I've done a lot of searching online for information about how the procedure is conducted, however either that information doesn't exist or there is just too much spam crap littered on the internet. I called T-mobile and requested the phone to be unlocked, and have recieved a confirmation email saying that I'll recieve my unlock code, however, after viewing someone actually changing out a sim card and inputing the unlock code I have to wonder if this procedure requires another sim card. I'm anxious...
It won't ask you for an unlock code until you put a different provider's SIM in the phone...
Just keep the unlock code around until you need it (I email myself with stuff like that)...
That does beg the question though of why you need a unlock code if you do not have another sim to use...? Just curious...
Also, I've been on a website called uniquephones.com and they claim to be able to unlock the G1 - has any actually tried them out?
Cheers,
Smiffy.
So does this mean that each time you start the phone with a different carriers sim card you'll have to enter the code, or only once? I'm a struggling student and I don't know if I can afford my contract here in the future, so I may have to use a different sim. Seems nice seeing how its a free service through T-mobile. TAKING FOREVER AND SOME though, I requested the unlock code last friday, I read others having their codes in 4 days, I'm going on 7 or 5 business days. Thanks though
hi I am new here, I get a g1 next week and I wondered if flashing a new rom affects the lock of the device... i bought it on ebay and have no tmobile plan. do i have to care about unlocking after flashing?
Was the device purchased "unlocked". I'm real fuzzy about this because I'm not sure if each time you use the device with a non-tmobile sim card I believe, but very well may be wrong, that you need to enter the unlock code before you can access the phone with that new sim. You shouldn't have any software boundaries that would make you unable to use the phone while rooting the device, as all the steps toward rooting are all done while the phone is either in fastboot or recovery mode.
it is locked.
maybe we have a non-tmobile user here, that can tell me whether or not he had to unlock after flashing. or does the locked/unlocked state "survive" a flash?
after rooting my device and flashing to the JF Dev 1.50 rom I was still asked for an unlock code for mine.
This is just my knowledge, don't fully rely on it. As far as I know, if the phone is rooted and is on one of the modified rom, it can be used with any sim card. If you have an unlocked code, you only have to enter it once. It will not ask you twice.
I work at a bar people leave lose misplace phones regularly, I have a galaxy s been sitting there for months, can you root a phone and port a new number to it if it has been locked by the carrier putting aside the stolen or not crap, cause its besides the point, cause I throw away phones on a regular basis and im just looking for an answer not a lecture as I received a fee already in other forums
IMEI locked phones are not unlockable by a finder. The purpose is to prevent theft etc, and would be pretty pointless if a thief could get around the lock with some technical know-how.
I believe it's blocked by the network across all carriers - The true owner can contact their ISP to unlock it when they recover it, so don't throw them away. I'm sure there's some space at your bar to keep a few phones for a month or so.
Normally when I unlock a phone by IMEI from an internet site I use they ask for the IMEI number,carrier,make,model and an e-mail address to send the info to.So if you know the carrier I dont think it would be that hard to do.Ive unlocked phones for my mates using the site I go to and all they do is give me the phone and tell me what carrier it belongs to.I use my e-mail address and all works fine.All you need is the phone,carrier and IMEI number.Its not that hard otherwise you wouldnt be able to unlock a phone that you bought from some else would you.
The OP asked for carrier Blocked situation, not carrier Locked.
Sent from my GT-I9000
it's completely possible, as you can spoof a new IMEI, and I believe ICSSGS is doing that by default. Simply open up ODIN and throw the rom onto it.
There are other threads about this but rather than pollute them with my post I figured I'd create a new thread to share my experience. READ THE WHOLE THREAD BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU SCREW UP YOUR PHONE. Feel free to comment and I will make adjustments to the op.
Pre-requisites
- LG G4 T-Mobile Variant (H811).
- The Phone must be paid in full.
- The account the phone is/was attached to needs to be in good standing.
- Proof of your purchase of the phone (eBay or paypal receipt)
- The phone must not be reported lost, or stolen.
- Try the T-Mobile Device Unlock and select permanent unlock (if it works skip to the section on retaining SIM Unlock)
- Persistence, patience and politeness.
History
I purchased a used LG G4 (H811) on eBay, then called T-Mobile to request the device unlock. I was told by two Customer Service representatives and two supervisors the same thing:
- I either had to get a T-Mobile account and register the device on their network for 40 days and request the device unlock.
- Or the original owner had to request the unlock.
T-Mobile would not budge, but you can make them give it to you. The CTIA Consumer Code for Wireless Service (http://www.ctia.org/policy-initiatives/voluntary-guidelines/consumer-code-for-wireless-service) is a Voluntary document drafted by the FCC and administered by CTIA that T-Mobile is a signer on. In section 12 it states that wireless providers will unlock eligible phones for customers, former customers and individual owners. That third category is the one that most of us fall into. Principle 2 of that section says that for post paid phones the provider will unlock them upon request for phones from accounts in good standing that have been paid off again for customers, former customers and individual owners. CAVEAT: The Code does allow them to charge you a "reasonable fee", but I was never asked to pay a fee.
Penalty for T-Mobile not complying is revocation of their status of meeting this code and they cannot display the seal which means other providers will harp on that and T-Mobile doesn't want that. After sharing this information with the supervisor they told me that I could write a letter to their legal department which I did not want to do.
Getting the SIM unlock code
1- Contact T-Mobile to request the device be unlocked. Unless they change their policy they will likely tell you the same thing they told me.
2- Go to FCC.gov and filed a complaint online stating that you are an individual owner of an eligible phone (T-Mobile never disputed that) and that T-Mobile was refusing to unlock it and therefore in violation of the CTIA code.
3- Go to CTIA.org and use the contact us link to send them a very similar email.
4- Finally go to bbb.org and filed a complaint online against T-Mobile USA (Make sure that you select the head office in Washington State).
