First thing first, I have sent the unlocked S8 (bought unlocked directly from Samsung) back to repair center for the issue. The phone was returned to me, claimed to be repaired, with the same issue. While I submitted another ticket to send it back again, I believe the devs here may have better solutions than the incompetent technicians at Samsung repair center. I need help!
Description of Issue
Before routine phone reboot
• AT&T compatible SIM (Cricket) worked on the S8.
• Verizon compatible SIM (Red Pocket) worked on the S8.
After routine phone reboot
• AT&T compatible SIM still worked on the S8.
• Verizon compatible SIM couldn’t register on Verizon’s network on the S8. However, the SIM could register on Verizon and make phone calls on another two phones.
• Verizon SIM worked on the S8.
I was instructed by a Samsung technician through chat to
a) do a network reset
b) enter safe mode
c) do a factory reset
None of the above worked. No setting (APN or whatnot) is required for the AT&T compatible or Verizon compatible SIM to work. In short, the Verizon compatible SIM is working properly and the S8 is not blacklisted by Verizon. The S8 just doesn’t work with the Verizon compatible SIM after a reboot.
After the repair
I just received the S8 from the repair center from the previous ticket. I inserted the Red Pocket SIM to S8 and the phone still couldn’t register it on Verizon’s network. I inserted the same SIM to another phone and the phone received messages from Red Pocket right away and showed it was on Verizon’s network. In short, the same issue remained.
Even though I'm sending the S8 back to Samsung for repair, given my first repair experience, I don't have much confidence in their technicians in fixing this. Any input is much appreciated!
Did you figure this out? I am having the exact identical issue and ready to go nuts trying to figure it out. Any help would be great!
willjob said:
Did you figure this out? I am having the exact identical issue and ready to go nuts trying to figure it out. Any help would be great!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, I haven't. But I do have updates. I sent the phone back for a second repair. The phone came back with the same problem. No surprise at all. One thing I noticed though, from the service record, the technician replaced a third component (the other two were the same as that of the first service). Not sure if this made a difference, I did see "Verizon Wireless" on the status bar when I turned the phone on with the Red Pocket SIM. This was the first time I saw the "Verizon Wireless" after the reboot. However, while I was turning it on, the S8 mandated a reboot to "get the SIM card ready." And man... that reboot just reverted everything to before.
I was on the phone with a Samsung representative and a supervisor after I discovered the phone was not fixed for the second time. While he promised to make a note to the repair center about my situation, the supervisor said the option of a replacement phone wouldn't kick in until 3 or 4 unsuccessful repairs. Frustrated as I was, I've got no choice but to send it back for a third repair.
Hope you have better luck with yours.
willjob said:
Did you figure this out? I am having the exact identical issue and ready to go nuts trying to figure it out. Any help would be great!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, I haven't. But I do have updates. I sent the phone back for a second repair. The phone came back with the same problem. No surprise at all. One thing I noticed though, from the service record, the technician replaced a third component (the other two were the same as that of the first service). Not sure if this made a difference, I did see "Verizon Wireless" on the status bar when I turned the phone on with the Red Pocket SIM. This was the first time I saw the "Verizon Wireless" after the reboot. However, while I was turning it on, the S8 mandated a reboot to "get the SIM card ready." And man... that reboot just reverted everything to before.
I was on the phone with a Samsung representative and a supervisor after I discovered the phone was not fixed for the second time. While he promised to make a note to the repair center about my situation, the supervisor said the option of a replacement phone wouldn't kick in until 3 or 4 unsuccessful repairs. Frustrated as I was, I've got no choice but to send it back for a third repair.
Hope you have better luck with yours.
Thanks for the reply. The phone I was having problems with was an S8+. My wife's phone is an s8. I didn't have any problems on Red Pocket CDMA for the first week of service. That was until this morning. Exact same thing on my S8+ and what you describe above. On another forum someone said this is a problem with Samsung devices on Verizon MVNOs.
I just switched both to GSMA for now until I figure out to switch from Red Pocket.
willjob said:
Thanks for the reply. The phone I was having problems with was an S8+. My wife's phone is an s8. I didn't have any problems on Red Pocket CDMA for the first week of service. That was until this morning. Exact same thing on my S8+ and what you describe above. On another forum someone said this is a problem with Samsung devices on Verizon MVNOs.
