Develop Bugs

[Q] Carrier Unlock?

Hey,
I got my Nexus two months ago and I've loved it unconditionally!
But I'm moving to the USA for three months in the summer and I really want to be able to use it over there. I'm just wondering is there an efficient way to unlock the carrier restrictions without paying my carrier? I'm on a contract and they won't do it.
I have until June, so if nothing is available now, I'm sure it will be then-provided it's possible.
I'm really not sure if this is possible because I'm totally unused to Android-I came from an iPhone 4.
I don't mind using Custom ROMs, Rooting, etc.

.synq said:
Hey,
I got my Nexus two months ago and I've loved it unconditionally!
But I'm moving to the USA for three months in the summer and I really want to be able to use it over there. I'm just wondering is there an efficient way to unlock the carrier restrictions without paying my carrier? I'm on a contract and they won't do it.
I have until June, so if nothing is available now, I'm sure it will be then-provided it's possible.
I'm really not sure if this is possible because I'm totally unused to Android-I came from an iPhone 4.
I don't mind using Custom ROMs, Rooting, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Galaxy Nexus is factory unlocked. All Nexus phones are. It's one of Googles provisions for these phones.

not anymore, carrier sold GNs are locked. If your operator won't unlock it, there are a lot of sites that will unlock samsung phones. I got my unlock code off ebay for about £9...
you need to enter the code again after a factory reset so keep it safe somewhere

spamlucal said:
not anymore, carrier sold GNs are locked. If your operator won't unlock it, there are a lot of sites that will unlock samsung phones. I got my unlock code off ebay for about £9...
you need to enter the code again after a factory reset so keep it safe somewhere
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
?? Mine was. I thought they all were still. Is it only in certain countries than? I bought one from Bell Canada and it is unlocked. Either way ignore my post I just assumed all of them were still unlocked.
@OP I found lots of places to buy unlock codes cheap. If you aren't in a hurry you can also wait until we find a way to unlock it with software.

I got the chance to test it out today and as it turns out, it's unlocked.
I got the phone in a strange way where there was very little contact with the carrier because it's on a corporate contract.
Either way, it's unlocked, but thank you guys for the help!

I'm using CDMA/LTE GNex, so this doesn't apply to me.. but just wondering..
Is the unlock code unique to each device or do all Gnexuses have the same code?
If the latter, why does no one publicize it?

Royal2000H said:
I'm using CDMA/LTE GNex, so this doesn't apply to me.. but just wondering..
Is the unlock code unique to each device or do all Gnexuses have the same code?
If the latter, why does no one publicize it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
they are unique, if someone cracked the encryption ( pay sites ) they could sell the keys they can create. you need to give your IMEI to be able to generate your code

Out of curiosity what carriers are locking the phone? I now have used 3 different phones all factory unlocked. Is this just certain countries?

[Q] Open to all networks?

Sorry if this sounds like a dumb question - if I follow all the steps to root my One X, does this mean it is open to all networks? I remember rooting my Desire, and installing a custom ROM, but I had to run another tool before I sold it on to someone on a different network...

GuitarDemon said:
Sorry if this sounds like a dumb question - if I follow all the steps to root my One X, does this mean it is open to all networks? I remember rooting my Desire, and installing a custom ROM, but I had to run another tool before I sold it on to someone on a different network...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. Rooting doesn't remove the SIM/network lock.

Thank you for the reply Tiersten. Is there a way of removing the SIM/network lock? There are a few websites which want to charge in the region of £20 for an "unlock code". The phone I have is O2 branded, but I want to use my Orange SIM. Do I have to pay for a code?

HTC are offering unlock for a few quid, there's a thread in here probably a few pages back.

If I follow the procedure from XDA TV, unlocking the bootloader through HTCDEV, install CWM recovery, unlock and root stock rom from the XDA thread, flash the Leedroid Super SU, then (finally) the Leedroid ROM - has this removed any SIM lock and/or branding?

GuitarDemon said:
If I follow the procedure from XDA TV, unlocking the bootloader through HTCDEV, install CWM recovery, unlock and root stock rom from the XDA thread, flash the Leedroid Super SU, then (finally) the Leedroid ROM - has this removed any SIM lock and/or branding?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No unless there is a tool in the dev section that specifically design to unlock the sim lock. Root and flashing custom rom does not remove the lock on O2. If you bought the One X 2nd hand then either get the seller to go to O2 and get it unlocked for you as it is still linked to his contract or you will need a 3rd Party to do it.

vis-tec said:
HTC are offering unlock for a few quid, there's a thread in here probably a few pages back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its not HTC. Its somebody on eBay for £1.44. Looks like it is legitimate though as quite a lot of people have said it worked for them.