In all three I provided my IMEI number for reference (#*06#) and THE SAME DAY I got an email from the Office of the President of T-Mobile requesting contact information to verify eligibility of the phone. I responded back and answered their questions. They needed the IMEI, make, model and receipt showing purchase. She then sent me an email telling me that she removed the block on their server from the app working and allowing a permanent unlock.
SIM Unlock procedure
1- If you are already running any flavor of the stock firmware that still has the T-Mobile unlock app then skip to step 6. If you are on a custom ROM reboot into TWRP and do a complete backup of everything EXCEPT your efs partition. If you later restore your efs partition after unlocking the phone it becomes locked again.
2- In TWRP wipe the device with the default settings.
3- Install a stock flavor ROM that still has the T-Mobile Unlock App.
4- (Optional) Install SuperSU to keep root.
5- (Optional) For good measure flash TWRP recovery in case the ROM you installed replaced the recovery.
6- Boot the T-Mobile Stock ROM and run the T-Mobile Unlock App. Request a permanent unlock and it should successfully unlock the phone.
7- Reboot and test with a non-T-mobile sim.
If you are satisfied with running the stock T-Mobile firmware then you're done. If you, like me want to run a custom ROM, then follow below. The steps below assume you have a custom recovery and unlocked bootloader already, but if not you can look at the threads on this forum on how to unlock your bootloader permanently, root, install custom recovery and install a custom ROM.
1- Turn off the phone.
2- Hold the volume down + power button.
3- When you see the LG logo release the power button for 1 second and then hold it again.
4- You will get a white screen asking if you want to factory reset the device. Select Yes, then Yes again and it will boot you into TWRP.
5- Back up your device (especially the EFS partition), but you need all of it. Use the file manager to move that backup to your external SD card.
6- Perform a standard wipe in TWRP.
7- Restore your backup of your custom firmware but DO NOT restore the efs partition or your device will again be SIM locked.
8- Restart.
objecttothis said:
There are other threads about this but rather than pollute them with my post I figured I'd create a new thread to share my experience. READ THE WHOLE THREAD BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU SCREW UP YOUR PHONE. Feel free to comment and I will make adjustments to the op.
Pre-requisites
- LG G4 T-Mobile Variant (H811).
- The Phone must be paid in full.
- The account the phone is/was attached to needs to be in good standing.
- Proof of your purchase of the phone (eBay or paypal receipt)
- The phone must not be reported lost, or stolen.
- Try the T-Mobile Device Unlock and select permanent unlock (if it works skip to the section on retaining SIM Unlock)
- Persistence, patience and politeness.
History
I purchased a used LG G4 (H811) on eBay, then called T-Mobile to request the device unlock. I was told by two Customer Service representatives and two supervisors the same thing:
- I either had to get a T-Mobile account and register the device on their network for 40 days and request the device unlock.
- Or the original owner had to request the unlock.
T-Mobile would not budge, but you can make them give it to you. The CTIA Consumer Code for Wireless Service (http://www.ctia.org/policy-initiatives/voluntary-guidelines/consumer-code-for-wireless-service) is a Voluntary document drafted by the FCC and administered by CTIA that T-Mobile is a signer on. In section 12 it states that wireless providers will unlock eligible phones for customers, former customers and individual owners. That third category is the one that most of us fall into. Principle 2 of that section says that for post paid phones the provider will unlock them upon request for phones from accounts in good standing that have been paid off again for customers, former customers and individual owners. CAVEAT: The Code does allow them to charge you a "reasonable fee", but I was never asked to pay a fee.
Penalty for T-Mobile not complying is revocation of their status of meeting this code and they cannot display the seal which means other providers will harp on that and T-Mobile doesn't want that. After sharing this information with the supervisor they told me that I could write a letter to their legal department which I did not want to do.
Getting the SIM unlock code
1- Go to FCC.gov and filed a complaint online stating that you are an individual owner of an eligible phone (T-Mobile never disputed that) and that T-Mobile was refusing to unlock it and therefore in violation of the CTIA code.
2- Go to CTIA.org and use the contact us link to send them a very similar email.
3- Finally go to bbb.org and filed a complaint online against T-Mobile USA (Make sure that you select the head office in Washington State).
In all three I provided my IMEI number for reference (#*06#) and THE SAME DAY I got an email from the Office of the President of T-Mobile requesting contact information to verify eligibility of the phone. I responded back and answered their questions. They needed the IMEI, make, model and receipt showing purchase. She then sent me an email telling me that she removed the block on their server from the app working and allowing a permanent unlock.
SIM Unlock procedure
1- If you are already running any flavor of the stock firmware that still has the T-Mobile unlock app then skip to step 6. If you are on a custom ROM reboot into TWRP and do a complete backup of everything EXCEPT your efs partition. If you later restore your efs partition after unlocking the phone it becomes locked again.
2- In TWRP wipe the device with the default settings.
3- Install a stock flavor ROM that still has the T-Mobile Unlock App.
4- (Optional) Install SuperSU too keep root.
5- (Optional) For good measure flash TWRP recovery in case the ROM you installed replaced the recovery.
6- Boot the T-Mobile Stock ROM and run the T-Mobile Unlock App. Request a permanent unlock and it should successfully unlock the phone.
7- Reboot and test with a non-T-mobile sim.
If you are satisfied with running the stock T-Mobile firmware then you're done. If you, like me want to run a custom ROM, then follow below. The steps below assume you have a custom recovery and unlocked bootloader already, but if not you can look at the threads on this forum on how to unlock your bootloader permanently, root, install custom recovery and install a custom ROM.
1- Turn off the phone.
2- Hold the volume down + power button.
3- When you see the LG logo release the power button for 1 second and then hold it again.
4- You will get a white screen asking if you want to factory reset the device. Select Yes, then Yes again and it will boot you into TWRP.
5- Back up your device (especially the EFS partition), but you need all of it. Use the file manager to move that backup to your external SD card.
6- Perform a standard wipe in TWRP.