I just switched both to GSMA for now until I figure out to switch from Red Pocket.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for sharing, especially on Verizon MVNOs. GSM (Cricket) has no signal at all in many locations around where I live and work. If Samsung still couldn't fix my S8 after a couple more tries or even with a replacement phone, I will have to opt for the Verizon MVNO theory and buy a different phone. Heck, my $40 Moto E4 works just fine on both Cricket and CDMA Red Pocket.
I have the same issue my believe is red pocket does not have LTE/CDMA in their sim they have LTE/2g/3g 2g/3g and 2g only they should have LTE/CDMA instead of LTE/2g/3g to work,
xike17 said:
First thing first, I have sent the unlocked S8 (bought unlocked directly from Samsung) back to repair center for the issue. The phone was returned to me, claimed to be repaired, with the same issue. While I submitted another ticket to send it back again, I believe the devs here may have better solutions than the incompetent technicians at Samsung repair center. I need help!
Description of Issue
Before routine phone reboot
• AT&T compatible SIM (Cricket) worked on the S8.
• Verizon compatible SIM (Red Pocket) worked on the S8.
After routine phone reboot
• AT&T compatible SIM still worked on the S8.
• Verizon compatible SIM couldn’t register on Verizon’s network on the S8. However, the SIM could register on Verizon and make phone calls on another two phones.
• Verizon SIM worked on the S8.
I was instructed by a Samsung technician through chat to
a) do a network reset
b) enter safe mode
c) do a factory reset
None of the above worked. No setting (APN or whatnot) is required for the AT&T compatible or Verizon compatible SIM to work. In short, the Verizon compatible SIM is working properly and the S8 is not blacklisted by Verizon. The S8 just doesn’t work with the Verizon compatible SIM after a reboot.
After the repair
I just received the S8 from the repair center from the previous ticket. I inserted the Red Pocket SIM to S8 and the phone still couldn’t register it on Verizon’s network. I inserted the same SIM to another phone and the phone received messages from Red Pocket right away and showed it was on Verizon’s network. In short, the same issue remained.
Even though I'm sending the S8 back to Samsung for repair, given my first repair experience, I don't have much confidence in their technicians in fixing this. Any input is much appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Update:
No. This problem was not fixed by Samsung after three repairs.
I ordered a new Verizon SIM from Red Pocket during the third repair. Samsung didn't replace anything in the third. I received the phone and popped in the new SIM and the phone could register the SIM on Verizon! I even tried a couple of restarts (which caused the problem in the first place) and everything seemed fine. I even blamed myself for bashing Samsung technicians' incompetence. How stupid was I to blame myself and how naive was I to believe Samsung technician had actually delivered...
It's the fourth or fifth day I've been using the phone and the new SIM. The battery died after a long day. When I returned home and charged the phone, the S8 needed to "reconfigure" the SIM, which prompted for an automatic reboot. Voila! The same pesky unable-to-register-on-Verizon issue came right back. The phone is now in the process of a replacement. I honestly don't hold much hope for the replacement that I'm awaiting. Perhaps I should consider selling off the phone or asking Samsung for a refund.
Confirmed s8 doesn't work on the budget Verizon mnvo's
I just switched from the att sim on red pocket to the Verizon sim with no luck. I found a temporary fix. When prompt to restart to configure network, press the power button and go into emergency mode. Then restart from there. May take a couple of tries but the prompt disappeared. Then switch back to regular mode. I was able to use the phone on Verizon but can only get 3g speeds. This all goes away the moment you restart the phone as the moment the confirmation takes it won't recognize the Verizon networks. This is a cheap Verizon service. You can see your options for network mode are lte/3g/2g. Not the typical lte/cdma. Also tried boom mobile, and that sort of worked but my texts would not go out and again no fix. I'm convinced this is purely Verizon restricting needed services that the s8 requires. The att sim works perfectly. Most phones are fine, not the newer Galaxy.
