HT201328: How to unlock your iPhone

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Gionni22

Q: AT&T iPhone 4 unlock procedure?

These instructions are somewhat vague and/or missing information.

 

It says that once I receive confirmation my device has been unlocked by the carrier to switch out the SIM cards & proceed with setup.  But no kind of setup appears when I switch the SIM cards and my new SIM card doesn't work/isn't recognized.  Is this referring to the initial setup? Are they assuming the device is new/unused or has just been erased or restored in iTunes?  If so, that should certainly be made clear!

 

I would like to use the new service provider without updated my phone's iOS version, and without erasing it if possible.  The instructions seem to indicate this is possible, but I'm having trouble with these shoddy instructions.

iPhone 4, iOS 5.1.1

Posted on Mar 1, 2014 5:35 PM

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Q: AT&T iPhone 4 unlock procedure?

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  • by roaminggnome,Helpful

    roaminggnome roaminggnome Mar 1, 2014 5:37 PM in response to Gionni22
    Level 10 (97,387 points)
    Mar 1, 2014 5:37 PM in response to Gionni22

    You will ned to restore the iphone as new, this should be in the instructions.  You will then see the congratulations your iphone is unlocked message.

     

    You can then change the SIM cards

  • by ChrisJ4203,Helpful

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Mar 1, 2014 5:37 PM in response to Gionni22
    Level 9 (59,665 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 1, 2014 5:37 PM in response to Gionni22

    You need to connect the device to iTunes and restore it as new, not from a backup. Then you will receive a message on iTunes saying Congratulations your iPhone is unlocked. After that, you can restore to your backup and use the phone with your new SIM. Make sure you waited the 24 hours it states in the email.

     

    You will not be able to use without the restore, and that will update the iOS. You have no choice.

  • by Gionni22,

    Gionni22 Gionni22 Mar 2, 2014 7:43 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 2, 2014 7:43 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

    Hi!  Thank you for such a quick response!  I apologize in advance- I don't have much experience with iPhone or iTunes and my last experience with iTunes a number of years ago involved all of my music being deleted without warning as the result of an automatic sync of an iPod which was plugged into my computer to be charged.  This has left me rather warry & distrustful... and wanting to be very certain & clear about every step & detail.

    So, when you say "restore as new", you mean first click "Restore iPhone..." (next to 'Check for updates') and then after the iOS is updates and the device is erased & reset to factory conditions, I click on "Configure as a new iPhone..." instead of "Restore from backup"? Correct?  And this will not erase or replace my prior backup? Or prevent me from using it with this phone anymore, right?  (This is all being done with the original SIM installed, right?)  Then once setup/activation & initial sync is complete, I should get a message about the phone being unlocked to use any carrier?

    Then I can just swap out the SIM cards and it will work? Or do I need to erase & reset all settings on the iPhone- which I complete with the alternate carrier SIM installed (while it is connected to iTunes)?

     

    I bought the iPhone from a friend of my roommate who requested the unlock & gave me the request # so that I could check on the status.  So I don't have access to the e-mail confirming that the unlock was complete (containing instructions or the exact time from when I must wait 24 hours).  But I'm assuming the email was sent no later than the time that the unlock status portal would report the unlock request as successful.  It was Friday (more than 48 hours ago) when I checked to find the unlock was possible & issued.

     

     

    Beginning yesterday evening (at least 24 hours after I first discovered the unlock had been approved), I have clicked "Restore iPhone..." (updating & erasing) several times (5+?)- with both the original & an alternate SIM installed.  I have also reset & erased the iPhone through the settings menu on the device a number of times (with and without it connected to my computer, with & without iTunes running- with the original AT&T SIM & the alternate carrier SIM installed).  I have never received the unlock confirmation message- and whenever the alternate SIM is installed I get the corresponding error about the device being locked...

    Most of the time after erasing it (whether in iTunes by restoring or on the phone itself) I have restored the backup (when it was connected to iTunes)- but I have proceeded to go through activation without restoring or being connected to iTunes.

    Only this last attempt have I restored the iphone & configured as new while connected to iTunes...  I did not receive the unlock message BUT my original backup has been replaced (hopefully the previous ones are not erased!!!).

     

    I don't know what to do now.  It seems that there's no point in continuing to try using the alternate SIM at all until I've received the confirmation of it being unlocked, right?  (although there are forum posts by moderators on the AT&T boards which say they were not able to get the unlock confirmation UNTIL they erased it & configured it with the alternate SIM installed after restoring & activating it with the original SIM).

     

    I'm wondering if perhaps the "24 hour waiting period" is either longer in my case or if it does not include the weekend?  Could there be additional instructions contained in the email sent to the previous owner which were not included on the unlock status portal? (in addition to the 24 wait & the specific details of restoring the iphone which I seem to have figured out- well, actually I've just tried every possible combination of variables- I believe...)

     

    Otherwise, I can't imagine what the problem could be.