7- Restore your backup of your custom firmware but DO NOT restore the efs partition or your device will again be SIM locked.
8- Restart.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you explain EXACTLY how to preserve the EFS partition? I back it up and restore it to custom ROMS I install?
mrbox23 said:
Can you explain EXACTLY how to preserve the EFS partition? I back it up and restore it to custom ROMS I install?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In your recovery, go to backup and you will see it listed among other things....
mrbox23 said:
Can you explain EXACTLY how to preserve the EFS partition? I back it up and restore it to custom ROMS I install?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In TWRP:
1- Backup
Tap Backup
Tap the box next to EFS
Tap all the other boxes
Tap Select Storage
Tap your external SD card (if you don't have one just make sure you copy the backup to your computer for safe keeping after the backup completes).
Tap OK
Swipe to backup
2- Wipe
Tap Wipe
Swipe to wipe (Default options will not erase your EFS partition)
If you found that you somehow wiped your EFS partition, then restore your unlocked backup and make sure to restore everything. You could try just restoring the EFS but I don't know if it will work.
kuda nado pisat T-mobile?
objecttothis said:
In TWRP:
1- Backup
Tap Backup
Tap the box next to EFS
Tap all the other boxes
Tap Select Storage
Tap your external SD card (if you don't have one just make sure you copy the backup to your computer for safe keeping after the backup completes).
Tap OK
Swipe to backup
2- Wipe
Tap Wipe
Swipe to wipe (Default options will not erase your EFS partition)
If you found that you somehow wiped your EFS partition, then restore your unlocked backup and make sure to restore everything. You could try just restoring the EFS but I don't know if it will work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
kuda nado pisat T-mobile?
Hi, I have a generic question.
I am using T-Mobile phone and I was not eligible for the T-Mobile Unlock App, so I decided to use unlock services online. The one I used was unlockbase they have a software that unlocks the phone on-the-go using their software and it requires internet connection. I got my phone unlocked and international SIM working. The question is that if I backup my EFS and MODEM now using TWRP and later restore it will it break the UNLOCK?.
Because the unlock they do is of course by altering the EFS and stuff like that and in that case backing up EFS and MODEM is a safe way to UNLOCK my phone again in future if it somehow gets LOCK again, right?
objecttothis said:
There are other threads about this but rather than pollute them with my post I figured I'd create a new thread to share my experience. READ THE WHOLE THREAD BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU SCREW UP YOUR PHONE. Feel free to comment and I will make adjustments to the op.
Pre-requisites
- LG G4 T-Mobile Variant (H811).
- The Phone must be paid in full.
- The account the phone is/was attached to needs to be in good standing.
- Proof of your purchase of the phone (eBay or paypal receipt)
- The phone must not be reported lost, or stolen.
- Try the T-Mobile Device Unlock and select permanent unlock (if it works skip to the section on retaining SIM Unlock)
- Persistence, patience and politeness.
History
I purchased a used LG G4 (H811) on eBay, then called T-Mobile to request the device unlock. I was told by two Customer Service representatives and two supervisors the same thing:
- I either had to get a T-Mobile account and register the device on their network for 40 days and request the device unlock.
- Or the original owner had to request the unlock.
T-Mobile would not budge, but you can make them give it to you. The CTIA Consumer Code for Wireless Service (http://www.ctia.org/policy-initiatives/voluntary-guidelines/consumer-code-for-wireless-service) is a Voluntary document drafted by the FCC and administered by CTIA that T-Mobile is a signer on. In section 12 it states that wireless providers will unlock eligible phones for customers, former customers and individual owners. That third category is the one that most of us fall into. Principle 2 of that section says that for post paid phones the provider will unlock them upon request for phones from accounts in good standing that have been paid off again for customers, former customers and individual owners. CAVEAT: The Code does allow them to charge you a "reasonable fee", but I was never asked to pay a fee.
Penalty for T-Mobile not complying is revocation of their status of meeting this code and they cannot display the seal which means other providers will harp on that and T-Mobile doesn't want that. After sharing this information with the supervisor they told me that I could write a letter to their legal department which I did not want to do.
Getting the SIM unlock code
1- Contact T-Mobile to request the device be unlocked. Unless they change their policy they will likely tell you the same thing they told me.
2- Go to FCC.gov and filed a complaint online stating that you are an individual owner of an eligible phone (T-Mobile never disputed that) and that T-Mobile was refusing to unlock it and therefore in violation of the CTIA code.
3- Go to CTIA.org and use the contact us link to send them a very similar email.
4- Finally go to bbb.org and filed a complaint online against T-Mobile USA (Make sure that you select the head office in Washington State).
In all three I provided my IMEI number for reference (#*06#) and THE SAME DAY I got an email from the Office of the President of T-Mobile requesting contact information to verify eligibility of the phone. I responded back and answered their questions. They needed the IMEI, make, model and receipt showing purchase. She then sent me an email telling me that she removed the block on their server from the app working and allowing a permanent unlock.
SIM Unlock procedure
1- If you are already running any flavor of the stock firmware that still has the T-Mobile unlock app then skip to step 6. If you are on a custom ROM reboot into TWRP and do a complete backup of everything EXCEPT your efs partition. If you later restore your efs partition after unlocking the phone it becomes locked again.
2- In TWRP wipe the device with the default settings.
3- Install a stock flavor ROM that still has the T-Mobile Unlock App.
4- (Optional) Install SuperSU to keep root.
5- (Optional) For good measure flash TWRP recovery in case the ROM you installed replaced the recovery.
6- Boot the T-Mobile Stock ROM and run the T-Mobile Unlock App. Request a permanent unlock and it should successfully unlock the phone.
7- Reboot and test with a non-T-mobile sim.
If you are satisfied with running the stock T-Mobile firmware then you're done. If you, like me want to run a custom ROM, then follow below. The steps below assume you have a custom recovery and unlocked bootloader already, but if not you can look at the threads on this forum on how to unlock your bootloader permanently, root, install custom recovery and install a custom ROM.
