Database Users

[T-Mobile S8/S8+ Network Unlock] Reference thread

Hi guys,
i want to create this reference thread for all people must Permanent Unlock their S8/S8+ locke on TMO Network.
I'm one of you and actually i'm hold waiting some unlock method for my G950U .
Services just tried :
https://www.unlockbase.com (they don't provide anymore T-Mobile Unlock App unlock)
http://www.cellunlocker.net/ (paid them 130 buks and they refund me after 3 days cause they have no more access to T-Mobile server)
Hold at the moment.
My device is full paid off but actually i'm not in USA , i'm in Italy

You could go to the T-Mobile website and request and unlocked code .. if phone is paid in full they will unlock it without an issue

oswald-josh said:
You could go to the T-Mobile website and request and unlocked code .. if phone is paid in full they will unlock it without an issue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i don't have a T-Mobile account, i have bought device on Ebay. It was paid off, sure.

wolfgart said:
i don't have a T-Mobile account, i have bought device on Ebay. It was paid off
You do not need a T-Mobile account. Try to call T-Mobile internationally or contact them thru the twitter account. According to the website this is the only requirements to unlock it
--
Unlock requirements
We provide mobile device unlock codes free within two business days (or provide further information about timing) for eligible devices.
Device eligibility is determined as follows:
The device must be a T-Mobile device.
The device must not be reported to T-Mobile as lost, stolen, or blocked.
The account associated with the device must not be canceled, and be in good standing.
You have requested no more than two mobile device unlock codes per line of service in the last 12 months.
The device must satisfy all the Postpaid or Pay in Advance (Prepaid) Unlocking terms outlined below.
T-Mobile may request proof of purchase or additional information in its discretion and certain other exceptions may apply.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

still waiting working methods ....

wolfgart said:
Device eligibility is determined as follows:
The device must be a T-Mobile device.
...... apply.
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Click to collapse
They require you to use their service for 40 days, i mean you can tell them that, because u are in italy, and there is no way for you connect to their server and ask for temporary unlock, and you need it to be permanent unlock ( one of the xda user did that).

What are the chances that they will not be able to unlock the phone even after 40 days since it is bought from samsung and not from T-mobile?

aviseqdas said:
What are the chances that they will not be able to unlock the phone even after 40 days since it is bought from samsung and not from T-mobile?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
honestly is base on your luck, luck here is that, you actually talk to the specialist otherwise, you just gonna talk to some dumb people.

I bought mine from Samsung, paid in full, received it on 4/21 so it's 36 days and program tells me not eligible, called CS, told me to download the program that doesn't work, called Samsung was told to call t-mo. Such a Bu???t and how T-mo will know I paid for the phone to Samsung? I probably will download eng boot and install unlocked FW, but not sure if that's going to work, last carrier phone ever. Actually it was my fault, should have returned the phone back to Samsung first week, when they send me locked phone without the unlocking code. BTW for OP to pay $130 to unlock the phone that should be unlocked to begin with (if it was paid in full as OP said) is wrong.

pete4k said:
I bought mine from Samsung, paid in full, received it on 4/21 so it's 36 days and program tells me not eligible, called CS, told me to download the program that doesn't work, called Samsung was told to call t-mo. Such a Bu???t and how T-mo will know I paid for the phone to Samsung? I probably will download eng boot and install unlocked FW, but not sure if that's going to work, last carrier phone ever. Actually it was my fault, should have returned the phone back to Samsung first week, when they send me locked phone without the unlocking code. BTW for OP to pay $130 to unlock the phone that should be unlocked to begin with (if it was paid in full as OP said) is wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Went through T-Force on Twitter and seemed to have gotten a rep on the first go who understood the situation and submitted my IMEI number to the right place. The rep needs to submit your IMEI to one of their highest level tech support engineers to be added into their "device distribution inventory system". This makes it look in their system that your phone was sold by T-Mobile and came out of their inventory. If they just try to whitelist your IMEI in the Unlock device app, that will not work. This needs to be done 100% on T-Mobiles end, Samsung will not be able to do anything, and you will want to bash your head into the wall after talking to them, totally useless.
T-Force:
That's correct. Even in attempting to "whitelist" the device, this would be unsuccessful since the phone wasn't purchased from T-Mobile. The escalation I've submitted is going to our highest tier of support, so if anyone can do it - they will be the ones. Hopefully this helps to clarify things!
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Click to collapse
There may be hope for everyone in the future, this one of the final responses I got from them:
I am right there with you. It definitely makes things harder on both sides since the phone isn't technically bought from us, even though it is branded a T-Mobile phone and our system rejects any IMEI that didn't come from our inventory. None the less, we're all about giving you full access to what is yours. Teams are currently working on a process update that'll make things a lot more seamless, but in the meantime we've got this work around! I really appreciate you taking the time to reach out to us today!
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Click to collapse
14 hours later I tried the Unlock Device app and requested the permanent unlock and it was successfully permanently SIM unlocked.
Device is fully unlocked, tested with an AT&T SIM card and everything worked fine. After 2 reboots the Device Unlock app even disappeared from my phone. I'm so happy with how fast T-Mobile dealt with this. The more people that make a stink about this issue on social media hopefully T-Mobile will find a permanent fix for people buying a SIM locked at full price and have it easily unlocked under their standard procedure.

