Hello,
I recently saw the (samsung.com) Buy One Get One (/us/mobile/phones/t-mobile-free-galaxy-s8-promotion) deal on the Samsung S8. I am really interested. The deal applies on buying the T-Mobile variants directly from samsung.com. (Not through T-Mobile)
However, I am from India, and am currently travelling to the US. I would like to buy both the phones and get them unlocked later so that I can use them back in India. I do not mind buying/activating a new T-Mobile line on one of the phones as long as I can SIM unlock the phone later for use with other SIMs. From what I read, T-Mobile does not have these phones registered in their database and it is difficult to get them to unlock the phone for me. What usually ends up happening is that Samsung people redirect to T-Mobile, who in turn redirect back to Samsung. Has anybody had any success?
Here are a couple of reddit threads dealing with the same matter (can't post links yet, sorry) :
/r/tmobile/comments/68w6ow/samsungcom_tmobile_s8_sim_unlock/
/r/tmobile/comments/6crs6v/unlocking_samsung_galaxy_purchased_from_samsungcom/
/r/GalaxyS8/comments/67a942/how_to_get_sim_unlock_code_for_phones_purchased/
Please let me know if this is possible, and how it can be done.
I have T-mo phone bought and paid in full direct from Samsung and I can confirm this nonsense, which should be totally illegal: T-mo has no record of my phone's IMEI and Samsung can't unlock the phone without T-mo. You could try paid services, but I have no idea how well and if they even work. You could also wait for root and probably unlock then, but it's risky. So far I have not been able to resolve this issue.
pete4k said:
I have T-mo phone bought and paid in full direct from Samsung and I can confirm this nonsense, which should be totally illegal: T-mo has no record of my phone's IMEI and Samsung can't unlock the phone without T-mo. You could try paid services, but I have no idea how well and if they even work. You could also wait for root and probably unlock then, but it's risky. So far I have not been able to resolve this issue.
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That's sad to hear. I would have loved to get the phone using this offer. From what I gathered from the reddit threads, you basically have to grind down on customer support (either Samsung or T-Mobile) to get it unlocked from their side.
I recently purchased an at&t samsung galaxy s7 for a friend for a great price. The imei is clean but the phone is still locked to at&t service. My friend wants to use it on another carrier and the seller offered to unlock it for 50 USD but I suspect it can be unlocked for less, if not for free. I've searched around a bit and have seen a number of online services but I figured I'd consult the knowledge folks here for the best course.
Thanks in advance
efaustus9 said:
I recently purchased an at&t samsung galaxy s7 for a friend for a great price. The imei is clean but the phone is still locked to at&t service. My friend wants to use it on another carrier and the seller offered to unlock it for 50 USD but I suspect it can be unlocked for less, if not for free. I've searched around a bit and have seen a number of online services but I figured I'd consult the knowledge folks here for the best course.
Thanks in advance
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Click to collapse
AT&T unlocks then for free if the phone is paid on full. I can't remember the website but i did it to my s5
Thanks dirty, but I was under the impression you had to be an at&t customer in order to have at&t unlock it. On their webpage I was having that problem, it was asking for account information I couldn't provide since I do not have an account with at&t.
efaustus9 said:
Thanks dirty, but I was under the impression you had to be an at&t customer in order to have at&t unlock it. On their webpage I was having that problem, it was asking for account information I couldn't provide since I do not have an account with at&t.
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Click to collapse
You could call them (not your local dealer) and see if there is anything that they can get off the phone (serial number) to verify that the phone is paid on full, if so then they should unlock it. Also keep in mind that i don't believe it will work on Verizon or sprint since they use cdma, AT&T and T mobile use gsm.
I used unlockscope.com . Was 25$ and took less than 12 hours
Mine is an att version. Traded my 6 plus for it.
Hi All,
I recently purchased this phone while on a trip to the US as a cheap method to have data and use it for it's GPS, etc. I'd like to use it in Canada, but doing that requires it to be unlocked, and Tracphone's unlock policy is that it must be on their network for a year.
From what I have seen, paid unlock services don't support tracphone. What are my options for getting this phone unlocked? I'm ok with rooting and pulling files through ADB if needed.
Thanks, Ivan
There is another thread about root support for this phone here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-j3-2016/help/sm-s327vl-root-support-t3662669/
I have this phone and I doubt they will figure a way to root it. As for unlocking to use on another network or carrier, the policy is that way with Tracfone. You have to wait, since the paid services will not unlock it for you. I could be wrong.
