if that true.
When I insert an AT&T Sim it gets service/data immediately upon booting. I've also tried two different Verizon sim cards.
Thoughts or Suggestions? What am I missing?

VTAssault said:
I have a SGH-I337 (AT&T) that I'm trying to get to work with a Verizon sim. I followed the steps in the post below.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...aranteed-free-sim-unlock-mk2-nb1-nc1-t2852979
I follow the steps as stated but at the end the phone has no signal/loses signal using Verizon sim's.
Usually after a fresh boot, the phone will have bars but no data and cannot make calls. The phone states EMERGENCY CALLS ONLY at this point. After a few minutes the service bars will disappear and be replaced with a NO SERVICE indicator.
The phone no longer indicates an invalid sim, but does not auto load APN settings. Manually inputting the Verizon APN settings does not fix it either.
I have checked and it does NOT show the NULL IMEI on the *#06#. Also with the Verizon sim the hidden menus don't always function (*#0011# and such) although I've read that is an AT&T only thing, I'm not sure if that true.
When I insert an AT&T Sim it gets service/data immediately upon booting. I've also tried two different Verizon sim cards.
Thoughts or Suggestions? What am I missing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't own any Verizon phones myself, so I could be totally wrong but:
- Verizon's SIM cards are just for data.
- Verizon uses CDMA (Your subscriber identity is in the ESN/IMEI)
- AT&T uses GSM (Your subscriber identity is in the SIM)
Both networks require you to authenticate yourself with your subscriber identity before they will give you data access.
Sounds like Verizon doesn't have your IMEI, so the phone fails to authenticate/connect.
Try calling Verizon, tell them you got a new phone, and you would like to tell them the IMEI of the new one, so that it can connect to data services.
Either that or they need the number off the Verizon SIM

jdisco1 said:
I don't own any Verizon phones myself, so I could be totally wrong but:
- Verizon's SIM cards are just for data.
- Verizon uses CDMA (Your subscriber identity is in the ESN/IMEI)
- AT&T uses GSM (Your subscriber identity is in the SIM)
Both networks require you to authenticate yourself with your subscriber identity before they will give you data access.
Sounds like Verizon doesn't have your IMEI, so the phone fails to authenticate/connect.
Try calling Verizon, tell them you got a new phone, and you would like to tell them the IMEI of the new one, so that it can connect to data services.
Either that or they need the number off the Verizon SIM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really do hope it's this simple. I'll try it tomorrow and let you know if it works.

I've never heard of a gsm phone working on cdma. Is it even possible?

Airtioteclint said:
I've never heard of a gsm phone working on cdma. Is it even possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me neither, but maybe since its unlocked? Plus it has an IMEI for Verizon to use...

jdisco1 said:
Me neither, but maybe since its unlocked? Plus it has an IMEI for Verizon to use...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It should be able to work with CDMA. I've seen the option in some of the menu's I've been through. And the guides have all said that they can work between AT&T and Verizon/T-Mobile or vice versa.
Also, AT&T will unlock the phone for you if you go to their website and fill out the stuff. The only reason I didn't do this is because I'm still under contract and I would have to break that and pay the early termination fee.

Samsung J3 / j320 won't recognise sim

Hello,
I recently received a 2nd hand Samsung J3 as my primary phone (Sony xperia z3) cracked. All is fine apart from one thing. The phone won't recognise my sim.
My phone is on the 3 network as the 3 start-up screen appears when powering on and off the device. My sim is on the iD network from Carphone warehouse, which is tied to the 3 network. In theory my sim should work in the samsung phone, but sadly it doesn't.
I was looking up the problem as the text "emergency calls only" appear. One of the methods was to change the network preference from automatic to manual, and selecting a provider that wasn't 3 (such as EE, Vodafone, O2 etc.) but I keep getting an error message saying "unable to connect." I looked this up and it said to dial in the phone "*#*#4346*#" and when i tried this I got an error message saying "No network connected." I looked up this error message and it said to change the network preference, which I can't do. It's like a never ending cycle.
Can someone please help and point me into the right direction?
Thanks

johngr77 said:
Check if your phone is blacklisted. If so, you won't get signal
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do I do that? My phone says "Emergency calls only"

No service

http://www5.0zz0.com/2018/10/10/03/698559611.png
hello there ,
I have an essential phone unlocked variant , I get no service when I insert my sim card in and i can't choose networks .
do you have a solution for this issue .?

