jozetta333

Q: Is it possible for an unlocked iphone 4 to re-lock?

Is it possible for an unlocked iphone 4 to re-lock?  I unlocked it using a T-mobile Sim card.  I have now tried 2 other sim cards and it is still acting locked. What do I do?

iPhone 4, iOS 6.1.4

Posted on Sep 5, 2013 10:27 AM

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Q: Is it possible for an unlocked iphone 4 to re-lock?

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  • by Sodaboy1978,

    Sodaboy1978 Sodaboy1978 Sep 5, 2013 10:29 AM in response to jozetta333
    Level 3 (620 points)
    Sep 5, 2013 10:29 AM in response to jozetta333

    yes it is if you restored the iphone after unlocking it the first time it can potentialy locked the iphone to the original carrier.

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Sep 5, 2013 10:30 AM in response to jozetta333
    Level 8 (38,112 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 5, 2013 10:30 AM in response to jozetta333

    If it was unlocked by hacking it then yes, it will relock. If it was purchased directly from Apple as an unlocked phone, or was unlocked by the carrier it was locked to, then it will always be unlocked.

     

    Note that the 2 methods mentioned are the ONLY legitimate ways to unlock an iPhone. All others are either hacks (jailbreaks) or scams.

     

    There's a grey area called "SIM unlocked". These phones are sold by some independent distributors (such as Carphone Warehouse in the UK). They are initially unlocked, but will become locked to the first carrier they are activated with.

  • by jozetta333,

    jozetta333 jozetta333 Sep 5, 2013 10:30 AM in response to Sodaboy1978
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 5, 2013 10:30 AM in response to Sodaboy1978

    I have tried to unlock the iphone again but I am not recieving the congratulations message. What do I need to do to unlock the iphone again?

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Sep 5, 2013 10:31 AM in response to Sodaboy1978
    Level 8 (38,112 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 5, 2013 10:31 AM in response to Sodaboy1978

    Sodaboy1978 wrote:

     

    yes it is if you restored the iphone after unlocking it the first time it can potentialy locked the iphone to the original carrier.

    Incorrect. If it was unlocked legitimately it will never relock.

  • by jozetta333,

    jozetta333 jozetta333 Sep 5, 2013 10:34 AM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 5, 2013 10:34 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

    Lawrence Fitch:  I unlocked the iphone myself using the carriers instructions.  Then I tried to activte the sim card and it says INVALID SIM.  What do I do now? 

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Sep 5, 2013 10:38 AM in response to jozetta333
    Level 8 (38,112 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 5, 2013 10:38 AM in response to jozetta333

    If the carrier unlocked it you may actually have a SIM on an account that doesn't support the iPhone or an expired SIM. You can call Apple and they can tell you the lock status of the phone to verify that it is unlocked. If it isn't unlocked contact the carrier who unlocked it and ask them what the problem is.

  • by jozetta333,

    jozetta333 jozetta333 Sep 5, 2013 1:04 PM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 5, 2013 1:04 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

    Is it possible to remove the iphone from my devices on itunes and try tounlock it again?  Or how do I contact apple to ask if it has been unlocked?

  • by wegras,

    wegras wegras Sep 5, 2013 1:10 PM in response to jozetta333
    Level 6 (15,184 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 5, 2013 1:10 PM in response to jozetta333

    I haven't seen you confirm that it was the carrier who approved and authorised the unlock

    If they did this is how process needs to work

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5014

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Sep 5, 2013 1:31 PM in response to jozetta333
    Level 8 (38,112 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 5, 2013 1:31 PM in response to jozetta333

    Call the local Apple phone number, or visit an Apple store.

  • by jozetta333,

    jozetta333 jozetta333 Sep 5, 2013 2:51 PM in response to wegras
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 5, 2013 2:51 PM in response to wegras

    Yes the carrier (AT&T) approved and sent me theidrection for the unlock. Icalled apple they wanted me to pay for a protection plan before they could tellme if theiphone was offivially unlock or not.  I don't want to pay if I can't use the iphone so they set up an appt with genius bar at apple store. Not sure why I'm having these issues. I really hope the people at the apple store can unlock it or get the sim to work.  I swear it unlocked when Itried 2 weeks ago because I got the "Congratulations" message.  I think it just didn't finish the unlocking process for some reason.

  • by deggie,

    deggie deggie Sep 5, 2013 2:54 PM in response to jozetta333
    Level 9 (54,676 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 5, 2013 2:54 PM in response to jozetta333

    If you tell them you only want to check the unlock status they will ususally do so without asking but they can also tell you this at the Apple Store. If you got the "Congratulations..." message your iPhone is unlocked. You said you tried two other SIM cards, what carrier were they with?

  • by Jez2011,

    Jez2011 Jez2011 Jun 25, 2015 1:20 AM in response to deggie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 25, 2015 1:20 AM in response to deggie

    Lawrence - your replies resonate with me. I have an iPhone 6 on O2 (UK) bought through Carphone Warehouse (UK). I am moving to an area not served by O2 so, after many hassles, I finally managed to get O2 to unlock the phone. However the person I spoke to said that I ought to be careful as if I put another provider's SIM into the phone, the phone may automatically lock to that provider. This seems weird, if, say, I put in a PAYG SIM and so have no substantial relationship with that network provider. Would I then have to call that provider and ask them to unlock my phone again? Would they have any record of me even existing?

     

    As you mentioned above, this falls into a grey area. Do you know whether this automatic locking is likely to happen?

     

    Thanks in anticipation.

    Jez