Locked Screen Note 8 (NO Google/Samsung account, stock software) - Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions & Answers

A customer of mine has a Samsung Note 8 from Sprint that has a screen lock. Apparently, the customer has never had a password or security of any type (fingerprint, pattern, etc) on the device, and they have no idea how it got on there. I had them call Samsung/Google/etc to try and resolve the issue, with no success. All the customer cares about is retrieving contacts off the phone because they are extremely important for their job. Normally, this would be easy using things like FindMyPhone, but they also do not have a Google or Samsung account on their device (According to Samsung customer care hotline). Supposedly the Sprint employee my customer purchased this device from didn't set up the device and my customer didn't know one was necessary. The phone also has stock software AFAIK, meaning USB debugging is likely not enabled.
Basically, I am trying to see if there is a way for me to root the device, or at least get the contacts off so I can move them over to a new phone. I'm just asking for any advice for how I might go about resolving this issue.
Thanks for reading.

Gimrudd said:
A customer of mine has a Samsung Note 8 from Sprint that has a screen lock. Apparently, the customer has never had a password or security of any type (fingerprint, pattern, etc) on the device, and they have no idea how it got on there. I had them call Samsung/Google/etc to try and resolve the issue, with no success. All the customer cares about is retrieving contacts off the phone because they are extremely important for their job. Normally, this would be easy using things like FindMyPhone, but they also do not have a Google or Samsung account on their device (According to Samsung customer care hotline). Supposedly the Sprint employee my customer purchased this device from didn't set up the device and my customer didn't know one was necessary. The phone also has stock software AFAIK, meaning USB debugging is likely not enabled.
Basically, I am trying to see if there is a way for me to root the device, or at least get the contacts off so I can move them over to a new phone. I'm just asking for any advice for how I might go about resolving this issue.
Thanks for reading.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm more interested in knowing how a phone ends up with a screen lock all by itself! I'm also interested in knowing how it was able to make itself a screen lock without a Google account since from my understanding the phone requires a Google account in order to get a new password for the phone in case it's ever forgotten.. Something just doesn't seem right with this!

MrMike2182 said:
I'm more interested in knowing how a phone ends up with a screen lock all by itself! I'm also interested in knowing how it was able to make itself a screen lock without a Google account since from my understanding the phone requires a Google account in order to get a new password for the phone in case it's ever forgotten.. Something just doesn't seem right with this!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, It doesn't add up for me either. I am unable to check and verify any of it though. The customer did call Samsung support in front of me and they said there is no accounts linked to her phone. How they are able to determine that, I'm not sure.

[emoji848][emoji848][emoji848] so the phone was in use but now all of a sudden its locked. I have heard of places like Rent a Center locking a device if the bill has not been paid. Not possible for a device to lock itself. Or could the original owner remotely lock the device...let's say if it were stollen. Your customer, are you with a cell provider?
Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

butchieboy said:
[emoji848][emoji848][emoji848] so the phone was in use but now all of a sudden its locked. I have heard of places like Rent a Center locking a device if the bill has not been paid. Not possible for a device to lock itself. Or could the original owner remotely lock the device...let's say if it were stollen. Your customer, are you with a cell provider?
Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, something definitely not right about this! ?

butchieboy said:
[emoji848][emoji848][emoji848] so the phone was in use but now all of a sudden its locked. I have heard of places like Rent a Center locking a device if the bill has not been paid. Not possible for a device to lock itself. Or could the original owner remotely lock the device...let's say if it were stollen. Your customer, are you with a cell provider?
Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone provider is Sprint. The phone isn't sim locked or anything, it has a password on it. The customer updated me today saying they had just finished paying off the device earlier today. So it's likely not on the providers end. I'm basically trying to retrieve the information whether this means unlocking the device somehow or rooting it, I don't care. Customer just needs the information off of it.

Gimrudd said:
The phone provider is Sprint. The phone isn't sim locked or anything, it has a password on it. The customer updated me today saying they had just finished paying off the device earlier today. So it's likely not on the providers end. I'm basically trying to retrieve the information whether this means unlocking the device somehow or rooting it, I don't care. Customer just needs the information off of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well without knowing how or who set the password there's really nothing any of us can do because you said the customer doesn't have a Google account so now there's no way to change the password and even if you tried to flash an update or something else it's still going to ask for that password upon boot up and you can't get root access that easily on the sprint version of the Note 8. Hate to say it but your customers screwed and should take this as a lesson and learn to setup their phone correctly I.E a Samsung account and Google account you don't put important data on a unsecured phone and not bother to set it up correctly that's just ASKING for it!

