My friend has a USCC SGS 5, while he can take the sim out, it will not take to an AT&T sim without some sort of unlock code, I have not looked at it so I don't know but he brought it to AT&T and they said they can't (obviously) without a specific code that HE has to get from USCC themselves but he does not want to have to pay just for a code so he can get his preferred carrier.
My question, if you haven't already guessed it, is:
Is there any other way to unlock the carrier without paying for it? (Root, finding the unlock code from within the phone itself...)
I have a rooted Sprint SGS III but I have no knowledge of the 5's as I never had one and, thus far, can not afford it.
Nearing 24 hours and no reply, I'm just going to assume there is no way to unlock the carrier without the carrier's say-so.
I was hoping it would be somewhere in the phone, maybe in a text document that I could root the phone then read it and find out for him, I'm sure he wouldn't mind but if its a no-go then I'll just let him know, thanks either way.
CDMA phones usually require the owning carrier to do the unlocking. It'd have to be taken in.
Related
Please excuse my ignorance, I've been doing my best to find some info on unlocking a S4 SGH-i337 AT&T phone, and again please accept my apology if this is the wrong board. I've been doing some research but would like to know if this exact model is still lockable to this date.
I've come upon a great deal on this phone. I use Straight Talk and would like to be able to use it as a prepaid device as I'm doing with my nexus 4 right now.
I'd like to know if anyone could point me in the direction of unlocking this device or if it's possible at all to unlock and switch to straight talk?
Hope to hear some valid responses soon, take care you guy's.
PS: also if unlocked I should be able to root just fine, would it be possible to root to bare Android 4.3 on a s4 much like the google play edition, or would the cm custom rom be my best bet to that?
Thanks again take care!
I'll go ahead and order the phone since it comes with 30 day money back no reason needed!
kennethk1 said:
Please excuse my ignorance, I've been doing my best to find some info on unlocking a S4 SGH-i337 AT&T phone, and again please accept my apology if this is the wrong board. I've been doing some research but would like to know if this exact model is still lockable to this date.
I've come upon a great deal on this phone. I use Straight Talk and would like to be able to use it as a prepaid device as I'm doing with my nexus 4 right now.
I'd like to know if anyone could point me in the direction of unlocking this device or if it's possible at all to unlock and switch to straight talk?
Hope to hear some valid responses soon, take care you guy's.
PS: also if unlocked I should be able to root just fine, would it be possible to root to bare Android 4.3 on a s4 much like the google play edition, or would the cm custom rom be my best bet to that?
Thanks again take care!
I'll go ahead and order the phone since it comes with 30 day money back no reason needed!
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If I was you i would call at&t give them your imei number and if you have a nice customer service rep they will give you a unlock code or you can go on at&t website and apply for a unlock code and if they approve you after 2 weeks they will give you the unlock code in your email.What I did to unlock my phone was used ebay and payed like 3$ and got a unlock code or you can view many websites from google and look for one to unlock your phone the prices range from 10$-30$.If your switching to straight talk you wont even need to unlock your phone cause straight talk runs on at&t network so all you have to do is go on the website by a new 4glte at&t sim card for 6.99 and pay the 45$ for the service pop it in and your good to go and it comes with one day free shipping.And unlocking has nothing to do with rooting unlocking is being able to use your phone on other networks like tmobile.To run a custom rom your phone firmware in the about section has to be on MDB or MDL.If its on MF3 you can safestrap but i dont know anything about that but if you on MDB or MDL you can look for a 4.3 GPE custom rom. http://galaxys4root.com/t-mobile-galaxy-s4-roms/google-play-edition-rom-for-galaxy-s4/ this is where i got my GPE rom.
