So I ordered my S7 Edge online through eBay (I know I know) anyways the model is shown as SM-G935V on the backdoor of the phone along with the Verizon logo, but when I got Phone Info in settings it shows SM-G935U. I activated it on AT&Ts network just to make sure it's unlocked. My questions are what kind of unlocking process would change the phone's software from 35V to 35U? Is it possible that the company flashed the unlocked model over the phone's software if so how do I check if it's ever been rooted or had anything flashed on it? I want to take the phone to Boost but I'm not sure just HOW unlocked it is & if it will work on a CDMA network other than Verizon. Assuming that it's been fully unlocked it should Right?
I can tell you that it's a Verizon phone originally (which is by unlocked anyways) all they did is flash the U firmware on it (like i did with mine) which is good thing bc it gets rid of all the Verizon bloat. Bt anyways your phone should be unlocked for use on any network
Related
hey there.
so short version.
i got a sprint s7, apparently it was not carrier unlocked when i got it. sprint says they will only unlock it if it's on an active service in good standing which i dont plan on getting on sprint at all. so i need a trusted place to get the unlock codes for it please, the cheaper the better because of my situation.
longer version.
my dad has early onset dementia so we had to take his phone from him and close his account. it's been a while and i found his S7 sitting there not doing anything and i need a new phone to put on my Verizon prepaid plan so after looking on the s7 the hardware is all the same just the firmware blocks out whichever bands each carrier chooses. so i need to go tomorrow and get one of Verizon sims to be ready so when i get the unlock code i can put it in right away and make sure i dont receive that sim error. or do i need to flash to the verizion firmware before i try to carrier unlock it?
any and all help is really appreciated as our family is really struggling atm and not having to purchase a new phone would save us alot of money.
p.s. device info is sm-g930p
baseband g930pvps4bqc1
android version 7
Here's a link to the remote unlocking service I used to have my 930P unlocked: https://www.gsmzambia.com/product/samsung-sprint/
You'll have to install Teamviewer and let them remotely control your PC to perform the unlock. I found them to be very reputable and helpful before, during and after the sale.
After unlocking, I'd recommend using Odin (https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=24591023225177749) to flash the "U" firmware: http://updato.com/firmware-archive-select-model?record=52EF42AE925C11E7963AFA163EE8F90B
With U firmware, you won't have any of the Sprint bloatware that came preloaded on the phone, and it'll automatically detect and apply the proper settings for whichever SIM card you insert. If you don't want to flash alternate firmware, you can stick with what's already on the phone; you'll just have to manually enter the Verizon APN settings.
I bought this supposedly T-Mobile H918 on ebay. It says it works with T-mobile, Lycamobile, UltraMobile, Simplemobile. I figured (assumed (mistake)) the phone was unlocked. Tried to use a Freedompop gsm sim, no go. Went over to T-mobile they said it was NOT in database, couldn't unlock a phone not in database.but rep put his Tmobile sim in and it worked. I decided to order a T-mobile sim online for $10. In the meantime I went online looking for a LG IMEI checker. It turns out the phone is an Israeli H990. I guess someone flashed the T-mobile H918 on it. The IMEi is clear according to swappa and others. Should I send it back? It had H918 10K on it and I flashed back to 10J and rooted. I like the phone, but is it possible that it could get blocked down the line? If it's clear and can be used on different T-mobile MVNOs is it unlocked? I plugged IMEI into AT&T checker and it said something like, it's clear, we just need to get the right sim. Any help or info or ideas appreciated, Thanks Johnm
jmacie said:
I bought this supposedly T-Mobile H918 on ebay. It says it works with T-mobile, Lycamobile, UltraMobile, Simplemobile. I figured (assumed (mistake)) the phone was unlocked. Tried to use a Freedompop gsm sim, no go. Went over to T-mobile they said it was NOT in database, couldn't unlock a phone not in database.but rep put his Tmobile sim in and it worked. I decided to order a T-mobile sim online for $10. In the meantime I went online looking for a LG IMEI checker. It turns out the phone is an Israeli H990. I guess someone flashed the T-mobile H918 on it. The IMEi is clear according to swappa and others. Should I send it back? It had H918 10K on it and I flashed back to 10J and rooted. I like the phone, but is it possible that it could get blocked down the line? If it's clear and can be used on different T-mobile MVNOs is it unlocked? I plugged IMEI into AT&T checker and it said something like, it's clear, we just need to get the right sim. Any help or info or ideas appreciated, Thanks Johnm
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If you were able to root it, then its probably a database mismatch. The gsm simcards usually pose problem to T-Mobile's android handsets due to UICC activation (or UICC unlocking).
