Galaxy S9 Locked to Carrier - Samsung Galaxy S9 Questions & Answers

I bought a used Galaxy S9 off Craigslist that was locked to AT&T with hopes I could unlock the phone and switch over to my carrier. In the process, I found out that the person who owned it before was STILL paying it off. Contacting AT&T gave no results, so I'm hoping someone with the smarts on here may know.
After putting in the SIM I ordered, I was prompted an Enter Network Unlock Code screen. I guessed easy numbers, but none worked. Does anyone know what I can do?
It's an SM-G960U running Android 9.0
I'm completely familiar with rooting devices, so if that's what it takes to get the unlock code it's no issue.

Related

Anyone ever contacted samsung to SIM unlock your device?

I have a T-mobile Galaxy S5 on the way to me right now and it is SIM locked to T-mobile. I want to use it for t-mobile (purchasing the t-mobile version for the unlocked bootloader.)
Instead of bothering the original owner to have to hassle with T-mobile to obtain an unlock code, since it is paid-off and on the white-list (not blacklisted) I figured I would contact samsung directly.
Samsung rep was surprisingly very nice and helpful about the situation. I provided him the IMEI number and he said it's good to unlock. He said they can go ahead and provide me SIM unlocking when I receive the device and to call back with the reference number they provided me to obtain the unlock code.
Has anyone else had any luck contacting samsung directly before?

SIM Unlock By Flashing Unlocked Firmware?

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.

Z2 Force Unlock

Sorry if this has been addressed, but I am new to these forums. I recently purchased a T-Mobile Z2 Force on eBay. The phone was locked and I purchased an unlock code and as to no surprise to many here it can't be entered as my device is not eligible. After reading more on T Mobile I guess it has to be active on their network for a certain period. I am in Toronto so this won't work for me given I am Telus here. I am wondering if I were to flash my phone to stock firmware and put my sim in would it prompt me to enter the unlock code like most phones. Thank god Canada is banning locking phones as of December this is a real pain.

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?
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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.
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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

Question AT&T bootloader & Carrier lock

Well since I have found zero threads about AT&T bootloader unlock. Does anyone have any solution? Whenever I put in any other sim, it just says that unable to use any other sim apart from AT&T. So I just factory resetted my phone and blocked the device setup app from accessing the internet via the Netguard app. That's allowed me to use any SIM card apart from AT&T however it's not a permanent solution but I'd like to know my options. Any chance of me working around a carrier unlock or possibly bootloader unlock? I bought this phone outside the US, and to my stupidity I never factored in that this was also a possibility that it's carrier locked, that too with a bad standing. I tried unlocking online but it just says that there's payments overdue and that I should log into my AT&T account. Tried calling their customer service, however they're useless and unhelpful. Learned the hard way, depressed that I've kinda wasted my money. Can there possibly be a way to carrier unlock my device and bootloader unlock?
Can you return the phone? The seller should have disclosed that information and the phone will technically only be used on AT&T until it's paid off, and currently on AT&T (for 60 or 90 days before they will sim unlock)
I tried going back to the shop, they just said that there's no way that they offer returns and that I should just contact AT&T for this issue. I'm running out of options and patience. I'm basically stuck with this phone. There's really no check and balance here when it comes to these matters

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