fragg3d said:
Went through T-Force on Twitter and seemed to have gotten a rep on the first go who understood the situation and submitted my IMEI number to the right place. The rep needs to submit your IMEI to one of their highest level tech support engineers to be added into their "device distribution inventory system". This makes it look in their system that your phone was sold by T-Mobile and came out of their inventory. If they just try to whitelist your IMEI in the Unlock device app, that will not work. This needs to be done 100% on T-Mobiles end, Samsung will not be able to do anything, and you will want to bash your head into the wall after talking to them, totally useless.
There may be hope for everyone in the future, this one of the final responses I got from them:
14 hours later I tried the Unlock Device app and requested the permanent unlock and it was successfully permanently SIM unlocked.
Device is fully unlocked, tested with an AT&T SIM card and everything worked fine. After 2 reboots the Device Unlock app even disappeared from my phone. I'm so happy with how fast T-Mobile dealt with this. The more people that make a stink about this issue on social media hopefully T-Mobile will find a permanent fix for people buying a SIM locked at full price and have it easily unlocked under their standard procedure.
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Click to collapse
I bought the si from Samsung website (fully pay)and two days ago I called T-Mobile request sim unlock last night I got email from T-Mobile said my phone only can unlock is from T-Mobile unlock app but I try so many times using T-Mobile unlock app all show up said failed need to contact T-Mobile. Now what can I do?

paullu said:
I bought the si from Samsung website (fully pay)and two days ago I called T-Mobile request sim unlock last night I got email from T-Mobile said my phone only can unlock is from T-Mobile unlock app but I try so many times using T-Mobile unlock app all show up said failed need to contact T-Mobile. Now what can I do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
contact them again...

paullu said:
I bought the si from Samsung website (fully pay)and two days ago I called T-Mobile request sim unlock last night I got email from T-Mobile said my phone only can unlock is from T-Mobile unlock app but I try so many times using T-Mobile unlock app all show up said failed need to contact T-Mobile. Now what can I do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go though T-Force on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/TMobileHelp ) the phone reps seem to be totally clueless about this issue. It will ONLY work when your devices IMEI is added to their "device distribution inventory system" and not just whitelisted in the Unlock Device app. This makes it look to their system (and the app) that the phone was sold by them and came out of T-Mobiles inventory.

EDIT:
Got the phone unlocked, talked to them on Twitter direct messages, and after 24 hours i was able to use the Unlock APP and unlock the phone
I called T-mobile they said they can't unlock it , I have to use device on T-mobile for 40 days ,even though its fully paid off
I even asked them see if they can enter device information on " Device Distribution Center " but they said there is no possible way to do ... hmm
Oh well guess gotta wait 40 days.

Got phone unkocked !

Hi Wolfgart,
You said you had purchased this phone directly from Samsung.com or Ebay.com and not from Tmobile and then you were in Italy and not in USA but still were able to unlock it successfully, can you please share the exact steps/procedure you followed to successfully unlock our T-mobile branded Samsung S8 ? I am in the same situation as yours and would be helpful for others what you have gone through to unlock it. Thanks.

