The Samsung Galaxy S24
BMan17's profile

Scholar

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279 Messages

Tuesday, February 7th, 2012 8:17 PM

Do you need a different SIM Card to unlock your phone?

I have my code to unlock my phone (Infuse 4G), and instructions from ATT Customer Care said that I will need to insert a different carrier SIM Card so that the unlock screen comes up to enter the code.

 

Well, I don't have another carrier SIM Card, and want to unlock the phone so that I can sell it for anyone to use on any carrier.

 

Is there another way to unlock with out using the non-ATT SIM Card?

 

Thanks!

 

BMan

Accepted Solution

Official Solution

Employee

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420 Messages

2 years ago

Greetings Community!

Here's what you need to know about whether a SIM card is required to unlock your device from AT&T. Once you have received your approval for unlocking your device, you are not required to insert a non-AT&T SIM card into the device unless you're planning to immediately use the device on another wireless carrier's network.

However, once you get an email from us approving your unlock request, it is advised that you follow the steps provided in the email to unlock your device. For additional details about unlocking your device, check out AT&T Device Unlock Help - Solutions & FAQs.

There, you will find details such as:

How to Request a Device Unlock:
1. Go to our Device Unlock portal
2. Select Yes if you are an AT&T Customer, No if you are not an AT&T customer. 
3. Enter your telephone # if you are an AT&T Customer. Enter your IMEI if you are a non-AT&T Customer.
4. Follow the prompts. 

Check the Status of Your Request:
1. Go to our Status Portal
2. Enter your IMEI Number & Request Number.
3. Follow the prompts.

Heads Up: AT&T cannot unlock devices from other wireless carriers. If you are a business customer, visit our AT&T Small Business Support Center.

There is even a list of General Requirements for All Unlock Requests:

  • The device must be designed for use on, and locked to, the AT&T wireless network. 
  • It must not be reported lost or stolen.
  • It’s not associated with fraudulent activity.
  • All the device’s service commitments and installment plans are completed, and all early termination fees are paid in full.
  • The device is not currently active on a different AT&T customer’s account.
    If you performed an early upgrade, you must wait the 14-day buyer’s remorse period before you can request to unlock your previous device.
  • Visit our Unlock Support page for the full requirement list.

Something To Know: It can take 7 business days, or longer, for your request to be processed.

Also, in instances where your request is approved but you are unable to unlock their device, it is usually due to one or more of the following:

  • You're using the wrong type of SIM in the phone while attempting to unlock (e.g. 4G vs. LTE).
  • You will need to use the correct SIM type.
  • You have attempted to use the unlock code too many times.
  • The incorrect entry of an unlock code too many times during the life of the device disables the unlock ability and permanently locks the device to the network.
  • The number of attempts to unlock the device varies by manufacturer and model.

What's more, the device does not need to be unlocked if you're traveling internationally and you intend to use another carrier's prepaid SIM. Check out AT&T's international offers to help you stay connected at home and abroad.

We hope this info helps!

 

Tim, AT&T Community Specialist

(edited)

Accepted Solution

Master

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2.7K Messages

12 years ago

It should work. You don't have to have a working SIM. As long as it is not an AT&T SIM, it will ask you for unlock code first thing the phone boots up.

 

Also beware, sometimes AT&T gives out wrong unlock code. You have a limited retries (5 times IIRC) before your phone permanently locked to AT&T.

Professor

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2.1K Messages

12 years ago

You need a nother carrier's SIM to unlock the phone.

Scholar

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279 Messages

12 years ago

Thanks Max for the quick reply.

 

Therefore, for me, my best course of action is to find a buddy's phone that's not on ATT and put their SIM Card into my phone?

 

Then go from there.

 

Another question, would my local corp ATT store have the ability to put a non-ATT SIM Card in?

Professor

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2.1K Messages

12 years ago

The store may have a SIM card laying around, but no guarantees. Your best bet is probably to borrow a friend's SIM. When I unlocked my Captivate I used a SIM that wasn't even active.

Master

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2.7K Messages

12 years ago


@BMan17 wrote:

 

Therefore, for me, my best course of action is to find a buddy's phone that's not on ATT and put their SIM Card into my phone?

 


The only other US carrier in this case is T-Mobile.

 


Another question, would my local corp ATT store have the ability to put a non-ATT SIM Card in?


Unless one of the employee carries a T-mobile phone, the answer is NO.

 

Scholar

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279 Messages

12 years ago


@foxbat121 wrote:

@BMan17 wrote:

 

Therefore, for me, my best course of action is to find a buddy's phone that's not on ATT and put their SIM Card into my phone?

 


The only other US carrier in this case is T-Mobile.

 


Another question, would my local corp ATT store have the ability to put a non-ATT SIM Card in?


Unless one of the employee carries a T-mobile phone, the answer is NO.

 


Hmmm, now you have me thinking, I'm at work right now, but I do have an old TMobile SIM Card from my wife's old phone at home before she swtiched to ATT in 2009. Would that work?

Professor

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2.1K Messages

12 years ago

Can't hurt to try, right?

Scholar

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279 Messages

12 years ago


@Max69 wrote:

Can't hurt to try, right?



Ha, yeah, right, I have nothing to lose. At worst it just won't accept the SIM Card. At the same time I'd have to think once the phone sees a non-ATT SIM Card, it'll ask to unlock it, in which after I do that, I'm guessing it will try to connect to the TMobile network and get an unregistered notification or the like.

 

I'll try it tonight and report back.

Scholar

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279 Messages

12 years ago


@foxbat121 wrote:

It should work. You don't have to have a working SIM. As long as it is not an AT&T SIM, it will ask you for unlock code first thing the phone boots up.

 

Also beware, sometimes AT&T gives out wrong unlock code. You have a limited retries (5 times IIRC) before your phone permanently locked to AT&T.


Thansk Foxbat, I posted same time as you.

 

I saw that 5 retries warning on another post. So I'll be careful on that....

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