HT201328: How to unlock your iPhone for use with another carrier

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ziyoo

Q: How to unlock iPhone after porting out number

I finished 2 years contract for my AT&T iPhone 4S and requested to unlock the device. Shortly, I got AT&T email and I followed instructions to unlock my iPhone. I thought it's unlocked and ported out the number to other carrier online. When I inserted the new sim card into it, I realized that the iPhone was still locked. Then I used AT&T void sim card and tried to unlock again and again. It doesn't work. I called AT&T to assistance and it seems helpless.

 

What do I do about this now?

Thanks

iPhone 4S, iOS 8.1.3

Posted on Feb 20, 2015 11:03 AM

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Q: How to unlock iPhone after porting out number

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  • by Lawrence Finch,Helpful

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Feb 20, 2015 11:15 AM in response to ziyoo
    Level 8 (37,992 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 20, 2015 11:15 AM in response to ziyoo

    Put the old SIM in the phone, connect the phone to iTunes, and click the Restore button in iTunes. When the restore completes you should see a message in iTunes that says: "Congratulations. Your iPhone is unlocked." If you do not see this message the phone is not unlocked. Contact AT&T again.

     

    The only other thing that could prevent unlocking is if the phone had ever been jailbroken.

     

    NOTE: You must Restore iOS, not Restore Backup.

  • by ziyoo,

    ziyoo ziyoo Feb 20, 2015 11:36 AM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 20, 2015 11:36 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

    Thanks Lawrence,

    Yes, I tried to backup and restore your iPhone to iOS 8.1.3 using iTunes many times, but never got this Cong. message, instead 'Welcome to Your New iPhone'. BTW, my old sim card is locked, so I need to input the passcode and disconnect&connect iTune during restoring.


    Searching online, I found it seems that the old AT&T sim card is inactive and I need a new sim card and number to unlock it. Is it correct?