nytq said:
I just switched from the att sim on red pocket to the Verizon sim with no luck. I found a temporary fix. When prompt to restart to configure network, press the power button and go into emergency mode. Then restart from there. May take a couple of tries but the prompt disappeared. Then switch back to regular mode. I was able to use the phone on Verizon but can only get 3g speeds. This all goes away the moment you restart the phone as the moment the confirmation takes it won't recognize the Verizon networks. This is a cheap Verizon service. You can see your options for network mode are lte/3g/2g. Not the typical lte/cdma. Also tried boom mobile, and that sort of worked but my texts would not go out and again no fix. I'm convinced this is purely Verizon restricting needed services that the s8 requires. The att sim works perfectly. Most phones are fine, not the newer Galaxy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the workaround. I'll give a shot when I receive the replacement. Meanwhile, I have been using an unlocked prepaid Verizon Moto E4 and everything works fine. I have 4G with the E4. I can also receive multimedia text. A $40 budget phone works better for my needs than a $700 factory unlocked premium phone. How ironic!
I have the same problem
I have a fully-paid-for Galaxy S8 from a Verizon account with good standing, and service on this particular line is ended. It worked on Redpocket until I took the sim out to insert an SD card. Afterwards it reconfigured the sim and lost network access. The sim works in my iPhone and the original Verizon sim works in the S8 and the phone states its ready to set up a Verizon account.
The third Redpocket support agent I contacted sent me a screenshot listing an error "DISCOUNT_4_ACCESS". He stated that means Verizon is blocking it for some reason but he doesn't have access to the reason. Two Verizon agents couldn't even tell if they were blocking it or not - but as far as they could tell everything was good.
According to an article on Whistleout, Verizon MVNO requirements are that the "phone must be network compatible, financially unencumbered, and not less than 12 months old (though this last policy changes from time to time)" Could our phones be blocked because they were sold less than 12 months ago?
Leecewest said:
I have a fully-paid-for Galaxy S8 from a Verizon account with good standing, and service on this particular line is ended. It worked on Redpocket until I took the sim out to insert an SD card. Afterwards it reconfigured the sim and lost network access. The sim works in my iPhone and the original Verizon sim works in the S8 and the phone states its ready to set up a Verizon account.
The third Redpocket support agent I contacted sent me a screenshot listing an error "DISCOUNT_4_ACCESS". He stated that means Verizon is blocking it for some reason but he doesn't have access to the reason. Two Verizon agents couldn't even tell if they were blocking it or not - but as far as they could tell everything was good.
According to an article on Whistleout, Verizon MVNO requirements are that the "phone must be network compatible, financially unencumbered, and not less than 12 months old (though this last policy changes from time to time)" Could our phones be blocked because they were sold less than 12 months ago?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for sharing this. I bought a Moto E4 around February, a Verizon postpaid (or prepaid?) from Walmart and got it unlocked through eBay. This is the phone I'm using with Red Pocket now. The phone is of course less than 12 months old. One thing to mention is when I asked Red Pocket support to activate a new SIM with the E4, I was told because the phone was Verizon branded (post/prepaid) they could not activate the phone with the SIM. Then I told them I had success before. The rep further said the service would be deactivated once their system detected the phone was Verizon branded. Well, it turned out this rep knew nothing. I ended up using IMEI of another phone to activate the line then inserted the SIM in the E4. And I have been using the E4 ever since without a single issue (network-wise).
Wow, so i wasn't the only one. Had the exact same problem. Ported my number from Red Pocket Verizon to Red Pocket AT&T. Now everything is fine.
When I switch from a Verizon SIM to my Red Pocket-Verizon SIM the phone comes up with "SIM card changed" but the phone receives incoming calls and notifications (wi-fi is off). Unfortunately, the only thing that I can do with the "SIM card changed" message showing is answer phone calls - I cant even turn "Emergency mode" on. Could it be that Red Pocket SIM messes up the configuration? One of the first things Red Pocket support wants to check is if the phone is in CDMA mode, but with the Red Pocket sim inserted modes are limited to LTE/3G/2G. The Verizon SIM gives CDMA options.
With the Verizon SIM in and configured, switch to "Emergency Mode". Replace the Verizon SIM with the Red Pocket SIM without turning the phone off. Turn "Emergency Mode" off. The phone doesn't detect the SIM change, but it shows the ICCID of the Red Pocket SIM and correct phone number. Data works, 4G LTE. Of course, the first power cycle it detects the SIM change and messes up the configuration.