Doesn't need to be unlocked. Just buy the AT&T compatible SIM card from StraightTalk
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium
Azzair113 said:
If I was you i would call at&t give them your imei number and if you have a nice customer service rep they will give you a unlock code or you can go on at&t website and apply for a unlock code and if they approve you after 2 weeks they will give you the unlock code in your email.What I did to unlock my phone was used ebay and payed like 3$ and got a unlock code or you can view many websites from google and look for one to unlock your phone the prices range from 10$-30$.If your switching to straight talk you wont even need to unlock your phone cause straight talk runs on at&t network so all you have to do is go on the website by a new 4glte at&t sim card for 6.99 and pay the 45$ for the service pop it in and your good to go and it comes with one day free shipping.And unlocking has nothing to do with rooting unlocking is being able to use your phone on other networks like tmobile.To run a custom rom your phone firmware in the about section has to be on MDB or MDL.If its on MF3 you can safestrap but i dont know anything about that but if you on MDB or MDL you can look for a 4.3 GPE custom rom. http://galaxys4root.com/t-mobile-galaxy-s4-roms/google-play-edition-rom-for-galaxy-s4/ this is where i got my GPE rom.
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Sorry I didn't get you quoted buddy had an appointment.
So I'd still be able to get lte speeds with a straight talk and use locked att phone with the sims?
That's great news for the future and I appreciate letting me know. I love gazelle now. Good thing I bought that s4 when I did because it's out of stock now. lol I think 350 is a steal for it either way!
As for the rooting part didn't mean to confuse the two, hopefully we'll be able to install 4.4 kitkat to an s4 soon. Though question if I did install a custom rom would I loose some of the features such as IR blaster?
I already have a straight talk sim card in my nexus 4 so I should be able to just transfer everything and my time to my new phone.
kennethk1 said:
Sorry I didn't get you quoted buddy had an appointment.
So I'd still be able to get lte speeds with a straight talk and use locked att phone with the sims?
That's great news for the future and I appreciate letting me know. I love gazelle now. Good thing I bought that s4 when I did because it's out of stock now. lol I think 350 is a steal for it either way!
As for the rooting part didn't mean to confuse the two, hopefully we'll be able to install 4.4 kitkat to an s4 soon. Though question if I did install a custom rom would I loose some of the features such as IR blaster?
I already have a straight talk sim card in my nexus 4 so I should be able to just transfer everything and my time to my new phone.
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Yes you will get lte speeds since straight talk supports lte on at&t network now and it deoends what rom you run if its a stock GPE rom u=you might lose it but you probably could find a app for that but if its a touchwiz rom you will still have all your IR features.And it depends you can try to switch the straight talk sim card and see if you get LTE but i think you will need to buy the new straight talk lte sim card on their website.http://www.shopstraighttalk.com/bpd...&locale=en&market=GSM4&productFamily=simcards
Azzair113 said:
Yes you will get lte speeds since straight talk supports lte on at&t network now and it deoends what rom you run if its a stock GPE rom u=you might lose it but you probably could find a app for that but if its a touchwiz rom you will still have all your IR features.And it depends you can try to switch the straight talk sim card and see if you get LTE but i think you will need to buy the new straight talk lte sim card on their website.http://www.shopstraighttalk.com/bpd...&locale=en&market=GSM4&productFamily=simcards
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Thanks again, I already have a straight sim card in my nexus 4 so it should be as simple as swapping it out. Do you think 350 was a good price paid for it used? It doesnt come with a battery so thats a worry but I bought it from gazelle
kennethk1 said:
Thanks again, I already have a straight sim card in my nexus 4 so it should be as simple as swapping it out. Do you think 350 was a good price paid for it used? It doesnt come with a battery so thats a worry but I bought it from gazelle
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Yes it is when you buy a battery it will only be like 10$ you only paid 360$ altogether.
So I am going to buy a probably used Galaxy S5, most likely from Swappa.com and I am going to activate it with Metro PCS, which is a GSM carrier, so I know I need a GSM carrier GS5, like from AT&T or T-Mobile. I did a bit of googling and I only ended up with more questions... Are the AT&T and T Mobile versions of the GS5 carrier locked? From what I read online, the ATT is locked and the Tmobile is unlocked, but I cant be certain from the couple forum posts I could only find. If the phone is already unlocked, I can just bring it into the Metro PCS store and activate it, right?
Now, what if it is locked? Can I carrier unlock it myself? How do I do that? Do I really need to buy an unlock code online? Seems kinda sketchy to buy these codes from random unlocking sites, but if I have to...? Also, can I have it unlocked by Metro PCS or T-Mobile or ATT?
