Develop Bugs

[Q] How to determine which carrier I'm locked to when there are no bloatware apps?

I have a Canadian Bell S3 i747m which broke and I got some random guy to fix it for me. He frustratingly ended up installing a ROGERS circuit board(or so he says) without bothering to check the fact my phone was loaded with Bell bloatware or just asking me my carrier.
I now need to unlock the SIM in order to use it properly and I just want to be sure I have the correct information and I don't end up paying for an unlock code that will not work since I didn't provide the proper carrier.
My SIM card (not sure if that matters): BELL
My board/IMEI: ROGERS (Apparently)
I wanted to determine which carrier I was tied to but I see 0 bloatware in my phone which makes me think the guy is wrong/lying and it's not actually a Rogers board. Is there another way to determine which carrier my phone is tied to?

Cyclone112 said:
I have a Canadian Bell S3 i747m which broke and I got some random guy to fix it for me. He frustratingly ended up installing a ROGERS circuit board(or so he says) without bothering to check the fact my phone was loaded with Bell bloatware or just asking me my carrier.
I now need to unlock the SIM in order to use it properly and I just want to be sure I have the correct information and I don't end up paying for an unlock code that will not work since I didn't provide the proper carrier.
My SIM card (not sure if that matters): BELL
My board/IMEI: ROGERS (Apparently)
I wanted to determine which carrier I was tied to but I see 0 bloatware in my phone which makes me think the guy is wrong/lying and it's not actually a Rogers board. Is there another way to determine which carrier my phone is tied to?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The carrier doesn't matter. Once unlocked, it's unlocked for every carrier (unless it's unlocked by code).
You could go check the APN to see which carrier it's from.

BWolf56 said:
The carrier doesn't matter. Once unlocked, it's unlocked for every carrier (unless it's unlocked by code).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh really? I was looking at the gsmliberty site for unlocking and it asks for a carrier. I can't post the link since I'm a new account but here it is split:
gsmliberty(dot)net/shop/samsung-galaxy-s3-unlock-codes-p-3528.html
I then went into their Terms of Service and it specifies that if I provide an incorrect carrier and the unlock code doesn't work then I won't get a refund. Does this mean this site is BS and I should avoid it and find another?
EDIT: Oh I see you added info about checking the APN. Don't know what that is but I'll Google it. Assuming I find it should I still avoid gsmliberty or should I give them a shot?

BWolf56 said:
The carrier doesn't matter. Once unlocked, it's unlocked for every carrier (unless it's unlocked by code).
You could go check the APN to see which carrier it's from.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went to Settings > Connections > More networks > Mobile Networks and it tells me this: Insert SIM card to access network services
EDIT: Ok I finally found the AP and CSC by dialing *#1234# and then comparing it to sammobiles firmware to find out which carrier it is tied to. Still worried about the fact I get the SIM error above but hopefully that will go away when I attempt to unlock it

Cyclone112 said:
I went to Settings > Connections > More networks > Mobile Networks and it tells me this: Insert SIM card to access network services
EDIT: Maybe I'm looking at the wrong spot. Here is my phone's about in case that helps:
View attachment 2807396
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Umm I though you'd have access to it w/o a sim card.
I'm not sure how else you could determine which carrier the motherboard is locked to.

BWolf56 said:
Umm I though you'd have access to it w/o a sim card.
I'm not sure how else you could determine which carrier the motherboard is locked to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just ended up editing my last post a minute before you posted this. I did determine the carrier and it is in fact Rogers. I was planning on just getting an unlock code through a website. You mentioned that means it will only be unlocked for them which I'm fine with but I'm just concerned about the fact I have a Bell SIM. Will that cause any problems with the unlock process or future dealings with BELL?
Actually I have a better question. Can I just put Bell's firmware on my phone instead of Rogers using Odin and then get an unlock for Bell and theoretically I'll be back to where I was?

What bootloader is on the phone? If you have the 4.3 bootloader, you'll have to buy an unlock code. If you have the 4.1.1 bootloader and you are running a stock ROM (doesn't matter about the carrier), you can use the free method to unlock it. If you have the 4.1.2 bootloader, downgrade to the Rogers 4.1.1 ROM and unlock it using the free method.

audit13 said:
What bootloader is on the phone? If you have the 4.3 bootloader, you'll have to buy an unlock code. If you have the 4.1.1 bootloader and you are running a stock ROM (doesn't matter about the carrier), you can use the free method to unlock it. If you have the 4.1.2 bootloader, downgrade to the Rogers 4.1.1 ROM and unlock it using the free method.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm running 4.3 so I know I need an unlock code unfortunately. I have a Bell SIM card but have Rogers firmware. The site I was looking to buy an unlock code from asks for my carrier so I presume I need to use Rogers. Will that be fine or am I able to just throw Bell firmware on my phone and buy an unlock code specifying Bell as my carrier?