What the *&^%$# I have been "Bamboozled"
shahrit said:
Hi Wolfgart,
You said you had purchased this phone directly from Samsung.com or Ebay.com and not from Tmobile and then you were in Italy and not in USA but still were able to unlock it successfully, can you please share the exact steps/procedure you followed to successfully unlock our T-mobile branded Samsung S8 ? I am in the same situation as yours and would be helpful for others what you have gone through to unlock it. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL....maybe TMO doesn't think the folks in Italy are theevin white trash that voted for Trump..

shahrit said:
Hi Wolfgart,
You said you had purchased this phone directly from Samsung.com or Ebay.com and not from Tmobile and then you were in Italy and not in USA but still were able to unlock it successfully, can you please share the exact steps/procedure you followed to successfully unlock our T-mobile branded Samsung S8 ? I am in the same situation as yours and would be helpful for others what you have gone through to unlock it. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, i simply have called by phone TMO support and told them that i now i'm in Italy for the next 12 months cause Job and i have to rest in contact with my family in CA.
I've tried to call them a lot of time and always talked with dump operators. Last one guy was a really great guy and finally helped me to have device permanent unlocked.

wiseguyy said:
LOL....maybe TMO doesn't think the folks in Italy are theevin white trash that voted for Trump..
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Click to collapse
ahhaha.
Really absurd that US People could vote for a Crazy man like Trump....
Oh my God

fragg3d said:
Go though T-Force on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/TMobileHelp ) the phone reps seem to be totally clueless about this issue. It will ONLY work when your devices IMEI is added to their "device distribution inventory system" and not just whitelisted in the Unlock Device app. This makes it look to their system (and the app) that the phone was sold by them and came out of T-Mobiles inventory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought my s8+ from ebay, but the guy bought it from samsung,
on the June 20, I went to the T-Mobile store on the 21 and added insurance and they're charging me 15 a month because I didn't buy it from them.
Got home and called T-Mobile to add the imei, they were gonna give me the run around and I said politely that samsung is gonna tell me to call tmo, she wait a moment and spoke to someone, and she sent the request in,
waited 3 days, and the device didn't unlock, checked the website and til today to check device status it doesn't have any info, but called T-Mobile and the rep transferred me to his supervisor, and he said he will take care of it, to wait at least 3 days for the email, and yesterday I tried the device unlocked, and it worked. Then later during the day I received the email from T-Mobile.
Be polite, and let them know u will be leaving the country, it sometimes it works, most of the time even buying from T-Mobile paying in full, they make me wait 40 days.
I also told them that is why I stopped buying from them directly,
Sent from my SM-G955U using XDA-Developers Legacy app

Sprint Unlocking?

So I purchased my phone from Sprint and would like to do the domestic unlock. I have read around that if you insert another carriers sim card before turning the phone on initially it will be unlocked. I unfortunately did not do this.
My question is, if I were to re-flash the stock firmware (whenever that releases) would I be able to insert another carrier's sim card and reproduce the initial out of the box unlock process?

Just take it to Sprint and have them unlock it for all carpets. As I understand it, they are required by law to do so if asked.

mrcooter said:
Just take it to Sprint and have them unlock it for all carpets. As I understand it, they are required by law to do so if asked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is that I got the phone on the sprint lease and i'm paying it but would like to use it on a different carrier.

Droidz said:
The problem is that I got the phone on the sprint lease and i'm paying it but would like to use it on a different carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That shouldn't matter as long as you don't cancel your Sprint service, otherwise then of course they would bill you for the remainder of the phone. If you look on your about phone settings, there is an option for UICC unlock where you would update the PRL etc. They put in a code which then allows other SIMs and activations, but you could switch back and forth after that even. Leased or not they should unlock this for you no questions asked if requested.

mrcooter said:
That shouldn't matter as long as you don't cancel your Sprint service, otherwise then of course they would bill you for the remainder of the phone. If you look on your about phone settings, there is an option for UICC unlock where you would update the PRL etc. They put in a code which then allows other SIMs and activations, but you could switch back and forth after that even. Leased or not they should unlock this for you no questions asked if requested.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where is the UICC option? I remember seeing it when I was playing around with the phone but now I don't see it anymore?
I bought one off of craigslist, sprint "locked" I took a gamble thinking it would be able to be used on a different network. Unfortunately, I am unable to make it work with AT&T.
Anyone with ideas on how to unlock a sprint phone (clean IMEI) for AT&T?

PlasticsDoc said:
Where is the UICC option? I remember seeing it when I was playing around with the phone but now I don't see it anymore?
I bought one off of craigslist, sprint "locked" I took a gamble thinking it would be able to be used on a different network. Unfortunately, I am unable to make it work with AT&T.
Anyone with ideas on how to unlock a sprint phone (clean IMEI) for AT&T?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
About phone / OMADM updates / UICC unlock
Sprint will either need to put in the code for you, or they will give you the code. Haven't looked into it much since I'm staying with Sprint. Even if they aren't your carrier, probably would still do it when asked. Just go to local store front and try.

mrcooter said:
About phone / OMADM updates / UICC unlock
Sprint will either need to put in the code for you, or they will give you the code. Haven't looked into it much since I'm staying with Sprint. Even if they aren't your carrier, probably would still do it when asked. Just go to local store front and try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank for your reply. Unfortunately, they won't unlock it. CSR said its common that people make fake accounts to get free phones and sell them. Is there any other possibilities?

