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User profile for user: John Doe 69
John Doe 69 Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

iOS 4.3 Locked my factory unlocked iPhone 4!!

A warning out there to owners of factory unlocked iPhone 4's!! After updating to iOS 4.3 this morning, I proceeded to purchase a SIM card from another carrier and after inserting it into the phone, it was NOT recognized!! I have used SIM cards from the new carrier in the past and it seems like my handset is now locked!!

Be cautious!! If you plan on keeping your phone unlocked I would avoid installing the iOS 4.3 update until they fix this!!

iPhone 4,MBP 15", Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Mar 11, 2011 4:23 PM

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42 replies
User profile for user: Dr_AL
Dr_AL
User level: Level 3
674 points

Mar 11, 2011 10:53 PM in response to John Doe 69

If your iPhone was purchased unlocked directly from Apple Canada, then I would suggest you make a genius appointment at an Apple Store in Calgary.

An officially unlocked iPhone should not lock to a carrier after updating. If the device is not working with other carriers then try the general troubleshooting, restart, reset, and then restore. Try to restore the device, and set up as a new phone. Stick in the original SIM card to activate the unit, then unplug the device and insert a sim from a different carrier & reconnect to iTunes. If this does not work then contact Apple. Personally I don;t bother with phone calls, so if you are able to make it to an Apple Store then make an appointment.
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User profile for user: John Doe 69
John Doe 69 Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Mar 13, 2011 9:47 AM in response to Dr_AL

I tried what you suggested and restored the phone to factory settings and still no luck...and when the new SIM is inserted in the phone it says that the SIM is not supported...I am now totally convinced that the iOS 4.3 update has done this and am waiting for a response from Apple...unfortunately I live 300kms from the closest Apple store so it's not really an option at this point....
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User profile for user: John Doe 69
John Doe 69 Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Mar 14, 2011 5:44 PM in response to John Doe 69

To update everyone and close out this topic, my issue has been resolved! A big thank you goes out to the tech support team at the Apple Store in Calgary, AB, Canada!! They confirmed that it was purchased from the Apple Store and should be unlocked and the engineering team allowed iTunes to unlock my phone.

For anyone else having this issue, make sure you have proof of purchase and visit the closest Apple Store location for assistance!
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User profile for user: John Doe 69
John Doe 69 Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Mar 15, 2011 4:54 PM in response to John Doe 69

All I can suggest is to find proof of purchase (receipt, credit card statement) and contact an Apple Store to set up a Genius Bar appointment....due to certain circumstances I was unable to go to a store myself but was able to talk to a tech in the store where I purchased my phone and was able to work through it over the phone. It took 2-3 days for them to confirm that it was a factory unlicked handset and once it was, it was just a matter of restoring the phone in iTunes.
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User profile for user: deggie
deggie
User level: Level 10
167,363 points

Apr 11, 2011 1:41 PM in response to allydddddd

For all the "me too" posts here, if you have the same exact problem as the OP then follow his advice to resolve your problem, visit your nearest Apple Store, bring your receipt to show you bought a legally unlocked iPhone, and they should be able to fix your problem.

If this doesn't work then you do not have the same problem as the OP.

And for allydddddd, since you are showing a New York location I am assuming you did not purchase this iPhone in the US?
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User profile for user: Marronz
Marronz
User level: Level 1
0 points

Apr 11, 2011 3:47 PM in response to iamzaks

iamzaks wrote:
Im my case the NY Apple store salesman openly lied to me and assured me that after I purchased the pone and flew back to my country I could call AT&T and get unlock codes... that was 6 months ago and I now bought a new iPhone 4 here in Israel. The only time I've been upset at an Apple representative.


the same trouble with me in a apple store Ardenfair Sacramento. Salesman lies to me i bought iphone but i can't use it in italy. i send many mail to apple store in sacramento, i go many time in apple store in Bergamo, i call many times at apple support but nothing to do. they don't help
Me and say me to unlock it use unofficial software.
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User profile for user: djhmd
djhmd
User level: Level 1
0 points

Apr 11, 2011 4:22 PM in response to John Doe 69

Hi i just have seen your problem I had the same situation with 4.2.1 but this is not your upgrade to ios 4.3 . few months ago i bought a factory unlocked iphone from apple store at full price. I bring it home and then i activated it with my fido sim card everything was perfect .
Then i send it to someone of my family in Morocco . When they received the phone they inserted a sim card and it said Invalid Sim card the iphone has been locked to Fido trough activation process went to appstore they did a check and they told me that infact it was unlocked and now it has been locked to fido ( Strange situation ) and then they told me to bring the phone and they will replace it but the phone was at 6000 Km so i had no choice i contacted fido to unlock it Because only fido and rogers can do this here in Canada so i paid 50 $ and send to them the proof of purchase and then they unlocked it trough itunes.

What they told me at appstore they have a batch of phones in this situations but now it seems that the problem is fixed.

Finaly for your information if you buy a brand new iphone from any career in canada you can activate it with any other carieer and it's gonna be locked to this career ( For example you can buy a brand new iphone from telus and for the first time you can use it with rogers and it will be locked to rogers ) Even if it s suposed to be a telus phone .
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iOS 4.3 Locked my factory unlocked iPhone 4!!

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