Question HELP! VZW carrier lock - Samsung Galaxy S21 FE

Model - SM-G990U2
Serial - R5CW3339RLV
IMEI - 3518 4442 **** ***
Hardware Version - REV1.0
Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Android 13
ONE UI version - 5.1
firmware version G990U2SQS4EWD8
Bought this phone second hand and put my sim card in it only to find out it doesn't work because the previous owner still owes on the bill.
I cannot contact seller and i really just want to be able to use this phone with my sim card. is there any way i can remove the carrier lock or maybe change the imei temporarily to set it up with my current service and remove the verizon stuff? There must be a way around this hangup, i assumed that verizon phones were generally carrier unlocked as a whole but i guess thats no longer the case??? What do i do? I can't find any good info on this topic and only can think to come here for help. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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[Q] Newbie here - unlocked i317 "MM#6 Phone not allowed" for overseas network

[Q] Newbie here - unlocked i317 "MM#6 Phone not allowed" for overseas network
hi all,
I'm new to this forum and its great to be associated with such a wonderful group
I bought an unlocked AT&T note2(i317, android 4.1.1 and firmware- i317UCALJ2) off ebay.com and got it to India a month back from WA.
I have been trying to configure mobile network on Indian carriers but always got these errors :
- " your sim card doesnt allow connection to this network" and "MM#6 phone not allowed"(MM#6 appears only since yesterday)
- the network bar(i.e. signal strength icon on home screen) doesnt capture the local networks at all which is quite surprising.
- Phone's IMEI(35700..) doesnt match IMEI on the back panel(35542..)
I heard about cases where phones purchased from ebay/craigslist getting blocked ( for example, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2341622) but I guess that shouldn't stop it from using overseas? Also, I heard IMEIs of such blocked phones look like "null", "0"s etc. but IMEI of my phone looks good and doesn't showup in the list of blacklisted IMEIs on swappa or CheckEsnfree. Lastly, I also checked the GSM bands of i317 and they are definitely compatible in India.
Can someone kindly help?
Many thanks in advance.
Chaitanya.
I would like to add that I have tested SIMs from multiple carriers but failed to locate networks and APNs. All other features like WIFI, Bluetooth etc are working like a charm so I suspected if it got to do something with the IMEI.
I request some guidance from the experts in pointing to the issue so that I can try the workaround(Sorry..Im a novice at troubleshooting android )
Kindly let me know or redirect me to a forum if already exists.
Thanks,
Chaitanya.
Could you please say your baseband? It's in settings> about> phone.
rangercaptain said:
Could you please say your baseband? It's in settings> about> phone.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply mate.
Here are the details:
baseband - I317UCALJ2
CSC - i317ATTALJ2
Bootloader - i317UCAMH3
The good news is your phone is clean stock.
The bad news is your phone is blacklisted, and the IEMI was hacked/changed.
The only legal way to solve this is to contact the original carrier (I'm guessing AT&T USA), give them your IEMI, tell them you bought it legally in the USA, and ask them to unblock it. The blacklist is all US carriers and their overseas versions, all European carriers and their subsidiaries. Like Orange or Voda or t-mobile.
rangercaptain said:
The good news is your phone is clean stock.
The bad news is your phone is blacklisted, and the IEMI was hacked/changed.
The only legal way to solve this is to contact the original carrier (I'm guessing AT&T USA), give them your IEMI, tell them you bought it legally in the USA, and ask them to unblock it. The blacklist is all US carriers and their overseas versions, all European carriers and their subsidiaries. Like Orange or Voda or t-mobile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My bad..I should have checked the status beforehand in detail. Till now I was only aware that bad IMEI phones arent allowed majorly in US only (saw many such phones being sold on ebay intended for international use ).
As far as I know, i317 is only the at&t version of note2 in US and it differs a lot from its International versions (gt 7100, 7105 etc). Do you still think this blacklisted issue holds good in countries where i317 isnt available?
Since sending the product back to US is highly unlikely, can you kindly let me know the best way I can get the issue fixed?
Answered in my post above. From India you can probably use the tech chat from AT&T website.
It's a blacklist of disallowed IEMI's so the model is irrelevant.
rangercaptain said:
Answered in my post above. From India you can probably use the tech chat from AT&T website.
It's a blacklist of disallowed IEMI's so the model is irrelevant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Rangercaptain for your clarification. I tried AT&T's live chat but it seeks registered contact details to login. Is there any email support?
Not sure if these kind of questions are allowed here but I heard there are tools that help to retrieve lost IMEIs (which work on rooted phones).
In case it gets tough to get hold of AT&T, can I try any of such tools on my phone since it is not registered in my county anyway and doesnt come with any warranty?
P.S:I know changing IMEI is illegal but I guess retrieving it is not :fingers-crossed:
chaitanyapatwari said:
Thanks Rangercaptain for your clarification. I tried AT&T's live chat but it seeks registered contact details to login. Is there any email support?
Not sure if these kind of questions are allowed here but I heard there are tools that help to retrieve lost IMEIs (which work on rooted phones).
In case it gets tough to get hold of AT&T, can I try any of such tools on my phone since it is not registered in my county anyway and doesnt come with any warranty?
P.S:I know changing IMEI is illegal but I guess retrieving it is not :fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I started to think may be the motherboard got changed(since S/N also looks different and the phone looks absolutely new with no wear at all)?
I'm being forced to think that IMEI is clean because some followup with AT&T and US Samsung care have confirmed that the phone's back IMEI and S/N are definitely good with warranty till 2015 and don't show up in any of the blacklisted lists.
I'm sorry for posting different questions but please note that I'm not much aware about this phone's history and I'm trying to openly share the results from my extensive findings. Thanks!!
If you're sure everything is clean are you sure your Sim card is correctly provisioned for the network? The easiest way to find out is to trade cards with a working phone.
Before you think about trading main boards (I did that because the gps connector was broken) go to www.mobiletechvideos.com and see what they can do for you.
rangercaptain said:
If you're sure everything is clean are you sure your Sim card is correctly provisioned for the network? The easiest way to find out is to trade cards with a working phone.
Before you think about trading main boards (I did that because the gps connector was broken) go to www.mobiletechvideos.com and see what they can do for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I have been trying this on a working sim with an active data plan which is currently working on my xperia.
Over the last 2-3 days, I have learnt that flashing a wrong ROM sometimes might corrupt EFS folder that stores IMEI,serial number etc., and reinstalling firmware through ODIN(which requires to download original stock ROM separately) or KIES software might restore the lost EFS folder.
I thought of giving this a try and accordingly reinstalled the official firmware but without any success.
Can someone redirect me to any such guides/threads that might help? If it doesnt happen then I would like to close this thread and create a new one for EFS related troubleshooting.
If efs is corrupted there is no s/n or imei shown. It displays null

