Develop Bugs

[Q] Unlock + questions

Hi,
I would like to unlock my T989. Although I've bought it at full price from Walmart I've got an email from T-mobile saying that "The device was not purchased from a T-Mobile USA retail store or authorized T-Mobile retailer." and I've decided not to battle them for 3 months and just do it myself.
I'm a newbie and the following questions might be silly.
1) I understand there is a software by z3x that unlocks the phone. Do I need an extra hardware for it (what is the z3x-box)? If so, what kind?
2) If I root the phone, will it be immediately unlocked?
3) Is there a free method to unlock this phone (assuming I'll root it successfully)?
Thanks!

bloodymeli said:
Hi,
I would like to unlock my T989. Although I've bought it at full price from Walmart I've got an email from T-mobile saying that "The device was not purchased from a T-Mobile USA retail store or authorized T-Mobile retailer." and I've decided not to battle them for 3 months and just do it myself.
I'm a newbie and the following questions might be silly.
1) I understand there is a software by z3x that unlocks the phone. Do I need an extra hardware for it (what is the z3x-box)? If so, what kind?
2) If I root the phone, will it be immediately unlocked?
3) Is there a free method to unlock this phone (assuming I'll root it successfully)?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Option 3!
You can do it yourself, just follow the simple instructions :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2024514
Sent from my SGH-T989D using xda premium

You could always just take the simple way and tell Tmobile your taking a trip to mexico in 3 weeks (Cuz itll take 2 weeks at the max for the manufacturer to send the code to tmobile) and you want to use a prepaid service down there but dont want to buy a new phone. I just did this today, but act like you dont know much about sim unlocking to be on the safe side. The lady tried to get my to buy a new phone from tmobile down in mexico or just let my phone roam and get international charges and i told her "Well im trying to use the same phone with a prepaid service down in mexico so i wont have to have any additional charges when i come back, I herd something about most phones being locked so will i be able to use the prepaid sim on my current phone?" and after that she mentioned sending me an unlock code.. She tried to play me like i didnt know anything about sim unlocking by telling me my options were buying a new phone down there or letting the charges rack up. Then tried to cut the conversation off short this was in the online chat. But if you keep asking questions and explaining you dont want a new phone or to let them add charges theyll eventually tell you about unlocking your phone and ask for you imei and email then youll have to wait for 2 weeks.
Hope i helped a few people, I tried the method above and it didnt work for me. So i took the longer route that will forsure unlock your phone. :good:

Curiously enough, I'm currently abroad.
I don't have a t-mobile account. I don't even need one according to their website. It's just annoying. But I feel like I'm tilting at windmills.
"If you paid full retail price for a device, you qualify to have the SIM subsidy unlock code provided you meet the following requirements:
The device must have been purchased at a T-Mobile retail store or authorized T-Mobile retailer.
The device must be paid for completely. You must be able to fax the proof of purchase to T-Mobile."
In any case, as I didn't get an answer in the other thread, do you happen to know
1) How do I boot into recovery mode? and how do I choose to flash a radio? Do I need to install a specific recovery software? I would really appreciate if somoeone will able to post a detailed "unlocking for dummies" guide, starting from an unrooted phone. A medal of honor will be given if the guide will start from a stock, unrooted phone.
2) I understand the latest version of the radio is UVLI. Should I use it or use the one that comes with my phone? (I would like as few problems as possible)?
TwoStax said:
You could always just take the simple way and tell Tmobile your taking a trip to mexico in 3 weeks (Cuz itll take 2 weeks at the max for the manufacturer to send the code to tmobile) and you want to use a prepaid service down there but dont want to buy a new phone. I just did this today, but act like you dont know much about sim unlocking to be on the safe side. The lady tried to get my to buy a new phone from tmobile down in mexico or just let my phone roam and get international charges and i told her "Well im trying to use the same phone with a prepaid service down in mexico so i wont have to have any additional charges when i come back, I herd something about most phones being locked so will i be able to use the prepaid sim on my current phone?" and after that she mentioned sending me an unlock code.. She tried to play me like i didnt know anything about sim unlocking by telling me my options were buying a new phone down there or letting the charges rack up. Then tried to cut the conversation off short this was in the online chat. But if you keep asking questions and explaining you dont want a new phone or to let them add charges theyll eventually tell you about unlocking your phone and ask for you imei and email then youll have to wait for 2 weeks.
Hope i helped a few people, I tried the method above and it didnt work for me. So i took the longer route that will forsure unlock your phone. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

