Replacement Needed. This iphone is not able to complete the activation process and needs to be replaced. Please visit your nearest apple store or authorized service center.

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Level 1

9 points

Replacement Needed. This iphone is not able to complete the activation process and needs to be replaced. Please visit your nearest apple store or authorized service center.

Probably will never ever think of buying a locked phone from AT&T cause its one of the worst system integrations ever that these companies could think of.

The entire problem started when I put in a request with at&t to unlock my iphone 4s (ios7) which did get approved. I performed the entire instructions they asked me to do, which is to backup and restore. After doing those instructions my iphone gave me an error message below

The SIM card inserted in this iPhone does not appear to be supported.

The SIM card that you currently installed in this iPhone is from a carrier that is not supported under the activation policy that is currently assigned by the activation server. This is not a hardware issue with the iPhone. Please insert another SIM card from a supported carrier or request that this iPhone be unlocked by your carrier. Please contact Apple for more information.

Basically saying that at&t hasn't still unlocked the iphone which a really helpful apple executive was able to confirm. I initiated another unlock process from at&t in order to unlock the iphone, just to be sure that its not something wrong from my end. The nice at&t lady stayed on chat with me to unlock the iphone step my step while I was calling the apple tech too. And the apple tech confirmed again that the iphone is locked to at&t.

Now, just a few minutes ago I tried another restore to see if any progress is being made and to my surprise I got an error message saying

Replacement Needed. This iphone is not able to complete the activation process and needs to be replaced. Please visit your nearest apple store or authorized service center.

I feel like I am just going around these two different "money hogger" companies which set certain rules and regulations to screw a regular phone buyer. I purchased this iphone in USA and trying to unlock in India, is it really this hard to simply unlock a device.
For now I am going to try to call a apple office in india (apprently we don't have very many out here) and see if they can help me. But any other assistance regarding unlocking an iphone 4s would be helpful. I have however, tried checking IMEI.info, called up apple, talked to at&t (which always say go talk to apple) I do have a case number from apple as well in case an apple executive reads this discussion forum (case number: 566383594)

Thanks

iPhone 4S, iOS 7.0.4

Posted on Jan 31, 2014 3:10 AM

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Answer 1

carl wolf

Level 6

14,631 points

Jan 31, 2014 3:51 AM in response to jabgars

There are many Apple stores in India and, since you're going to contact one, you are on the right track.

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Answer 2

jabgars Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 31, 2014 7:35 AM in response to carl wolf

After contacting apple store, the only thing he could help me was "CONTACT AT&T" besides asking me to do another restore and I started laughing as though I was being bounced as a ping pong ball.

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Answer 3

varjak paw

Level 10

180,388 points

Jan 31, 2014 7:42 AM in response to jabgars

Apple in India most probably cannot help with a US-sold iPhone. Service and support on iPhones is not international, so a US-sold iPhone will normally be serviced only in the US. This being a special circumstance I can't say that there is nothing Apple India can do for you, but it's not likely.

Unlocking polices and procedures are set solely the carrier. Apple has nothing to do with the matter. All Apple does is maintain a database of the lock status, which is automatically changed when the carrier submits the unlock authorization.

The sort of problem you've experienced can occur if the iPhone was at some time jailbroken. Was yours? If so, then the iPhone has almost certainly been permanently disabled, and Apple will no longer touch it under any circumstance. If that is indeed the case, you will need to buy a new iPhone.

Regards.

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Answer 4

Jan 31, 2014 7:42 AM in response to jabgars

Let's start by getting to specifics and cut the rhetoric. You requested that AT&T unlock the phone. You got a confirmation from AT&T that it was authorized. Is this correct?

You then waited several days, because once it is approved the unlock request goes to Apple, who must update their database. This has been known to take up to 5 days.

Then you connected the phone to a computer with the latest version of iTunes installed. You clicked on the phone's name in iTunes, then clicked "Backup Now".

When that finished you clicked "Restore iPhone" (NOT "Restore Backup").

Are you with me so far?

If you did all of these things the iPhone should restore iOS. You should then see the message "Congratulations. Your iPhone has been unlocked".