A crossflashed phone is hardbricked the moment u unlock its bootloader and load a custom recovery on it. (Had my chinese fake G3/G2 moments back in the days). Your phone is fine if you rooted it and its working right out of the box.
Two things that dont work if u modify the system of LG phones is RIL and the abnormal screen behavior. For your case, both work. I'm from Pakistan but I often end up having unlocked phones from American carriers. Right now I have Samsung Tab A which is from T-Mobile and UICC activation doesnt make my LTE Sim work on it. With T-Mobile its kinda common to end up into an "invalid sim card" error when u try to use a non-T variant.
dark_prince said:
If you were able to root it, then its probably a database mismatch. The gsm simcards usually pose problem to T-Mobile's android handsets due to UICC activation (or UICC unlocking).
A crossflashed phone is hardbricked the moment u unlock its bootloader and load a custom recovery on it. (Had my chinese fake G3/G2 moments back in the days). Your phone is fine if you rooted it and its working right out of the box.
Two things that dont work if u modify the system of LG phones is RIL and the abnormal screen behavior. For your case, both work. I'm from Pakistan but I often end up having unlocked phones from American carriers. Right now I have Samsung Tab A which is from T-Mobile and UICC activation doesnt make my LTE Sim work on it. With T-Mobile its kinda common to end up into an "invalid sim card" error when u try to use a non-T variant.
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Wow Thanks, this story is getting more interesting. I appreciate you relating your crossflashing experience. I guess I'll try to get some different gsm sims to try. Thanks, take care, johnm
Hi everyone, title basically says it all. The phone was fully paid for and unlocked. Formally an At&t phone. I'm trying to use it on Sprint's network as it should support it but however I cannot get it to activate at all. Apparently it isn't even recognized by Sprint's system at all. Any advice?
Is it because Sprint is a cdma network and at&t is a gsm network?
I could be very wrong but I dont believe gsm unlocked phones dont play well with verizon/sprint even though they have all the bands.
Let someone wiser point you in the write direction but probably flashing sprint rom on the phone would probably help. There is a thread in rom section that has you flash the unlocked firmware and then flash carrier firmware. I did this with my att unlocked 10+ and now using as a tmobile device(for carrier stuff).
Take it to a store or call ... they're picky as to letting devices on the network that aren't in their system
Gotta flash the g975u1 firmware on it...
Hi there, I bought a used, unlocked Galaxy S10+ G975U1 phone in like new condition from eBay. I put my SIM card from T-Mobile in the phone and it registered to the T-Mobile network just fine, but it could not hold a signal for long. The motherboard was bad, so I sent it to Samsung for a warranty repair. Samsung replaced the motherboard and sent it back with Sprint Firmware, which is what the phone was originally shipped with. When I put my T-Mobile SIM card in the phone, however, it appears to be locked, as it says, "invalid SIM card" and keeps asking me to "activate your device". I had been under the impression that devices were locked by the carriers, not the manufacturers, and once they were unlocked, they could not be re-locked? Was I mistaken? Am I now going to have to try and get an unlock code from Sprint? Or do I just need to flash the T-Mobile or Unbranded firmware to the phone to get the SIM to register? At this point, I'm afraid to tamper with the firmware, although I know it's supposed to be interchangeable on this device. What would happen if I installed the T-Mobile firmware while the phone was locked to Sprint? Would that brick my phone? If it was previously unlocked by Sprint, can I just call them and give them the IMEI number to unlock it again? Thanks for your help!
