I was wondering, if possible, someone could contact AT&T and request a SIM network unlock code, aka PUK code, for me. I tried doing it myself but they require that I have an account with them for 6 months or longer...which is impossible for me.
The codes are free to give, they just are a little fickle with giving the information out.
My situation is that a friend bought me a tablet and shipped it, do note that it was bought from Best Buy. It comes locked to AT&T from Best Buy it seems, so to use it down here in the Bahamas I would need AT&T to unlock it for me. I can provide any information that they may require such as IMEI, model type, etc.
I have a Galaxy Tab 3 SM-T217A that I purchased used through Cowboom. I would like to unlock it for other carriers. What would be the easiest and cheapest way to do this? I tried the AT&T unlock request page, but I am not an AT&T customer and never have been, and obviously do not know the name of the person who last used this device.
I have investigated the myriad millions of device-unlock services on the net, but my particular device doesn't show up on the drop-down-menu lists of supported devices on most of them.
Solved this one myself. I took the unit to an AT&T store and subscribed to the $15/month pre-paid plan, thereby becoming an AT&T customer. Then I filled out the form on the web site asking for the unlock code, which I got about 2 hours later.
mnealbarrett said:
Solved this one myself. I took the unit to an AT&T store and subscribed to the $15/month pre-paid plan, thereby becoming an AT&T customer. Then I filled out the form on the web site asking for the unlock code, which I got about 2 hours later.
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Just curious: How long after getting the AT&T service did you wait before contacting them for the unlock code? I was actually thinking the same, but wasn't sure how long I would have to be with AT&T before I could get the code. I really don't want to be with them any longer then necessary. I have T-Mo & they give free Tablet data plans to customers, but I need the device unlocked first.
Thanx
Hi, seems I'm coming very late to the party. But I've got good news for the op. I bought this tablet off Amazon, arrived with 4..2.2, searched for unlock code and found none. Presently rocking GSM function on this tablet. How did I get it unlocked? RegionLock Away app by Chainfire. See link below.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2470551
Thank me, donate to Chanfire and buy me a beer later.
i unlocked att sm-217a bootloader
i unlocked boot loader without bricking it just downloaded kingroot and rooted it then used chainfire bootloader unlock it says it don't support iyt and a quit notice pops up but I just hit the back button and proceeded with the unlocked granted su rights and it unlocked. I rebooted and it said custom unlocked
Hoping to revive this thread...
Mkc512,
Where did you find the app to unlock?
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.
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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
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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.
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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..
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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..
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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.
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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.
Hi all,
Bought this tablet off of craigslist a couple months ago after meeting seller at the T-Mobile store and confirming all was good for him to sell, no money owing, not stolen, etc...
I want to now sim unlock it to other carriers. I see ads all over the place for sim unlocking for a fee. They have to be doing it somehow... Thought I'd call T-Mobile to ask them to sim unlock their device. Was given the run-around for an hour, no satisfaction! I tried the chat and the idiot T-Mobile rep gave same run-around stories.
I've searched high and low for something that can sim unlock this tablet. I've found nothing yet. The T-Mobile sim unlocking app wouldn't install, incompatible. Hell, we can root these tablets all day long and I have other phones I've rooted no problem, but I see nothing yet for a sim unlock. Is this some black art or something?? To give some props here or an example, I bought an AT&T Galaxy S off craigslist. Got to the AT&T web page to request sim unlock. Filled out the form. A day and a half later, sim unlock code sent. Put T-Mobile sim in, it asked for code, entered code, watch now sim unlocked!
So, if anyone can help point me in the right direction for more info, appreciate you!
I´m afraid you´ll have to pay for the unlock. T-Mobile won´t unlock it as you don´t meet requirements (not subscriber, to begin with) , and you won´t get it for free. At&t gave you the code, but that doesn´t mean all carriers would do the same. People that sell codes get them from employees, not from their website. Some options:
- Search for a repair shop that make unlocks, but keep in mind that unlocking a phone without carrier´s consent can be considered illegal, according to DMCA [read this]. Repair shops that have modern tools for that kind of job would take 20 - 40 minutes to unlock it.
- Order code from reliable source. Paying by paypal is not securing transaction in this case, as it´s qualified as 'service', not goods, so they don´t have buyer protection program.
I know that simply flashing the unlocked firmware won't unlock the phone. I'm sure that we all know this. But wouldn't the unlocked firmware get rid of the T-Mobile Unlock App, therefore allowing you to then be able to input an unlock code?
Try it and let us know.
I would like to know if this works
Bump.. not allowing me to post my reply from t-mo
Take your pick
Unlocked by Samsung smartphones work on multiple U.S. networks, so you have the freedom to pick a carrier and plan that fits your life. When you’re ready for an adventure, Unlocked by Samsung makes it easy – just pop in a compatible SIM card and take your device anywhere, from Mexico City to Paris and more.²
This is from Samsung's site, doesn't that mean it's unlocked.
I figured if you can enter a "regular" unlock code, it's a lot cheaper to unlock your device going that route (say like $10 bucks) vs paying for a "T-Mobile Unlock App Service" which currently runs like $140. I figured since the unlocked version firmware would get rid of the carrier bloatware, along with the T-Mobile Unlock App, that this method may actually work. I have not tried it and was wondering if anyone else has or would be willing to.