PlasticsDoc said:
Thank for your reply. Unfortunately, they won't unlock it. CSR said its common that people make fake accounts to get free phones and sell them. Is there any other possibilities?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hopefully someone else will know and comment. If it were me, I'd use the excuse of you travel and Sprint coverage isn't supported everywhere therefore you need to be able to swap SIMs. If it were me, I'd research the law requiring them to unlock it and see the best way getting this done, maybe a second tier rep over the phone would be another option to try, sometimes people in the store just say things thinking they know best. You could try a factory reset and put in the other SIM before 1st boot but not seeing that actually work in my opinion.

The only way I see working is flashing stock firmware and inserting another sim card at that point. A regular wipe wont work.
Also the international unlock doesn't allow it to work domestically, like with T-Mobile or Verizon.

Droidz said:
The only way I see working is flashing stock firmware and inserting another sim card at that point. A regular wipe wont work.
Also the international unlock doesn't allow it to work domestically, like with T-Mobile or Verizon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Still no way to flash stock firmware is there?

So if you purchase a phone direct from essential but put the Sprint sim in it the phone will be locked to Sprint?

Final-Mac said:
So if you purchase a phone direct from essential but put the Sprint sim in it the phone will be locked to Sprint?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doubt it.
Sprint locks the batch of phones they lease out. Just like anything you lease, it's not yours until you pay for it.

PlasticsDoc said:
Still no way to flash stock firmware is there?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nope, that's what I've been waiting for as well.

Droidz said:
nope, that's what I've been waiting for as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just flashed stock firmware (NMJ20D) over my sprint locked phone, still locked...

Only way Sprint will unlock the devices is after 50 days and it's paid off.
---------- Post added at 04:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:35 AM ----------
Sprint.com/unlock

There has to be a way to unlock the phone through software. If they come unlocked out of the box before being activated, then it must be some sort of software switch.
This means that there must be a way to get the phone back to its out of the box state and have it unlock.
If there is anybody who can chime in on this and let me know otherwise it would be very much appreciated.

networx2002 said:
Only way Sprint will unlock the devices is after 90 days and it's paid off.
---------- Post added at 04:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:35 AM ----------
Sprint.com/unlock
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Click to collapse
Actually, it's 50 days. The device needs to be active on the Sprint network for 50 days and also fully paid off. You can then request the unlock.
So if you got in on the Sprint flex lease deal and ended up with a Sprint locked phone, your options are:
1) Sell it as a Sprint locked device
2) Use it on Sprint for 50 days, then request the unlock
3) Keep haggling Sprint CS to try and get it unlocked before 50 days (some users have had success with this)

Sprint customer support says hell no. I spent all day trying. All DAY. I talked to over 12 reps with no solution

I originally have att... Went and signed up with Sprint to take advantage of their price... Paid my phone off... And got them to unlock it a day later... You do NOT need to have the phone on 50 day service to get it unlocked...
What I think may be happening with the different outcomes is how people talk to the support... I don't think it helps if you're aggressive or not friendly.... Or course, this is just my weak guess.... The support gave me no issues getting it unlocked but did ask if I was keeping the service still... Which I said yes, but to be honest, Sprint LTE is slow.... So now I dunno if I want to keep the service...

joewoo said:
I originally have att... Went and signed up with Sprint to take advantage of their price... Paid my phone off... And got them to unlock it a day later... You do NOT need to have the phone on 50 day service to get it unlocked...
What I think may be happening with the different outcomes is how people talk to the support... I don't think it helps if you're aggressive or not friendly.... Or course, this is just my weak guess.... The support gave me no issues getting it unlocked but did ask if I was keeping the service still... Which I said yes, but to be honest, Sprint LTE is slow.... So now I dunno if I want to keep the service...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't have issues either. I had it unlocked within 12 hours of receiving the phone. I'm assertive and speak like I know the rules, because I do. But I ALWAYS say yes sir or no sir, please, thank you, and talk to them like they're actual human beings. I almost never have issues with customer service.

Sprint One Year Free - Essential Phone?