I bought this phone because I thought I was only getting a certain amount for a phone. I was impatient and had family buy it early for me thinking this certain amount on a check I was getting. After buying went through hell with Tracfone, after getting phone and the screen flickered and had vertical lines going through it and had to do a RMA with them, from June 14th to around middle of July, in about a month wait.
By the time of the 2nd week of waiting for the RMA and new phone. I got the check I was waiting for and it was $224. I was thinking before I bought this phone online off of Tracfone website, that I wanted to buy a unlocked phone from Best Buy. The Motorola G4 Play. With the amount I would of got and did not know until too late, I regret not doing the other way.
I could of got a 32gb internal unlocked phone with fingerprint scanner. Oh well, my mistake, and with the 4 week hassle I dealt with Tracfone in getting a replacement. I will never ever buy another phone off their website. Really, bad customer service. If I had a better budget and more options, then I would go with another network.
Any Solution to unlock network on the s320vl?
How to unlock Galaxy S7 for Free Credits to: RedFlagDeals
Go to Samsung Canada website > Contact Us http://www.samsung.com/ca/info/contactus.html
Start Live Chat
Tell the rep that you would like to unlock your Galaxy S7
Rep will ask a few questions including your IMEI number and the carrier your S7 (only mention carrier if they ask) is currently locked to.
Within a few days, you will receive an email from Samsung with the unlock code.
Done!
Important Details
Note your Phone Model Number & IMEI before going in chat
Prepare the address of your Samsung Experience Store
Mention you got the phone on Samsung Experience Store or Costo in full
DO NOT mention you are in contract with a carrier.
Example message: (It worked for me)
I bought this phone Samsung S7 G930W8 from Samsung Experience Store at [insert address here, google location near you] few months ago. I'm flying in few days and I want to use my phone abroad while on Vacation. I just want to unlock this phone, that way I can use it for my travel. My IMEI is [insert IMEI here].
There are online during Canada - Pacific Time
Can confirm that this works. I've done it few months ago and again few days for a different phone.
My fiance traveled to Europe and her phone wasn't working with a local sim. She didn't know and input a few wrong codes, I think she tried twice so there was one attempt left. I attempted to contact Samsung and I gave them the Imei and told them it's from Costco.
The agent provided me with the code and my finance tried it once but it didn't work and now it says it requires a master code instead of a network code. The phone still works but network doesn't.
The Samsung agent said he will get me the master code but it'll take 3-5 days. Does anyone know how I can get this faster? I don't want her to be without a phone for that long.
This works perfectly! I've successfully unlocked 2 phones using this method.
Many thanks!
Would this work if my S7 is on AT&T? Wouldn't the Samsung Canada chat people say that they can't help US folks? I can't pretend that the phone is on a Canadian network as the model is GM-930A, correct?
agaurav said:
Would this work if my S7 is on AT&T? Wouldn't the Samsung Canada chat people say that they can't help US folks? I can't pretend that the phone is on a Canadian network as the model is GM-930A, correct?
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The Samsung rep world know right away that it's a USA phone when they enter the IMEI into their system.
You could try it since it's free to chat with them.
audit13 said:
The Samsung rep world know right away that it's a USA phone when they enter the IMEI into their system.
You could try it since it's free to chat with them.
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Click to collapse
I tried just now and they said they help only with Canadian devices. US support directs me to AT&T who say that the phone is locked to the previous owner. I bought it on Craigslist knowing it was locked. I used on AT&T but now want to switch away from AT&T so was trying to unlock. Guess I am stuck for now. Thanks.
agaurav said:
I tried just now and they said they help only with Canadian devices. US support directs me to AT&T who say that the phone is locked to the previous owner. I bought it on Craigslist knowing it was locked. I used on AT&T but now want to switch away from AT&T so was trying to unlock. Guess I am stuck for now. Thanks.
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Click to collapse
Maybe you can buy an unlock code from eBay?
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/AT-T-ATT-UN...755573?hash=item4b071af9b5:g:Dx4AAOSwzQFZ70Y0
Thanks. I bought it for $0.99. Not sure if that would work as most charge $25. I have a feeling that this seller will just try to use the AT&T unlock service and get the code and forward that. I know AT&T will not unlock my phone so not hopeful but no worries on losing a buck.