I am not sure of you can load the stock Bell firmware and change the phone so it is locked to Bell. If this were the case, owners could switch carriers by flashing different firmware.

Cyclone112 said:
I just ended up editing my last post a minute before you posted this. I did determine the carrier and it is in fact Rogers. I was planning on just getting an unlock code through a website. You mentioned that means it will only be unlocked for them which I'm fine with but I'm just concerned about the fact I have a Bell SIM. Will that cause any problems with the unlock process or future dealings with BELL?
Actually I have a better question. Can I just put Bell's firmware on my phone instead of Rogers using Odin and then get an unlock for Bell and theoretically I'll be back to where I was?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlocking is permanent and unlocks to every carrier. Knowing which one you're locked to only matters to get a unlock code, after that, it's free for all.

BWolf56 said:
Unlocking is permanent and unlocks to every carrier. Knowing which one you're locked to only matters to get a unlock code, after that, it's free for all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gotcha, so there's no point in flashing Bell firmware at all. I just need the correct one for getting an unlock code in the first place. Thanks for helping a noob out.

[Q] Carrier Confused

Hey guys, im from Lebanon and my friend asked me if i can fix here slow Galaxy S3...I told her that i can try to flash a custom Rom (witch basically are made for making mobile phones faster)....the confusion is, we live in Lebanon, and her phone model number is SGH-T999V, so its a Canada variant...i have no ideas about carrier, but i just wanna know if i flash a custom Rom (lets say CarbonROM):
first, the zip file is the one that ends with d2lte?
and second, will the phone be locked to a specific carrier or i can use it with, in my case, a Lebanese Sim card normally without further action?
tnx in advance, and sorry for my bad english

All_New_BoB said:
Hey guys, im from Lebanon and my friend asked me if i can fix here slow Galaxy S3...I told her that i can try to flash a custom Rom (witch basically are made for making mobile phones faster)....the confusion is, we live in Lebanon, and her phone model number is SGH-T999V, so its a Canada variant...i have no ideas about carrier, but i just wanna know if i flash a custom Rom (lets say CarbonROM):
first, the zip file is the one that ends with d2lte?
and second, will the phone be locked to a specific carrier or i can use it with, in my case, a Lebanese Sim card normally without further action?
tnx in advance, and sorry for my bad english
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, D2LTE is the one you are looking for. If the phone has never been SIM unlocked then the phone shall ask for an unlock code as soon as you put a SIM card from another carrier that's not the one that came with the phone.

nirogu325 said:
Yes, D2LTE is the one you are looking for. If the phone has never been SIM unlocked then the phone shall ask for an unlock code as soon as you put a SIM card from another carrier that's not the one that came with the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you for your reply, she already used it with a Lebanese sim for about 2 years with no problem, does it means that the phone is SIM unlocked for use in Lebanon and will stay like this after flashing custom ROM? OTA official android updates also work normally btw, and after the flash she will use the same sim

All_New_BoB said:
thank you for your reply, she already used it with a Lebanese sim for about 2 years with no problem, does it means that the phone is SIM unlocked for use in Lebanon and will stay like this after flashing custom ROM? OTA official android updates also work normally btw, and after the flash she will use the same sim
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it works already, sure.

All_New_BoB said:
thank you for your reply, she already used it with a Lebanese sim for about 2 years with no problem, does it means that the phone is SIM unlocked for use in Lebanon and will stay like this after flashing custom ROM? OTA official android updates also work normally btw, and after the flash she will use the same sim
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everything should work the same as usual after the flash. You may just have to change the APN after flashing. So, you may want to write down or screen cap the current APN settings before flashing.

okay guys thank you very much...ill update this post after flashing, sry for bothering

[Q] Can bad esn sprint LG G2 be sim unlock

a friend of mine gave me a bad esn sprint LG G2 that he bought off on craigslist. It has the ZVE firmware and I succesfully rooted it using stumproot. I install all of cloudyFa's roms on it, but for some odd reasons it won't pick up my tmobile simcard. I go to "phoneinfo" and no matter what I switch it to from WCDMA preferred to GSM only etc.... it just keeps saying "emergenc calls only" So i'm wondering if it's because of the bad esn that's keeping it from recognizing my Tmobile sim card. Anyone can help me?