Hi,
has anyone used the BYOD one year of free service on sprint? I'm currently with USmobile, and apparently that makes me eligible for this plan. That'd basically pay for the phone in savings, which sounds great, but I'm wondering if anyone else has used it? Anything that one would have to take into account taking the unlocked Essential Phone to Sprint?

i have the bYOD free year using sprint and now with the essential phone. I switched over from my pixel.
I am however getting a terrible signal and non existent 4g speeds, currently researching to see if i can do anything about this! Right now, i wish i had my pixel still...

i did byod with an essential phone... and it must have relocked it. when going into settings to unlock (while on the free plan and after waiting the required time frame) it would not unlock. i tried contacting customer support and it said it could only be unlocked by the original owner. then after more back and forth said it was already unlocked. so what i determined was putting it back on sprint RE-locked it, but their system was so messy that it showed it as unlocked.

x000x said:
i did byod with an essential phone... and it must have relocked it. when going into settings to unlock (while on the free plan and after waiting the required time frame) it would not unlock. i tried contacting customer support and it said it could only be unlocked by the original owner. then after more back and forth said it was already unlocked. so what i determined was putting it back on sprint RE-locked it, but their system was so messy that it showed it as unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yikes, that's some ****ed up ****... I'm on the sprint plan now, how do I figure out whether they locked my phone? Also, how is that even possible, wth?

dsip said:
Yikes, that's some ****ed up ****... I'm on the sprint plan now, how do I figure out whether they locked my phone? Also, how is that even possible, wth?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there was a sale, sprint was selling them for $150, and you could pay it off early, unlock them and leave sprint. a lot of people did that, and then later sprint changed the terms of having to wait x amount of days to unlock them. my first one was probably one of these (got it off ebay). It might only involve those that were sold at that greatly discounted price. easiest way to tell if it is still unlocked is to put a different carrier sim and see what happens, otherwise look for something called uicc unlock. i think if it is relocked you have to wait 45 days to unlock it. I eventually gave up asking sprint customer support, and just did this https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=75994498&postcount=360 to unlock it

Invalid sim scam?

I purchased this phone through Craigslist. The guy stated it was unlocked so I thought great! Let's seal the deal. I popped my T-Mobile SIM in and like magic, it worked like a charm. Next day, invalid sim. I called Sprint, they said the phone is unlocked but no help. I called TMobile, they said it's not us it's Sprint. Popped the sim into my unlocked Pixel XL, boom! It worked. Popped it back into my Essential Phone and invalid sim, network locked. What gives? I call the guy back, straight to voicemail. I text him, it's been 10hrs nothing. Is it something going on with these phones that scammers are burning people with them?

LOVE ME PLEASE said:
I purchased this phone through Craigslist. The guy stated it was unlocked so I thought great! Let's seal the deal. I popped my T-Mobile SIM in and like magic, it worked like a charm. Next day, invalid sim. I called Sprint, they said the phone is unlocked but no help. I called TMobile, they said it's not us it's Sprint. Popped the sim into my unlocked Pixel XL, boom! It worked. Popped it back into my Essential Phone and invalid sim, network locked. What gives? I call the guy back, straight to voicemail. I text him, it's been 10hrs nothing. Is it something going on with these phones that scammers are burning people with them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same thing happened to me until i updated the software. worked fine after that.

Did you get the latest update today? Because that's the build that I I'm having invalid sim on.
ceelos218 said:
same thing happened to me until i updated the software. worked fine after that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

LOVE ME PLEASE said:
Did you get the latest update today? Because that's the build that I I'm having invalid sim on.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ohh ok i see what your saying... when i first got my phone i was on Nougat and my sim wasnt recognized so i updated it to the Aug build and then i was able to use my Verizon sim again. right now i just updated to the Sep build and i cant use it any longer. im also wondering if theres a fix.

ceelos218 said:
ohh ok i see what your saying... when i first got my phone i was on Nougat and my sim wasnt recognized so i updated it to the Aug build and then i was able to use my Verizon sim again. right now i just updated to the Sep build and i cant use it any longer. im also wondering if theres a fix.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow! So, it's not just me? Sad to here that my friend. I contacted Essential Phone via Twitter hours ago. Still no word.

LOVE ME PLEASE said:
Wow! So, it's not just me? Sad to here that my friend. I contacted Essential Phone via Twitter hours ago. Still no word.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah and I don't have time to mess around with it. Now I'm stuck without data

ceelos218 said:
Yeah and I don't have time to mess around with it. Now I'm stuck without data
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here! Are you able to make calls?