1- Turn off the phone.
2- Hold the volume down + power button.
3- When you see the LG logo release the power button for 1 second and then hold it again.
4- You will get a white screen asking if you want to factory reset the device. Select Yes, then Yes again and it will boot you into TWRP.
5- Back up your device (especially the EFS partition), but you need all of it. Use the file manager to move that backup to your external SD card.
6- Perform a standard wipe in TWRP.
7- Restore your backup of your custom firmware but DO NOT restore the efs partition or your device will again be SIM locked.
8- Restart.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey got a question for you.how did you get the app to work after rooting.i keep getting device not recognized by your service provider please call customer care.well ive done that and have been going round and round with them over sim unlocking.they said it cant be done because they show in their system it is rooted.so i flashed stock 20o kdz tried the app again same error.got back in touch with tmobile and still the same runaround it cant be unlocked because the phone was rooted
My Experience with T-Mobile
Complaints posted today to fcc.gov, ctia.org, and bbb.org:
"I purchased a phone through a local sale via craigslist.org, after verifying that the phone's IMEI is clean and that all obligations have been paid in full. I purchased the phone because I travel frequently and have upcoming European travel and want a GSM phone capable of multiple networks. Within hours of the purchase I called T-Mobile support to get the phone unlocked. After two hours on the phone they continued to refuse, stating that they would not unlock it because I don't have an account with them. T-Mobile does not dispute that the IMEI is "clean" and that there are no outstanding obligations. They seem to want to get the a minimum of two months of service and payments before they will unlock the phone. I don't want their service. I just want my fully eligible phone unlocked!
Thanks for any help you can provide.
IMEI: 000000000000000
<contact info as appropriate>"
Edit to add result several days later
I had a call from T-Mobile today. Apparently one of the three agencies that I'd sent the email to forwarded it to T-Mobile. The fellow from T-Mobile continued to flatly refuse to unlock the phone.
I explained to him that it was like buying a used car, taking it to a Chevron station, and being told that it could only be filled with Shell because some past owner had a contract, long ago completed, with Shell to provide gas.
The take-away here is that one should NEVER EVER buy a T-Mobile phone that is locked unless one intends to use it solely on the T-Mobile network.
I'd love to take this to court but the legal costs are prohibitive.
This works -- free permanent SIM unlock LG-H811
objecttothis said:
There are other threads about this but rather than pollute them with my post I figured I'd create a new thread to share my experience. READ THE WHOLE THREAD BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU SCREW UP YOUR PHONE. Feel free to comment and I will make adjustments to the op.
Pre-requisites
- LG G4 T-Mobile Variant (H811).
- The Phone must be paid in full.
- The account the phone is/was attached to needs to be in good standing.
- Proof of your purchase of the phone (eBay or paypal receipt)
- The phone must not be reported lost, or stolen.
- Try the T-Mobile Device Unlock and select permanent unlock (if it works skip to the section on retaining SIM Unlock)
- Persistence, patience and politeness.
History
I purchased a used LG G4 (H811) on eBay, then called T-Mobile to request the device unlock. I was told by two Customer Service representatives and two supervisors the same thing:
- I either had to get a T-Mobile account and register the device on their network for 40 days and request the device unlock.
- Or the original owner had to request the unlock.
T-Mobile would not budge, but you can make them give it to you. The CTIA Consumer Code for Wireless Service (http://www.ctia.org/policy-initiatives/voluntary-guidelines/consumer-code-for-wireless-service) is a Voluntary document drafted by the FCC and administered by CTIA that T-Mobile is a signer on. In section 12 it states that wireless providers will unlock eligible phones for customers, former customers and individual owners. That third category is the one that most of us fall into. Principle 2 of that section says that for post paid phones the provider will unlock them upon request for phones from accounts in good standing that have been paid off again for customers, former customers and individual owners. CAVEAT: The Code does allow them to charge you a "reasonable fee", but I was never asked to pay a fee.
Penalty for T-Mobile not complying is revocation of their status of meeting this code and they cannot display the seal which means other providers will harp on that and T-Mobile doesn't want that. After sharing this information with the supervisor they told me that I could write a letter to their legal department which I did not want to do.
Getting the SIM unlock code
1- Contact T-Mobile to request the device be unlocked. Unless they change their policy they will likely tell you the same thing they told me.
2- Go to FCC.gov and filed a complaint online stating that you are an individual owner of an eligible phone (T-Mobile never disputed that) and that T-Mobile was refusing to unlock it and therefore in violation of the CTIA code.
3- Go to CTIA.org and use the contact us link to send them a very similar email.
4- Finally go to bbb.org and filed a complaint online against T-Mobile USA (Make sure that you select the head office in Washington State).
In all three I provided my IMEI number for reference (#*06#) and THE SAME DAY I got an email from the Office of the President of T-Mobile requesting contact information to verify eligibility of the phone. I responded back and answered their questions. They needed the IMEI, make, model and receipt showing purchase. She then sent me an email telling me that she removed the block on their server from the app working and allowing a permanent unlock.
SIM Unlock procedure
1- If you are already running any flavor of the stock firmware that still has the T-Mobile unlock app then skip to step 6. If you are on a custom ROM reboot into TWRP and do a complete backup of everything EXCEPT your efs partition. If you later restore your efs partition after unlocking the phone it becomes locked again.
2- In TWRP wipe the device with the default settings.
3- Install a stock flavor ROM that still has the T-Mobile Unlock App.
4- (Optional) Install SuperSU to keep root.
5- (Optional) For good measure flash TWRP recovery in case the ROM you installed replaced the recovery.
6- Boot the T-Mobile Stock ROM and run the T-Mobile Unlock App. Request a permanent unlock and it should successfully unlock the phone.
7- Reboot and test with a non-T-mobile sim.