How are Consumer Cellular Note 10 Carrier Locked? Help Needed

I have a Note 10 Plus N975U1 that was sold as a Consumer Cellular device through Target. The phone came with the N975U1 unlocked ROM installed on the phone and there is no carrier apps or Consumer Cellular identification anywhere. The only reason I know it's Consumer Cellular is because of a message that popped up for something, can't recall what now.
Anyway, the phone acts just like an unlocked model. Put in various sim cards and the phone reboots through the blue recovery screen to update carrier software for the sim you are using. APN settings are available and can be edited. Everything is just like an unlocked model.
Except, it connects to the network for a couple minutes or so and then stops working. It acts like the Verizon versions do before they are unlocked by Verizon. Except the Verizon versions give you a little pop up stating the phone can't be used on another network. This model has no message.
I am guessing that they are locked using the same mechanism that Verizon uses for locking their devices now except they just are not showing anything to let you know.
Is anybody aware of exactly how this is done and any third party who can unlock it? I have tried a couple different unlocked ROM s as well as an AT&T and Verizon just to see what happens. Same problem.
Thanks
Have a link from the target site to the phone you bought?
I have a feeling that the phone is not actually unlocked or it may not be as what it appears exactly. You can run the IMEI number using swappa and see if the phone is indeed an U1 variant or just the normal carrier N975U.
It maybe possible (not sure how exactly) that your using an international variant that was flashed and configured to look like a N975U1. For example the phone listed here is an international variant that is compatible with US LTE, but I have some serious doubts with how compatible it really is. From past experiences with a local store that sells unlocked Note 10+ units for Net10, I discovered they are not actually US models and are really international models. They were flashed and configured in a weird way (best I can describe it) that it would work for the most part, work with Net10, but it would not work with the other providers here locally. It would at first appear to work but then fail all together.. It wasn't until I started digging into the IMEI number and what it belonged too that I discovered the truth of what the model actually is, and I then promptly returned the phone to the store I bought it from.
If the phone is just network locked and a genuine N975U1 model it would just seem that you only have to use the phone with the service for a certain period of time before they will unlock it. Consumer Cellular would be the best place to go to get (and ask about getting) the phone unlocked.
https://www.consumercellular.com/Help/phones-and-services/5
I resell used phones and specifically phones from Consumer Cellular. All the previous Samsung models used to come unlocked, but about the time the S10 was released, all their Samsung phones came with this unusual lock. I've tried working with countless unlockers and no one has been able to remove it. Once it connects to the internet, it downloads some google update and the phone loses voice/data service. I've wondered how they do this too. A few other models I have that have the same lock are the A10e A20 J7 S10/+ S20/+ Note 10/+. Really really frustrating as I've been searching for a long time now. If anyone knows anything, please let me know. I have hundreds of these that need to be unlocked. Also to clarify, yes they are all the U1 factory unlocked models.
Edit: Apparently when a carrier locked device is flashed to U1 firmware BEFORE unlocking, there is no software prompt to unlock the device. It probably was a carrier locked N975U originally. Maybe on Consumer Cellular firmware, there would be a prompt to unlock it?
These are the guys but they only do commercial work. I am pretty sure they never fail unlock.
https://www.swiftunlocks.us/
Guyinlaca said:
Edit: Apparently when a carrier locked device is flashed to U1 firmware BEFORE unlocking, there is no software prompt to unlock the device. It probably was a carrier locked N975U originally. Maybe on Consumer Cellular firmware, there would be a prompt to unlock it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These are not the U versions. I've sold CC phones for years and they are and have always been U1 models. Not only does it say it in the software, but even on the back glass. They are locking these things with an update somehow.
I'll reach out to swiftunlocks, but I would put a big bet up that they can't unlock it either. I'm connected with some of the top unlockers in the world as this is my business and no one has any idea. If anyone is reading this and wants a phone to test, I'll even send you one if you think you can unlock it. It's worth a lot of money to me to find a solution. The worst part is that these phones are all paid off and eligible to unlock through the carrier, but since "I'm not the original owner" they won't help me.
Shatter65 said:
These are not the U versions. I've sold CC phones for years and they are and have always been U1 models. Not only does it say it in the software, but even on the back glass. They are locking these things with an update somehow.
I'll reach out to swiftunlocks, but I would put a big bet up that they can't unlock it either. I'm connected with some of the top unlockers in the world as this is my business and no one has any idea. If anyone is reading this and wants a phone to test, I'll even send you one if you think you can unlock it. It's worth a lot of money to me to find a solution. The worst part is that these phones are all paid off and eligible to unlock through the carrier, but since "I'm not the original owner" they won't help me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My friend, did you finally find a solution to unlock samsung phones locked to consumer cellular, i have a few phones locked to them and i would like to know if theres a way to unlock them
seth81 said:
My friend, did you finally find a solution to unlock samsung phones locked to consumer cellular, i have a few phones locked to them and i would like to know if theres a way to unlock them
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I personally use samkey.org

