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Q: Locked iPhone Problem

Hi everyone,

 

I bought my iphone from Syracuse New York Apple Store. I told them a lot of times that I wanted to buy unlocked iphone 6 plus because next year I am gonna be in Turkey. Now, I came back to Turkey and I realized they gave me locked iphone 6 plus. I cannot use my phone in my country and I am so sad and angry because I am not able to come USA to change myphone right now. What I am gonna do? I need advise..
Thanks!!

iPhone 6 Plus, iOS 9.3.4

Posted on Aug 19, 2016 3:40 PM

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Q: Locked iPhone Problem

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  • by ChrisJ4203,Solvedanswer

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Aug 19, 2016 3:44 PM in response to ermantatar
    Level 9 (57,215 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 19, 2016 3:44 PM in response to ermantatar

    What do you mean they gave you a locked phone? What makes you believe the device is locked? Did you receive an error message when you tried to use it in Turkey? What was the message? Did you use the device in the US, and if yes, what carrier did you use?

  • by ermantatar,

    ermantatar ermantatar Aug 20, 2016 5:24 AM in response to ermantatar
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 20, 2016 5:24 AM in response to ermantatar

    My sim card is not working in my iphone. It gave me "Activation Required " alert and "Unvalid Sim Card". I searched and understood that my iphone is closed to international carriers' sim card .

  • by ChrisJ4203,Helpful

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Aug 20, 2016 12:18 PM in response to ermantatar
    Level 9 (57,215 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 20, 2016 12:18 PM in response to ermantatar

    Activation is required for all iPhones, there is nothing unusual about that screen. The Invalid SIM card error is not just about international carriers, it is about any carrier other than the one that the device is locked to. Since you made this purchase with Apple, I suggest that you call their support line and they will be able to tell you who the device is locked to. Have you checked your receipt to see what it says? It should identify a carrier if there is one, or it should say the device is unlocked.

     

    You did not answer my other question about using the device in the US.

  • by ermantatar,

    ermantatar ermantatar Aug 20, 2016 12:23 PM in response to ermantatar
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 20, 2016 12:23 PM in response to ermantatar

    this is from @spire88, he solved this problem and today I solved thanks to him! but I want to thank you too Chris for your interest to my problem!!

    Have nice day!


    "Sim Not Valid'' International Solution

     

    IF you have verified that your phone is “carrier unlocked” and you are still having problems. This problem is still going on and relatively unknown until people experience it. It appears to be an issue with iPhone 6/6s models that were offered as "Service Replacement" phones by Apple and assigned an "incorrect policy" from Apple's servers. (See below.) The error occurs when the Apple Server tries to validate the iPhone's IMEI number, there is a lack of synchronization between the databases of Verizon Wireless and Apple servers.

     

    The phones will work with U.S. domestic carriers but not with international SIMs when the user receives a "SIM Not Valid" alert.

     

    If the Apple Customer Support person you talk to is uninformed of this issue, tell them the phone is not locked according to FCC guidelines and there is no pending contract with any US carrier. What needs to be done is to escalate the case to a Level 2 Support Technician or a Senior Level Advisor who will agree to forward a request to Apple's engineers who can fix it from their side. This is the only way to fix it by getting the "activation policy" corrected by Apple engineers. Email your Apple Customer Care Representative a direct link to this post and it will help you as it has helped others to solve this issue for you.

     

    When properly identified, Apple will tell you that you have "a replacement device with an incorrect activation policy" (which takes 30 minutes to 24 hours for engineers to correct). Sometimes the iPhone needs to be restored after Apple makes the change to the activation policy for the phone, before it will work with an international sim.

     

    Most people who have run into this issue get stuck in a loop where Apple tells them their iPhone is locked to AT&T or Verizon. (Yes, we all know Verizon can not legally lock phones.) AT&T or Verizon will accurately say the phone is not locked to their servers. The result is a frustrated phone owner. Unfortunately many find out only when they get overseas.

     

    The SIM Free iPhone "appears" to be locked "internationally" when in reality it is an Apple server setting that essentially acts like an international lock. It can require quite a bit of patience to be nice and persistent with Apple Customer Care Service, and repeated calls/visits to find someone who is open to the idea, since it is an obscure problem relative to the number of total Apple customers, but a large problem for those in need of international phone use. "Service Replacement" iPhone 6/6s iPhones appear to be identified by model numbers starting with an "N".

     

    Should someone plan to use the phone internationally, or want to get more value upon resale, it would be wise for anyone who has received a replacement SIM Free iPhone 6/6s to check their phone. This information is also good for future buyers of iPhone 6/6s who wish to use the phone internationally. There have already been cases where honest owners have sold their phone, not knowing it would not work overseas when the buyer has expectations of it working globally. Neither party is typically at fault, since the SIM Free 6/6s iPhones are promoted as/and are unlocked to begin with.

     

    When contacting Apple Support, it is strongly recommended to provide the AppleCare+ work order created during the "replacement" and the "order number". This will ensure that the "replacement phone" has the same “activation policy" as the original phone to ensure that all International SIM's will work. Receipts from your original phone prior to the replacement might help also.

     

    The policy for the phone to work domestically and internationally should read:

    US Verizon LTE MM N61/N56/N51/N48/N42 = Fully Factory Unlocked for U.S. + Worldwide Use

     

    As opposed to something like:

    US GSM/VZW N61/N56 Service Policy = Unlocked Domestically / Locked Internationally

     


    Good luck.