hanzho80 said:
a friend of mine gave me a bad esn sprint LG G2 that he bought off on craigslist. It has the ZVE firmware and I succesfully rooted it using stumproot. I install all of cloudyFa's roms on it, but for some odd reasons it won't pick up my tmobile simcard. I go to "phoneinfo" and no matter what I switch it to from WCDMA preferred to GSM only etc.... it just keeps saying "emergenc calls only" So i'm wondering if it's because of the bad esn that's keeping it from recognizing my Tmobile sim card. Anyone can help me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try a regular unlock on the device first.

regular unlock?
when you say regular unlock do you mean have the device unlock through Sprint first? I don't think Sprint will give the unlock code because the Sprint LG G2 has a bad esn. If what you mean by regular unlock refers to modifying the software then unfortunately that is something I'm not really good at, but I'm a risk taker - I don't mind attempting to do the regular unlock even if the bad esn sprint Lg g2 gets messed up in the process. Is there anyway at all for you to show me how to do the regular unlock? I saw in another topic about using Rom Toolbox lite to change some stuff, but when I install the Rom Toolbox lite app I have no idea how to use it - it's all very confusing.

hanzho80 said:
when you say regular unlock do you mean have the device unlock through Sprint first? I don't think Sprint will give the unlock code because the Sprint LG G2 has a bad esn. If what you mean by regular unlock refers to modifying the software then unfortunately that is something I'm not really good at, but I'm a risk taker - I don't mind attempting to do the regular unlock even if the bad esn sprint Lg g2 gets messed up in the process. Is there anyway at all for you to show me how to do the regular unlock? I saw in another topic about using Rom Toolbox lite to change some stuff, but when I install the Rom Toolbox lite app I have no idea how to use it - it's all very confusing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this URL http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2655133
The first topic should be your most effective.

totalCMD.exe don't work
secret.animal said:
Try this URL http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2655133
The first topic should be your most effective.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went to the link as you suggested and I downloaded the file that you provided, but it would not let me copy the folder carrier. I follow all the directions that was provided on the link, but when I check the carrier folder on the phone I notice there are only two folders. While the carrier folder on the TotalCMD folder had like 6 folders plus a file.

Hmm, not being a gsm user, I am not sure. Was there any information in the thread of someone else with the same issue.
One thing I think they didn't say was you have to be on zv7 or zv8. Unless further in the thread it says other wise. Still reading.

zv7 or zv8
secret.animal said:
Hmm, not being a gsm user, I am not sure. Was there any information in the thread of someone else with the same issue.
One thing I think they didn't say was you have to be on zv7 or zv8. Unless further in the thread it says other wise. Still reading.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when I was handed the bad esn sprint LG G2, I checked the firmware and it was on ZVE firmware then I used LG Flash Tool and downgraded it back to ZV8 firmware. I have successfully rooted it also now on the ZV8 firmware. My brother-in-law has a sprint LG G2 and his work for tmobile, but only thing is his Sprint LG G2 has a clean esn/imei and mine don't. So i'm assuming mine is not working because of the bad esn. Oh well I will keep on trying and figuring out how to make it work.

Flashing custom rom or rooting remove network lock?

would just want to know by any chance if flashing another rom pr rooting the device will remove the network lock of my carrier?
Thank you
I need a method to unlock the device, tried a lot of paid services already,most of them dont have an unlock code yet for my device and some sent me a wrong unlock code

stephenjason89 said:
would just want to know by any chance if flashing another rom pr rooting the device will remove the network lock of my carrier?
Thank you
I need a method to unlock the device, tried a lot of paid services already,most of them dont have an unlock code yet for my device and some sent me a wrong unlock code
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I'm aware NO it won't remove carrier lock, you'll just have to wait for that to become available......:good:

No it won't work

Thank you
any reliable unlocking companies?

stephenjason89 said:
Thank you
any reliable unlocking companies?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The most reliable unlocking company would be the carrier itself
Sent from my SM-G985F using Tapatalk

Hi
I made a stupid mistake with my G988B, its were not working well, so I decided install a stock rom, but downloaded and installed o last version of software from another country (G988BXXS2ATD5, XEF ) whit Security Level Patch of may 1, 20.
After installed new stock rom, my phone ask for Network Unlock Code.
When realized of my mistake, tried reinstall orignal version of firmware (G988BXXU1ATCT, PGU) but nothing work for me. I have tried to flash with Odin, but always, process stop in "flashing vbmeta.img."
I have read a lot tread trying figure out my problem like: https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s20/how-to/howto-root-s20-series-upgrade-firmware-t4079353/post82220417#post82220417
There is a way to come back original stock rom and then trying unlock network?
Could this process work in my case without damaging my phone?
Thanks.

Samkey can unlock phone with 1 or 2 credits

mikey_sk said:
Samkey can unlock phone with 1 or 2 credits
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks por your answer, but I did it.
It doesnt work.