I can confirm its legit, got it unlocked within 20 mins yesterday. You fill in the form at the bottom of the description.
BTW if you're an o2 pay monthly customer o2 unlock it for free

if you pay over $600 for the phone, then there is no reason why it should cost money to unlock it. now, if you bought it cheap with a plan through a carrier, then i can see why they would charge you. i wouldn't tolerate that nonsense. i paid 619.99 and if my ATT sim doesn't work, they are going to make it work if they want to keep me in contract. sometimes, all you have to do is get mad at the manager and make a scene. ;p

Thanks everyone for the help. I got in touch with O2, and as the phone was supplied with a business bundle, they unlocked the phone free of charge. I was provided with the phone by my company, but as they don't allow personal use of the company phone, I wanted to use my personal Orange plan out of company hours. O2, by the way, were very helpful!

brent8577 said:
if you pay over $600 for the phone, then there is no reason why it should cost money to unlock it. now, if you bought it cheap with a plan through a carrier, then i can see why they would charge you. i wouldn't tolerate that nonsense. i paid 619.99 and if my ATT sim doesn't work, they are going to make it work if they want to keep me in contract. sometimes, all you have to do is get mad at the manager and make a scene. ;p
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you've not got it from a carrier then it'll be SIM-free anyway so will work with any SIM in the first place

Seriously!, cant change default provider?

I just wanted to be clear.
I cannot change default provider without buying an unlock code?
I have never had to buy a code before
I have rooted it and "unlocked" it (via htcdev.com) as the word "unlock" has two meanings
You see, I can buy about 10 of these for $85 each (going out of business this weekend) and wanted to be clear what my profits would be to make them network free
I have read this was not possible on other threads but that was before htcdev.com allowed unlocking of bootloader and wondered if that had made a difference
Cheers

Unlocking your bootloader doesn't remove the SIM-LOCK (see FAQ at HTCdev)...........so if your phone is branded,you won't be able to use any other sim unless the Sim-lock is removed.............instead of buying the codes for $85,buy an XTC-Clip it removes all restrictions from your phone

Thanks
csoulr666 said:
Unlocking your bootloader doesn't remove the SIM-LOCK (see FAQ at HTCdev)...........so if your phone is branded,you won't be able to use any other sim unless the Sim-lock is removed.............instead of buying the codes for $85,buy an XTC clip it removes all restrictions from your phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers, I just wanted to make sure I hadnt missed anything
BTW the phones were $85 each not the unlock code
It would take about ten phones to make the XTC worth my while considering the AU dollar
Checking it out as I type

Bought Unlock code
bainf said:
Cheers, I just wanted to make sure I hadnt missed anything
BTW the phones were $85 each not the unlock code
It would take about ten phones to make the XTC worth my while considering the AU dollar
Checking it out as I type
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I took too long and didnt get those phones, just the one I tried to work out
I succumbed and bought an unlock code although I will say I got it for free as I purchased it through freeunlocks.com
The whole thing seems dodgy but it worked out
I bought 250 business cards for $15 from vista and then they sent me an unlock code after a few hours that worked instantly.
I was wanting to get those business cards from that site anyway that advertises on EBay so they seemed legit
If I went direct they were are "free'' and $9 delivery but I will say I was able to unlock it for free.
Wish I had whatever code generator they are using.
So I now have a totally unlocked wildfire s (the b model here in OZ) for $85 cool and $15 worth of business cards
Wish I had been more ballsy and spent $800. Could made some cash

How to unlock Samsung Exhilarate i577 for free?

Hi,
Is there any way to network unlock Samsung Exhilarate i577 for free?
I have searched it over the internet and all I can find are the websites offering the paid Unlock code.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks.

Aaman.Chawlaa said:
Hi,
Is there any way to network unlock Samsung Exhilarate i577 for free?
I have searched it over the internet and all I can find are the websites offering the paid Unlock code.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aaman:
As far as I know, the only way to unlock it for free, is to contact AT&T and explain why you need it unlocked. They will unlock it for certain specific reasons. They include (but are not limited to) the following:
1) Corporate user who travels internationally - your phone must be on a corporate account, not personal
2) Private user (personal account) who's contract has expired
3) Private user who travels internationally (even if only occasionally), and has been a long standing customer with AT&T, and is not likely to switch carriers on a whim
4) Military person who is on a personal "military" contract and has a need to travel internationally, even if only occasionally
There is no real reason to unlock your phone unless you are an international traveler. AT&T and other companies do not like to unlock their phones (especially if you are on a contact w/ them) because they are afraid that you'll switch to another carrier with your expensive phone that they gave you at a deep discount by agreeing to stay with them for a minimum of two years.
Also, to unlock the phone, you need to have another company's SIM card to complete the unlock process.
Other than that, you'll need to pay someone (some company) to do it. This usually involves sending your phone in. However, I can not and will not recommend any of them as I don't know anything about those companies. You're on your own if you decide to take that route.
V/R
BlackWolf

So, i'll have to go the hard way of purchasing the code through a website
Thanks for the information.