Next part of my question is about the bootloader. Again, I did some research, but found only one relatively... relevant forum post. So I come here for direct help. I was chatting with AT&T tech support on their site asking about the bootloader.
Anyways, ATT told me the bootloader on their GS5's are encrypted locked. What about TMobiles version? Supposedly if they are encrypted, there is near to no chance of really getting that unlocked. Although, if they are not encrypted, would they be able to be unlocked? I have no idea about T-Mobile having a locked bootloader or not.
Lastly, has the bootlader been unlocked already for any GS5? I ask because ive seen some GS5's with custom ROM's and launchers and stuff, but last I heard, they were still locked.
You didn't do much "research" via Google or searching this forum or you'd already have the answers your are looking for. These questions have been asked and answered innumerable times.
Very few carriers other than ATT and Verizon lock bootloaders. TMB's bootloader is not locked. Generally speaking, TMB model has the most GSM bands and is arguably the most desirable model but you need to check whether those include the bands you need with the carrier you plan to use. Do that by checking and comparing the bands that both carriers use or simply find out what S5 model your carrier uses itself.
Most phones, incuding TMB, ATT, et al are SIM locked. But you can easily get a third party vendor to provide an unlock code for about $20 and thereafter use it on another carrier.
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fffft said:
You didn't do much "research" via Google or searching this forum or you'd already have the answers your are looking for. These questions have been asked and answered innumerable times.
Very few carriers other than ATT and Verizon lock bootloaders. TMB's bootloader is not locked. Generally speaking, TMB model has the most GSM bands and is arguably the most desirable model but you need to check whether those include the bands you need with the carrier you plan to use. Do that by checking and comparing the bands that both carriers use or simply find out what S5 model your carrier uses itself.
Most phones, incuding TMB, ATT, et al are SIM locked. But you can easily get a third party vendor to provide an unlock code for about $20 and thereafter use it on another carrier.
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Sorry, this is just totally new to me. Ive never had an android device other than a Nexus 7 I was gifted that i hardly use. Ive never even had a smartphone, so Ive had to find and absorb all this info about rooting, bootloaders, unlocking. Its been kinda mind boggling. So in the meantime after I posted this I pieced together this info.. I hope I am corrrect:
-AT&T and Verizon have been locking their bootloaders for a while and everyone hates them for that
-Any GSM carrier phone can be unlocked to work with any other GSM carrier
-CDMA cannot be unlocked at all
Kinda iffy on this one, not 100% sure... -Rooting is the same as unlocking the bootloader. If the bootloader is not encrypted, the phone can be rooted and custom ROM's/recoveries can be installed.
-Supposedly Verizon and AT&T GS5's can now be rooted... (cant link to outisde links, but just search "How to Root ANY Samsung Galaxy S5 Variant (Even AT&T & Verizon) in 20 Seconds Flat" and its the first link.
Based off this new info I have gathered... I want a T-Mobile GS5 (or AT&T if they can in fact be rooted and have custom ROM's installed on them). I will have to carrier unlock it myself unless it is already unlocked (someone on Swappa.com says they are selling a "factory unlocked" T-Mobile GS5 for $480, so I guess T-Mobile also sells carrier unlocked versions). I will unlock it using a code from theunlockingcompany website for $40 (seems like a steep price, but supposedly its the best site to use). I will then unlock it with the code which should take a couple minutes after I get the code, code taking up to 5 hours to arrive in my email. I will then have to take it in store to Metro PCS (hopefully I can do it online too if I order the SIM card online to ship to me for $10) to have it activated with them and get service. Then it should be activated, have my phone number, have cell and data service, paid/pay $40 a month. All is well in the world.
Is that info I discovered above true, what about the steps I should go through in the last section, above?
DannyDee15 said:
Is that info I discovered above true
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I wouldn't know where to begin. Yes, a TMB phone is ideal IMO for ATT because it covers all of the ATT frequencies and then some, plus has an unlocked bootloader. Most of the rest you have wrong.