LOVE ME PLEASE said:
Same here! Are you able to make calls?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just tried it with a Sprint SIM card and it works perfectly fine.

Good to know. I just checked Twitter and now there are many of people complaining about this very issue.
ceelos218 said:
I just tried it with a Sprint SIM card and it works perfectly fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

LOVE ME PLEASE said:
I purchased this phone through Craigslist. The guy stated it was unlocked so I thought great! Let's seal the deal. I popped my T-Mobile SIM in and like magic, it worked like a charm. Next day, invalid sim. I called Sprint, they said the phone is unlocked but no help. I called TMobile, they said it's not us it's Sprint. Popped the sim into my unlocked Pixel XL, boom! It worked. Popped it back into my Essential Phone and invalid sim, network locked. What gives? I call the guy back, straight to voicemail. I text him, it's been 10hrs nothing. Is it something going on with these phones that scammers are burning people with them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was on the same situation last week but mines network locked while I flashing firmwares to get T-Mobile wifi calling working the Sprint Essential Variant. I tried everything including flashing the Nougat builds and then Oreo builds and all kinds of combinations but no luck. I was lucky because the guy I bought it from was honest seller and called Sprint and Essential himself negate Sprint kept saying it was unlocked. He ended up giving me his old SIM card since he had called his service. I inserted into my phone and let it sit for an hour while connected to WiFi. I restarted my phone I was able to go to mobile settings and changed to Global and it's been unlocked since last Thursday.
If you go to the Sprint website and dig around you'll see the only way for Sprint to unlock an Android phone is to have a Sprint Sim in the phone. Maybe you can get a Sprint Sim card just so it can connect to the servers and get it unlocked.
Good Luck
https://forum.xda-developers.com/es...print-version-unlocked-t-mobile-wifi-t3830989

mexicandroid said:
I was on the same situation last week but mines network locked while I flashing firmwares to get T-Mobile wifi calling working the Sprint Essential Variant. I tried everything including flashing the Nougat builds and then Oreo builds and all kinds of combinations but no luck. I was lucky because the guy I bought it from was honest seller and called Sprint and Essential himself negate Sprint kept saying it was unlocked. He ended up giving me his old SIM card since he had called his service. I inserted into my phone and let it sit for an hour while connected to WiFi. I restarted my phone I was able to go to mobile settings and changed to Global and it's been unlocked since last Thursday.
If you go to the Sprint website and dig around you'll see the only way for Sprint to unlock an Android phone is to have a Sprint Sim in the phone. Maybe you can get a Sprint Sim card just so it can connect to the servers and get it unlocked.
Good Luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your testimony. Wow! This is madness for an unlocked device. It almost seems as though Sprint is in on the scam themselves??? But thank you so much for your help friend. I'll check back in to let you guys know what happens??? I'm contacting Essential as we speak via support email... we'll see?

mexicandroid said:
I was on the same situation last week but mines network locked while I flashing firmwares to get T-Mobile wifi calling working the Sprint Essential Variant. I tried everything including flashing the Nougat builds and then Oreo builds and all kinds of combinations but no luck. I was lucky because the guy I bought it from was honest seller and called Sprint and Essential himself negate Sprint kept saying it was unlocked. He ended up giving me his old SIM card since he had called his service. I inserted into my phone and let it sit for an hour while connected to WiFi. I restarted my phone I was able to go to mobile settings and changed to Global and it's been unlocked since last Thursday.
If you go to the Sprint website and dig around you'll see the only way for Sprint to unlock an Android phone is to have a Sprint Sim in the phone. Maybe you can get a Sprint Sim card just so it can connect to the servers and get it unlocked.
Good Luck
https://forum.xda-developers.com/es...print-version-unlocked-t-mobile-wifi-t3830989
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was the sim he gave you to insert into your Essential, activated?