I'm still a bit confused. The customer didnt setup the lock? Then how on earth did it just "lock"?
Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

butchieboy said:
I'm still a bit confused. The customer didnt setup the lock? Then how on earth did it just "lock"?
Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's why I said I was more interested in knowing how it got locked, lol.

Lol....ohhhhh[emoji109]
Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

butchieboy said:
I'm still a bit confused. The customer didnt setup the lock? Then how on earth did it just "lock"?
Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I'm just as confused as you all on the random pass code that appeared on their device. Customer has no idea how it got on there, the phone says its 3 numbers and a letter. Customer said it just "appeared" one day. Not entirely sure how something like that could happen. My guess is someone put it on there without their knowledge while the phone was left unattended.

MrMike2182 said:
Well without knowing how or who set the password there's really nothing any of us can do because you said the customer doesn't have a Google account so now there's no way to change the password and even if you tried to flash an update or something else it's still going to ask for that password upon boot up and you can't get root access that easily on the sprint version of the Note 8. Hate to say it but your customers screwed and should take this as a lesson and learn to setup their phone correctly I.E a Samsung account and Google account you don't put important data on a unsecured phone and not bother to set it up correctly that's just ASKING for it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, this is what I figured. Thanks for your answer, if you think of anything that might be worth trying please let me know.

I'm not sure flashing stock firmware with Odin will help. It might still ask for previous password once it boots
SM-N950U Extreme Syndicate Root

Related

[Q] Please help me i am very fed up.. i cant unlock my samsung captiivate...

i tried every single method but i just cant unlock my samsung captivate ... please help
Try GalaxSim Unlock...http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=30541172
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
I've only ever used Galaxy S Unlock and never had any problems. When my sister took her Captivate to England for a semester, she stopped by the AT&T store and they installed it for her, so that's what they use. play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.helroz.galaxysunlock&hl=en
Worst case scenario, you can go to the AT&T website and do the Chat with somebody. Even though they ask you not to do Unlock stuff through chat, that's what I did with my SIII. Twice. They just ask for info on your account and your IMEI, then give you an unlock code.
AT&T won't always unlock phones however. They only do if you meet their criteria, but if you're under contract they won't do it.
x0ne215 said:
AT&T won't always unlock phones however. They only do if you meet their criteria, but if you're under contract they won't do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both of my SIIIs were under contract (I renewed in November) and the Captivate was as well. That has nothing to do with it.
tapmeet said:
i tried every single method but i just cant unlock my samsung captivate ... please help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What Captivate, i896 or i897? There is no easy way to unlock i896, Galaxy Unlock won't help you. In my case I just purchased the unlock code off eBay.
What you mean by "unlock"? If your SIM card is locked after too many unsuccessful attempts to unlock it, than you need to replace it. No fix for locked SIM card.
old tool
i used a very old method to unlock my Cappy.... it was something related to nv_data.bin file... in the mobile root.. try to search on the forum.. u might find it.. or maybe a new method. :angel:
randman2011 said:
Both of my SIIIs were under contract (I renewed in November) and the Captivate was as well. That has nothing to do with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to thread hijack, but when exactly was this? AT&T recently updated their unlocking policies. I've asked several times in the past while under contract and the answer was no. Maybe you just got lucky. My account has been in good standing since I've been with them (over 10 years now), and I never have an unpaid balance. Who knows, maybe I just always get the assholes, pardon my language :angel:
x0ne215 said:
Not to thread hijack, but when exactly was this? AT&T recently updated their unlocking policies. I've asked several times in the past while under contract and the answer was no. Maybe you just got lucky. My account has been in good standing since I've been with them (over 10 years now), and I never have an unpaid balance. Who knows, maybe I just always get the assholes, pardon my language :angel:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They'll want a good reason, like that you're going in vacation and need to use your phone over there with a pre-paid card under another carrier or something. You might've have to give it a few tries too as not all representatives are fine with that.
There's also a paid app though, Galaxy S Unlock. You pay for the code and they send it to you, once you have it, you put another carrier's sim in your phone, it will prompt ask for the code = done.
BWolf56 said:
They'll want a good reason, like that you're going in vacation and need to use your phone over there with a pre-paid card under another carrier or something. You might've have to give it a few tries too as not all representatives are fine with that.
There's also a paid app though, Galaxy S Unlock. You pay for the code and they send it to you, once you have it, you put another carrier's sim in your phone, it will prompt ask for the code = done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The second option is what I've found easiest in the past. I bought the unlock code for my friends G1 a while back, was a few dollars but saved a hell of a lot of time lol.
x0ne215 said:
Not to thread hijack, but when exactly was this? AT&T recently updated their unlocking policies. I've asked several times in the past while under contract and the answer was no. Maybe you just got lucky. My account has been in good standing since I've been with them (over 10 years now), and I never have an unpaid balance. Who knows, maybe I just always get the assholes, pardon my language :angel:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BWolf56 said:
They'll want a good reason, like that you're going in vacation and need to use your phone over there with a pre-paid card under another carrier or something. You might've have to give it a few tries too as not all representatives are fine with this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This was in February. I called in, prepared to say that I would be on a business trip out of the country, but no questions were asked. I said I wanted to unlock my phone, they asked for my phone number and last four, then my IMEI. I waited a few minutes, then they gave me the unlock code. That was it.
That was my second try, though. My first was in January and went exactly as the second but instead of giving me the unlock code, they told me that I had to have been in possession of the device for 90 days and it hadn't been that long. So I waited a month. Given that Captivates are old and that wouldn't have been particularly relevant, I left that out.
FYI, my account has been in "good standing" for 19 years now, and I have never had an unpaid balance. Maybe that makes a difference?
Ah that makes a bit more sense. It could also be that I'm not the primary account holder, so I wonder if that may play a role as well (ie they only allow the primary account holder to ask for unlock codes, etc).
x0ne215 said:
Ah that makes a bit more sense. It could also be that I'm not the primary account holder, so I wonder if that may play a role as well (ie they only allow the primary account holder to ask for unlock codes, etc).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am also not the primary account holder. I am an add on line to a family plan. All they asked for was the SSN of the primary account holder. When they ask for a phone number, give them the primary account holder's number, since they can't look it up with any other number.
I will also point out that I am the original owner of both phones. Their IMEI numbers are registered to my plan. I have no idea how this works if you purchase the phone secondhand.