Or you can just call your provider and get it unlocked on the spot. It's no longer legal in Canada for carriers to charge you for this
homeslixe said:
Or you can just call your provider and get it unlocked on the spot. It's no longer legal in Canada for carriers to charge you for this
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There-in lies the issue. I didn't buy/lease it from AT&T directly. I bought it for $300 off Craiglist a year back and now want to use on T-mobile. However, when I called AT&T they said that the phone is still on someone's account and so they can't unlock it. I have no way of communicating with the seller as that was a Craigslist email address and I have no info and AT&T will not tell me the name/address of the seller (obviously and correctly so).
Did not work for me. They said that my IMEI is not in their system. Well, I didn't buy it there actually, but that was not explicitly stated as a prerequisite in this thread.
I finally reached the 50 day finish line and will have my phone unlocked today or tomorrow. I want to sell this, but as "unlocked" on Swappa to make a bit more on it. How do I remove the Sprint Bloatware after unlock?
The variant you have technically will always be a Sprint variant. If you start up in bootloader mode, it will have variant - sprint not openus
I want to know the answer to this as well. I heard that factory resetting with a non sprint sim would take that stuff away. I am still 10 days out from the unlock.
runderekrun said:
I want to know the answer to this as well. I heard that factory resetting with a non sprint sim would take that stuff away. I am still 10 days out from the unlock.
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I don't think that will work. We switched my wife's from the Sprint stock rom to the openus stock rom for better updates and it's still showing Sprint variant. It is also unlocked. So I don't know. But our phones never had bloatware on them to begin with.
JoRocker said:
I finally reached the 50 day finish line and will have my phone unlocked today or tomorrow. I want to sell this, but as "unlocked" on Swappa to make a bit more on it. How do I remove the Sprint Bloatware after unlock?
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Click to collapse
Yes it will always be a Sprint variant and can only be unlocked for domestic use. Please make sure buyers are aware if you sell it on Swappa.
Airwolf79 said:
Yes it will always be a Sprint variant and can only be unlocked for domestic use. Please make sure buyers are aware if you sell it on Swappa.
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That's 100% false.. I already talked to Sprint about this because I'm moving to Taiwan in February, and they said it will work anywhere in the world. I.E. International and domestic unlock. There is no Sprint Bloatware just a PRL manager when Sprint Sim is inserted..
I also received an email stating my phone has been "International and Domestic Unlocked".
JoRocker said:
That's 100% false.. I already talked to Sprint about this because I'm moving to Taiwan in February, and they said it will work anywhere in the world. I.E. International and domestic unlock. There is no Sprint Bloatware just a PRL manager when Sprint Sim is inserted..
I also received an email stating my phone has been "International and Domestic Unlocked".
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Click to collapse
Correct.
I don't see any bloatware on my phone.
It will always be a Sprint variant but that is only for identification.
JoRocker said:
That's 100% false.. I already talked to Sprint about this because I'm moving to Taiwan in February, and they said it will work anywhere in the world. I.E. International and domestic unlock. There is no Sprint Bloatware just a PRL manager when Sprint Sim is inserted..
I also received an email stating my phone has been "International and Domestic Unlocked".
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Click to collapse
Well Sprint doesn't say anything about unlocking it internationally. https://www.sprint.com/en/support/solutions/device/faqs-about-unlocking-your-sprint-device.html
Maybe you'll be lucky and it'll work for you, but I wouldn't take a chance taking a Sprint variant over seas with their track record of randomly relocking phones. There was a post here on the forum of a guy from Germany that bought an unlocked Sprint phone and couldn't use it over there. So until you actually try it, you won't know for sure. I still stand by my OP that the seller should disclose that it's a Sprint variant because it's not worth as much. There's plenty of regular unlocked ph1's on Swappa to choose from, so good luck trying to sell it for more than $300, if it's mint.
JoRocker said:
I finally reached the 50 day finish line and will have my phone unlocked today or tomorrow. I want to sell this, but as "unlocked" on Swappa to make a bit more on it. How do I remove the Sprint Bloatware after unlock?
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Click to collapse
What Sprint bloatware are you referencing? I had my sprint installed but that was it. I keep it to pay my bill and track other things, but I was able to delete it just for kicks.
