Problem with unlocking [ Edited ]

[mcgaro]

Hello, my name is Garik {Personal content removed for your safety}  i’m writing from Russia. Sorry for my bad english. I want unlock my iPhone 4. Please, help me to unlock my Iphone. i have imei {Personal content removed for your safety} I don’t have AT&T account, In my country no AT&T. I bought iPhone from ebay, I can’t use this iPhone in my country.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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mcgaro wrote:

Hello, my name is Garik {Personal content removed for your safety}  i’m writing from Russia. Sorry for my bad english. I want unlock my iPhone 4. Please, help me to unlock my Iphone. i have imei {Personal content removed for your safety} I don’t have AT&T account, In my country no AT&T. I bought iPhone from ebay, I can’t use this iPhone in my country.

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posting the information is does absolutely nothing, there is a form that you are required to fill out, after you fill it out you will be sent a fax number to send your supporting documnation to.

you can find the  requirements and a link to the required form here - be sure to select "Non_Customer" in about 14 buisness days or sooner you will recieve a email with a telephone number to fax the proof of purchase to - you can use the pay service of efax or myfax if you can't get access to a real fax machine

http://forums.wireless.att.com/t5/Apple-Community-Discussion/iPhone-Unlock-Information/m-p/3260825#U...

[topdog417]

I purchased an out of contract iphone 4 from a co worker. I am also a current ATT customer. The iphone 4 is a gift for my daughter though and she is going to use it on another carrier so I have to request an unlock. I believe all the requirements are met for this unlock but I do have 1 question. On the unlock form it asks for a 10 digit telephone #. Is the number they are requesting my current ATT wireless #??

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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topdog417 wrote:

I purchased an out of contract iphone 4 from a co worker. I am also a current ATT customer. The iphone 4 is a gift for my daughter though and she is going to use it on another carrier so I have to request an unlock. I believe all the requirements are met for this unlock but I do have 1 question. On the unlock form it asks for a 10 digit telephone #. Is the number they are requesting my current ATT wireless #??

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the number that was assigned to the phone when it wa under contract - you need to have your co-worker request the unlock

[locklock]

Hi, I am new to the forum. After spending hours searching answer for the problem I have with my iPhone, I decided to ask here. 

My phone was sitting at version IOS 4.0.2 before upgrading to IOS 6.0.1. The phone was a gift from friend and unlocked by AT&T just a month ago, I tested it with different carriers' SIMs and the phone had not showed any 'SIM FAILSURE' or ' NO SIM' before I decided to move on to IOS 6. I activated the phone with a AT&T SIM as required to finish off the IOS 6 upgrade process. But now I can no long use SIM other than AT&T. My question is if it just me or the phone can be relocked again after firmware upgrade. Anyone experienced the same before?

Thank you for reading.

[dwill05]

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locklock wrote:

Hi, I am new to the forum. After spending hours searching answer for the problem I have with my iPhone, I decided to ask here. 

My phone was sitting at version IOS 4.0.2 before upgrading to IOS 6.0.1. The phone was a gift from friend and unlocked by AT&T just a month ago, I tested it with different carriers' SIMs and the phone had not showed any 'SIM FAILSURE' or ' NO SIM' before I decided to move on to IOS 6. I activated the phone with a AT&T SIM as required to finish off the IOS 6 upgrade process. But now I can no long use SIM other than AT&T. My question is if it just me or the phone can be relocked again after firmware upgrade. Anyone experienced the same before?

Thank you for reading.

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What you describe is common for people who have a phone that was unlocked by hacking (jailbreaking).  The unlocking hack only worked as long as you didn't upgrade the software.  When you did that, it relocked the phone.  Your phone was not unlocked by AT&T.  If it was an authorized unlock from AT&T, it would not have relocked.

[locklock]

Thank you for your reply. I think I should have mentioned mine was jailbroken before the upgrade. The baseband was 01.59.00, which had allowed me to use soft unlock with ultrasnow patch for last 2 years. Before the upgrade, as long as I did not turn off the phone or switch SIM card while the phone is on, I would be able to use non-AT&T SIM. Otherwise, I have to uninstall and reinstall the ultrasnow patch again to make the soft unlock work again. Last year, I heard that AT&T would unlock the phone but I did not bother to ask my friend to do it for me because mine had been working just fine. Last month friend said she unlocked her phone and could do it for me too. Then the phone seemed to be unlocked. I turned off the phone and restarted it, switch SIM cards and the phone can read the SIM and received signal right away and no more reconfiguring, acted just like no difference to off contract unlocked iPhone.

