Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

I was given a MSL code for unlocking my IPhone 5 upon termination stating other carriers will unlock upon providing the same but other carriers don't know how to unlock my using that code.Will Apple unlock if under warranty period?

I was given master subsidy code (MSL) by sprint upon terminating and was told that any carrier will unlock if MSL code is provided. But no carrier supports this which I learned after I quit Sprint. Who can help unlock this phone? (its still under Apple warranty).

iPhone 5, iOS 7.0.4

Posted on Jan 26, 2014 10:38 AM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Jan 26, 2014 10:41 AM

If the GSM side of the iPhone is not already unlocked, only Sprint can unlock the iPhone or send the unlock request to Apple on your behalf. The unlocking process is done with iTunes on your computer.

63 replies

Apr 4, 2015 4:59 PM in response to Harrison_Taylor

An iPhone 6 is NOT an iPhone 4S. You can easily activate a GSM unlocked iPhone 6 on Verizon's LTE network. It will NOT work on the CDMA network. If you leave the LTE coverage area, there will be no fallback to the CDMA network as there would be with a Verizon iPhone 6.


You have NO IDEA what you're talking about or how CDMA networks function. Now I suggest you go educate yourself. You're just making yourself look like a fool.

Apr 4, 2015 5:11 PM in response to Harrison_Taylor

Well, here it's from the horses mouth - Verizon says NO: https://community.verizonwireless.com/message/1129861#1129861

Also here: https://community.verizonwireless.com/message/1189644#1189644


Of course, I'm sure you know more about Verizon than Verizon does.


Quoting from the first link:

===============

Can I bring my iPhone 5s/5c from Tmobile to Verizon?

This question has been Answered.

User uploaded fileUser uploaded file

zippythewonderslug Aug 30, 2014 2:56 PM

I am currently with T-mobile and have an iPhone 5s that I purchased through them. My wife has the iPhone 5c. We own both outright (no payments, no contract). I have seen conflicting information on whether or not we can activate these phones with Verizon. If we want to switch to Verizon, can we use our current phones? If so, what steps do we need to take?

We are interested in Verizon, but are not willing to take the several-hundred dollar hit of trading in paid-off phones for new hardware.


User uploaded file
Correct Answer by Verizon Wireless Customer Support on Sep 1, 2014 9:59 AM


Zippythewonderslug,


We are very excited to hear that you want to join us and apologize for the confusion! I'm happy to clarify.


T-Mobile uses a technology called GSM and we use a technology called CDMA for calls and texts. This means that although data may work (we both use some of the same LTE bands) in 4G LTE areas that we cover, calls and texts will not since that technology is different.


If you go into an area that we supply 3G or 1X data only you will not be able to use our data either because it is CDMA based, and there are areas where our LTE bands are different than their LTE bands. In these areas you would also not be able to use our LTE data.


This can be very frustrating/confusing and we do not want you to be limited in what capabilities you can use with your phone so we recommend using a Verizon iPhone with our services for full functionality.


Due to all of these factors we cannot promise that if you bring your iPhone to us it will work/activate, or what kinds of service/coverage you would have with it.


If you choose to bring another carrier's phone to us you would be able to use our More Everything plan, with the pricing described here: http://vz.to/1jK3j4H.


I hope that clarifies everything.


SarahO_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

Apr 4, 2015 5:12 PM in response to KiltedTim

But how come if I turn off LTE I receive a CDMA signal? Do not make assumptions about topics you are clearly uneducated in.

Lets also take a look back for a second, at first you said Verizon does not permit the activation of non Verizon phones on their network, but now you say they allow LTE-only devices? There IS CDMA fallback as the Sprint iPhone 6(A1586) supports Verizon's CDMA2000 bands. You're the one making yourself look like a fool here, I've been constantly asking you to show me that CDMA iPhone 6 doesn't work on other CDMA networks, but you just keep repeating that it doesn't work. I'm not being a fool here, I've provided evidence to back up my statement, I suggest you do the same before reverting to calling me a fool.

I hope you also know that the AT&T and T-Mobile iPhone 6/6 Plus DO support CDMA? From your profile you seem to have an iPhone 6, go in your settings and I guarantee you'll see an MEID number which is used for authenticating on a CDMA network, if Apple didn't want unlocked CDMA capability, they would have disabled it. Apple even states that unlocked iPhones may be activated on supported GSM and CDMA networks, so I don't know why you keep trying to insult me.