If you are satisfied with running the stock T-Mobile firmware then you're done. If you, like me want to run a custom ROM, then follow below. The steps below assume you have a custom recovery and unlocked bootloader already, but if not you can look at the threads on this forum on how to unlock your bootloader permanently, root, install custom recovery and install a custom ROM.
1- Turn off the phone.
2- Hold the volume down + power button.
3- When you see the LG logo release the power button for 1 second and then hold it again.
4- You will get a white screen asking if you want to factory reset the device. Select Yes, then Yes again and it will boot you into TWRP.
5- Back up your device (especially the EFS partition), but you need all of it. Use the file manager to move that backup to your external SD card.
6- Perform a standard wipe in TWRP.
7- Restore your backup of your custom firmware but DO NOT restore the efs partition or your device will again be SIM locked.
8- Restart.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks -- this works, fast and free. Note that the FCC and CTIA complaints are basically unnecessary (even if gratifying). The key is the BBB complaint to the Washington state T-mobile headquarters. The office of the president team member called me back within a day, saying he was specifically responding to the BBB complaint. I emailed him my ebay receipt and gave him the IMEI right during the phone call, and he had me permanently unlocked within 5 minutes with the device unlock app, no charge. They just want to see that you paid for the phone in full. I'm running android 6 v20p on an LG-H811 rooted with Imperium kernel 4.8. I happily closed the BBB complaint saying I was satisfied. If only their front line reps would do this, they could save us all a lot of hassle! Anyway YMMV, best of luck. This beats paying the $30+ for unlocking.
theprof7 said:
Thanks -- this works, fast and free. Note that the FCC and CTIA complaints are basically unnecessary (even if gratifying). The key is the BBB complaint to the Washington state T-mobile headquarters. The office of the president team member called me back within a day, saying he was specifically responding to the BBB complaint. I emailed him my ebay receipt and gave him the IMEI right during the phone call, and he had me permanently unlocked within 5 minutes with the device unlock app, no charge. They just want to see that you paid for the phone in full. I'm running android 6 v20p on an LG-H811 rooted with Imperium kernel 4.8. I happily closed the BBB complaint saying I was satisfied. If only their front line reps would do this, they could save us all a lot of hassle! Anyway YMMV, best of luck. This beats paying the $30+ for unlocking.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes… the bbb complaint will be what gets the ball rolling on your phone, but if the ctia and fcc get enough of these complaints they will put pressure on TMobile to change their policy of not being in compliance to an agreement they made.
Gabriel_x said:
kuda nado pisat T-mobile?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Надо на ихни веб-сайте нажимать "Contact Us"
unlock will even works if you restore your back up efs partition only from your stock rom to the custom rom Im on turbo rom latest version and it works and i only restored the stock efs partition where i used the app to unlock my lg g4 i back up first in twrp. unlock worked on crickiet sim for me i borrow from my friend to test it.
This works for me ! Thank you so much.
I followed your steps, and it did work. I bought this on eBay like you did. Then I found that this phone isn't unlocked. I asked the seller to make the phone call and the seller already changed his carrier. So I began to search for the solutions and saw yours.
I unlocked the boot loader and rooted the phone, flashed custom rom the moment I got the phone. So as you wrote, I flashed the phone back to stock rom, tried the unlock device app , it said the phone is not eligible for unlock. After calling t-mobile service, I filed complaint like you did, t-mobile contacted me a day after, and asked me my IMEI number , my eBay receipt, then helped me unlock the phone today. It took me like a week, t-mobile agent is slow but it's OK. I'm now using AT&T and it's working on 4G/3G.
i have trouble to fel the complaint im not good at englis i couldnt find Washington State hedwuarter any helpplease ?
Network Locked
Hi guys,
My Phone network is locked, after updating to Marshmellow 6.0 Software version 20r.
it was working fine on lollipop.
phone is clean from T-mobile.
I paid online to unlock the phone, and after 2 days they email me that your phone is unlocked.
But my Unlocked Device app is giving me this error "failure in processing the request. please reboot device and try again Tmobile app" i tried every possible way, reboot the device, uninstalled the apps, factory reset the device but still same error.
any help!!!
I'd just like to say thanks, the guide worked for me. T-mobile didn't like the BBB complaint and it took back and forth about 3 times before they gave in. They kept trying to close the complaint, I kept it open and asked that all i wanted was the IMEI to be whitelisted and finally they gave in. It took forever though, I don't remember maybe a month but I wasn't able to get through on the phone and they didn't respond to my email reply for a long time.
Too bad though because right now the phone doesn't start at all. So it will either get sold on ebay or if I'm super lucky I will get something out of LG due to the big lawsuit they have right now. Lg Should let us trade in the G4 or V10 for a G6 and pay just $200, I think that would be fair!
objecttothis said:
There are other threads about this but rather than pollute them with my post I figured I'd create a new thread to share my experience. READ THE WHOLE THREAD BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU SCREW UP YOUR PHONE. Feel free to comment and I will make adjustments to the op.
Pre-requisites
- LG G4 T-Mobile Variant (H811).
- The Phone must be paid in full.
- The account the phone is/was attached to needs to be in good standing.
- Proof of your purchase of the phone (eBay or paypal receipt)
- The phone must not be reported lost, or stolen.
- Try the T-Mobile Device Unlock and select permanent unlock (if it works skip to the section on retaining SIM Unlock)
- Persistence, patience and politeness.
History
I purchased a used LG G4 (H811) on eBay, then called T-Mobile to request the device unlock. I was told by two Customer Service representatives and two supervisors the same thing:
- I either had to get a T-Mobile account and register the device on their network for 40 days and request the device unlock.
- Or the original owner had to request the unlock.
T-Mobile would not budge, but you can make them give it to you. The CTIA Consumer Code for Wireless Service (http://www.ctia.org/policy-initiatives/voluntary-guidelines/consumer-code-for-wireless-service) is a Voluntary document drafted by the FCC and administered by CTIA that T-Mobile is a signer on. In section 12 it states that wireless providers will unlock eligible phones for customers, former customers and individual owners. That third category is the one that most of us fall into. Principle 2 of that section says that for post paid phones the provider will unlock them upon request for phones from accounts in good standing that have been paid off again for customers, former customers and individual owners. CAVEAT: The Code does allow them to charge you a "reasonable fee", but I was never asked to pay a fee.