[Q] T-Mobile Blocked Phone From Network

Hello,
Some background first. I had my M7 on T-Mobile for a while and got it under their payment plan deal. I lost my job and was unable to pay for the service anymore and I had an outstanding balance on the phone. My account was cancelled and went to collections, which I immediately payed off. The lady said I would be able to use my phone again and all was good...not the case.
I went into T-Mobile and got a new account setup and when they put in the SIM card, I was unable to get registered. They said that since my account went to collections, even though I payed in full and payed off the balance on my phone, my phone is now unusable. I am not sure exactly what they said was blocked (I think the serial number?), but the lady said it was blocked on an inter-carrier system so that it is unusable on any carrier.
My question is, since my phone is rooted and S-Off, can I somehow get it to register on the network? Anyway to basically fake the serial or something?
Thank you in advance!
PaperThin88 said:
Hello,
Some background first. I had my M7 on T-Mobile for a while and got it under their payment plan deal. I lost my job and was unable to pay for the service anymore and I had an outstanding balance on the phone. My account was cancelled and went to collections, which I immediately payed off. The lady said I would be able to use my phone again and all was good...not the case.
I went into T-Mobile and got a new account setup and when they put in the SIM card, I was unable to get registered. They said that since my account went to collections, even though I payed in full and payed off the balance on my phone, my phone is now unusable. I am not sure exactly what they said was blocked (I think the serial number?), but the lady said it was blocked on an inter-carrier system so that it is unusable on any carrier.
My question is, since my phone is rooted and S-Off, can I somehow get it to register on the network? Anyway to basically fake the serial or something?
Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What happened is that your phone's IMEI number got blacklisted. There basically 2 reasons why your IMEI can get blacklisted:
your phone is reported lost/stolen
unpaid bills
The lady was right when she said that your phone can't be used on any network anymore. All carriers have access to this list and will block phones that are on it.
And I'm also sorry to inform you that changing/altering/faking an IMEI is completely illegal and you shouldn't do it, especially in if you are in the US. And because its illegal we can't help you with this on XDA.
Sorry for these bad news
alray said:
And because its illegal we can help you with this on XDA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I assume you mean can't? haha. Ya, I figured it was a long shot. Thank you very much for the quick reply. I had to buy a S4 just to have a phone and I hate it. I want my One back haha. But I digress. Again, thank you for the thorough reply.
PaperThin88 said:
I assume you mean can't? haha
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, can't!