     

    Is there any way to check the status of my IMEI number somewhere other than the AT&T site (using the unlock status portal)?

     

    Message was edited by: Gionni22  (to include a thought I had but forgot to include initially)

  • by Gionni22,

    Gionni22 Gionni22 Mar 2, 2014 7:46 PM in response to roaminggnome
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 2, 2014 7:46 PM in response to roaminggnome

    Hi!  Thank you for such a quick response!  I apologize in advance- I don't have much experience with iPhone or iTunes and my last experience with iTunes a number of years ago involved all of my music being deleted without warning as the result of an automatic sync of an iPod which was plugged into my computer to be charged.  This has left me rather warry & distrustful... and wanting to be very certain & clear about every step & detail.

    So, when you say "restore as new", you mean first click "Restore iPhone..." (next to 'Check for updates') and then after the iOS is updates and the device is erased & reset to factory conditions, I click on "Configure as a new iPhone..." instead of "Restore from backup"? Correct?  And this will not erase or replace my prior backup? Or prevent me from using it with this phone anymore, right?  (This is all being done with the original SIM installed, right?)  Then once setup/activation & initial sync is complete, I should get a message about the phone being unlocked to use any carrier?

    Then I can just swap out the SIM cards and it will work? Or do I need to erase & reset all settings on the iPhone- which I complete with the alternate carrier SIM installed (while it is connected to iTunes)?

     

    I bought the iPhone from a friend of my roommate who requested the unlock & gave me the request # so that I could check on the status.  So I don't have access to the e-mail confirming that the unlock was complete (containing instructions or the exact time from when I must wait 24 hours).  But I'm assuming the email was sent no later than the time that the unlock status portal would report the unlock request as successful.  It was Friday (more than 48 hours ago) when I checked to find the unlock was possible & issued.

     

     

    Beginning yesterday evening (at least 24 hours after I first discovered the unlock had been approved), I have clicked "Restore iPhone..." (updating & erasing) several times (5+?)- with both the original & an alternate SIM installed.  I have also reset & erased the iPhone through the settings menu on the device a number of times (with and without it connected to my computer, with & without iTunes running- with the original AT&T SIM & the alternate carrier SIM installed).  I have never received the unlock confirmation message- and whenever the alternate SIM is installed I get the corresponding error about the device being locked...

    Most of the time after erasing it (whether in iTunes by restoring or on the phone itself) I have restored the backup (when it was connected to iTunes)- but I have proceeded to go through activation without restoring or being connected to iTunes.

    Only this last attempt have I restored the iphone & configured as new while connected to iTunes...  I did not receive the unlock message BUT my original backup has been replaced (hopefully the previous ones are not erased!!!).

     

    I don't know what to do now.  It seems that there's no point in continuing to try using the alternate SIM at all until I've received the confirmation of it being unlocked, right?  (although there are forum posts by moderators on the AT&T boards which say they were not able to get the unlock confirmation UNTIL they erased it & configured it with the alternate SIM installed after restoring & activating it with the original SIM).

     

    I'm wondering if perhaps the "24 hour waiting period" is either longer in my case or if it does not include the weekend?  Could there be additional instructions contained in the email sent to the previous owner which were not included on the unlock status portal? (in addition to the 24 wait & the specific details of restoring the iphone which I seem to have figured out- well, actually I've just tried every possible combination of variables- I believe...)

     

    Otherwise, I can't imagine what the problem could be.

     

    Is there any way to check the status of my IMEI number somewhere other than the AT&T site (using the unlock status portal)?

     

    PS- sorry for the double post- but I could not reply to more than one response with a single post- and seeing as both of your answers/suggestions were essentially identical and posted at the same time there is no reason to formulate a unique response for each...

  • by Gionni22,

    Gionni22 Gionni22 Mar 3, 2014 2:04 PM in response to Gionni22
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 3, 2014 2:04 PM in response to Gionni22

    OK, so what is/are my next step(s) of action???

     

    I have restored this iPhone "to new" (configuring as a new iPhone after restoring to the latest firmware & erasing/resetting to factory defaults- with the original SIM installed) at least half a dozen times now (not to mention all the times I'm subsequently erased & reset it through its internal nenu interface)-

     

    and I have NOT ever received this "Congratulations your unlock was successful" message.

     

    I first became aware that the device was indeed elligible for unlocking & the request accepted to unlock on Friday afternoon (it's now Monday evening).

     

    Is there something I have done incorrectly or neglected to do, or something that I should try (again perhaps, or ina different way/sequence)?

     

    Otherwise, what are my options?  What would be the most logical next step?  Any feedback, ideas, thoughts or suggestions would be welcome!  Thank you!

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Mar 3, 2014 2:19 PM in response to Gionni22
    Level 9 (59,665 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 3, 2014 2:19 PM in response to Gionni22

    When you try putting another carrier SIM in the device it will not work, is that correct? If that is the case, then your only recourse is to contact AT&T again to have them check on the unlock. Something may not have been done correctly on their end.

