Hi,
I have a Galaxy S5 which is region locked to the Americas. I'm trying to use it in other region, but when inserting non-USA SIM it asks me for a PIN code to unlock.
I have stumbled acrosst his site (with another one that offers the same service):
---.fastgsm.com/en/page/how-to-unlock-samsung-via-imei-s5230-star-s5620-monte-galaxy-tab-s3370
replace --- with www
Do you think it is safe? What other alternatives I have rather than going to the USA and making a five minutes call?
Sounds like SIM-Lock rather than Region Lock. - Both are different and I think you may have confused them
SIM-Lock means it is locked to a carrier, region lock would show no signal and no service etc until you had bypassed it by making that 5minute phone call
radicalisto said:
Sounds like SIM-Lock rather than Region Lock. - Both are different and I think you may have confused them
SIM-Lock means it is locked to a carrier, region lock would show no signal and no service etc until you had bypassed it by making that 5minute phone call
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it's SIM unlocked. I get message saying to insert "SIM network unlock PIN" which is region-lock, according to search in google.
European Model: This product should be activated with a SIM card issued from a mobile operator within Europe. (as defined EU/EEA, Switzerland and the following Non-EEA countries Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (F.Y.R.O.M), Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia and Vatican City.) To use SIM cards from other regions, a cumulative call over five minutes must first be made with the SIM card from European operators.
I'm having the same problem with the SM-G900H from America. I'm in Singapore now. Is it possible to use a USA-sim to unlock the phone WITHIN Singapore?
timweri said:
I'm having the same problem with the SM-G900H from America. I'm in Singapore now. Is it possible to use a USA-sim to unlock the phone WITHIN Singapore?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure, I would try this with roaming but I guess the system is smarter and will check for location.
I ended up buying an unlock code from Cellunlocker.net. They are very fast and responsive, and the code did the work for me.
etaiso said:
I'm not sure, I would try this with roaming but I guess the system is smarter and will check for location.
I ended up buying an unlock code from Cellunlocker.net. They are very fast and responsive, and the code did the work for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure. I think you're lucky...
I purchased a code from them but it doesn't work. I asked them and got this:
Hi
We do not unlock region locks. We only unlock the network.
This was written in red font on our website while placing your order:
All SAMSUNG devices manufactured after the date of JULY 2013 and Samsung devices running on Android version is Android 4.4 (KITKAT) are subject to REGION LOCKING
If your phone has been used previously with the original carrier, this will not apply to you. However, if your device is BRAND NEW, your must activate it with the original carrier.
If your Samsung device becomes Region locked, you will not be able to fully factory Unlock your Samsung devices so it can be used internationally. Even the correct code will not work anymore.
*All USA and European Carriers ARE subject to Region Locking
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totally ignored this as on their website, above this part says:
PLEASE READ THIS DISCLAIMER: If you have a Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, Note 2, Note 3 or your Android version is Android 4.4 (KITKAT)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there any other site that can really unlock a region lock?
Try this:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1...e-at-t-t-mobile-metropcs-rogers-bell-etc_tech
Try this
timweri said:
I'm not sure. I think you're lucky...
I purchased a code from them but it doesn't work. I asked them and got this:
I totally ignored this as on their website, above this part says:
Is there any other site that can really unlock a region lock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I selected the "Phone freeze + network unlock" from their menu. They provided 4 different codes, and when first used the network unlock code it didn't work, but I then entered the freeze code and it did the job.
cellunlocker.net:
Dosn't provide codes for Region Lock only for decives that open for Region Lock & Close for network lock !
*All Canadian Carriers are NOT subject to Region Locking
*All USA and European Carriers ARE subject to Region Locking
*There will be absolutely no refunds, if your device is Region Locked and an Unlock code is provided for your Samsung Device.
*If you are not sure please contact us first before placing your order
http://www.cellunlocker.net/samsung-unlock.php
Only fastgsm.com help to unloack SIM lock + region lock ...
etaiso said:
I have a Galaxy S5 which is region locked to the Americas. I'm trying to use it in other region, but when inserting non-USA SIM it asks me for a PIN code to unlock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung region locks to make it difficult to do exactly what you are trying to do. Reliable information on the topic is difficult to come by as it doesn't affect most of us.. hence most of us have little direct experience with region locking. And those affected frequently make assumptions and guesses but seldom study the issue methodically.
Some very knowledgeable people say that a normal SIM unlock will likely remove the region unlock as well. So that may be the best option for many. The question of whether using an Americas SIM, e.g. a prepaid SIM for example outside of the America's will release the region lock? The question gets raised from time to time but I have yet to see an authorative answer.. so the only thing that we can say is that it would probably work.