AT&T Variant to T-Mobile software

So, I have the AT&T branded Nexus 6 and I'm on T-Mobile. Is it possible to flash the modems/firmware and software to it without bricking it?
lowridincrew said:
So, I have the AT&T branded Nexus 6 and I'm on T-Mobile. Is it possible to flash the modems/firmware and software to it without bricking it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flash away.
Flash on. Just make darn sure your bootloaders unlocked
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
And make sure your phone us network unlocked.it won't work with T-Mobile until you network unlock the device.
I'll contact AT&T when I get the phone back to have them unlock it
lowridincrew said:
I'll contact AT&T when I get the phone back to have them unlock it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A couple of recommendations, from my experience doing the same thing.
1) Make sure the device is paid off. Otherwise they won't unlock it.
2) Don't bother to use their web based utility to request an unlock code. In nearly every case where a Nexus 6 user has tried that path, they get a message that "IMEI is not recognized". I would recommend that you either open a "chat" session with tech support, or call them.
3) If you still have an AT&T account, the device has to be in use for 6 weeks on that account before they will unlock it. If you do not have an AT&T account, then I believe they will provide the unlock code right away.
Good luck
cam30era said:
A couple of recommendations, from my experience doing the same thing.
1) Make sure the device is paid off. Otherwise they won't unlock it.
2) Don't bother to use their web based utility to request an unlock code. In nearly every case where a Nexus 6 user has tried that path, they get a message that "IMEI is not recognized". I would recommend that you either open a "chat" session with tech support, or call them.
3) If you still have an AT&T account, the device has to be in use for 6 weeks on that account before they will unlock it. If you do not have an AT&T account, then I believe they will provide the unlock code right away.
Good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got ya and yeah it's paid off. Moto is swapping my phone anyway because I'm sending it back for a damaged screen