  • by hrudka_cz,

    hrudka_cz hrudka_cz Mar 4, 2014 7:22 AM in response to Gionni22
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 4, 2014 7:22 AM in response to Gionni22

    Guys, it has happened to me as well. They "Unlock Approved" it and I got an e-mail with the instructions. But it didn't work. I used an IMEI checker and found out it is locked. I had to call AT&T and ask for a review of the unlocking case. After a week or so they finally managed to fix it ... so go ahead and call them, it might help.

  • by Gionni22,

    Gionni22 Gionni22 Mar 5, 2014 12:47 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 5, 2014 12:47 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

    That is correct, a non-AT&T SIM does not work...

     

    As mentioned previously, I am not the original owner/AT&T customer, so I can not contact AT&T (well, I 'can' but they will not deal with me since I'm not their (former) customer).

    I'm having a hard time getting ahold of the original owner (who is a friend of a friend) and getting them to help me because they assume that I must be doing something incorrectly since the unlock was approved (which is not unreasonable on their part).

     

    I found a post that has the best advice I've encountered so far for anyone in a similar situation with an unlock that has somehow gotten derailed before successfully completing.  Check this out:  http://discussions.apple.com/thread/4842952?start=15&tstart=0

     

    I haven't had a chance to test the suggestions yet but I am confident that one of them will work.

  • by hrudka_cz,

    hrudka_cz hrudka_cz Mar 5, 2014 12:50 PM in response to Gionni22
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 5, 2014 12:50 PM in response to Gionni22

    Unfortunately I cannot post here any links. Else I would give you a recommendation to a good service.

  • by varjak paw,

    varjak paw varjak paw Mar 5, 2014 1:09 PM in response to hrudka_cz
    Level 10 (169,890 points)
    Mar 5, 2014 1:09 PM in response to hrudka_cz

    hrudka_cz wrote:

     

    Unfortunately I cannot post here any links. Else I would give you a recommendation to a good service.

     

    There are no services other than AT&T that can officially unlock an iPhone locked to them, if that's what you mean. Any third-party service that purports to be able to unlock an iPhone is either a hack, a scam doing nothing at all, or one that pays someone within the cell company to without authorization process the unlock, and in the latter case those are often found out and the phone relocked.

  • by Gionni22,

    Gionni22 Gionni22 Mar 5, 2014 1:15 PM in response to hrudka_cz
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 5, 2014 1:15 PM in response to hrudka_cz

    Yes! Thank you!!!  I can not contact them myself (they won't speak to me since I am not the original owner of the phone), but I will ask the original owner/account holder to please do this on my behalf.  It was also suggested to me on another thread where I joined the conversation that I ask him to simple fill out the form to request an unlock again.  I'm not sure which would be more effective or quicker or if there would even be a difference; or which method would be easier for him to do...  Probably filling out the unlock request again.  Talking to support staff, having to repeat information & explain yourself over & over, and wait on hold certainly sounds like a lot more time and effort.  And it's unclear whether doing so would provide any advantage over simply requesting another unlock...

     

    I'm beginning to realize that these incomplete unlocks are not too uncommon and may even be increasing in frequency.

     

    It would be nice if the e-mail notification of the approval included provisions for failed unlocks- like a link to follow to have the unlock status automatically reviewed if the customer is still unable to successfully unlock the device after 24 hours.

    The absence of any statement acknowledging the even possibility of complications and what to do makes it seem as though the process is so perfectly refined, automated & verified that if it doesn't seem to be working it must be because you're doing something wrong... Which is clearly not the case; however, that is the impression I got so I just kept restoring & erasing the device hoping it would finally work.

  • by hrudka_cz,

    hrudka_cz hrudka_cz Mar 5, 2014 1:19 PM in response to varjak paw
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 5, 2014 1:19 PM in response to varjak paw

    People sometimes do not have any other choice since Apple and carriers are all VERY UNWILLINGLY processing unlocks. Could you, clever guys, understand that?

  • by varjak paw,

    varjak paw varjak paw Mar 5, 2014 1:22 PM in response to hrudka_cz
    Level 10 (169,890 points)
    Mar 5, 2014 1:22 PM in response to hrudka_cz

    Recommending hacks or other unauthorized and in some cases illegal procedures here in Apple's forums is not allowed and is unwise. And certainly the risks of using such services need to be made clear. Can you, clever guy, understand that?

     

    And Apple isn't "unwilling" to process unlocks. They have nothing to do with the decision. It's an automated process that's completely run by the carriers.

  • by hrudka_cz,

    hrudka_cz hrudka_cz Mar 5, 2014 1:29 PM in response to varjak paw
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 5, 2014 1:29 PM in response to varjak paw

    Now you contradict against yourself. It is not illegal when it is approved by the carrier and unlocked by the carrier in the Apple's database. I won't comment your posts any further.

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