Lastly, one can, with root, directly examine and modify the region lock blacklist. So it is easily circumvented if you root your phone. I can vouch for the later. The other suggestions should work as well, but were not tested myself.
.
what about the people who already bought the phone and came back to their own country.?
it s too late for me to use a sim based in the purchase country. my phone has no sim lock, when i put the sim and try to call someone it says "not registered on network". I wonder is this because region lock or a different problem?
i would appreciate any kind of help.
I suppose you could try flashing firmware from your region and change your CSC. Worth trying since you don't have much choice.
russ18uk said:
I suppose you could try flashing firmware from your region and change your CSC. Worth trying since you don't have much choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the advice but my phone is G900H and G900FQ is the phone available in my region
i will try to change CSC when i get my phone back. It is in samsung service now. They are trying to fix it but no luck so far
My friend use .fastgsm.com to unloack SIM lock + region lock ...
I wounder if there is a way with root to unloack it ?
for some reson no one in XDA didn't give a solution to the problem...
anyone know another web to unlock SIM lock + region lock for non-rooted?
what about root deviecs?
Region lock on the 900A
I am looking to buy the galaxy s5 for use in several Sub-saharan African countries. I already have an old ATT sim with me and I will probably be ordering the 900A in/from the US and i want to make sure that the region-lock is not an issue. Will i be able to region unlock with an ATT sim card while in Africa or do i need to have someone make the 5min call for me while the phone is in the US? and is this call meant to be to or from the s5? Also, can the american s5 models be bought already sim-unlocked? (meaning only the region lock is left)?
Thanks!
timweri said:
I'm having the same problem with the SM-G900H from America. I'm in Singapore now. Is it possible to use a USA-sim to unlock the phone WITHIN Singapore?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are u sure that u have g900H? cauze the specific model is unlocked for all regions/countries
http://swappa.com/specs/samsung-galaxy-s-5-g900h
Galaxy Note 4 European locked
I have note 4 which is region locked, I have tried most of all the online unlock services, but they ether do not unlock region lock or they did not find my IMEI in the database.
the region lock away app will not work cause it only for not 3
I emailed Samsung support and they just say you cannot unlock
and I cannot go to Europe to make five or ten minute call to activate and come back
so the only question now which have been asked before, if using a European sim card outside Europe and make a roaming call will solve it or not?
I hope that someone can try it and let us know it will be very much helpful
Similar problem in Alpha
I face a similar problem with my Samsung Alpha....
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-alpha/help/region-lock-issue-help-required-t3044934
Can someone give me a lead on how to proceed with directly examining and modifying the region lock blacklist.
I have my device rooted.
Also, I read somewhere that installing a stock ROM from different Region, will not help with Region Unlocking.
Can some members please clarify and guide a way forward.
Thanks !!
Hello,
I've purchased Galaxy Note 3 (SM-9005 Model) From Italy.
The device was locked to europe only,
but they have removed the lock by making a call for 5 minutes with their european SIM.
The phone is now unlocked for me and works, I can make calls etc.
I would like to Hard Reset the phone or change it's ROM,
but I'm afraid it will be locked again.
Do you know if it would stay Unlocked or not?
Bump.
LordEnlil said:
Hello,
I've purchased Galaxy Note 3 (SM-9005 Model) From Italy.
The device was locked to europe only,
but they have removed the lock by making a call for 5 minutes with their european SIM.
The phone is now unlocked for me and works, I can make calls etc.
I would like to Hard Reset the phone or change it's ROM,
but I'm afraid it will be locked again.
Do you know if it would stay Unlocked or not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nobody can guarantee you anything, but:
1) before writing a custom ROM be 100% certain you have a full backup of the "sensitive" partitions!!!
2) if the region unlock becomes your only problem you might be able to fix that again by either using an EU SIM or by writing to Samsung and asking for a code (there is a thread which has more details on it, Samsung Germany are by far the most professional and helpful from all of Samsung representatives in EU, ideally write them in German even just using Google translate). If you originally had a network unlock then things might be more complex (but I doubt that is the case since a network unlock code would also fix regional unlock) and if you (or the custom ROM) messes with the modem or other sensitive partitions you are your own and only specific backups of those can save you in an effective way.
Hello Guys, NEWBIE HERE<NEED HELP WITH ROMS AND CARRIER UNLOCK OVERSEAS FOR THE 350T>
So, heres the deal, I'm currently abroad, so I've got no idea of, if I can flash the Global Unlocked version of the Stock UNLOCKED rom for this variant of the GRAND PRIME.