T-Mobile Device Unlock App Says Not Recognized by Service Provider

I had to send my phone into LG for repair. I am a Prepaid T-Mobile customer. Since I got the phone back, whenever I try to open the app to check on Permanent Unlock (as I have done temp in the past), the app get this error when Connecting to NetworkL:
Device not recognized by your service provider. Please call customer care.
Well, I tried using chat service on their website and all that resulted in was the person thinking they should send in an unlock request for me. I knew this was wrong. Next day I get an email from the unlock dept telling me to use the app
Since I figure people here tend to be smarter than a telco tech support person, I would ask here before pursuing this further with Tmo.
This is in fact the same phone I sent in...I checked the IMEI, etc. Using the same tmo sim card.
Any ideas?
Thanks
I have gone through this with T-Mobile and LG. Because you are prepaid there is no account for you at T-Mobile. According to them, the new rules are: you must be active (have an account), have either spent $100 on your account or have purchased $100 to be used on your account, and be active for 40 days. So you could borrow someone else's sim card that is in good standing, post paid, older than 40 days, and has had $100 spent or is in the account. YES, this is extortion at it's finest! The only other way would be to find a verified seller that has a money back guarantee, who is willing to unlock your phone for a fee. The cheapest legit one I saw on the internet was about $55. NOW, you can use MetroPCS, T-Mobile, and Simple Mobile sim cards without unlocking your phone because Metro and Simple are MVNO's (subsidiary carriers that use T-Mobile towers. You CAN'T use AT&T, Verizon, etc. BUT you can't switch from T-Mobile to Simple Mobile. You can switch from T-Mobile or Simple Mobile to MetroPCS. I did it.
thevmax said:
I have gone through this with T-Mobile and LG. Because you are prepaid there is no account for you at T-Mobile. According to them, the new rules are: you must be active (have an account), have either spent $100 on your account or have purchased $100 to be used on your account, and be active for 40 days. So you could borrow someone else's sim card that is in good standing, post paid, older than 40 days, and has had $100 spent or is in the account. YES, this is extortion at it's finest! The only other way would be to find a verified seller that has a money back guarantee, who is willing to unlock your phone for a fee. The cheapest legit one I saw on the internet was about $55. NOW, you can use MetroPCS, T-Mobile, and Simple Mobile sim cards without unlocking your phone because Metro and Simple are MVNO's (subsidiary carriers that use T-Mobile towers. You CAN'T use AT&T, Verizon, etc. BUT you can't switch from T-Mobile to Simple Mobile. You can switch from T-Mobile or Simple Mobile to MetroPCS. I did it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm. I am sadly aware of tmo's FU to prepaid customers needing service, as I have experienced it as well.
But, before I sent it in this app did recognize my phone and would allow me to temp unlock. It is only since it came back from LG repair that it stopped working. This was a period of maybe 10 days.
One item I question, but imagine it is nothing is that under the battery next to the original label with IMEI, model, seriel, etc , they place another label that has a barcode with the imei numbers next to that LB (Leather Back). Above that is shows HB811LB, but then after that BT01 EU.
No idea what that was about but EU made me think Europe.
I am interested to know if and/or how you got this resolved. I am suffering the exact same issue with a T-Mobile LG V10 after sending it in for repair.
Same thing with me, i was able to get the prompt to temp or perm unlock before i sent my g4 off to LG. Phone came back same IMEI on sticker and on device after dialing *#06# I get the stupid message device not recognized by your service provider. Please contact customer care. I tried reinstalling the firmware, same firmware that was in there, didn't want to brick the phone again.... still nothing.
I had the same issue and Tech support ended up sending me a new device. I purchased a phone and it ended up failing during a software update and wouldn't boot. Had to send it into LG for repair. Got it back andnit wouldn't unlock with the same error. Tech Support had sent me a replacement device brand new not refurbished after about 2 phone calls complaining about it not recognizing my device in the unlock app.
Sent from my LG-H811 using XDA Premium HD app
motive said:
I had the same issue and Tech support ended up sending me a new device. I purchased a phone and it ended up failing during a software update and wouldn't boot. Had to send it into LG for repair. Got it back andnit wouldn't unlock with the same error. Tech Support had sent me a replacement device brand new not refurbished after about 2 phone calls complaining about it not recognizing my device in the unlock app.
Sent from my LG-H811 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm nice to know, the only problem is i bought this phone from someone and I'm in Canada.
motive said:
I had the same issue and Tech support ended up sending me a new device. I purchased a phone and it ended up failing during a software update and wouldn't boot. Had to send it into LG for repair. Got it back andnit wouldn't unlock with the same error. Tech Support had sent me a replacement device brand new not refurbished after about 2 phone calls complaining about it not recognizing my device in the unlock app.
Sent from my LG-H811 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe I should call them again. Last time I tried they basically said FU to me. They repaired it and that was that. Frankly, the only thing keeping me with these TMO arses is that I have a super cheap prepaid plan they no longer offer.