Airwolf79 said:
Well Sprint doesn't say anything about unlocking it internationally. https://www.sprint.com/en/support/solutions/device/faqs-about-unlocking-your-sprint-device.html
Maybe you'll be lucky and it'll work for you, but I wouldn't take a chance taking a Sprint variant over seas with their track record of randomly relocking phones. There was a post here on the forum of a guy from Germany that bought an unlocked Sprint phone and couldn't use it over there. So until you actually try it, you won't know for sure. I still stand by my OP that the seller should disclose that it's a Sprint variant because it's not worth as much. There's plenty of regular unlocked ph1's on Swappa to choose from, so good luck trying to sell it for more than $300, if it's mint.
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I just called Sprint again to make sure (spoke to international department) they said there will be no issues it is 100% unlocked. I don't know what happened with that guy from Germany, but I'd guess he was lied to about it being unlocked from whoever he bought it from. In fact unless the post is less than a couple weeks ago, I know that's the case, because I got mine the first week of the offer and just was able to get it unlocked late last week.
I went to Swappa and every mint selling for $340 is still locked to Sprint. In fact, every posting says "locked to Sprint, will be unlockable after 50 days". So I'd assume people are selling the unlocked Sprint variants on "Unlocked" section, because there's no Bloatware, and it is unlocked.
carterfalls said:
What Sprint bloatware are you referencing? I had my sprint installed but that was it. I keep it to pay my bill and track other things, but I was able to delete it just for kicks.
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That's what I meant, I figured out how to remove it. I actually don't have to, it gets installed with Sprint Sim it seems.
JoRocker said:
I just called Sprint again to make sure (spoke to international department) they said there will be no issues it is 100% unlocked. I don't know what happened with that guy from Germany, but I'd guess he was lied to about it being unlocked from whoever he bought it from. In fact unless the post is less than a couple weeks ago, I know that's the case, because I got mine the first week of the offer and just was able to get it unlocked late last week.
I went to Swappa and every mint selling for $340 is still locked to Sprint. In fact, every posting says "locked to Sprint, will be unlockable after 50 days". So I'd assume people are selling the unlocked Sprint variants on "Unlocked" section, because there's no Bloatware, and it is unlocked.
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People that got in on the early lease program were told that they wouldn't have to wait the whole 50 days, and many posted their devices were unlocked within a few days of being paid off. One guy even posted his contract, and it didn't say anything about being only DSU until 50 days of use. Obviously, Sprint caught on to this that people were cancelling their contracts as soon as they paid off the device.
My point is, sellers of a Sprint device that are trying to sell it as an unlocked device need to disclose that it's a Sprint variant because most people will gladly pay a little more for a true GSM unlocked device that they don't have to worry about getting randomly relocked. The cheapest PH1 on Swappa in the unlocked section is $389, and none of them say they are Sprint variants, but there are people who will lie and not tell someone it's a Sprint variant, so I just wanted to inform the OP. That's not right.
Airwolf79 said:
People that got in on the early lease program were told that they wouldn't have to wait the whole 50 days, and many posted their devices were unlocked within a few days of being paid off. One guy even posted his contract, and it didn't say anything about being only DSU until 50 days of use. Obviously, Sprint caught on to this that people were cancelling their contracts as soon as they paid off the device.
My point is, sellers of a Sprint device that are trying to sell it as an unlocked device need to disclose that it's a Sprint variant because most people will gladly pay a little more for a true GSM unlocked device that they don't have to worry about getting randomly relocked. The cheapest PH1 on Swappa in the unlocked section is $389, and none of them say they are Sprint variants, but there are people who will lie and not tell someone it's a Sprint variant, so I just wanted to inform the OP. That's not right.
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Look, I know you want to be right, but you just aren't... I ordered my phone day 3 of the deal. My phone was unlocked originally and then relocked a week later, because Sprint initially made a mistake and corrected it. It didn't affect me because I'm on the Sprint BYOD deal anyways. That's more than likely what happened to the German guy...
There is zero difference between the Unlocked and Sprint version. Usually with carrier specifics phones (note again I said usually) they alter the accepted frequencies to support that specific network and add carrier Bloatware, that's not the case with the Essential phone. Once the 50 days is up and you get it unlocked, it's unlocked forever. It's yours and you own it to use how you see fit. There is no Sprint Bloatware whatsoever or any carrier branding. It is now deemed "Unlocked" and can be advertised as such. I'll put in my listing that it was used on Sprint Network, but to say it will randomly relock is a ridiculous statement and has no chance of happening. It will accept all frequencies that any Essential phone is capable of using.
