Unlocking iPhone process

Question

Level 1

91 points

Unlocking iPhone process

So my contract for my iPhone 3GS and my iPhone 4 ended. I have made the calls to request an unlock. 2 days later, i recieved my unlock emails saying its ready to go and to go through the steps of restoring...

So i stuck my 3GS to have itunes back it up... after that, i stuck in a straight talk sim card thinking it would say invalid sim while i restore the iPhone to unlock it... As i did that, the accepted the Sim Card... I thought i needed to do a restore to get the unlock to work? This 3GS is going international so i want to make sure i dont need to restore if since it accepted the Sim Card... my striaght talk sim card is inactive but it is able to dial out(i reaches straight talk saying the account is inactive) is it because its straight talk that is registered to att?

I wonder if my iPhone 4 will do the same thing. I dont need to restore it???? I thought i needed to. Anyone know? Perhaps its because its still on 4.1? I dont want to update it to 6.0. would rather get 5.1 but im sure thats not possible...

iPhone 3GS, iOS 4.1

Posted on Oct 18, 2012 10:15 PM

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Answer 1

brad805

Level 5

7,397 points

Oct 19, 2012 12:11 AM in response to HSUEA001

Try this, it may work. Tap Settings App > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. See if this works. If not try, Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. These will keep you at iOS 5, hopefully also get the Unlock to work.

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Answer 2

HSUEA001 Author

Level 1

91 points

Oct 19, 2012 12:14 AM in response to brad805

Thats the thing, the unlock works without me doing anything... so does that mean... its doesnt require a restore to unlock the phone?

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Answer 3

AnaMusic

Level 9

57,562 points

Oct 19, 2012 12:19 AM in response to HSUEA001

See Here...

Ensure that you've waited the recommended wait period provided by your carrier.
Back up your iPhone.
Erase the contents of your iPhone.
Swap the old SIM card with the one for the new carrier.
Complete the setup assistant and restore your backup.

From Here > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5014

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Answer 4

HSUEA001 Author

Level 1

91 points

Oct 19, 2012 12:22 AM in response to AnaMusic

i get that... im asking can a phone be unlocked without Backing Up, Erased, and restored... because thats what happened, its seems unlocked(stuck another sim card in it and it calls) but is it really unlocked since i didnt follow those steps??

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Answer 5

Oct 19, 2012 7:54 AM in response to HSUEA001

The phone must be restore with the latest update for the unlock to take from the Apple database.

It sounds like your phone was software unlocked / hacked before you requested the official unlock.

You can leave it as it or try to update to 6.0 from 4.1. But if it was hacked before you risk the phone bricking during the update.

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Answer 6

HSUEA001 Author

Level 1

91 points

Oct 19, 2012 11:23 AM in response to iPhone_Warrior

phone was standard OEM, no jailbreak or hacked.

Im gonna guess since its on a very old iOS, that may be why. I guess if it doesnt work overseas, ill just have them restore it themselves...

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Answer 7

Jbass706

Level 1

9 points

Oct 19, 2012 9:27 PM in response to HSUEA001

IME you must restore to factory. I Tunes will then display "Congratulations your phone is unlocked"

Straight Talk sims will not be locked out by an AT&T phone but you can not get to the "Carrier" settings to setup the APN for messaging until the phone is unlocked.

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