Aaman.Chawlaa said:
So, i'll have to go the hard way of purchasing the code through a website
Thanks for the information.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd still try and see if you can't get AT&T to unlock it - it takes a few days if they agree - they'll send you an e-mail with the unlock code for your phone if they agree.
If not, be aware that some of those sites that promise to "unlock" phones are scam sites.
V/R
BlackWolf

Will buy it from eBay. Thanks.

Unlock code prompt on H811 (LG G4 - Tmobile)

I bought the phone from Tmobile and then bought the unlock code online but for the life of me I am unable to get the prompt for entering the unlocke code.
One previous phones (G3, Note 3), it automatically poped up when I started the phone with At&t sim but I'm having no such luck with the G4. I have also tried all the codes that the seller suggested but still no prompt. I even tried the Tmobile's unlock application and it just gives an error that server is not responding.
Does anyone has any suggestion? I desperately need some help.

ajamils said:
I bought the phone from Tmobile and then bought the unlock code online but for the life of me I am unable to get the prompt for entering the unlocke code.
One previous phones (G3, Note 3), it automatically poped up when I started the phone with At&t sim but I'm having no such luck with the G4. I have also tried all the codes that the seller suggested but still no prompt. I even tried the Tmobile's unlock application and it just gives an error that server is not responding.
Does anyone has any suggestion? I desperately need some help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe that phone needs to be used for 30 or 60 days or something to let you unlock it.
Sent from my M8 M8

ThatKawaiiGuy said:
I believe that phone needs to be used for 30 or 60 days or something to let you unlock it.
Sent from my M8 M8
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought that requirement was only of I want to request an unlock code from Tmobile.
What if i use a different sim in that phone? My brother has been a Tmobile customer for over 10 years.

ajamils said:
I thought that requirement was only of I want to request an unlock code from Tmobile.
What if i use a different sim in that phone? My brother has been a Tmobile customer for over 10 years.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same "strick" requirements with S6/Edge.. to do permanent unlock your brother needs to have the ESN tied to his account as main user.. you can try the temporary unlock with his tmobile that could buy you 30days

Try putting this in the dialer 2945#*811#
Edit.. Doesn't work they gave me that code to unlock my G3 but it had the 851 suffix If you own the phone outright then customer service should give you the code

I was told by an in-store t-mobile rep that if you buy the phone outright, you can contact them to get it unlocked for free. If you buy it on the EIP, you have to make two payments before you can get it unlocked.

I did buy the phone outright but since they didn't want to sell the phone without a service plan I got the month to month plan and from what I've heard I need to keep the account for 40 days before I can request an unlock code.
With that said, since I already have the unlock code all I need is the access to the prompt to enter it.

Sticky situation...
I got the same problem. Any attempts to prompt to enter activation fail.
Tried entering other carrier sim cards and dialing 2945#*811# but it doesn't do anything.
All we need is a manual way to enter unlock code (which i already got). Would be nice if there was an app that just forces it to appear... It feela like T-Mobile is just masked it out of their dialer.

I have the same problem - I have the codes but cannot access the unlock menu?
T-Mobile 811

I did notice that there is a new app Tmo threw on here called unlock. Maybe that's why the code won't work. Maybe it has to go through the app now..

Swizzle82 said:
I did notice that there is a new app Tmo threw on here called unlock. Maybe that's why the code won't work. Maybe it has to go through the app now..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what it looks like. I contacted Tmobile and asked for an unlock code and the CSR told me that they do not have any record of my phone's IMEI so I should use it for few days and then call back.
I'm on new Tmobile account and just opened the phone today.

Swizzle82 said:
I did notice that there is a new app Tmo threw on here called unlock. Maybe that's why the code won't work. Maybe it has to go through the app now..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, but all that app does it checks if you're eligible for an unlock... I don't understand I gave them FULL payment for the phone (I don't owe T-mobile anything for this device, device is paid off in full).
But I did call them and they're saying you basically have to be with them for 40 days for them to give you the unlock.. It's really lame how they're hacking their phone not to display unlock option, even though you friggin' have paid off phone.... you don't force people to be your customers like that "Mr we give you so much freedom, we don't even have contracts".