Another update: Received an unlocked S9 (yes, because Samsung is out of unlocked S8 inventory) two days ago. Inserted Red Pocket Verizon... the phone couldn't register the SIM on Verizon at all in my first try. This is the end of my journey with Samsung phones. I hope one day this issue can be addressed and solved.
Am having the same red-pocket/Verizon/S8 problem. Too bad I did not see this first.
I have tried almost everything (barring having a different network Sim Card) to have my phone request me to restart the phone on inserting new sim. It appears the last network is saved somewhere and my unlocked/unbrand S8 does not seem to forget it.
Is there a way where I can force the phone to request a restart if I re-insert the Sim card. Thanks
fnkhan said:
Am having the same red-pocket/Verizon/S8 problem. Too bad I did not see this first.
I have tried almost everything (barring having a different network Sim Card) to have my phone request me to restart the phone on inserting new sim. It appears the last network is saved somewhere and my unlocked/unbrand S8 does not seem to forget it.
Is there a way where I can force the phone to request a restart if I re-insert the Sim card. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My understanding is that Galaxy S8s are configured wrong when Red-Pocket (and other Verizon MVNO) SIMs are inserted - they aren't fully set to the Verizon network and if your phone had, for example, and AT&T SIM, the phone stays AT&T branded when a Red-Pocket Verizon SIM is inserted.
The work-around:
1) Insert a Verizon SIM and let it setup everything and reboot when it wants.
2)Turn on "Emergency mode" (Hold down the power button and select "Emergency mode")
3)Insert Red-Rocket SIM
4)Turn "Emergency mode" off
*If you reboot after inserting the Red-Pocket SIM the phone will become wrongly-configured and you'll need to do the work-around again.
Leecewest said:
My understanding is that Galaxy S8s are configured wrong when Red-Pocket (and other Verizon MVNO) SIMs are inserted - they aren't fully set to the Verizon network and if your phone had, for example, and AT&T SIM, the phone stays AT&T branded when a Red-Pocket Verizon SIM is inserted.
The work-around:
1) Insert a Verizon SIM and let it setup everything and reboot when it wants.
2)Turn on "Emergency mode" (Hold down the power button and select "Emergency mode")
3)Insert Red-Rocket SIM
4)Turn "Emergency mode" off
*If you reboot after inserting the Red-Pocket SIM the phone will become wrongly-configured and you'll need to do the work-around again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the update. Yes - if I can only get hold of a non Red-pocket Sim, this can work. Since I don't have Verizon (or any other) Sim card, I was wondering if there is some other workaround to have the phone request me to restart. I suppose I would still need Verizon Sim since it uses that to configure the network.
Looking at another thread - it appears the 'configuration' that Verizon sim card does has to do with CSC codes. My phone is unbranded, so the codes are XAA (Firmware) and XAA (Network). I believe the latter has to be VZW and a Verizon Sim fixes that. Someone who has successfully used the workaround can confirm what codes are being displayed at their end. I am using 'phone info' app. Then maybe we can work to find another workaround ....
My S8 is Verizon branded. It CSC is currently VZW. Under "Service provider SW ver." its VZW/VZW/VZW.
Just as the title says, has anyone successfully used an unlocked, Verizon branded LG G6 (VS988) with a third party sim (for data and making phone calls? Which country are you in, which sim cards are you using, any attempts abroad/traveling, etc?
Bought a mint unlocked Verizon LG G6, confirmed it was unlocked by two Verizon reps over the phone, and one in-person Verizon rep in my city. With the in-person rep (as well as on my own of course), we could not get my T-mobile, Three (a UK sim), and Project Fi to work with the phone, for data/phone/SMS.
Not surprisingly, when he inserted a Verizon Sim, of course it worked. The rep genuinely tried his best to help, but in the end was like "sorry, ¯_(ツ)_/¯ " and said it was probably an unresolveable network problem, and yes, that the phone was definitely unlocked (checked his database).