Of course my concern with them replacing the phone is that the replacement could have any of the other various issues that this LG quality control clusterF*** has.
Thinking along the lines of it being my last LG product instead. Maybe even sell it now before the flood and use my little LG Leon backup phone I bought when I initially sent this one in for service.And Maybe tell TMO FOOO too.
Whatever LG is doing when they are flashing phones back to stock after them being bricked, is really messing up the phones. I sent out another one and the IMEI is clear fully paid off and the device unlock app is pulling the same ****. I'm not impressed. T-mobile won't unlock the phone either because i'm not the original owner. There is no block what so ever on the phone. PURE B.S on T-mobile and LG's part.
On the phone with LG now. So far getting the same run-around. He is actually calling TMO support because he simply won't believe they can't fix it.
If I don't get a replacement, I may be selling this phone, done with LG for good and ordering a Moto X Pure or something
I don't mind a screw up by a company, but you best stand behind your product properly or foo you and your company, IMO.
Results of call.....Total Failure. The LG person pawns me off on a TMO person who asks for my number so they can call back. Instead, they just transferred me to a TMO support idiot who had no idea whatsoever about what was going on. Really sick of both these company's Bull****. Pretty sure this is my last LG product ever.
Decided to try again using Chat.
So annoyed with LG and TMO right now I may sell the phone and buy a Nexus 6p and Foo to all LG products in the future.
I think it has to do with LG's firmware they install. Can't see what else it can be. After installing the stock 10n firmware still getting the same error. Not sure what i can do, most likely i'll be selling the phone on swappa.
Masaker514 said:
I think it has to do with LG's firmware they install. Can't see what else it can be. After installing the stock 10n firmware still getting the same error. Not sure what i can do, most likely i'll be selling the phone on swappa.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. Something they are doing when they flash their firmware is causing the problem. It is NOT T-Mobile (albeit their quality of service for prepaid customers sucks ass
And that is fine if they fix the issue. Now they are just being ****tards and I have about had it.
All I can say is that after the quality control debacle of the G4, you'd have to be a fool to buy a G5. I know I won't
Barsky said:
Agreed. Something they are doing when they flash their firmware is causing the problem. It is NOT T-Mobile (albeit their quality of service for prepaid customers sucks ass
And that is fine if they fix the issue. Now they are just being ****tards and I have about had it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The more i speak to t-mobile the more i hate them, who puts an unlock app on a phone? In Canada we buy a phone same day get an unlock code and call it a day. I'm sure people will be leaving t-mobile to go elsewhere.
Sent from my LG-H812 using Tapatalk
Masaker514 said:
The more i speak to t-mobile the more i hate them, who puts an unlock app on a phone? In Canada we buy a phone same day get an unlock code and call it a day. I'm sure people will be leaving t-mobile to go elsewhere.
Sent from my LG-H812 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's because that crazy ass John Legarde is a jerkoff and this is their way of screwing over customers on Sim Unlocking. They actually put something in there that disallows the normal way of sim unlocking, if you put CM on your phone that will prompt for an unlock code (I bought one cheap).
T-Mobile is just simply an ASSHOLE company run by a human freak of nature
Barsky said:
It's because that crazy ass John Legarde is a jerkoff and this is their way of screwing over customers on Sim Unlocking. They actually put something in there that disallows the normal way of sim unlocking, if you put CM on your phone that will prompt for an unlock code (I bought one cheap).
T-Mobile is just simply an ASSHOLE company run by a human freak of nature
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also heard that you cant root it put in the international rom, put in a foreign sim and it asks for an unlock code. After that the phone says unlocked but it actually isn't. I wish i knew for about development i'd tear one of the 2 phones apart and try to fet the partition that allows us to bypass the unlock.
Sent from my LG-H812 using Tapatalk
Masaker514 said:
I also heard that you cant root it put in the international rom, put in a foreign sim and it asks for an unlock code. After that the phone says unlocked but it actually isn't. I wish i knew for about development i'd tear one of the 2 phones apart and try to fet the partition that allows us to bypass the unlock.
Sent from my LG-H812 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hah. Well, I am just trying to have it work being totally legit. It has nothing to do with rooting and romming, that much know as the problem existed right out of the box from them. Also, before the repair, the app work 100% rooted or not.
duplicate. my bad.
I always wonder why that button says Edit/Delete, but you can never delete them. :laugh:
Well, I just ordered a Nexus 6p with Project Fi. If I like it I will port my tmo number to it and be done with LG....since fi uses tmo, I will simply be done dealing with them directly.
Not sure I see any downsides to this
Hah, decided to make one last attempt with LG tech support, this time via email. Besides explaining to them why their initial reply was wrong, I also told them I have pretty much given up on future LG purchases and that I have a nexus 6p on the way to replace this phone. Just got another reply and supposedly he is kicking it up to his manager. We will see what happens, but I am not raising my expectations. Nothing says I can't cancel the nexus 6p.