JoRocker said:
Look, I know you want to be right, but you just aren't... I ordered my phone day 3 of the deal. My phone was unlocked originally and then relocked a week later, because Sprint initially made a mistake and corrected it. It didn't affect me because I'm on the Sprint BYOD deal anyways. That's more than likely what happened to the German guy...
There is zero difference between the Unlocked and Sprint version. Usually with carrier specifics phones (note again I said usually) they alter the accepted frequencies to support that specific network and add carrier Bloatware, that's not the case with the Essential phone. Once the 50 days is up and you get it unlocked, it's unlocked forever. It's yours and you own it to use how you see fit. There is no Sprint Bloatware whatsoever or any carrier branding. It is now deemed "Unlocked" and can be advertised as such. I'll put in my listing that it was used on Sprint Network, but to say it will randomly relock is a ridiculous statement and has no chance of happening. It will accept all frequencies that any Essential phone is capable of using.
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You just completely contradicted yourself. Your phone was relocked "accidentally". LMAO. Ok buddy, you're right, I'm wrong.
JoRocker said:
Look, I know you want to be right, but you just aren't... I ordered my phone day 3 of the deal. My phone was unlocked originally and then relocked a week later, because Sprint initially made a mistake and corrected it. It didn't affect me because I'm on the Sprint BYOD deal anyways. That's more than likely what happened to the German guy...
There is zero difference between the Unlocked and Sprint version. Usually with carrier specifics phones (note again I said usually) they alter the accepted frequencies to support that specific network and add carrier Bloatware, that's not the case with the Essential phone. Once the 50 days is up and you get it unlocked, it's unlocked forever. It's yours and you own it to use how you see fit. There is no Sprint Bloatware whatsoever or any carrier branding. It is now deemed "Unlocked" and can be advertised as such. I'll put in my listing that it was used on Sprint Network, but to say it will randomly relock is a ridiculous statement and has no chance of happening. It will accept all frequencies that any Essential phone is capable of using.
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Click to collapse
There are two sprint system apps installed onto the sprint variant. Once it's unlocked, it is close enough to unlocked to probably sell it as such but there is a slight differences.
Airwolf79 said:
You just completely contradicted yourself. Your phone was relocked "accidentally". LMAO. Ok buddy, you're right, I'm wrong.
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Click to collapse
I didn't contradict myself... They relocked people because they hadn't had service on the phone for 50 days to fully own the device... I have now. It is unlocked internationally and Domestically. It will accept all carriers in the world without risk of relocking... You're trying to way too hard to be correct.
I have already removed the Sprint PRL manager, by flashing Essentials stock ROM, not that it actually shows unless there's a Sprint Sim in the phone in the first place, but still for others peace of mind. It is now an Unlocked Essential Phone. No difference from my phone to an Essential website or Amazon version...
Airwolf79 said:
You just completely contradicted yourself. Your phone was relocked "accidentally". LMAO. Ok buddy, you're right, I'm wrong.
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Sprint can't relock them if there's no Sprint sim in them anymore.
I bought 4 through the deal, only 1 got relocked, that was the one that still had a sprint sim (and that one is unlocked now as well since the 50 days are up).
2 of them I gave to my parents who live in Belgium (that's in Europe) and they've been working perfectly ever since.
Gambler_BE said:
Sprint can't relock them if there's no Sprint sim in them anymore.
I bought 4 through the deal, only 1 got relocked, that was the one that still had a sprint sim (and that one is unlocked now as well since the 50 days are up).
2 of them I gave to my parents who live in Belgium (that's in Europe) and they've been working perfectly ever since.
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Ok I'm glad it worked out for you. Then I guess the right thing to do if selling the phone in the unlocked section on Swappa is to state that the 50 days has passed and it's fully unlocked. I stand corrected.
RE: Thread comment related to domestic and international unlocks on PH-1 Sprint variant.
Both unlocks are applicable on PH-1.
Attached composite of screen captures from my unlocked PH-1's illustrating BOTH domestic AND international unlocks of one of my PH-1's as reference example.
Friends don't let friends insert Sprint SIM's into their Essential phones View attachment 4803126