Rwin01 said:
http://www5.0zz0.com/2018/10/10/03/698559611.png
hello there ,
I have an essential phone unlocked variant , I get no service when I insert my sim card in and i can't choose networks .
do you have a solution for this issue .?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it say Sim not present? If not, go online and search for APN settings for whatever network your on and enter them in as listed. On the screen you posted, click "access point names" and transpose the data from whatever your carrier's APN settings.

https://imgur.com/SD35C8d
Twowong4words said:
Does it say Sim not present? If not, go online and search for APN settings for whatever network your on and enter them in as listed. On the screen you posted, click "access point names" and transpose the data from whatever your carrier's APN settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
APN settings are set automatically with my local carrier sim card .
check attached photo

Rwin01 said:
https://imgur.com/SD35C8d
APN settings are set automatically with my local carrier sim card .
check attached photo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you raise this in guide section ->uicc unlock post. you can ask for modem partition from someone who has openus variant and can flash those ones. Did you also check your sim in another phone

arjunv said:
Can you raise this in guide section ->uicc unlock post. you can ask for modem partition from someone who has openus variant and can flash those ones. Did you also check your sim in another phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes my sim works in another phone . and i installed BTS rom and still having the same issue

Rwin01 said:
https://imgur.com/SD35C8d
APN settings are set automatically with my local carrier sim card .
check attached photo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe i dont understand but it looks as if you have 2 APN settings profiles yet you don't have either selected.

Twowong4words said:
Maybe i dont understand but it looks as if you have 2 APN settings profiles yet you don't have either selected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My phone is somehow locked for Sprint after the September update even if I have an unlocked variant (OPENUS)

Rwin01 said:
My phone is somehow locked for Sprint after the September update even if I have an unlocked variant (OPENUS)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://forum.xda-developers.com/essential-phone/how-to/discussion-brainstorm-sim-unlock-t3724135
https://forum.xda-developers.com/essential-phone/how-to/discussion-invalid-sim-card-options-t3838749
I glanced at these but didn't read the whole threads. Pretty sure they address sprint sim card locking post update. It may be worth reading about to see if yours is a similar situation. Good luck man.

I'm kind of in the same boat, essential phone openus variant with no service. I've tried different things and have been able to get it to work but just for some time before it gets no service again or some odd behavior. I don't get invalid sim or no sim notification, it is a no service notification, apparently it recognizes SIM and accepts it but is not able to find a network, as if it were out of coverage or mobile radio off. SIM card has been tested in another essential phone at same location and works flawlessly.
So far I've found that if I downgrade software to nougat and then update to oreo or pie, and then insert SIM, phone is able to get LTE connection, receive or make calls, it works fine. But then after a couple of hours or even half a day, it gets no service again. Network or factory resetting doesn't do anything, changing network settings neither,then after If phone is restarted with sim in or if sim is inserted while on, it immediately shows voicemail notification but there is no way to retrieve it of course.
Most of the times at network settings it gets and shows the correct apn but it doesn't let to choose network manually, it turns back to automatically and says no networks available. Some times I get a rare relation with wifi connection, if wifi is on and connected it shows carrier name as if ti was connected to network but no calls in or out, as soon as wifi is turned off or disconnects, carrier goes back to No Service.
Maybe someone knowing this has some idea of why phone has this strange behavior which makes it useless as a phone.

rodmat said:
I'm kind of in the same boat, essential phone openus variant with no service. I've tried different things and have been able to get it to work but just for some time before it gets no service again or some odd behavior. I don't get invalid sim or no sim notification, it is a no service notification, apparently it recognizes SIM and accepts it but is not able to find a network, as if it were out of coverage or mobile radio off. SIM card has been tested in another essential phone at same location and works flawlessly.
So far I've found that if I downgrade software to nougat and then update to oreo or pie, and then insert SIM, phone is able to get LTE connection, receive or make calls, it works fine. But then after a couple of hours or even half a day, it gets no service again. Network or factory resetting doesn't do anything, changing network settings neither,then after If phone is restarted with sim in or if sim is inserted while on, it immediately shows voicemail notification but there is no way to retrieve it of course.
Most of the times at network settings it gets and shows the correct apn but it doesn't let to choose network manually, it turns back to automatically and says no networks available. Some times I get a rare relation with wifi connection, if wifi is on and connected it shows carrier name as if ti was connected to network but no calls in or out, as soon as wifi is turned off or disconnects, carrier goes back to No Service.
Maybe someone knowing this has some idea of why phone has this strange behavior which makes it useless as a phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think your phone locked for Sprint like mine , call them to unlock it .
mine is unlocked From Sprint now , but i sill need a Sprint Sim to complete the unlock process which i didn't get yet , I don't know where i can get one (I LIVE IN MOROCCO)

I guess it's possible but I really don't think that phone could be locked to sprint. I understand although sprint variant is supposed to be locked, most users are able to use other carrier sim, and only the pie update has shown invalid sim, which is not this case by the way.

rodmat said:
I guess it's possible but I really don't think that phone could be locked to sprint. I understand although sprint variant is supposed to be locked, most users are able to use other carrier sim, and only the pie update has shown invalid sim, which is not this case by the way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mine is not a Sprint variant , and somehow is locked to Sprint , it was previously purchased From Best Buy . but after installing Pie on it , it shows no service , i called Sprint and they said it's locked to them
than i made an unlock request and they unlocked it

ok, so maybe flashing modemst images for openus variant could solve the problem, I don't mind trying if they come available but haven't found them yet.

rodmat said:
ok, so maybe flashing modemst images for openus variant could solve the problem, I don't mind trying if they come available but haven't found them yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you found them , let me know , i wanna try them as well