Any GSM carrier phone can be unlocked to work with any other GSM carrier
No. You can unlock phones, but models will seldom work well on a different carriers frequency allotment.
CDMA cannot be unlocked at all
Not true.
Rooting is the same as unlocking the bootloader.
They are not the same thing.
If the bootloader is not encrypted, the phone can be rooted
Not correct. You can root phones with locked (encrypted) bootloaders.
Supposedly Verizon and AT&T GS5's can now be rooted
Almost any Android with a pre-June6th firmware build can be rooted.
so I guess T-Mobile also sells carrier unlocked versions
Nope.
I don't know how you managed to adopt so much misinformation. I can only assume that you haven't done much reading yet and /or made a lot of assumptions. You should read some of the sticky posts to get a better general understanding of how everything fits together. Then you can pose more informed questions.
It has nothing to do with being new to smartphones. You just thought that it was easier to ask than to do a proper search or puzzle out a few confusing points. It would be in your own best interests to do some reading, but whether you do or not is entirely up to you.
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Sprint Samsung Galaxy S5 currently running Exodus Rom.
I live in Mongolia but I am in the states for another month before going overseas again.
Sprint gave me the MSL code (which I still don't get what I can do with this) and says that my phone is unlocked internationally. I want to know if it is truly unlocked internationally??? Is there a way I can check this?
Also, is there ANY way I can unlock my phone domestically? I'd rather not pay, but if there is a reliable way, please let me know. I have an AT&T prepaid sim and I would like to use it on this phone.
Thanks!!!
oh and the person on the phone with Sprint said that I could take the MSL code to someone at AT&T and they might be able to allow my phone to use their prepaid.
Does that sound like something that is possible?
ba-da-bump
My D850 died on me, and I have access to a spare SM-G900P Galaxy S5 –*the Sprint model.
I've never tried using a phone from a different network on AT&T before, so I don't know what to expect / how to go about this.
My understanding is that I would first need to unlock the phone. My roommate just finished paying off the phone on Sprint, so my understanding is she can request that they unlock it, yes? Is there a fee for them to do so?
I understand there are also places you can buy unlock codes, or unlock apps from. Is that necessary?
Why can't I just download and use an app to unlock it myself? Is that not a possibility?
So, my second question is about network connectivity.
4G / LTE / HSDPA+ speeds are all pretty important to me. Is it possible to mod this phone somehow to support these connections on AT&T?
I've seen mixed things. I've seen that it's not possible, that it's possible at home, and that it's only possible with access to special proprietary software...
I'm just looking for a straight answer here, as to how I could go about using this phone on AT&T, and what limitations I'd experience.
Thanks guys
its possible to unlock a G900P and use it on at&t, im doing that right now and have been for 8 mos or maybe even 10. You will get HSPA+ out of the box once unlocked and its pretty fast, but to get full lte, you neeed to do some serious digging into the phone itself as the bands needed for LTE on AT&T are locked. Not an easy task. But www.idoneapps.com is the best place to go. For $35 theyll unlock it and their forum is awesome, moderated byIDone and mainly NoDial. They are in Italy, but can unlock your phone.
I have a Samsung tablet E that is locked to T-Mobile. How would I be able to unlock it for At&t?
I feel for you as once, years ago, I had to jailbreak an AT&T iPhone to get it to work on T-Mobile, so I know the feeling of wanting to change what the phone can do but which the carriers locked you out of doing.
Hence, I would like to see you get that tablet unlocked where I have been on T-Mobile in the USA for over a decade and they've unlocked EVERY device I ever asked them to unlock for me.
There are a few caveats, of course, which you didn't mention so I have to ask you.
a. Do you own the device (or does T-Mobile still own parts of it in your contract?).
b. Have you been on T-Mobile for more than two billing cycles?
c. Do you owe T-Mobile any money (e.g., unpaid bills)?
Depending on the answer to a,b,c above, did you ASK T-Mobile to unlock it for you yet? If you did ask, what did they say?
In addition, many people have asked T-Mobile for a temporary unlock when they travel from the USA to Europe but it doesn't seem like you want just a temporary unlock.