I guess I just have to ask my friend to request the unlock again. I am just curious if there anyone has experienced something similar. 

I will update with the result.

[dwill05]

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locklock wrote:

Thank you for your reply. I think I should have mentioned mine was jailbroken before the upgrade. The baseband was 01.59.00, which had allowed me to use soft unlock with ultrasnow patch for last 2 years. Before the upgrade, as long as I did not turn off the phone or switch SIM card while the phone is on, I would be able to use non-AT&T SIM. Otherwise, I have to uninstall and reinstall the ultrasnow patch again to make the soft unlock work again. Last year, I heard that AT&T would unlock the phone but I did not bother to ask my friend to do it for me because mine had been working just fine. Last month friend said she unlocked her phone and could do it for me too. Then the phone seemed to be unlocked. I turned off the phone and restarted it, switch SIM cards and the phone can read the SIM and received signal right away and no more reconfiguring, acted just like no difference to off contract unlocked iPhone.

I guess I just have to ask my friend to request the unlock again. I am just curious if there anyone has experienced something similar. 

I will update with the result.

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Virtually everyone who jailbroke their phone to unlock it had it relock if they updated the software.  Tons of posts in this forum of that happening.  Not sure how your friend unlocked your phone, but they didn't do it using the official AT&T unlock portal in the sticky at the top of the forum.  If they had requested the unlock and AT&T had granted the request , the iTunes servers would have been updated and your phone would have been permanently unlocked when you connected to iTunes and restored the phone.  If you give it to your friend and they just jailbreak it again, it will relock the next time you update the software.

The AT&T unlock portal above is the only official way to unlock a locked US AT&T iPhone and have it stay unlocked.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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locklock wrote:

Thank you for your reply. I think I should have mentioned mine was jailbroken before the upgrade. The baseband was 01.59.00, which had allowed me to use soft unlock with ultrasnow patch for last 2 years. Before the upgrade, as long as I did not turn off the phone or switch SIM card while the phone is on, I would be able to use non-AT&T SIM. Otherwise, I have to uninstall and reinstall the ultrasnow patch again to make the soft unlock work again. Last year, I heard that AT&T would unlock the phone but I did not bother to ask my friend to do it for me because mine had been working just fine. Last month friend said she unlocked her phone and could do it for me too. Then the phone seemed to be unlocked. I turned off the phone and restarted it, switch SIM cards and the phone can read the SIM and received signal right away and no more reconfiguring, acted just like no difference to off contract unlocked iPhone.

I guess I just have to ask my friend to request the unlock again. I am just curious if there anyone has experienced something similar. 

I will update with the result.

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you are confusing a jail break with a auhtorized unlock, on a jail broken phone someone modifies the IOS, you update the IOS and the phone is bacn tk Apple IOS standard, it needs to be jail broken again, if a request is made through ATT and it qualifies for a authorized unlock, the phone will stay unlocked when upgraded. The offical unlock did ot work becasue the phone was not in Apple standard configuration aka jailbroken

[youngjm ACE - Professor]

If your friend already asked for an official unlock and it was approved, you can do the following: connect your iPhone to iTunes and back it up.  Perform a restore and then restore the backup.  If the iPhone already has an approved unlock, you will get a message that your iphone is unlocked and you will be good to go......

[MR_SMiT]

If I can add my 2 cents. If your iPhone is all "legit," it would not be having all these problems. Better watch out next time, you can "brick" iPhone, and be useless.

[locklock]

Yes, I jailbroke my phone to use Tmobile. The unlock was not perfect and needed recofigure everytime switching SIM card or restarting phone. What confused me was I thought mine was offically unlocked and I acted like it was because no more recofiguring. Just simple plug and play and worked. That is why I ungrade to IOS6 without doing any baseband preserved.

I think my phone qualified for official unlock. Friend got 3 iPhones at that time and mine is one of those three. Theirs are unlocked now.

I will update when I get the answer.