Penalty for T-Mobile not complying is revocation of their status of meeting this code and they cannot display the seal which means other providers will harp on that and T-Mobile doesn't want that. After sharing this information with the supervisor they told me that I could write a letter to their legal department which I did not want to do.
Getting the SIM unlock code
1- Contact T-Mobile to request the device be unlocked. Unless they change their policy they will likely tell you the same thing they told me.
2- Go to FCC.gov and filed a complaint online stating that you are an individual owner of an eligible phone (T-Mobile never disputed that) and that T-Mobile was refusing to unlock it and therefore in violation of the CTIA code.
3- Go to CTIA.org and use the contact us link to send them a very similar email.
4- Finally go to bbb.org and filed a complaint online against T-Mobile USA (Make sure that you select the head office in Washington State).
In all three I provided my IMEI number for reference (#*06#) and THE SAME DAY I got an email from the Office of the President of T-Mobile requesting contact information to verify eligibility of the phone. I responded back and answered their questions. They needed the IMEI, make, model and receipt showing purchase. She then sent me an email telling me that she removed the block on their server from the app working and allowing a permanent unlock.
SIM Unlock procedure
1- If you are already running any flavor of the stock firmware that still has the T-Mobile unlock app then skip to step 6. If you are on a custom ROM reboot into TWRP and do a complete backup of everything EXCEPT your efs partition. If you later restore your efs partition after unlocking the phone it becomes locked again.
2- In TWRP wipe the device with the default settings.
3- Install a stock flavor ROM that still has the T-Mobile Unlock App.
4- (Optional) Install SuperSU to keep root.
5- (Optional) For good measure flash TWRP recovery in case the ROM you installed replaced the recovery.
6- Boot the T-Mobile Stock ROM and run the T-Mobile Unlock App. Request a permanent unlock and it should successfully unlock the phone.
7- Reboot and test with a non-T-mobile sim.
If you are satisfied with running the stock T-Mobile firmware then you're done. If you, like me want to run a custom ROM, then follow below. The steps below assume you have a custom recovery and unlocked bootloader already, but if not you can look at the threads on this forum on how to unlock your bootloader permanently, root, install custom recovery and install a custom ROM.
1- Turn off the phone.
2- Hold the volume down + power button.
3- When you see the LG logo release the power button for 1 second and then hold it again.
4- You will get a white screen asking if you want to factory reset the device. Select Yes, then Yes again and it will boot you into TWRP.
5- Back up your device (especially the EFS partition), but you need all of it. Use the file manager to move that backup to your external SD card.
6- Perform a standard wipe in TWRP.
7- Restore your backup of your custom firmware but DO NOT restore the efs partition or your device will again be SIM locked.
8- Restart.
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Click to collapse
I got mine unlocked in 5 days. I heard back from T-Mobile President's office and though they appeared to be reluctant on doing it, they ended up doing it. My device was paid in full by previous owner tho. I ended up buying it as the seller has it listed as unlocked while he didn't understand what unlocked means. lol.
Thanks for this useful post!
12
I took a chance on this about 5 days ago (basically last Monday, May 29th) and filled out the BBB complaint - for the record I did not contact T-Mobile or do the other complaints, I went straight to the BBB site and just did it through them. About 3 days ago I got an email and a phone call (didn't answer it) from someone in the "Executive Response Team" saying they'd like more info so I fired off another email with basically the same info presented in the BBB complaint, the fact that I bought the phone from a third party, that I was not the original owner, that it had no attachments to T-Mobile anymore (was paid off fully in their system and no longer tied to anything related to them), and because I would be classified as an individual owner per the CTIA document they had no reason to not honor my request.
Got another email and phone call (and I still didn't answer it) yesterday afternoon (Friday June 2nd) saying the device was now unblocked on their servers and that the permanent unlock should go through without any issues by using the Device Unlock app.
Well...
Made about 10 attempts so far and still no go, sent off another email within 30 minutes of him contacting me to say it was unblocked (which was about 1PM Pacific time) and he didn't get back to me before leaving the office so of course now I'll probably be waiting till sometime on Monday (June 5th) to hear anything more but I'll make more attempts as the weekend passes. Could actually be unblocked and it's just taking time for the confirmation to propagate through their system, who knows.
It'll get unblocked at some point and permanently unlocked. The temporary unlock works fine, of course, and I am running the pure stock 20v and I don't even have the bootloader unlocked presently so, the issue lies on T-Mobile's side of things now and they'll have to fix it or I'll just keep sending 'em emails.
YMMV, of course, but that's my current situation.
LG G4 H811 T-Mobile Unlock
rektbloodcells said:
Hi, I have a generic question.
I am using T-Mobile phone and I was not eligible for the T-Mobile Unlock App, so I decided to use unlock services online. The one I used was unlockbase they have a software that unlocks the phone on-the-go using their software and it requires internet connection. I got my phone unlocked and international SIM working. The question is that if I backup my EFS and MODEM now using TWRP and later restore it will it break the UNLOCK?.
Because the unlock they do is of course by altering the EFS and stuff like that and in that case backing up EFS and MODEM is a safe way to UNLOCK my phone again in future if it somehow gets LOCK again, right?
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Hello Friend. I have same problem Can't unlock my phone by T-Mobile Unlock app. I saw unlockbase.com is web page and they have phone unlock service. After some searching i found that in the unlockable device list they do not have LG G4 H811. How you was able to unlock your phone with their software? Are you sure they can unlock h811? How much it costs?