And after these steps you still say the phone is locked?

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Answer 5

varjak paw

Level 10

180,388 points

Jan 31, 2014 7:43 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

What jabgars said above is that after a second attempt to restore, the iPhone is now saying that it needs to be replaced:

Replacement Needed. This iphone is not able to complete the activation process and needs to be replaced.

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Answer 6

Jan 31, 2014 7:44 AM in response to jabgars

One additional thought. Was the phone jailbroken or hacked before you tried to unlock it? If it was an authorized unlock won't work, and will likely brick the phone.

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Answer 7

jabgars Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 31, 2014 8:57 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

You got a confirmation from AT&T that it was authorized. Is this correct? - Yes i did get an email authorization on the 21st.

Then you connected the phone to a computer with the latest version of iTunes installed. You clicked on the phone's name in iTunes, then clicked "Backup Now". - Yes

When that finished you clicked "Restore iPhone" (NOT "Restore Backup") - Yes

Are you with me so far? - Yes.

And @ Varjak is right that after the 3rd restore I get the replacement error.

Plus I have NEVER jailbroken the iPhone. To give you another update, I spoke to a really nice apple tech in India who was atleast able to get me out of the replacement error by doing a recovery mode option. However, the lastest restore still gives me the same error

The SIM card inserted in this iPhone does not appear to be supported.

The SIM card that you currently installed in this iPhone is from a carrier that is not supported under the activation policy that is currently assigned by the activation server. This is not a hardware issue with the iPhone. Please insert another SIM card from a supported carrier or request that this iPhone be unlocked by your carrier. Please contact Apple for more information.

Message was edited by: jabgars

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Answer 8

pdroth

Level 5

5,171 points

Jan 31, 2014 8:59 AM in response to jabgars

Did you get the "Congratulations" Message after you restored your phone as a new device?? IF not, do it again - if you don't see that message, your device isn't unlocked.

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Answer 9

jabgars Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 31, 2014 9:08 AM in response to pdroth

I haven't received that message yet. Where I am supposed to see this message, on the iphone or itunes?

How many times do you think I should do the restore? I think I have already done atleast 4 restores.

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Answer 10

pdroth

Level 5

5,171 points

Jan 31, 2014 9:09 AM in response to jabgars

You see it on the iTunes screen of your PC.

You need to restore as a NEW device, not from a backup. That's when the message will pop up, if it's unlocked.

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Answer 11

jabgars Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 31, 2014 9:10 AM in response to pdroth

I'll keep a look out for the message on my PC. And yes, I am setting the device as a new iphone.

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Answer 12

jabgars Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 31, 2014 6:11 PM in response to jabgars

Does anyone know that, If AT&T approved my unlock, will it show as an unlocked IMEI in apple's database without me restoring my iphone or not. Or would it show unlocked only after I do a restore?

This would really help me because I can check when my phone gets unlocked from apple (somehow) and then finally do a restore, plus I would know where the issue is happening (my restoring procedure or apple's/att system integration)

Thanks

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Answer 13

KiltedTim

Level 10

206,064 points

Jan 31, 2014 6:34 PM in response to jabgars

It will be in Apple's database before you complete the process by restoring. It has to be or it wouldn't unlock. Call Apple Care and have them check the serial number. If it shows as unlocked, restore it. If not, then wait.

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Answer 14

jabgars Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 2, 2014 5:07 AM in response to jabgars

Another thought that might help me solve the puzzle for unlocking my iphone 4s. Would it help if I re-download current iO.S again to my PC or restore the iphone to a different iO.S (I saw it in a youtube video where someone was trying to unlock the iphone after the replacement error)

Thanks

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Answer 15

KiltedTim

Level 10

206,064 points

Feb 2, 2014 6:07 AM in response to jabgars

You can NOT restore a different (earlier) version of iOS. When you click the restore button in iTunes, it will automatically re-download the current version of iOS and restore it. If that's not what's happening, then you are NOT doing it right.

Attempting to install an earlier version of iOS is an unauthorized modification and could render it completely useless.

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