I have the same problem but im not in America, I'm in Australia and have no contact to a Sprint SIM Card....I've tried fastboot and flashing but still nothing. Any help would be great right now

LOVE ME PLEASE said:
Was the sim he gave you to insert into your Essential, activated?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It had his old number programmed into it but it didn't hey any service. Sprint's setup is different than T-Mobile because of the CDMA technology they use. It's not like T-Mobile that you just pop the Sim into another phone.
I honestly don't know if you can use any Sprint SIM card but you will definitely need one from my experience. The good news for you seems to be that it is most likely paid off if Sprint says it's unlocked.
---------- Post added at 11:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:37 AM ----------
rainer217 said:
I have the same problem but im not in America, I'm in Australia and have no contact to a Sprint SIM Card....I've tried fastboot and flashing but still nothing. Any help would be great right now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After the first time it Sim locked the phone I was able to unlock it ONCE by fishing different builds but I was trying to get TMobile WiFi calling working so I kept flashing thinking it was going to stay unlocked after but sure enough it locked again and I after that I could not get it unlocked. I tried flashing so many firmwares and then updates through OTA download through the app and side loading. See if maybe you can order one online from Sprint or maybe on eBay.

mexicandroid said:
See if maybe you can order one online from Sprint or maybe on eBay.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I originally got it from eBay and just emailed the guy, hopefully he knows what to do. I was told by my carrier (Optus Australia) that they could do some shifty stuff with the OS to trick it to enable it then once an update happens it changes it back to locked. However don't think that is the case due to it being a wide spread case according to the people on twitter.

rainer217 said:
I originally got it from eBay and just emailed the guy, hopefully he knows what to do. I was told by my carrier (Optus Australia) that they could do some shifty stuff with the OS to trick it to enable it then once an update happens it changes it back to locked. However don't think that is the case due to it being a wide spread case according to the people on twitter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From my experience the issue is with Sprint, Essential can't really do anything about it because of the Variant

mexicandroid said:
From my experience the issue is with Sprint, Essential can't really do anything about it because of the Variant
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great point. But I was thinking more along the side of Essential Phone, contacting Sprint, letting them know that it's a wide spread issue.

LOVE ME PLEASE said:
Great point. But I was thinking more along the side of Essential Phone, contacting Sprint, letting them know that it's a wide spread issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint knows by know, if you read around the web it's been going on for months. Seems the just expect you to have a Sprint Sim laying around to unlock it lol. After my unmoving experience I don't think I would ever get Sprint service lol

rainer217 said:
I originally got it from eBay and just emailed the guy, hopefully he knows what to do. I was told by my carrier (Optus Australia) that they could do some shifty stuff with the OS to trick it to enable it then once an update happens it changes it back to locked. However don't think that is the case due to it being a wide spread case according to the people on twitter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gotcha!
Do you have a feeling that Sprint will fix this issue since it's widespread? I'm starting to think that Sprint was in on it. Or am I just an upset customer??? It's not happening to Sprint customers on there network, just people who are not on their network but have a Sprint variant. I have a strong feeling that Sprint locked us out of a unlocked phone intentionally. You?

mexicandroid said:
Sprint knows by know, if you read around the web it's been going on for months. Seems the just expect you to have a Sprint Sim laying around to unlock it lol. After my unmoving experience I don't think I would ever get Sprint service lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. This is crazy, months??? Still no software fix??? I'm starting to believe it's a network fix only. They need to officially make an open statement regarding the situation, on how to resolve the matter. I think it's time to beat down Sprints Twitter page for a resolution.

T-Mobile (USA) Carrier Lock

I got an S10+ as a gift. I asked T-Mobile support to unlock it and they said no problem and that it would take 72 hours.
Well it's been over a week and I've been back and forth with support trying everything up to and including a factory reset all with no luck. They're now saying that they've "exhausted their efforts" and that *some phones can't be unlocked".
I've never experienced this with support before and am not sure what to do next. I'm pretty sure Samsung is just going to refer me back to the carrier if I try them. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

Mikesmith2738 said:
I got an S10+ as a gift. I asked T-Mobile support to unlock it and they said no problem and that it would take 72 hours.
Well it's been over a week and I've been back and forth with support trying everything up to and including a factory reset all with no luck. They're now saying that they've "exhausted their efforts" and that “some phones can't be unlocked".
I've never experienced this with support before and am not sure what to do next. I'm pretty sure Samsung is just going to refer me back to the carrier if I try them. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
*Bump*

How do you know it's still locked?

Do you have an account with T-Mobile? Contact their Twitter at TMobile help they are usually way more helpful then calling or chatting thru their website and I've personally unlocked dozens of phones like that, paid off or not.

Outbreak444 said:
How do you know it's still locked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I go to Settings and click "Permanent Unlock" I get an error message *Your phone isn't elligible to be unlocked. Reason code: 999".
However, you're right that I haven't tried to put in a different SIM maybe it already unlocked?