You have step by step details in the post mentioned by DupleX01.
- install recovery
- install radio SGH-T989_UVLE1_radio
- unlock the phone
- done
- you can change the radio again (look in the dev area for several radio packages that work with T989) - optional if the phone works well
Here is a direct link to the post http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=36417242&postcount=145
Thank mr_guan for his post if it helped.

carrier unlocking AT&T from KitKat

Haaa, AT&T! So my AT&T Note II has been off contract since I got the Nexus 6 back in November on launch day (perfect timing, eh?) Anyhow, since it was off contract, I asked the death star for the unlock code through their web page specifically for that, and they gave it to me. In the instructions included with the code, they gave a very terse warning that after five tries it would be permanently locked to AT&T. Why? Pretty crappy if you ask me. Further, what they didn't tell me was that if the phone is on KitKat, the unlock code won't work unless you do some very specific things in some hidden menus. So I burned up my five tries and failed. Then I found the page that listed the specific steps, did them, and voila... unlocked. Tried and tested using the Tmobile sim from my wife's iphone 6. Freaking AT&T.
Rant alert:
I commonly switch my old grandfathered AT&T unlimited iphone data sim back and forth between old phones just for fun. But come to find out, if I put the same sim into my cellular 2014 ipad air, it will not work. But if i put my wife's Tmobile sim into my 2014 ipad air, it works great. AT&T blocking tablet data with a phone sim. Tmobile doesn't. Freaking AT&T. They suck. If I didn't have the grandfathered unlimited data plan from back in 2007, i'd dump them like a bucket of pig slop.

pcrussell50 said:
Haaa, AT&T! So my AT&T Note II has been off contract since I got the Nexus 6 back in November on launch day (perfect timing, eh?) Anyhow, since it was off contract, I asked the death star for the unlock code through their web page specifically for that, and they gave it to me. In the instructions included with the code, they gave a very terse warning that after five tries it would be permanently locked to AT&T. Why? Pretty crappy if you ask me. Further, what they didn't tell me was that if the phone is on KitKat, the unlock code won't work unless you do some very specific things in some hidden menus. So I burned up my five tries and failed. Then I found the page that listed the specific steps, did them, and voila... unlocked. Tried and tested using the Tmobile sim from my wife's iphone 6. Freaking AT&T.
Rant alert:
I commonly switch my old grandfathered AT&T unlimited iphone data sim back and forth between old phones just for fun. But come to find out, if I put the same sim into my cellular 2014 ipad air, it will not work. But if i put my wife's Tmobile sim into my 2014 ipad air, it works great. AT&T blocking tablet data with a phone sim. Tmobile doesn't. Freaking AT&T. They suck. If I didn't have the grandfathered unlimited data plan from back in 2007, i'd dump them like a bucket of pig slop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so what are you trying to do, carrier unlock your note 2 which is currently on kitkat, to use any sim?
unfortunetly, the only way you can do this is to flash, using odin and in download mode, the stock 4.1.1 rom of your carrier (or any which has 4.1.1) from here and then doing the following steps from here.
Only thing is, that it will cause you to trip the counter.... and doesn't seem to want to go back to 0 (due to some hardware thingy)... but since you're already out of warranty, shouldn't really matter.
Anyways, once you have completed that, and tested with a different sim and confirmed it working, you can then go ahead and flash back the kitkat rom (4.4.2) of your carrier (or any other you want) using odin again and that's it. your phone will be back to its official state minus the knox warranty counter still at 1.
edit: Unfortunately.... the speed of the downloads of the images SUCK for the rom images... stupid hosting site.... anyways i had to leave it overnight... which i'd recommend you doing if you cant find any other location with those images...

