Recently bought a new, factory sealed Galaxy Nexus GSM i9250 through a retailer on Amazon. Build number ITL41F (yakju). All labels, both on the product listing and the device box, indicate that it is an "UNLOCKED" phone.
But, when I slip in my T-Mobile SIM card, the phone demands a SIM Unlock PIN.
T-Mobile isn't being much help so far with giving me the unlock code. They seem to believe that the phone is locked to another carrier.
Has anyone else run into a similar problem? How can one find out which carrier the GN is locked to?
On principle, I can't see paying another $20+ to unlock this "unlocked" phone through a third party (via eBay or what have you) since I already paid close to $500 for the frackin' thing. Of course, I'll probably do it if there are no other options.
Any help? Huge thanks in advance!
Haven't tried it myself, but this thread provides a tool to SIM-unlock your Galaxy Nexus. Users with GSM phones have reported it works fine. Could give it a go if you don't want to spend $20.
If all else fails, return it to where you bought it. It's supposed to be unlocked, the only unlocked phone is the docomo one. All other Gsm Galaxy Nexus device should be unlocked.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
I just bought a Gnex unlocked from Amazon. I hope I don't have this issue. From my understanding all the GSM nexus phones are supposed to be unlocked. When I bough my first Gnex from Handtec it was unlocked.
I believe that the sim unlock pin is a pin to unlock the sim card and not the phone. It's a security measure that can be implemented on the sim so that it can't be used in another phone.
If you can, try a different sim card and see if it works.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
well, it does look like you have a PIN on your SIM card. try a different sim card or try that sim card in a different phone and see if it says the same thing.
i did unlock my samsung phone a while back with this service for like $21.00, maybe they can get you an unlock code if you need one.
https://guaranteecellular.com/unlocking/
i used the samsung usa service at the bottom but you might have to use a different one if its not from usa.
Same as me. Bought same unlocked phone from amazon, and had it for almost a year with my prepaid at&t sim inserted. Suddenly, It wants some sort of network unlock pin. Didn't change anything before this happened. At&t also thinks it's locked to some other carrier....which it's not. Took it to At&t store today and they checked my sim on another phone... worked fine. So now what?
Related
So I'm getting a Galaxy Nexus from Vodafone on a contract, for various reasons. But I'd like it unlocked. I read in a few places that Nexus phones are unlocked by default, does anyone know if it would be unlocked. If not, how would I get it unlocked as it's a new phone so I'm guessing it's difficult.
Also are the phones branded, so would there be a vodafone boot logo or any voda apps?
if you are getting it from UK, then yes, chances are it is going to be locked.
funny though, cuz I tried getting one from vodafone but they didn't even have a schedule for it (only yesterday) so I had mine at phones 4U which is only retailer who seem to have one in my area :S
...this one (as usual along with CPW) was unlocked
I got mine from three (on payngo) yesterday, and it is sim unlocked I have used it with my T-Mobile sim. (I am pretty sure that they are all sim unlocked, as has been the case with past nexus phones).
edit: Also no branding, apps from the carrier at all, again like previous nexus phones.
loudestsilence said:
if you are getting it from UK, then yes, chances are it is going to be locked.
funny though, cuz I tried getting one from vodafone but they didn't even have a schedule for it (only yesterday) so I had mine at phones 4U which is only retailer who seem to have one in my area :S
...this one (as usual along with CPW) was unlocked
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Sorry but your incorrect, galaxy nexus is sold unlocked weather you purchase it direct from your network, a third part phone store, on contract or pay as you go.
jms.flynn said:
Sorry but your incorrect, galaxy nexus is sold unlocked weather you purchase it direct from your network, a third part phone store, on contract or pay as you go.
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apparantly o2 ones are locked, read on here someone who got one from o2 is asking for a code when he puts in another sim.
Question about sim lock
Question here. Suppose the phone is sim locked, will it be unlocked by root or fastboot unlock? Or are they different things? Thanks.
luffyp said:
Question here. Suppose the phone is sim locked, will it be unlocked by root or fastboot unlock? Or are they different things? Thanks.
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Totally different. SIM-lock has nothing to do with bootloader lock. To my knowledge the only way to SIM-unlock any phone is with an unlock code (or some nasty hardware hacking). Unlock codes can usually be purchased online and many carriers will do it for a fee. I once bought an unlock code online for $5 for my old Nokia N95.
Since you're in the UK, see this thread for more info and a link to a legit ebay seller offering unlock codes.
i can confirm that the handsets bought from O2 are SIM locked to O2.
I can confirm Vodafone UK from p4u are sim unlocked.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
All phones from Phones4U are unlocked.
I bought my GN from the 3 Store in the UK 2 days ago - They said it was locked but I put my Giffgaff sim in and it worked no problem.
oscillik said:
i can confirm that the handsets bought from O2 are SIM locked to O2.
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o2 simlock their phones, if you are on contract with them they will unlock it for free with a 1 week lead time. PAYG you need to spend some money (£10 if memory serves correct) to unlock the device.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
lexarjump said:
I bought my GN from the 3 Store in the UK 2 days ago - They said it was locked but I put my Giffgaff sim in and it worked no problem.
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+1
Got my GN on three contract yesterday, popped my t-mobile sim in whilst waiting for a number port.
So im thinking of getting a Galaxy Nexus on craigslist but I am wondering whether there is simple way to unlock atm. Im located in Canada and will have to get the device to work with my carrier Rogers.