[locklock]

Thank you for the instructions. I did that way several times but still can't manage to get it work, either with AT&T SIM card or other carrier's during the backup or restore process.

Actually, Last time I was told mine was unlocked by my friend I did not do backup and restore. It is becasue it worked so flawlessly. I no longer needed to worry about SIM card switching. No more hassle, just like it was unlocked, which does not look like it did now.

[locklock]

I will see how it will go. I have my friend to check my imei with AT&T.

[locklock]

If you read closely to unlocked iPhones, it is the baseband that made the phone can't be unlocked for most. People who have locked iPhone would preserve the baseband and restore it after upgrading newer IOS version. That keeps the phone can use patch like ultrasnow or GEVEY SIM.

Mine is legit, at least what I belieive. I would have preserve the baseband to keep the soft unlock in position. I knew it the soft unlock will be wiped after upgrading all along.

[jodicol]

the same thing has happened to me. i bought a phone legit on ebay. not knowing it was jailbroken and did an update. now my phone is stuck . dont know what to do

[LuisAuzza]

Hi, I recently bought an used iphone 4 and I'm trying to used it in southamerica.

I found out the device is locked to AT&T carrier and I don't have the information from the previous owner.

Who should I contact or what can I do to be able to unlock this particular iphone? 
I got an ATT sim card which I guess it was from the previous owner.
But anyway, I just have the IMEI number.
What should I do?
Any help highly appreciated!

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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LuisAuzza wrote:

Hi, I recently bought an used iphone 4 and I'm trying to used it in southamerica.

I found out the device is locked to AT&T carrier and I don't have the information from the previous owner.

Who should I contact or what can I do to be able to unlock this particular iphone? 
I got an ATT sim card which I guess it was from the previous owner.
But anyway, I just have the IMEI number.
What should I do?
Any help highly appreciated!

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follow this link, read the requirements and fill out the form

http://forums.wireless.att.com/t5/Apple-Community-Discussion/iPhone-Unlock-Information/m-p/3260825#U...

just do not expect it to be unlocked for you, by purchasing the phone used from a private party like ebary or craigslist the phone does not qualify for a unlock for you - the original owner of the phone would have to request the unlock.

Unless you are the orignal purchaser and have had the phone on att contract for two years or can supply a reciept showing you paid full retail price for the phone from a att authorized dealer it wil not be unlocked by att.

[youngjm ACE - Professor]

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jodicol wrote:

the same thing has happened to me. i bought a phone legit on ebay. not knowing it was jailbroken and did an update. now my phone is stuck . dont know what to do

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Depending on how long ago, file a complaint with eBay.  Search Google for unlock options or sell the iPhone and buy one that works for the network that you need.

[deanphil]

I upgraded my wife's iPhone 4S to a 5 Sunday at Best Buy. I now have an iPhone 4S that is not under contract nor on the network and has no phone number associated with it. How do I find out if it is unlocked or not? I called AT&T and the rep couldn't tell me if it was unlocked. She just pointed me to the online form to unlock it. The first field in the form is the phone number of the phone, but there is no number for the phone :-) Anyway I entered the previous number, which was not yet eligible for the upgrade: we did a swap using my daughter's line for the upgrade and swapped the numbers back. I entered the IMEI in the form, etc. What is going to happen and why do I have to wait JUST to find out if it is unlocked or not? Once I find out if it is locked, only then MAY I decide to unlock it. Why do I have to go through this process? Thanks for your help.

[Evandela ACE - Warrior]

Ok, so it an iPhone 4S developed for use on AT&T's network?

If so, if you bout it at Best Buy, the iPhone will still be locked. You will have to fill out the online form found in the link our good friend wingrider has provided. You will also need proof of purchase. The form is usually for iPhones bought from AT&T or Apple, but that is your best bet.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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deanphil wrote:

I upgraded my wife's iPhone 4S to a 5 Sunday at Best Buy. I now have an iPhone 4S that is not under contract nor on the network and has no phone number associated with it. How do I find out if it is unlocked or not? I called AT&T and the rep couldn't tell me if it was unlocked. She just pointed me to the online form to unlock it. The first field in the form is the phone number of the phone, but there is no number for the phone :-) Anyway I entered the previous number, which was not yet eligible for the upgrade: we did a swap using my daughter's line for the upgrade and swapped the numbers back. I entered the IMEI in the form, etc. What is going to happen and why do I have to wait JUST to find out if it is unlocked or not? Once I find out if it is locked, only then MAY I decide to unlock it. Why do I have to go through this process? Thanks for your help.