No mate, my note 2, IS carrier unlocked. Att gave me the unlock code after my contract ended. Their instructions for using it were incomplete if you had ungraded to KitKat which I had, but I figured it out and now I have full carrier unlock.
What I have not solved is being able to put my att phone sim into my att iPad and have it work. If I put my wife's T-Mobile phone sim into my iPad, it works fine. So it is att that doesn't let us swap our sim back and forth between phone and tablet. T-Mobile doesn't do this. Not sure if Sprint and Verizon have the same hostile altitude.
I have grandfathered att unlimited data form the original iPhone. But their douchey attitude about swapping the sim between phone and tablet may be enough to drop them altogether if project fi works out for me.
-Peter

AT&T sgh i747 will not read SIM cards

Hi I've been looking to xda for quite some time now for advice and help when I get stuck. First wanna say thank you! But I'm a new member so please correct me if I am posting in the wrong place or reposting. I'm aware that this is not a new problem, however, I have read till my eyes are bleeding and can't seem to find a fix. I have an sgh i747 AT&T gs3. I feel that this topic is unique in the fact that I have not rooted, flashed, altered or in any other way attempted to change this device. My fiance got the phone from her mom and I was going to try to use it with a straighttalk byop SIM kit. After activating the proper SIM with st the device would not recognize the SIM. I am now using that SIM in another phone. I get a constant ongoing notification in the notifications bar that says No SIM Insert SIM card. The device status is official and I have (as far as I know) stock ota updated 4.3 jellybean. When I insert a SIM into the device it doesn't prompt me to enter an unlock code. The only other SIM I tried to use is a sprint SIM card out of my freedompop lg volt. Don't know if that's compatible or not but I tried it and still the i747 acts as though it doesn't realize I've inserted a SIM. I called AT&T and emailed them. All I was able to give them was the imei as the phone number in my settings is unknown. The imei under my battery matches the imei in my device settings. They emailed me back within a few hours with my network unlock code and instructions for unlock. I haven't been able to use the code as my phone never prompts for the input of the code... I called them back later (this all happened earlier today) and spoke with a gentleman in tech support. I told him what was going on and asked him some questions. After doing a lot of research I started thinking that maybe my phone was already unlocked. Asked him to run the imei and said that it DID show unlocked on his end. That's one of my questions, if I still have an imei in my settings is this device still locked? The tech from AT&T told me it was probably the phone that was broke and I need a new SIM reader installed, to call Samsung. I tried to slide a little piece of paper in on top of the SIM that didn't work. I tried the dial code *#197328640# method, even though most posts say you must be 4.1.1 there are some who claim that it works on other versions. I tried a couple variations of this to no avail. I'm not sure what I'm overlooking here. If I'm leaving out any info that is needed to answer this post I'd be happy to include it just let me know. I need some fresh eyes on this thing it's driving me crazy I wanna get it fixed. I'm under the impression that I shouldn't attempt to downgrade this android version or I'll brick it... what the hecks goin on with this phone?! And again, sorry if I'm reposting but I can't find anyone who has posted yet that hasn't altered their device software in one way or another. I believe this s3 is completely official at this point. Thanks for any help you can offer

Is an sdcard recognized?
Was the phone ever used with a sim adapter? Sometimes, inserting and removing the sim adapter can damage the sim reader. Cheapest solution may be to purchase a new sim reader from eBay.

Sdcard works fine... and I'm pretty sure it's never been used with a SIM adapter

It's possible the sim reader has failed. Don't think you'll kn for sure until you are change the sim reader.

Yeeeah... I think I'm gonna attempt to change it right now and see what happens. I'll post back with the results. Thanks guys!

Fixed! Replaced sim port with spare one from an s3 sch I535 I had laying in the junk drawer with a broken LCD display. Posting this from my i747 on straight talk 4g. Sweet!

Glad it worked for you.

Yes and thank you again for responding to my post. This s3 is now rooted and titanium backed! Now excited to attempt to flash cyanogen mod later this evening. Thanks again and take care!

Sprint Galaxy S6 (G920p)

So I have contacted spring 20 times, they have confirmed my SM-G920p is domestically unlocked. Getting a sim from AT&T and it says invalid Sim. I've searched everywhere, some forums say do a paid service (im fine with) others say unlocking from sprint works....which is obviously doest for my phone.
Anyone actually sucsefully unlocked a spring galaxy s6 (g920p.20) and used it on AT&T network? If so can you give me the details?
Thanks!

Question. Why on this phone in the network mode does it have options to use CDMA, LTE/CDMA, GSM, GSM/UMTS?