Thanks
All nexus phones come factory unlocked from Samsung
isinisterx said:
All nexus phones come factory unlocked from Samsung
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You are talk bout bootloader unlock, OP is talk bout SIM unlock.
xGary said:
So im thinking of getting a Galaxy Nexus on craigslist but I am wondering whether there is simple way to unlock atm. Im located in Canada and will have to get the device to work with my carrier Rogers.
Thanks
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I have never used Craigslist. It is for second-hand stuff, right? Can't you ask the seller if it is sim locked to any carrier and if so could he unlock it before selling it?
I am on contract with O2 but I called them as soon as I received the phone and they were able to send me the unlock code for no charge. I told them I was on assignment in Korea and needed to use a Korean sim.
xGary said:
So im thinking of getting a Galaxy Nexus on craigslist but I am wondering whether there is simple way to unlock atm. Im located in Canada and will have to get the device to work with my carrier Rogers.
Thanks
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Unless they got the phone from Japan or a few carriers in Europe, the phone should be SIM unlocked.
Actually a lot of them are carrier locked here in Canada (or as far as I can tell from the Craigslist postings). The reason I don't get a unlocked one is because locked ones are cheaper so if there is a simple way to unlock then I could save some money.
If the phone is sim locked to a carrier then you can easily get it unlocked either at a phone shop or online. They range from around 15-25GBP.
Unfortunately there is no free way of doing it.
Mark.
There is (although I didn't try it), but you'll lose your IMEI with the permanent solution.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1548210
I just bought a brand new Samsung Galaxy S3 with a contract from ATT&T, the 747 model Without attempting to unlock it, I stuck a prepaid redpocket SIM card and the phone works. Does this mean my phone is unlocked for all carriers? I don't have any other SIM cards to check. I searched on here to get confirmation on how to check if phone is locked, the *#SIMLOCK# does not do anything on my phone.
Anybody else bought the phone from Att&T and it happened to be unlocked?
afterminute said:
I just bought a brand new Samsung Galaxy S3 with a contract from ATT&T, the 747 model Without attempting to unlock it, I stuck a prepaid redpocket SIM card and the phone works. Does this mean my phone is unlocked for all carriers? I don't have any other SIM cards to check. I searched on here to get confirmation on how to check if phone is locked, the *#SIMLOCK# does not do anything on my phone.
Anybody else bought the phone from Att&T and it happened to be unlocked?
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Red Pocket is an AT&T MVNO, so it is still locked.
I bought a second-hand note 2 on ebay, this guy tell me it's rogers phone, but it requires unlock code when i put in my rogers sim card. So i figured that this is not a rogers phone, and i need to unlock it. The problem is that, i can't get contact to the seller, and buy an unlock code on ebay requires information about the original carrier, or it will cost like $40. There is no carrier's boot up logo, nor carrier's custom apps, so is there any way i can identify the carrier? Thanks!
Not sure about finding the network but GalaxSim Unlock on the play store unlocked my phone (originally new and locked to o2 UK, but I was going abroad so needed to unlock it quickly to use a local foreign SIM).
Wasn't free but for a few £ it did the job. Does the box reveal anything about the network? Not that it'll help get your SIM working... I'd be unlocking and then flashing a rom/wiping the caches to make sure it was clean.
try this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2014982
OR
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spocky.galaxsimunlock&feature=related_apps
I recently paid off my Note II in full and I am ready to sell it. I am a bit confused about the unlocking process, so I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction.
I've put the unlock code request in with T-Mobile. Once I receive the e-mail with the code, what do I do with it if I want to sell the device? Do I put it up on Ebay and say "Comes with unlock code", or is there a way I can unlock it myself to sell?
I ask this, because from what I see, I have to put a different carrier's SIM in the phone to unlock it. Since I only use T-Mobile, I don't have another SIM. I looked on Ebay and I see a lot of TMobile Note 2's that already come unlocked, so I guess I am wondering how I can offer a pre-unlocked phone without manually shipping them the code to do it themselves. I don't want to have any questions about me trying to cheat any buyer.
Any tips would be appreciated. Search function is down, or else I would have used that first.
Or should I not worry about it at all and let the buyer deal with the unlocking? The phone has zero account issues.
craighwk said:
I recently paid off my Note II in full and I am ready to sell it. I am a bit confused about the unlocking process, so I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction.
I've put the unlock code request in with T-Mobile. Once I receive the e-mail with the code, what do I do with it if I want to sell the device? Do I put it up on Ebay and say "Comes with unlock code", or is there a way I can unlock it myself to sell?
I ask this, because from what I see, I have to put a different carrier's SIM in the phone to unlock it. Since I only use T-Mobile, I don't have another SIM. I looked on Ebay and I see a lot of TMobile Note 2's that already come unlocked, so I guess I am wondering how I can offer a pre-unlocked phone without manually shipping them the code to do it themselves. I don't want to have any questions about me trying to cheat any buyer.
Any tips would be appreciated. Search function is down, or else I would have used that first.
Or should I not worry about it at all and let the buyer deal with the unlocking? The phone has zero account issues.
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Get a friends sim card and unlock the phone. Take a screen shot of it working with att and tmo and post both pics so the buyer is reassured that its actually unlocked. Once u unlock it, put ur tmo sim back in. It should work fine.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using XDA Premium HD app
So the unlock isn't restricted to the SIM? Once it's unlocked, it's then free and clear to use any sim you throw at it without needing the code?
craighwk said:
So the unlock isn't restricted to the SIM? Once it's unlocked, it's then free and clear to use any sim you throw at it without needing the code?
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An IMEI unlock is permanent , similar to buying a " factory unlocked" device. Once its complete find a friend with a SimpleMobile ot ATT micro sim and take photos of the phone on both carriers and list it for sale.
Awesome. Thanks for the help!