How Oneplus 7t T-Mobile varriants works with International/Indian OS?And is it possible Unlock carrier device/Sim carrier lock just with the IMEI?

Hey! I just purchased an OnePlus 7t today.However its an T-Mobile varriant(HD1907)Checked it from Oneplus care customer help and I didn't noticed it before buy,Its comes with single sim tray but works properly with 2 sim card tray)In the Box it comes with MADE IN INDIA STICKER IN THE BACK.But i cant understand one thing that HOW/WHY THE BUiLD NUMBER IS SHOWING ITS AN 10.0.1065AA,IF ITS AN T-MOBILE VARRIANT?At the same time The Regulatory labels Showing me Its UNITED STATES..
The seller told me that, Its possible to unlock carrier country lock just with the imei.
Is that possible without changes the firmware?
And OneThing More,Is it possible,Unlock a carrier device/carrier lock just with IMEI number without flash?
What can i do now?

Question Changing CSC Fold 3

I purchased the snap dragon US model unlocked directly from Samsung and noticed there is only one imei listed on the box but there is also an EID which gives me the hint there is a hidden Esim locked down.
My question is has any one attempted to change the CSC on the US model to unlock the esim feature?
I tried using Samkey, but the phone has not been added to their database yet.
Thanks!
I second that. Or at least if someone could explain if it's as simple as flipping a bit from 0 to 1 in the CSC dump and which offset we should be scanning for.
Did anyone try this?
I had a U1 purchased at Best Buy; activated on Verizon. When I exchanged it, it had Android 12, and the eSim options were there.
My replacement has the Verizon U firmware, and eSim is still there and works cross-network (Verizon on the eSim, AT&T on physical)
With the U1, it switches "branding" when you change the sim card - if you don't have Verizon service, you could still get your hands on a sim and it should rebrand itself - maybe even unlock features your current carrier has disabled?

Cant enable number sharing verizon

Tl:dr Verizon is showing sm-n975u-wc as my model number after flashing from xaa to vzw firmware. this doesnt show a device picture in my account.(neither did sm-n975u1
I wanted to buy the galaxy watch4, but verizon said that my device didnt support number sharing. I bought my device from spectrum mobile and paid it off before bringing my device to verizon on unlocked firmware. I thought it might have had something to do with the firmware, so i flashed it to verizons firmware, but this gives me a model number of sm-n975u-wc, still with no picture and ability to enable number sharing. Any ideas? i really dont need to upgrade phones, but also dont want to spend 400$ upfront for the watch
nevermind, i guess i just needed to give it some time. all good now

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