GSM AT&T works fine Idk why ppl say it doesn't work I have H2O which uses AT&T and I get LTE. Use a website called willmyphonework to find answers on stuff like this

This is the first website I've created to post about this topic. I've spent the past few days researching and testing out things. So far I've only found a few post online saying it works....I've not heard much about the sm-G920P NOT working on other networks. Also the phone itself is not made for CDMA or GSM ONLY.
One thing is for sure, one of my sm-G920p is domestically unlocked from Sprint. They also gave me a MLS or MSL# or whatever even though I dont think it matters. This phone will not take any AT&T sims. It says invalid sim.
With another sm-G920p, I rooted it and unlocked it another way...obviously not involving sprint. I will test it this evening to see if it accepts AT&T's sim card and will post my findings.
The whole reason for this is we have a business that goes though phones due to physical damage. I have a couple left over phones that I've replaced the screen on myself. I would like to let my sister and fiance use the galaxy S6s as they have old phones! All of these phones have been paid in full FYI and our account is in great standing.

Okidoki. I have spent some time working on unlocking a Spring Galaxy S6 SM-G920P with stock firmware ending in QB1. At first I found out that US carriers now have to unlock your phone if you ask. At first I went that route as it seemed legit. I called Spring and got a guy on the phone from tech support. I gave him the DEC# on the back of the phone and he said "Great thanks.....its unlocked." I though sick!...went to AT&T next day and got a nano sim activated. Once entered the phone read "Invalid Sim". I got back on the phone with sprint quit quickly while at AT&T. The lady said she had to send in a ticket to get it unlocked and the guy before definitely did not unlock it. Went home and went online again. Next day the lady called me at 11am and said it was domestically unlocked. I called back an hour later and talked to someone else confirming it was unlocked. Went to sprint, installed new activated sim...."Invalid Sim". Next thing was to root it and try unlocking it myself.
I found out how to root the phone and install custom firmware and whatnot. Its fairly easy, similar to computer basics. Once that was done I unlocked the phone with a little help which was not hard to find. I went to AT&T and BOOM!!! Phone worked RIGHT away. I was blown away. The phone had voice, data, msg, voice mail 3g and lte. Had my fiance put in her google info.....FYI this is my fiances AT&T account and a spare S6 I had that i fixed the screen on. Anyway she put her google account into it and restarted the phone. At the "samsung" logo login little red letters at the top say something about FRP is locked. The way you bypass this is right after you unlock the phone you need to go into the developer options and enable OEM Unlock. This fixes the lockout. But to get back into the phone once you lock it out you have to re root the phone with its original firmware.
It has worked all evening. Thanks Jhoward you gave me that last little boost today to get it working. I know the SM-G920P phone works in every network so I have no idea why people think it can only work on one network. Something I did learn is that these are little computers.....pretty cool!
If anyone needs any more info pm me.
http://i.imgur.com/ch8TUWg.png
http://i.imgur.com/ijY1sed.png

They lie. It took me 5 calls and many hours to get one of my 2 s6 unlocked. There is some problem with original activation date on some of the phones.
They said both were unlocked but only one worked.... Until finally tech support fixed the activation date.
Now both work on T-Mobile very well

sprint is a little ***** when it comes to unlocking devices. i have never successfully unlocked a device from them. they will run circles of confusion around you just so you won't unlock.

G920P to GSM
localphit said:
Okidoki. I have spent some time working on unlocking a Spring Galaxy S6 SM-G920P with stock firmware ending in QB1. At first I found out that US carriers now have to unlock your phone if you ask. At first I went that route as it seemed legit. I called Spring and got a guy on the phone from tech support. I gave him the DEC# on the back of the phone and he said "Great thanks.....its unlocked." I though sick!...went to AT&T next day and got a nano sim activated. Once entered the phone read "Invalid Sim". I got back on the phone with sprint quit quickly while at AT&T. The lady said she had to send in a ticket to get it unlocked and the guy before definitely did not unlock it. Went home and went online again. Next day the lady called me at 11am and said it was domestically unlocked. I called back an hour later and talked to someone else confirming it was unlocked. Went to sprint, installed new activated sim...."Invalid Sim". Next thing was to root it and try unlocking it myself.
I found out how to root the phone and install custom firmware and whatnot. Its fairly easy, similar to computer basics. Once that was done I unlocked the phone with a little help which was not hard to find. I went to AT&T and BOOM!!! Phone worked RIGHT away. I was blown away. The phone had voice, data, msg, voice mail 3g and lte. Had my fiance put in her google info.....FYI this is my fiances AT&T account and a spare S6 I had that i fixed the screen on. Anyway she put her google account into it and restarted the phone. At the "samsung" logo login little red letters at the top say something about FRP is locked. The way you bypass this is right after you unlock the phone you need to go into the developer options and enable OEM Unlock. This fixes the lockout. But to get back into the phone once you lock it out you have to re root the phone with its original firmware.
It has worked all evening. Thanks Jhoward you gave me that last little boost today to get it working. I know the SM-G920P phone works in every network so I have no idea why people think it can only work on one network. Something I did learn is that these are little computers.....pretty cool!
If anyone needs any more info pm me.
http://i.imgur.com/ch8TUWg.png
http://i.imgur.com/ijY1sed.png
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello localphit, can you help me do the same with my Galaxy S6 G920P. Mines in currently on android 7.0 Patch January 1, 2018. Appreciate all the help that you can give.