Before I came to his shop, though, I spent a couple hours at home tinkering with ALL the phone settings (set up a verified APN, toggle global/LTE-GSM-CDMA options, set data roaming ON), and the best I could get was the G6 successfully connecting to T-Mobile for all of 30 seconds (I could surf the web, but NO phone calls), then losing all bars of connection and cutting out entirely. Toggling airplane mode allows you to connect for at most 30 seconds at a time, also, weirdly enough.
What gives? I confirmed the sim cards worked on my other unlocked devices (LG G5, 1+5, Xiaomi Redmi), and I really want to use this G6 here (USA), but more especially, while I am traveling abroad and looking to use whatever country's local sim cards.
Lastly, do you think rooting this phone and installing a custom ROM would help the issue? I prefer not to return this phone because I got a decent deal on it (through ebay's 20% off) and everything else about it is awesome.
Hi
While not strictly the same, I have Verizon LG V20 VS995 with a similar problem with my EE sim which will not register properly and when it does it is only 3G instead of 4G/LTE but keeps dropping off. Where I differ from you is that I can use an O2 sim and get both calls and 4G/LTE data with it. I live in UK. Hope this might help.
Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk
My G6 is the unlocked us997, but the wifes is the Verizon Unlocked G6. UNFORTUNATELY I have yet to get her MMS messages working on it for her but everything else works perfectly fine, on TracFone sim (on AT&T network), ... And FYI, only the bootloader unlocked LG G6 can be rooted, all the carrier version, whether they're network locked or unlocked, they're most definitely bootloader locked, thus no root :<P
I got the same phone as you...I live in the Dominican Republic using a Claro chip...Bought the phone from ebay unlocked. So there is something you must talk with verizon so they unlock it. On the other hand we cant root our phones only the europe and US version can be rooted.
Have you checked if this phone has a region locked on it? And if it's removed by placing that 5 minutes-long phone call?
Also, once the SIM (non-Verizon SIM) did you check the APN settings if they are the correct one for your carrier?
I have a similar problem
I bought an unlocked Verizon G6 vs988 on ebay (the listing actually said US997).
I managed to get it to work for phone calls and sms but could not set the data.
I manually set the APN but it would not stay "chosen".
I got all the settings but when I chose it and closed the screen it got unchosen (unchecked) and I did not get a data connection.
is there any custom rom for this model?
would a firmware for the us997 work on this model?
Bump
physics.dor said:
I bought an unlocked Verizon G6 vs988 on ebay (the listing actually said US997).
I managed to get it to work for phone calls and sms but could not set the data.
I manually set the APN but it would not stay "chosen".
I got all the settings but when I chose it and closed the screen it got unchosen (unchecked) and I did not get a data connection.
is there any custom rom for this model?
would a firmware for the us997 work on this model?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are in U.S. it should work fine with AT&T and T-mobile, as long as correct APN has been entered. once you enter the new APN, you must select the 3dots, on top right and save, once the new SIM inserted, just go back to APN and select the correct APN.
If you are outside U.S, the LG G6 Verizon unlocked does not have B1 (2100) which is required by most GSM carriers out side US, so you can get 3G or in most cases 2G (E) network only. LG G6 AT&T unlocked works fine outside US, but it does not have CDMA technology and can't be use with Verizon or Sprint. hope that helps
Hi , I have a similar problem. I bought vs988 verizon version and popped in a MINT sim. I had issues setting it up but eventually got it work via the pull down menu in the 'settings' at the top that said 'mobile data off - turn on?' - now this has vanished- can I get this back ?
The mobile data button in the notification tab and the actualy mobile button in the mobile data section in 'settings' do not work (and never have) - they always ask me to contact verizon.
So what do i do ? I have no mobile data now. And it's a pain.
My issue is partially solved in that when I 'reset network settings' and then re-add my APN (for mint) it automatically turns on mobile data. Using the other 'mobile data' buttons (as I mention below do not work).
And now that mobile data is on - I use airplane mode to turn it off, and turn on wifi (because i have google voice I still get voice calls). Anyway this works if you have a similar problem.
I am wondering if this issue would exist if I used a Verizon MVNO (instead of Mint/t-mobile) ?