This is the phone: https://shop.simplemobile.com/shop/en/simplemobile/phones/sm-moto-e5
1. Is there a way to root it?
2. Where can I find the stock firmware for it?
I can not get anything on the internet about this model
I have done quite a bit of searching online and prodding at this phone in various ways and have found no way to root it unlock it or even get third party manual camera controls.
It appears to be a Tracphone remarketed E5 with a lower resolution camera and a few other locked features (mostly software things). I can only picture that a lot of our problems rooting this phone and getting support (specifically in English) have to do with the fact that "technically" the US isn't even supposed to have an E5, but the E5 play and plus. Which is why we have a Nora Baseband, 8MP camera, Android 8.1, etc. All the features (That may produce or interact with radio emissions) are mismatched to match other "authorized devices".
There is a thread here that lists all the Nora devices as Plus models but "1920" from the same master list is a play model. This model is also listed only with non-contract carriers (appears to be mostly CDMA) woth remarlably little information on it and has a small customer base since most just get the plus.
Even Motorola won't touch it with unlock codes and such like they (supposedly) will the plus model. So I don't think this specific model will get much attention anytine soon, or possibly ever. But again, this is all "from my understanding". So I could definitely be completely wrong. There are guys here who know substantially more than I do on the matter.
This of course isn't to say I havn't enjoyed the only Snapdragon 400 series phone not to be completely piled with non-removable handcuffing UI clutter.
Same question about NETWORK UNLOCK.
So, first to correct myself. This model is now being used for other non-contract carriers, too.
Second, referring to the carrier unlock. That depends on exactly who your carrier is. Some are known for unlocking the day you pay for it in full, others are known to never unlock them even when you meet the requirements by delaying giving codes, rejecting authorization, or removing the ability to submit the code in the phone's firmware. However, most carriers fall in the middle and usually require some number of months of operation of the device on their network and it be paid in full etc. etc.
So, check with your carrier and if they won't unlock it you'll have to meet the requirements or wait for someone to come up with new methods to modify the partitions on the device and/or find a way to unlock the bootloader. Some people (once boot unlocked) have had success with flashing different carrier firmware to gain GSM sim unlock and use with other networks. I did it with an old Samsung ON5 once but our devices don't have near the unlock, root, and rom support lol.
Good Luck though! I hope you figure it out if I don't.
Hi There
Hopefully some insight can be shed on this topic, it would be greatly appreciated.
I've read that all you need to do is use the device in the region of purchase for 5-10 mins of local calls & then the region lock is unlocked to any world wide sim.
- is this still the case with Samsung devices?
- lets say once the device is unlocked (in country of origin) but reset a few months later in another country other than it was bought in, will the region lock be back?
Thanks
antares* said:
Hi There
Hopefully some insight can be shed on this topic, it would be greatly appreciated.
I've read that all you need to do is use the device in the region of purchase for 5-10 mins of local calls & then the region lock is unlocked to any world wide sim.
- is this still the case with Samsung devices?
- lets say once the device is unlocked (in country of origin) but reset a few months later in another country other than it was bought in, will the region lock be back?
Thanks
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Click to collapse
so, the question youre asking can be answered in several ways. Firstly, the locks placed on the phones are placed by the carrier, so if your phone is truly unlocked, itll never lock on to a service provider permanently. The process you describe about using it for local calls for a few min to have it grab your carrier is CSC related and more applies to whether you can use SPay and SHealth or not. There are also subsidy locks that make carrier switching impossible without an unlock. These subsidy locks can be in the firmware or even an app that was granted root permissions making it impossible to remove on snapdragon devices outside of Odin.
I guess, what issues are you trying to avoid?
Youdoofus said:
so, the question youre asking can be answered in several ways. Firstly, the locks placed on the phones are placed by the carrier, so if your phone is truly unlocked, itll never lock on to a service provider permanently. The process you describe about using it for local calls for a few min to have it grab your carrier is CSC related and more applies to whether you can use SPay and SHealth or not. There are also subsidy locks that make carrier switching impossible without an unlock. These subsidy locks can be in the firmware or even an app that was granted root permissions making it impossible to remove on snapdragon devices outside of Odin.
I guess, what issues are you trying to avoid?
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Click to collapse
Firstly thanks for taking the time to respond. ?
So I'm not technical at these things but here's a quick background on my query.
A friend purchased a Samsung from an Asian country now while there & the box said specifically that it is made for use in that region and their sim. He's using it but won't know if it will work here till he returns. He is able to get one for me as it's much cheaper there, hence the research on the topic.
Through my search I've seen on Samsung forums people buying phones from difference regions with some able to successfully use it in their country & others not (comments vary on reasoning as to why but the use of that country local SIM seems common)
When he queried the sticker they said to just follow that calling process (I'm presuming now this is the carrier lock) However I'm not sure if there are carrier locks on the device as through my search, that country normally doesn't practice carrier locks (Service Provider) as the US or Europe does as devices are sold at any shop in Asia. So it's a bit confusing..
From your knowledge, let's say he activates & uses it for a few minutes. When he returns & I reset the device, will the lock revert back for that region or will be opened for any sim? And something that just came to mind, as the Samsung devices are regional, will this affect how updates come through or will it be based on that regional timetable for updates?
Thanks again
antares* said:
Firstly thanks for taking the time to respond.
So I'm not technical at these things but here's a quick background on my query.
A friend purchased a Samsung from an Asian country now while there & the box said specifically that it is made for use in that region and their sim. He's using it but won't know if it will work here till he returns. He is able to get one for me as it's much cheaper there, hence the research on the topic.
Through my search I've seen on Samsung forums people buying phones from difference regions with some able to successfully use it in their country & others not (comments vary on reasoning as to why but the use of that country local SIM seems common)
When he queried the sticker they said to just follow that calling process (I'm presuming now this is the carrier lock) However I'm not sure if there are carrier locks on the device as through my search, that country normally doesn't practice carrier locks (Service Provider) as the US or Europe does as devices are sold at any shop in Asia. So it's a bit confusing..