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you did right by using the number that was assigned to the old Iphone 4, the only problem might be that they require the 2 year contract to be completed even if it was a upgrade. from the link, the underline portion is what I am talking about

AT&T will unlock an iPhone under the following circumstances:

• The person requesting the unlock is:
  • a current AT&T customer or
  • a former AT&T customer who can provide the phone number or account number for the account
• The iPhone was designed for use on AT&T's network

• All contract obligations, including any term commitment, associated with the device to be unlocked have been fully satisfied; and

• The iPhone has not been reported lost or stolen.

[deanphil]

The upgrade was done on a number that had no contract obligation. The BEst Buy rep then switched the numbers back so that my wife's phone number worked on the new iPhone 5.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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deanphil wrote:

The upgrade was done on a number that had no contract obligation. The BEst Buy rep then switched the numbers back so that my wife's phone number worked on the new iPhone 5.

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upgrade does not always mean official end of contract, they are two different dates. It depends on att follows the rule

[InfinitY81]

Hello i have a question from two years ago my friend gave me a iPhone purchased from USA /I do not keep cash receipt/ but the iPhone is still locked can you help me to unlock with IMEI nummber? I have also SIM card from AT&T. I have still registered in www.att.com i can give me my IMEI number behind the sim card. Thank you!

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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InfinitY81 wrote:

Hello i have a question from two years ago my friend gave me a iPhone purchased from USA /I do not keep cash receipt/ but the iPhone is still locked can you help me to unlock with IMEI nummber? I have also SIM card from AT&T. I have still registered in www.att.com i can give me my IMEI number behind the sim card. Thank you!

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if you cannot supply the reciept from a authorized ATT dealer for full retail or can supply the phonenumber and account number for when the phone was under contract then you are pretty much out of luck on getting it unlock. You can read the requirements at this link

http://forums.wireless.att.com/t5/Apple-Community-Discussion/iPhone-Unlock-Information/m-p/3260825#U...

[baoyaya]

I think this question probably has been asked many times. There is no thread search option that I can use here. So sorry I have to ask it again.

I have iphone 4, unlock request has been authorized, itunes 11. But I DO not have any sim card other than ATT sim card which I used for one and half years. 

I followed the instruction and could't unlock it with the old ATT sim card. Is a new sim card from other carrier required?? or just optinal. Has ATT changed the instruction? I did unlock another phone back to June/July, I don't think I used a different sim card.

TIA!!

[GeekBoy]

You can unlock without having a SIM card from another carrier.  You might not be able to be 100% positive that it is unlocked without a SIM card from another carrier though.  I unlocked my iPhone 4 without having a SIM card from another carrier.  I folowed all the instructions, but I did not receive the message that my phone was unlocked.  About a week later, I found a co-worker who had an android phone which used a micro SIM card from another carrier.  His SIM worked in my iPhone, so I could finally verify that it had really unlocked.

During the unlock instructions, you are told to connect your iPhone to iTunes and to "restore" it.  They don't tell you this, but if you chose to restore from a previous backup, you will not get the message that your phone has been unlocked.  What you need to do is to make a full backup & copy that to a safe place.  Restore your iPhone as a new device (the first restore during the instructions from AT&T).  Once that is done and you get the message that your phone has been unlocked, you can then restore again, and this time restore from the backup you have saved...

[baoyaya]

Thank you!

Just tried it again and restored it as new. Still doesn't work which means I didn't receive unlocked message at the end. Could it be itunes 11 issue? Not a fan of itunes 11.

I will call ATT first and see if the phone shows as unlocked in their system. Then will see if I am able to find a sim card from another carrier.

[GeekBoy]

The unlock message only occurs the one time the iPhone is unlocked.  If you don't restore as a new device that one time, you will never see the message, and the only way to tell if it is unlocked or not is to use a SIM from another carrier.  When you do the restore duringthe unlock process from AT&T you must do the restore as new then, otherwise you will never get the message that your iPhone was unlocked.