Bought "Unlocked" phone, has sprint branding, seller insists that's how Samsung works
Hi everyone, I bought a Galaxy S10+SM-G975U (same model that all 4 major US networks use) that was sold as "Unlocked" without specifying that it is Sim unlocked, Network unlocked, or Factory unlocked. Most of the time unless a seller specifies which unlocked then it means the phone is Factory unlocked, I gathered this from 9 years of buying and selling Android devices so it's not just a guess.
When I got the phone Sprint OMADM pops up and tells me I have an incomplete activation, "about phone" told me it was Sprint Network Unlocked; after a week it now says unknown under "Brand" in the "status" section.
The seller said that when you buy a factory unlocked Samsung phone and put in a network sim card that Samsung then loads the branding (bloat in my opinion).
1. Is this true that Samsung could have loaded Sprint OMADM?
2. If true can I remove it so that I don't have to "Force Stop" it after each startup?
3. Is there any piece of software or database that I can look up the origin of this phone so that I can either change my eBay review of the sale and apologize for my mistake, or affirm that indeed the seller failed to disclose branding that he knew wouldn't go away when a buyer puts in an ATT simcard such as I have.
I've read one single thread by a user and not a Samsung official that claims that you can pop in a network sim card and then restart to change some software but I have not found even one more thread mentioning this phenomenon.
My background:
I've bought factory unlocked my Moto Pure X and a OnePlus 5 and neither did any ridiculous **** when I switched networks, so that's why I doubt this claim.
I bought a AT&T branded one for use on TMobile. It kept popping up errors. I flashed the unlocked firmware and it works great. I get unlocked updates and everything. You'll need to look on here but there's a walkthrough somewhere. But there are a few advantages for running the carrier branded version so you could flash the AT&T firmware instead. I wanted less bloat so I went with the unlocked one.
Think this might be the thread:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/s10-plus/how-to/sm-g975u-firmware-downloads-tmo-spr-att-t3908657
That said after I did all this I did read there was going to be a update to the firmware which would do what you described.... Switching firmware based on the sim card. Never seen it happen on mine still on unlocked unbranded firmware. Maybe this phone is running old firmware prior to the update that implemented this?
not normal. LIke you, I purchased an 'unlocked' phone and when I powered on, it was a Verizon phone. I popped in my TMo sim, and it worked OK, but I would get the annoying Verizon popups reminding me that I'm on on their network. I installed the unlocked firmware and it went away.
But there's more: when the phone had a problem, I sent it back to Samsung under warranty (still unlocked) and when it was returned, I just installed the original sim and powered on. Now it seems to be a TMo phone, and when I look at the phone's software version, it shows TMB/TMB/VZW. It's been receiving OTA updates and I've disabled bloatware, so I'm OK with it.
Just to be clear I'm not going to flash anything. I'll just turn around and sell it. I need a stable phone for work and I used to mess around with flashing different roms and while it was fun it was a frequent activity and I don't have time for all the annoying trouble this phone has been. Thanks everyone.
Flashing rom is different from flashing a stock firmware. In your case the only way to be completely off from the previous network you are getting the notification from is to flash a G975U1 or G975U stock firmware which is unbranded or your network branded respectively and you are good to go. I switched my yesterday and am okay ?. I will be happy to assist should you change your mind
HIS YB said:
Flashing rom is different from flashing a stock firmware. In your case the only way to be completely off from the previous network you are getting the notification from is to flash a G975U1 or G975U stock firmware which is unbranded or your network branded respectively and you are good to go. I switched my yesterday and am okay . I will be happy to assist should you change your mind
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Thanks. I'm going to see if it will sell first.