Apr 4, 2015 5:13 PM in response to Harrison_Taylor

Harrison_Taylor wrote:


Can you please show me verification of this? You are correct in some sense, Sprint does not permit the activation of non-Sprint phones, however Verizon DOES. They have since before the iPhone even existed,

Before the iPhone existed, when Verizon was using only CDMA, Verizon did NOT activate non-Verizon phones. An iPhone 4S is CDMA/3G GSM. The Sprint version will not work on Verizon because Verizon doesn't use GSM and will only use CDMA phones intended for use on Verizon.


An iPhone 6 is CDMA/4G LTE. With an active Verizon 4G LTE SIM of the appropriate size, it is possible, sometimes, to use a non-Verizon phone. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. I've seen both happen. Sometimes, even if the phone activates, not all features are available. And, as KiltedTim noted, the phone will ONLY work on 4G LTE. If you go to an area where there is only 3G, the phone will not work.


However, you are free to do the experiment yourself. Take an unlocked Sprint iPhone 4S to Verizon and see what happens.

Apr 4, 2015 5:16 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Again, I have already stated the iPhone 5c and 5s from GSM networks will not work with Verizon. I just read your post, and Verizon says absolutely nothing about prohibiting a non-Verizon iPhone on their network, they discourage it, but they stated "If you choose to bring another carrier's phone to us you would be able to use our More Everything plan, with the pricing described here: http://vz.to/1jK3j4H."



Verizon says "you would be able", they do not say you cannot. Of course, I have stated numerous times that buying an iPhone for a GSM network with the exception of the 6 and 6 Plus will NOT give you CDMA capability. Again, I am making the statement that you can take a Sprint iPhone, insert a Verizon SIM and have both CDMA and LTE fully functional. I am not saying you can buy an iPhone 3GS and be able to use it on Verizon.

Apr 4, 2015 5:23 PM in response to Harrison_Taylor

Harrison_Taylor wrote:


I've provided evidence to back up my statement,


You have? I can't find it. That part of the thread must have been removed.

Harrison_Taylor wrote:


I hope you also know that the AT&T and T-Mobile iPhone 6/6 Plus DO support CDMA? From your profile you seem to have an iPhone 6, go in your settings and I guarantee you'll see an MEID number which is used for authenticating on a CDMA network, if Apple didn't want unlocked CDMA capability, they would have disabled it. Apple even states that unlocked iPhones may be activated on supported GSM and CDMA networks, so I don't know why you keep trying to insult me.

Yes, all iPhone 6/6+ phones have CDMA capability. However, Verizon will not activate a phone on its CDMA network unless that MEID is already in its database. The MEID gets into the database when the manufacturer (in this case Apple) provides that information to Verizon. They only do that for phones intended for sale on Verizon. And, just because Apple includes the possibility, doesn't mean a carrier has to activate that phone or any phone.


There was a thread a while back where someone received a replacement phone from Apple for their defective Verizon phone. Due to a system glitch, the MEID had never been provided to Verizon. It apparently took the user about a week and multiple conference calls between Verizon and Apple to rectify the problem. And that's for a phone that was supposed to work on Verizon. If the phone was not intended to work on Verizon's CDMA network, Apple is unlikely to intervene and make it happen.

Apr 4, 2015 5:23 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

I'm aware of this, however you can insert a CDMA R-UIM/UICC card into a Verizon iPhone 4s and activate successfully on some CDMA networks.

Tim is wrong on the iPhone 6 though, CDMA DOES work. I'm not in an LTE coverage area and can use Voice/Data on 1x/3G with my unlocked Sprint iPhone 6 without an issue. He can say something doesn't work all he wants to, doesn't mean he's right.

Apr 4, 2015 5:26 PM in response to Harrison_Taylor

Harrison_Taylor wrote:


Again, I am making the statement that you can take a Sprint iPhone, insert a Verizon SIM and have both CDMA and LTE fully functional.


As noted, you are partially correct. You will have, at best, a phone that is functional on LTE. Some features may not work, including Visual Voicemail. The article Lawrence referenced was quite clear about the not working on CDMA part.

Apr 4, 2015 5:26 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

Verizon doesn't have an MEID whitelist, that's Sprint.


If I try to activate my Sprint iPhone 6 online, it will fail because the Verizon activation portal doesn't recognize the device.

However, if I stick an already active Verizon SIM into my iPhone 6, CDMA and LTE will function without issue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYu2upOUQFI

Here's an unlocked Sprint iPhone 5 making a successful call over the CDMA network as well as accessing LTE data. I'm not here to troll, I'm just here to share my experiences and don't understand why I am being called "clueless" or a "troll". I'm not insulting anyone else, why shouldn't the same be done to me?

I was given a MSL code for unlocking my IPhone 5 upon termination stating other carriers will unlock upon providing the same but other carriers don't know how to unlock my using that code.Will Apple unlock if under warranty period?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.