Samkey is the only way to unlock a Samsung phone other than getting the network unlock code from the network or third party. You must know what you are doing. Google the process. If that doesn't work then there is an issue here that needs further investigation. Also ensure your active csc code is the one that was originally on the phone as well as stock rom. Sam key can be used to change csc as well.
Good luck

mikey_sk said:
Samkey is the only way to unlock a Samsung phone other than getting the network unlock code from the network or third party. You must know what you are doing. Google the process. If that doesn't work then there is an issue here that needs further investigation. Also ensure your active csc code is the one that was originally on the phone as well as stock rom. Sam key can be used to change csc as well.
Good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks mikey_sk,
My problem is that both the csc code and the stock rom are not the original ones. Therefore I am looking for a guide to help me how to get back to the stock rom.
I have read that the problem is, the security patch that I installed as it is newer than the one I am trying to reinstall. I will keep trying.
I understand that so far there is no way to go back from binary 2 to binary 1.
Any help is appreciated.

Hzuniga said:
Thanks mikey_sk,
My problem is that both the csc code and the stock rom are not the original ones. Therefore I am looking for a guide to help me how to get back to the stock rom.
I have read that the problem is, the security patch that I installed as it is newer than the one I am trying to reinstall. I will keep trying.
I understand that so far there is no way to go back from binary 2 to binary 1.
Any help is appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is y u shouldnt mess with stuff if u dont kno what ur doing or how to fix it

elliwigy said:
this is y u shouldnt mess with stuff if u dont kno what ur doing or how to fix it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok,
Thanks.
No more questions.

You can always use the sim slot 2, it is usually not locked.

I suggest you change the csc to a stock one using Sam key. Make sure you enable USB debugging in developer settings otherwise Sam key won't work. After that dowload the most recent stock rom for that device from sammobile and flash in ODIN but DO NOT use HOME_CSC so it can do a full wipe and rebuild the firmware. As an added measure as soon as installed go into recovery and do a full wipe. If network is still locked try unlocking it with samkey

stephenjason89 said:
would just want to know by any chance if flashing another rom pr rooting the device will remove the network lock of my carrier?
Thank you
I need a method to unlock the device, tried a lot of paid services already,most of them dont have an unlock code yet for my device and some sent me a wrong unlock code
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately for it, you mentioned only sim1 is blocked and you still can use sim2.
This is not network lock but rather imei blacklist.
The only way to fix this is to pay your telco bills from where you purchased the phone. If it's a used phone, I would get a refund. There is no roms you can use that can fix it as it's blacklisted from the telcos.
There is only 2 reasons it is locked.
1. You didn't pay your installment bills.
2. The phone is reported as stolen.
If you purchased a used phone, get a refund.

Need help network unlocking, flashed to stock

I got a new phone, the LM-G820UM AT&T version. I followed this guide: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/tutorial-crossflash-bypass-opid-mismatched-error.4345963/ to flash the stock firmware. With my SIM card in it says "network locked", it doesn't prompt for the unlock code. I have the unlock code and I've tried the various unlock commands (2945#*71001# and 2945#*20001#), but nothing comes up when I do these. Do I need to get it back to the AT&T firmware to be able to unlock it? If so, how can I do this?

gunnerone007 said:
I got a new phone, the LM-G820UM AT&T version. I followed this guide: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/tutorial-crossflash-bypass-opid-mismatched-error.4345963/ to flash the stock firmware. With my SIM card in it says "network locked", it doesn't prompt for the unlock code. I have the unlock code and I've tried the various unlock commands (2945#*71001# and 2945#*20001#), but nothing comes up when I do these. Do I need to get it back to the AT&T firmware to be able to unlock it? If so, how can I do this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow, yeah, that's unfortunate. First, yes, it's the at&t firmware that the unlock code works with, not any other firmware.
second, at&t doesn't make their kdz available, so you have no easy way to get back to their firmware.
you might get lucky and find someone who has backed up all their partitions from at&t. Then u would flash ea one back via qfil.
Important lesson: don't buy a locked phone. if u get a locked phone, don't to anything to the firmware until u unlock the phone.
cheers

@AsItLies would this phone work in it's current state with AT&T?

gunnerone007 said:
@AsItLies would this phone work in it's current state with AT&T?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To the best of my knowledge, no. At&t is one of the carriers that has restrictions for their networks. Last I read (have never used them personally), they only allow phones that have their IMEI (they check that), and it's using their ROM, to access volte and vowifi.
so, would it work? yes and no. Volte and Vowifi may or may not be important to you.
Additionally, I'm absolutely no expert with at&t, so u might just try and find out, my info could be outdated.