Since it is the tmobile variant I did had my doubts when buying the phone, but I got it Dirt Cheap, either way i'm stranding of path, tried to unlock with preinstalled tmobile app, checked the imei on the tmobile - us database to see if that was the problem, not reported lost or stolen anywhere, so I figured, what if removing the preloaded apps that interfere with region lock of sim card reader locking, might help me?
Therefore, my question PLEASE HELP ME lol, its the only phone I have on me and need to use it here.
Regards.
Maki
Suppose in the case I bricked my phone and I don't know the baseband version of it. Now what is the option to recover? Flash stock firmware via Odin but don't know the baseband??? What will happens if I flash another country stock firmware?? Will the phone hard brick?? Or it will work fine?? Thank you
The worst case is that your sim card will not work with that software. This is only if your phone is carrier locked.
If it is unlocked, or neverlocked as others put it, then you can flash any firmware you like, as long as it is for your respective phone model.
GDReaper said:
The worst case is that your sim card will not work with that software. This is only if your phone is carrier locked.
If it is unlocked, or neverlocked as others put it, then you can flash any firmware you like, as long as it is for your respective phone model.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you sir, as u r always helpful. ??
But wait. Suppose I got phone as gift from my relative who live in UK and I live in Nepal. Which country firmware should I flash?? UK or Nepal??
Athakuri700 said:
But wait. Suppose I got phone as gift from my relative who live in UK and I live in Nepal. Which country firmware should I flash?? UK or Nepal??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure that this phone isn't locked to O2 or any UK carrier.
Sent from my ASUS_Z00AD
Athakuri700 said:
But wait. Suppose I got phone as gift from my relative who live in UK and I live in Nepal. Which country firmware should I flash?? UK or Nepal??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should flash Nepal firmware then. It would give you better (more match) CSC code. The CSC (Consumer Software Customization) code contains the info about software packages specific to a particular region, carrier branding and also APN (Access Point Name) settings for data connection.
In my case, my S4 i9500 was made in Vietnam and when I received it, it had a Thailand firmware on it. It is a network unlocked phone. I live in USA. The first lollipop firmware came out was for Russia. So I flahsed the Russian firmware. My CSC showed that it is a russian phone. I used that phone on AT&T network that available in USA, China and Korea, and I had no problem.
Nothing will happen.
@sway8966
Are you really to suggest him to flash Nepali firmware on UK phone? I'll unlock it (the carrier-lock) first and then flash other countries' firmware if need.
Sent from my ASUS_Z00AD
Sorry to bump this up but im having problems with my s6 edge (Maybe because of this).
I recently acquired a phone from a relative from UK. The OS is android 7.0 and the carrier is three.co.uk (H3G), we have reset the phone to its factory settings and accidentally didnt noticed that it do auto update on the OS, then this bootloops starts to occur.
The phone isnt network-locked because the phone can receive signals, messages and phone calls on local sim.
Now upon browsing around SamMobile, There is an available Firmware for this mobile and even the firmware which is available to Philippines but only ver. 6.0.1
Is this possible to use the PH one or still i go to UK(h3g)?
help please
once i take the firmware from other countries and then i install to my phone,
does my phone will going to operate that firmware even if it come from another country
because i tried to find firmware according to my respective country unfortunately i missed it.
so please i need your assistance ..please
I'm planning to buy a European version of the SG7 edge. Checking online I found about the region lock issue so I was wondering if, after unlocking it with 5 minutes of calls, can I still unlock the bootloader and install custom ROMs without losing the unlock itself. I need to know this as I live outside Europe at the moment, so I don't want to have a useless phone after a while, thanks
Pav90 said:
I'm planning to buy a European version of the SG7 edge. Checking online I found about the region lock issue so I was wondering if, after unlocking it with 5 minutes of calls, can I still unlock the bootloader and install custom ROMs without losing the unlock itself. I need to know this as I live outside Europe at the moment, so I don't want to have a useless phone after a while, thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can unlock bootloader and install custom Rom. If you buy a global unlocked variant.
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
There's no really such thing as a bootloader unlocking on european model. It's just always unlocked. You can flash anything You want. And the call unlock thingy should either be required to do just once after buying it. Or every time You flash a custom rom. But that's the worst case. So I think You should be fine with just one 5 minute call. So don't worry. Get the phone. And enjoy! Recently we have so many custom roms that it's really worth it.