Rikkekim

Q: Has my iPhone been factory restored?

I bought my phone as unlocked and handset only. However I later found out that due to apple software the phone will actually be locked to the first sim that you put in the phone. My provider has unlocked it and so has Apple but have to do a factory restore from iTunes.

I Think I have managed as I get a message saying "there is no sim card in the iPhone I am Attempting to activate". This is what I want - so the person I already sold it to can put her SIM card in it and set it up as a new phone.

 

Can someone confirm that the factory restore has been done correctly and when she puts her SIM card in it she will not see an error message saying the SIM card is invalid?

If i put in another SIM card now will the phone then be locked to that network or carrier only or will it be locked to that specific SIM card? It's so I can double check that it has been restored to factory settings.

 

really not happy about this issue as I bought and paid good money for an unlocked phone!

 

Many thanks

 

Kind regards

R. H.

iPhone 5s

Posted on Feb 25, 2016 2:25 PM

Close

Q: Has my iPhone been factory restored?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by stedman1,

    stedman1 stedman1 Feb 25, 2016 2:27 PM in response to Rikkekim
    Level 9 (73,747 points)
    Apple Watch
    Feb 25, 2016 2:27 PM in response to Rikkekim

    Where was the phone purchased? Which retailer?

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Feb 25, 2016 2:32 PM in response to Rikkekim
    Level 10 (271,133 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 25, 2016 2:32 PM in response to Rikkekim

    Once you put in a SIM from your provider to use the device it became locked to that provider, so you no longer have an unlocked phone. You locked it when you put in your provider's SIM. So what's the big deal? Have your provider unlock the phone so you can give it to someone else. When they put in their provider's SIM the phone will be locked once again. Not rocket science.

  • by Rikkekim,

    Rikkekim Rikkekim Feb 25, 2016 2:33 PM in response to stedman1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 25, 2016 2:33 PM in response to stedman1

    carphone warehouse

  • by Rikkekim,

    Rikkekim Rikkekim Feb 25, 2016 2:36 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 25, 2016 2:36 PM in response to Kappy

    I Should add that I have ALREADY had my provider unlock from their side. The new sim has been tried multiple times in the device and the phone is stI'll locked. According to my provider I have to restore via itunes before fully unlocked which I have now tried. I am looking for useful responses that can confirm or not if this has been done correctly as I have not had the need to do this in the past.

  • by stedman1,

    stedman1 stedman1 Feb 25, 2016 3:01 PM in response to Rikkekim
    Level 9 (73,747 points)
    Apple Watch
    Feb 25, 2016 3:01 PM in response to Rikkekim

    Unfortunately, CarPhone Warehouse iPhones will always lock to the first network used. As Kappy states, you will need to contact that cellular provider to determine their unlocking policy.

     

    How to unlock your iPhone for use with another carrier - Apple Support

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Feb 25, 2016 4:00 PM in response to Rikkekim
    Level 9 (58,969 points)
    iPhone
    Feb 25, 2016 4:00 PM in response to Rikkekim

    Rikkekim wrote:

     

    I bought my phone as unlocked and handset only. However I later found out that due to apple software the phone will actually be locked to the first sim that you put in the phone.

    Actually, that depends on the seller. Unlocked iPhones sold by Apple do not lock to the first carrier who's SIM you install. In fact, the only retailer I've heard of who does that is Carphone Warehouse. My carrier, Verizon, sells only unlocked iPhones. They do not lock to Verizon when activated.

  • by NenadNis,

    NenadNis NenadNis Mar 22, 2016 3:22 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 22, 2016 3:22 AM in response to Meg St._Clair

    Hi all,

    was anybody ever able to unlock an iPhone sold from Carphone Warehouse?

    I have seen to many posts on this topic, for nobody to have taken any action on it?

    Why doesn't CPW offer unlocking service?

     

    Both Apple and Three UK were very helpful in trying to unlock my phone, but after Three unlocks it, it just goes back to CPW Flex Policy?

    Why doesn't Apple revert the phone back to factory settings, before CPW Flex Policy was applied, when they get unlocking request from Three UK?

     

    Regards,

    Nenad