Carrier Locked? Sim Locked? UICC Locked? What state is my phone in?

I bought an SM-N960U used off of letgo about a month ago now and I have been trying to get it to work for me but I am still having a few issues.
The guy I bought it from, who himself bought it used, was using it on T-Mobile and I am able to make and receive calls okay and get internet okay with Verizon. The phone was originally a Sprint phone. It continuously gave me "Activation was Unsuccessful" fullscreen messages repeatedly until I used adb to disable com.sec.omadmspr and com.sprint.ms.smf.services.
When swapping SIMS from different carriers the phone DOES NOT ask for an UNLOCK code.
When I first got the phone I tried to call Sprint and ask if the phone was Carrier locked thinking that if there was a small amount owed or something perhaps I could pay it and UN-Carrier Lock the phone... Well, that didn't go well. Since I wasn't on the account and couldn't provide the name or phone number of the old owner they wouldn't tell me if there was OR wasn't a carrier lock on the phone. Eventually I got them to take the IMEI but they still told me nothing.
So, I've been using the phone daily for about a month now, but because of it's problems (the app that won't run) I still have to carry my old phone as well. This phone is always on Roam. One time when trying to fix it I dialed the *228 PRL update number. That was a mistake. It broke my internet to the point where NO ONE was able to fix it. I went to a Verizon stone. No help. I called customer service. No help. They transferred me to Tech Support.... finally they had me swap in one of my older SIM cards and they programmed that one to work.
TLDR; The phone works with VZW voice and data, but is always on roaming, some apps refuse to work properly, under UICC Unlock the phone says it is locked to Sprint Sims and sometimes the data connection drops and it says it doesn't work because of "Data Roaming" being disabled.
What version of locked is my phone? Is it safe to start flashing it?
ref: https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga...h-firmware-t3958791/post80093967#post80093967
you probably has nothing to do with your problem but it may be of some help if you contact the guy mentioned in this thread for the LG V20, it's a guy that works for sprint and you can contact him on the Sprint Users forums ..
He may be able to help you with the sim unlocking of your phone, there's nothing to lose I think!
give it a shot ... look at this thread and then register for an account on the Sprint Forums and look for the guy..
https://forum.xda-developers.com/v20/help/lg-v20-ls997-successfully-unlocked-oreo-t3835061
You need to contact the person who sold you the device and ask them for assistance. As they may need to contact Sprint to activate the device and unlock it for you.
kbrn said:
you probably has nothing to do with your problem but it may be of some help if you contact the guy mentioned in this thread for the LG V20, it's a guy that works for sprint and you can contact him on the Sprint Users forums ..
He may be able to help you with the sim unlocking of your phone, there's nothing to lose I think!
give it a shot ... look at this thread and then register for an account on the Sprint Forums and look for the guy..
https://forum.xda-developers.com/v20/help/lg-v20-ls997-successfully-unlocked-oreo-t3835061
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Click to collapse
Hey thanks! I looked at this link and think maybe this guy can help. I sent him a message!
Hoping for the best!
iceepyon said:
You need to contact the person who sold you the device and ask them for assistance. As they may need to contact Sprint to activate the device and unlock it for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but the guy I bought it from bought it used, so he wont have any Sprint account info, so then I'd have to try to track down the person he bought it from... and on and on and I dont know how long or fruitful the search would be... and again... I'm on the phone right now, on Verizon with a Verizon SIM. I dont think its carrier locked... but then I dont know what's going on.
towdy said:
Thanks, but the guy I bought it from bought it used, so he wont have any Sprint account info, so then I'd have to try to track down the person he bought it from... and on and on and I dont know how long or fruitful the search would be... and again... I'm on the phone right now, on Verizon with a Verizon SIM. I dont think its carrier locked... but then I dont know what's going on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They don't want to make it easy for people to re-purpose stolen phones. There are things a legitimate owner can do in order to make a phone ready for re-sale, and it sounds like these things didn't happen for the phone you bought. It all sounds a bit fishy, doesn't it?
gruuvin said:
They don't want to make it easy for people to re-purpose stolen phones. There are things a legitimate owner can do in order to make a phone ready for re-sale, and it sounds like these things didn't happen for the phone you bought. It all sounds a bit fishy, doesn't it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but if I thought "it sounds a bit fishy" I probably wouldn't have bought the used phone in the first place... and I certainly wouldn't have called Sprint and given them the IMEI and asked them; the people that could render my phone a useless brick, with one tiny bit of information, for help. Each smart phone I've bought in the last few years has been used because frankly to me it seems to be the best way to buy them financially. $1000 the day they come out or $200 - $300 6 - 12 months later used.
towdy said:
Thanks, but if I thought "it sounds a bit fishy" I probably wouldn't have bought the used phone in the first place... and I certainly wouldn't have called Sprint and given them the IMEI and asked them; the people that could render my phone a useless brick, with one tiny bit of information, for help. Each smart phone I've bought in the last few years has been used because frankly to me it seems to be the best way to buy them financially. $1000 the day they come out or $200 - $300 6 - 12 months later used.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Point is, when someone is about to buy a used phone from a stranger, make sure it is factory reset and then immediately call the carrier and confirm the IMEI is clean and that it has been carrier unlocked, else, don't buy it. Obviously it's not advice for you, since you already did it the wrong way. This is a good lesson for posterity.

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