From your knowledge, let's say he activates & uses it for a few minutes. When he returns & I reset the device, will the lock revert back for that region or will be opened for any sim? And something that just came to mind, as the Samsung devices are regional, will this affect how updates come through or will it be based on that regional timetable for updates?
Thanks again
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terrible questions.. i tell ya what..... TOTALLY KIDDING!!
actually very solid questions and its also great to hear people doing this kind of research prior to pulling the trigger. I commend you
Anywho, lets see.
1: What Asian country? Yes, it matters. Or if you can get the model number from the download mode screen, that would be helpful too. If you dont know how to get to the DL mode, power the phone off, hold down the volume down button along with power and itll boot to a warning screen that will say volume up to continue to download mode or volume down to reboot normally. If you cant get that kind of access to the phone (or your friend rather) then its a crap shoot as many phones being offered up like this have been found to be non-us versions or even worse, utter fakes. Buyer beware if you cant get to download mode to at least check that too. Download mode is the hardest part to fake, fwiw
2: Galaxy S devices come in 2 flavors, Snapdragon and Exynos. Well, 3 i guess, the 3rd being fake. Snapdragons are the only ones that can work on CDMA carriers such as Sprint and VZW, Exynos phones work on GSM only. SD phones can also use GSM services, but the Exynos equipped phones are GSM only. SD are not rootable, Exynos are.
3: The part about your friend using it with their SIM and having problems strictly due to that. No. So long as its a legit USA model with no financial locks on it etc etc, you will be just fine. You might have to flash a CSC file in download mode or perhaps even the entire firmware (doubt youd need to do that last part), but if its an unlocked SnapDragon model built for the US market, then youre good to go.
4: make sure it doesnt have a FRP lock enabled. As long as your friend can boot it up and get past the login screen, you should be fine.
5: The last bit about the SIM again, as long as its a legit G973U with no locks and FRP inst on, you should be good to use it on any USA carrier no matter where it was initially used.
6: updates are issues out in order of IMEI batches. Being physically in a country outside of the one that the firmware is for can and often does impede updates, but thats not a worry as updates can be easily flashed manually and once the phone is on the correct CSC and physically in the right country, then updates will go on as normal.
7: youre welcome
Youdoofus said:
terrible questions.. i tell ya what..... TOTALLY KIDDING!!
actually very solid questions and its also great to hear people doing this kind of research prior to pulling the trigger. I commend you
Anywho, lets see.
1: What Asian country? Yes, it matters. Or if you can get the model number from the download mode screen, that would be helpful too. If you dont know how to get to the DL mode, power the phone off, hold down the volume down button along with power and itll boot to a warning screen that will say volume up to continue to download mode or volume down to reboot normally. If you cant get that kind of access to the phone (or your friend rather) then its a crap shoot as many phones being offered up like this have been found to be non-us versions or even worse, utter fakes. Buyer beware if you cant get to download mode to at least check that too. Download mode is the hardest part to fake, fwiw
2: Galaxy S devices come in 2 flavors, Snapdragon and Exynos. Well, 3 i guess, the 3rd being fake. Snapdragons are the only ones that can work on CDMA carriers such as Sprint and VZW, Exynos phones work on GSM only. SD phones can also use GSM services, but the Exynos equipped phones are GSM only. SD are not rootable, Exynos are.
3: The part about your friend using it with their SIM and having problems strictly due to that. No. So long as its a legit USA model with no financial locks on it etc etc, you will be just fine. You might have to flash a CSC file in download mode or perhaps even the entire firmware (doubt youd need to do that last part), but if its an unlocked SnapDragon model built for the US market, then youre good to go.
4: make sure it doesnt have a FRP lock enabled. As long as your friend can boot it up and get past the login screen, you should be fine.
5: The last bit about the SIM again, as long as its a legit G973U with no locks and FRP inst on, you should be good to use it on any USA carrier no matter where it was initially used.
6: updates are issues out in order of IMEI batches. Being physically in a country outside of the one that the firmware is for can and often does impede updates, but thats not a worry as updates can be easily flashed manually and once the phone is on the correct CSC and physically in the right country, then updates will go on as normal.
7: youre welcome
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Firstly apologies for the long delay in response, just been crazily busy and was doing research on what you said soon I am up to scratch to what you said.
1. It is from India, and yes I am aware of fakes so any purchases will be from reputable seller's. I'll have to do some research on that because I'm sure the different Samsung models will have their own codes.
2. I believe for that region they get Exynos variants.
3. From looking at some of the Samsung models online I see the product code ends with "INS" which I'm pretty sure relates to India and that country only so probably I will have to follow the DL mode you explained for my region in changing the CSC
4. I never knew about this.. How does one make sure its not enabled? Is this in the process that relates to no.3 during the CSC change?
5. Not from the US but good to know lol
6. Perfect lol
7. Thanks again, appreciate it :good::good:
antares* said:
Firstly apologies for the long delay in response, just been crazily busy and was doing research on what you said soon I am up to scratch to what you said.no worries mate, life happens. I just hope all is well in your part of the universe
1. It is from India, and yes I am aware of fakes so any purchases will be from reputable seller's. I'll have to do some research on that because I'm sure the different Samsung models will have their own codes. booting to recovery will generally tell you if its fake or not. you cant fake knox
2. I believe for that region they get Exynos variants. i believe so too. Id just get pretty much any F variant of the phone model you want and youll likely be able to get it working from there
3. From looking at some of the Samsung models online I see the product code ends with "INS" which I'm pretty sure relates to India and that country only so probably I will have to follow the DL mode you explained for my region in changing the CSC. just stick with the F models, you can flash whatever carrier stuff you need after you have it in hand
4. I never knew about this.. How does one make sure its not enabled? Is this in the process that relates to no.3 during the CSC change? Itll show you this in the download mode screen. Itll say FRP: on or FRP: OFF
5. Not from the US but good to know lol
6. Perfect lol
7. Thanks again, appreciate it :good::good:
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always glad to help bro!