That's total BS. I paid full price for the phone as well so I don't know what gives them the right to do something like this.

same here. not only did i pay full price. according to their pricing chart i had to pay a $30 premium on top of the MSRP because I'm a non-tmobile customer. Now i'm finding out that not only does the unlock process have to go through app, even though customer service gave me different instructions on how to unlock it (that didn't work), but I also have to find a tmobile customer that's within good standing temporarily give me their sim card to put into the phone so that i can run the unlock with the app. WHAT THE F**K TMOBILE!? and you want me to leave ATT for you? as bad as people say ATT is they've never given me issues like this. BS

I was a Tmobile customer since Voice Stream days but switched to At&t two years back and I'm never going back. The only thing that I hate about At&t is their B$ about locking bootloader and because of that my last 3 phones have been from Tmobile. But the way things are going with Tmobile now, it looks like I'll be buying my next phone will either be an international version or At&t

I'm with you guys! This is last time I did business with T-Mobile , forcing people to use your services even if you paid in full for the device is not the best way to gain business...
And by the way even getting someone with T-Mobile account will not magically unlock your device, you would still have to buy their service for 2 months ahead to unlock "YOUR" device.

Lobanovskiy said:
I'm with you guys! This is last time I did business with T-Mobile , forcing people to use your services even if you paid in full for the device is not the best way to gain business...
And by the way even getting someone with T-Mobile account will not magically unlock your device, you would still have to buy their service for 2 months ahead to unlock "YOUR" device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The argument right now is that there should in no way be any restrictions from a carrier if the customer purchases a product at full value. Although, this restriction is technically included in their T's & C's.
BUT!!! In line with those same T's & C's, technically there's no way for them to stop any of us from having an existing tmobile customer gain an unlock code using their account as long as sed customer claims it as their own during the unlock process. After it's done tmobile can't do sh**.
What you are describing falls under their eligibility requirements for "Unlock eligibility for monthly phones, tablets and mobile internet devices". What I'm trying to do technically falls under the standard device unlocking requirements (IN RED). They can't tell a tmobile customer in good standing that they can't unlock a tmobile phone that was purchased for them as a "gift" that was paid for at face value as long as that tmobile customer meets all of tmobile's requirements pertaining to the unlocking category they fall under. If they do that then they're in for a lawsuit for sure...
Unlock requirements
We provide mobile device unlock codes free of charge within two business days (or provides 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 as lost, stolen or blocked to T-Mobile.
The account associated with the device must be in good standing.
You have requested no more than 2 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.
You may need a non-T-Mobile and non-MetroPCS SIM card to insert in the phone.
Unlock eligibility for monthly phones, tablets and mobile internet devices
The device must have been active on the T-Mobile network for at least 40 days on the requesting line.
If the device is financed using T-Mobile’s Equipment Installment Plan (EIP), all payments must be satisfied and the device must be paid in full.
If the device is on an account that is under a service contract term, at least 18 consecutive monthly payments must have been made or the account has migrated to Simple Choice no contract rate plan.
If the device is associated with a canceled account, the account balance must be zero, including all pending charges
T-Mobile may request proof of purchase or additional information in its discretion and certain other exceptions may apply.
Unlock eligibility for pay in advance (prepaid) phones, tablets and mobile internet devices
The device has been active on the T-Mobile network for more than 1 year on the requesting line.
If the device has been active for less than 1 year on the requesting line, the Pay in Advance account associated with the device must have had more than $25 in refills for basic phones or $100 in refills for smartphones or tablet since device first use date.
The account must not be canceled and in good standing.
T-Mobile may request proof of purchase or additional information in its discretion and certain other exceptions may apply.

I have unlocked phones for friends before. As long as the phone is registered on the network for at least 7 days and is paid off someone who has a T-Mobile account(older than 40 days) can unlock any device.

I was thinking of getting the G4 from T-Mobile and use it on ATT. However, I learned a harsh lesson when trying this for my wife with the S6 edge. There is no question in my mind that T-Mobile is going around the agreement that all carriers have to unlock the device. I too purchased a code and even though someone figured out how to get the unlock prompt up, it would not take the code. I decided to get prepaid service. Turns out that if you get prepaid service, to unlock the phone you have to have added at least $100 balance. Otherwise, you have to wait 1 year on prepaid. No one I spoke to was able to unlock the device. In the end I probably could have gotten the phone unlocked once I had $100 balance using the app but I thought this was ridiculous so I filed an FCC complaint. I was contacted the next day by someone form their executive office. She offered to unlock the phone. I had already returned the phone and was stuck with a $100 prepaid account I didn't need. So in the end I got a $100 visa card from them.
Despite me explaining to her multiple times, she would not acknowledge that they were preventing third-party unlocking by forcing the use of the T-Mobile app. I think they need to hear from more people. I gave the links in my S6 post. I am linking it here so maybe some of you can file the complaint as well and T-Mobile can stop this nonsense for phones purchased at full retail.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=60610687&postcount=46

I'm seriously thinking about returning the damn phone and getting the Unlocked version from eBay. It is not only cheaper but I won't have to deal with any of this account crap that I had to sign up for to buy the device. My only concern is that I've already filled the online rebates for the 128GB microSD and the LG promo, so I'm probably going to miss out on those.
Does anyone has any experience with returning phone + service to T-Mobile store? On the reciept it says that they could charge a restocking fees of up to $50.