SIM Unlock Sprint Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge Plus, Note 5

Each time I run though looking for more clues as to how to remove the network lock on my Sprint Galaxy S6 (SM-G920P) I come across this thread.
[GUIDE] SUCCESS!!! SIM Unlock Sprint Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge Plus, Note 5
https://forum.xda-developers.com/sp...de-success-sim-unlock-sprint-samsung-t3130294
However, the first post has been removed due to the poster promoting paid services.
I am interesting in finding out what was in that post, other than the paid service. I've been digging for days and I'm stuck. I'd really like to be able to use my S6 but it's stuck on the Sprint network. My post-pay plan is on Verizon. I tried contacting Sprint but since I don't have the account details where it was activated previously, they refuse to unlock it for me. I tried paying a service $6 to unlock it but they never responded. I can't afford one of the services that's $40, I'm between jobs.
Does anyone know what was in that thread before? Or can point me in the direction of a solution? I have no problems dealing with the technical side if I have a tiny bit of guidance. It would be very much appreciated.
Thanks!

If you're no longer under contract and have paid off your phone. Just call sprint to unlock your phone. They have to because it's the law.

The thread I was speaking of didn't include any technical information as I had anticipated. Perhaps at one point but not when it was removed.
Swaydude, thanks for the info. I'll contact Sprint again. Everywhere I've looked says the IMEI is clean. The phone wasn't mine originally. I got it from my sister when she got her S7 a while back. She doesn't remember her account information. Apparently it was originally setup through a boyfriend but she'd been paying it for the last year or so. I'm not sure. She's all over the place sometimes.

You can try a number of things. If you want to switch to Verizon, you need a Verizon compatible imei. You'll need to lie to them over the phone. It's best to just get the service setup on somebody's Verizon phone, then switch the SIM cards out. (Give them back theirs and install the one you setup in your own phone.) First you'll need to unlock your phone..if you're rooting then you need idoneapps 3.15 & 3.18. There's a lot of fake versions around the internet being shared, if you pm me I'll send you the real ones. There's also cheap services on eBay that allow remote access to your computer's usb ports. People can change your imei using these but you're not likely going to get an imei that's compatible with Sprint or Verizon from those services. It's important to understand the value your original imei carries because it's worth $60 and will work with all the service providers. Changing means there's no possible way to get it back without sending your phone to Samsung and that's a really unreliable place to expect repairs after you've rooted. To avoid this you should install the latest 5.1.1 update and pay for the new idoneapps. It works without root, and can unlock your phone without worries. The issue with this is getting your new apns to save properly. You might need to reboot for them to show up after you save them, sometimes it takes 2 or 3 times.. Or enter ##DATA## on your dialer, press tap on edit data profile, enter your msl code and then manually edit your apns from the profile menu. You'll need to download and flash the update from Odin and run the app with the imei package, it show do all the work for you apart from using Odin to downgrade. Also note that downgrading isn't that easy since the update binary level has to match the device level on specific partitions. This is why I suggest the latest 5.1.1 update from Sprint, because the app doesn't provide your msl on the newer updates without root.

You can use Z3X Samsung Tool Pro 27.2 or above. Just install it, select your phone model and you will see further instructions there itself. Just Google for the cracked/paid version.*If you get 'unlocking.... error.', you might need to flash old modem first.