Mikesmith2738 said:
When I go to Settings and click "Permanent Unlock" I get an error message *Your phone isn't elligible to be unlocked. Reason code: 999".
However, you're right that I haven't tried to put in a different SIM maybe it already unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it is a Tmobile branded phone version then it is locked. Tmobile can unlock it as long as your account is 3+ month old and in good standing I think.

VICosPhi said:
If it is a Tmobile branded phone version then it is locked. Tmobile can unlock it as long as your account is 3+ month old and in good standing I think.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again, their support said they entered it in the system to unlock and it's not working so I don't know what to do next. It's a weird position to be in.
It's my understanding that they used to unlock with an app, but that now it's built into the firmware? In any case, can't get it to work and they have literally said there's nothing else they can do which is really strange.

Mikesmith2738 said:
Again, their support said they entered it in the system to unlock and it's not working.so I don't know what to do next. It's a weird position to be in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the person that gifted it to you got it from T-mobile store then it would be quick, but if they got it from elsewhere, T-mobile always has trouble finding that order and IMEI and takes forever to actually unlock it.
Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

VICosPhi said:
If the person that gifted it to you got it from T-mobile store then it would be quick, but if they got it from elsewhere, T-mobile always has trouble finding that order and IMEI and takes forever to actually unlock it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's directly from T-Mobile, and I gave them a screen shot of the IMEI which they confirmed over and over.
If they can't unlock it, can a third party?

No one knows?

Mikesmith2738 said:
No one knows?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try with a non T-mobile SIM and if it is still locked, take it to the T-mobile store and have them call customer service to unlock. This way the store representative can let them know it is in fact locked.
Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

Mikesmith2738 said:
No one knows?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bump

Having the same issue with TMobile always get my phones unlocked via Twitter s8, note8, s9, note 9, onplus 6t all on JOD one thing they all had in common was the unlock app with the new S10 they having build in into the system and I have spend 1 month trying to unlock it even have gotten the phone replaced thinking it was defective , T-Mobile chat has said multiple times they did a override to unlock and still nothing I feel like there is an issue with the new build in unlock process vs the unlock app

Do we know if we can use a code to unlock the phone with different firmware? Are we stuck using T-Mobile's unlock protocol/app?

HtcOnekid said:
Having the same issue with TMobile always get my phones unlocked via Twitter s8, note8, s9, note 9, onplus 6t all on JOD one thing they all had in common was the unlock app with the new S10 they having build in into the system and I have spend 1 month trying to unlock it even have gotten the phone replaced thinking it was defective , T-Mobile chat has said multiple times they did a override to unlock and still nothing I feel like there is an issue with the new build in unlock process vs the unlock app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's my experience too... there's no app and T-Mobile seems to have no solution.
So what do we do now?

Mikesmith2738 said:
That's my experience too... there's no app and T-Mobile seems to have no solution.
So what do we do now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I traded in the S10+ to the LG g8 just to make sure is the phone since the LG still has the unlock app I'll test and see
Edit: asked TMobile via Twitter for the unlock and when through the app , pressed permanent unlock and walla

I was able to successfully unlock my phone through T-Mobile on twitter. They just need your IMEI and will whitelist it. There is no unlock app anymore. I did have to chat with another rep however because the first rep that tried to help me did something wrong on their end and they tried to tell me to use the unlock app which the S10's don't have.

Locking a device with zero EIP balance should be illegal.
I went through this when I bought a 128GB S6 Edge outright. The phone was paid in full at the store yet they wanted me to wait 40 days to unlock it. I tried 3rd party unlockers and they said they couldn't unlock it. (all attempts with codes failed)
It was a real cluster-f.
I just buy my phones from ebay now. No carrier junk or branding and none of this nonsense either. Paypal is great if a seller tries to jerk you around. Fortunately I haven't had any problems.

djlee0314 said:
I was able to successfully unlock my phone through T-Mobile on twitter. They just need your IMEI and will whitelist it. There is no unlock app anymore. I did have to chat with another rep however because the first rep that tried to help me did something wrong on their end and they tried to tell me to use the unlock app which the S10's don't have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah their training is clearly a little behind, but I went through their escalations team and everything and they literally said the had "exhausted all efforts" and added that "some phones can't be unlocked". How crazy is that?
So my current question is... are there still third party unlocks possible?

cpufrost said:
Locking a device with zero EIP balance should be illegal.
I went through this when I bought a 128GB S6 Edge outright. The phone was paid in full at the store yet they wanted me to wait 40 days to unlock it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mines similar, a promo free phone with no obligation.