(so by it being offically "unlocked" actually is not really true - when i first bought the phone I messaged LG and they suggested i needed to send it into them so it could be re-flashed. They would charge me for it and I would lose my phone for about 2 weeks - which is a pain, and not worth the expense)
sammyDC said:
Hi , I have a similar problem. I bought vs988 verizon version and popped in a MINT sim. I had issues setting it up but eventually got it work via the pull down menu in the 'settings' at the top that said 'mobile data off - turn on?' - now this has vanished- can I get this back ?
The mobile data button in the notification tab and the actualy mobile button in the mobile data section in 'settings' do not work (and never have) - they always ask me to contact verizon.
So what do i do ? I have no mobile data now. And it's a pain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the verizon version of lg g6 and it works perfectly fine in Nigeria with all nigerian sims:mtn,airtel,glo,9mobile and even works on 4g let but I set the network mode to global and I receive calls and sms promptly
Well, I gave up trying to use a Verizon mvno. One of my Page Plus automatic renewals failed, and it wouldn't activate until 2nd level support changed my IMEI to an iPhone 6 I borrowed. The procedure in the Verizon thread about activating an iPhone 6 and then moving the SIM to the Axon didn't work for me.
As we know, going to Sprint is out.
T-Mobile in my area has a weak signal.
That leaves American Telephone & Telegraph.
I tried searching for AT&T and ATT in this forum, but I only get results for at or attempt. I even tried putting quotes around it.
I bought a Red Pocket AT&T SIM, although it might be for T-Mobile. There's no printed identification on it, but someone at Cellular Depot wrote 'A' on it. There are two APNs on it T-Mobile US LTE and T-Mobile US.
When I try to add a Red Pocket AT&T APN, it will save it until I enter 410 for the MNC. Then it deletes it.
Did they send me the wrong SIM?
I'm running version B32, and I'm stuck at this level without the ZTE update server.
Was there a trick to save it on another phone, and then move it over?
Thanks
Just to close the issue...
I was accidentally sent a T-Mobile SIM. Cellular Depot was very good, and quickly sent me a replacement SIM for AT&T service.
I have a LG V20 (model VS995) that was previously from Verizon. I switched to google Fi and my phone has never worked correctly. After months of delaying doing a full data reset as per their suggestion, I finally did it and rebuilt all of my apps but now when I go through the Google Fi activation process, it says the SIM card can not be read. I even ordered a second card just in case but I get the same error. I have tried multiple times. According to Fi support, they are saying my VS995 was never fully SIM unlocked from Verizon. Before I left Verizon, they told me their phones aren't really locked so there was nothing to do. Can anyone verify that I really don't need to unlock my phone? I have been having issues for months and now my phone has zero phone functionality. It can't send or receive calls at all. I will gladly go to a local Verizon store if needs to be SIM unlocked. I am hoping one of you has an answer as googling "VS995 unlock" beings up countless web sites with zero valuable information that actually works.
FWIW, my phone is not hacked at all.
All VS995 models come SIM-unlocked out of the box because Verizon at that time was required by law to do so (they started SIM-locking their phones again around June 2019), so there is nothing needed to do on Verizon's end to unlock the phone, and I'm not sure why the SIM card can't be read unless Google Fi gave you a Sprint SIM card, which is totally different and only works on the LS997 model. As far as I know, Google Fi's main networks are T-Mobile and Sprint. The VS995 is rather bad in reception for Fi since it has none of Sprint's LTE bands and only has LTE bands 2 and 4 for T-Mobile (lacking bands 12, 66, and 71).
So I have a Sprint G6 with me, no sprint account and trying to see how to carrier unlock this to use on TMO. I tried putting my sim card in registered to TMO since I read that since the merger you can apparently do this, but it didn't work.
What am I missing?
I just activated an old LG G6 I have yesterday on my Sprint account(trying to see if they'll offer me a free phone on this line,no bill credits.)
Anyways, when I go to Settings/General/System Updates there is a UICC Unlock tab. When I click it, it checks the network, then says "Your Device has been unlocked to support any inserted any inserted UICC." I may have unlocked it years ago. If yours was never unlocked when it was active on Sprint, then it probably CAN Not be unlocked unless activated on a Sprint account. Do you know anyone with Sprint that can temporarily activate the phone to Unlock it?