how to unlock iPhone 4s with verizon code

Because the service rep you spoke to was completely ignorant.

The SIM slot can be unlocked by Verizon if you are a current Verizon customer in good standing.

Contact Verizon, and if they try to give you an unlock code, escalate the call until you get hold of someone with a clue.

Hi Everyone,

I have a Verizon iPhone 4s which was unlocked for international use by Verizon in 2011. Verizon has recently changed their unlocking policy for the iPhone 4s. See attached screen shots from their site taken on 31 January and 2-February. For a few months, and until 1-February 2015, the policy stated that by the end of January, Verizon would begin unlocking the SIM card at owners' request. However, I was unable to use a USA GSM SIM in my handset. Any non-USA SIM will roam to USA GSM networks just fine. AppleCare confirmed that the Verizon activation server policy only unlocks my handset for non-USA SIM cards.

Repeated calls to Verizon have only yielded a promise that there will be a bulk unlock of all iPhone 4 and 4s handsets for domestic USA SIM cards by 11-February 2015. I currently have a support case open with Apple about this issue.

Every Verizon CSR (and some AppleCare Agents) stated that my handset is incompatible with USA GSM networks since it is a "CDMA" phone. The A1387 model iPhone was sold to ATT, Sprint, and Verizon in the USA. It is super frustrating to deal with these agents who don't believe what I am requesting aligns with the Verizon policy change and the mobile network compatibility of my handset.

Note the change to the policy.

KiltedTim wrote:

gomichaelkgo wrote:

Let me clarify -- the policy which changed for my iPhone is detailed in the "Postpay Device Unlocking Policy" section. Specifically, it has been changed to "We do not lock our 3G devices, other than our non-iPhone Global Ready 3G phones". According to this new policy, my iPhone should be unlocked now.

No. That's not what it means. If you were to buy a new one today, it would not be locked. They did not magically unlock all the iPhones they ever sold.

I suppose you need to start believing in magic, KiltedTim! As of 6pm, February 10, my non-jailbroken, un-tampered-with, not-using-an-interposer-SIM Verizon iPhone 4s is able to use USA GSM carriers. If I remove the SIM card, my handset shows that it is (or was at one time) activated with Verizon. Inserting a Consumer Cellular SIM activates this handset on their AT&T based network. Attached is a screenshot for proof!

I cannot say whether anyone without a current Verizon account can do this. Until yesterday, I was a Verizon post-pay customer.

marioflores wrote:

Hello,

I have a pre-paid iPhone 4s with verizon (no SIM card). I called Verizon and I got an "unlocking code" but no instructions on how to do it. What is the procedure to unlocking the phone so I can use it with other carriers? I plan to use it with GMS carriers within USA and abroad.

Thanks,

Mario.

There is no unlocking code. As far as using a Verizon 4s with GSM carriers within the USA, that will not happen. That device can get the GSM slot unlocked, but it cannot be used with other US domestic carriers. The unlock is international, so it can be used with GSM carriers abroad.

Let me clarify -- the policy which changed for my iPhone is detailed in the "Postpay Device Unlocking Policy" section. Specifically, it has been changed to "We do not lock our 3G devices, other than our non-iPhone Global Ready 3G phones". According to this new policy, my iPhone should be unlocked now.

gomichaelkgo wrote:

Let me clarify -- the policy which changed for my iPhone is detailed in the "Postpay Device Unlocking Policy" section. Specifically, it has been changed to "We do not lock our 3G devices, other than our non-iPhone Global Ready 3G phones". According to this new policy, my iPhone should be unlocked now.

If your phone was locked when you bought it, it is most likely still locked. It doesn't say they went back and unlocked all the ones they've already sold that were locked.

gomichaelkgo wrote:

Let me clarify -- the policy which changed for my iPhone is detailed in the "Postpay Device Unlocking Policy" section. Specifically, it has been changed to "We do not lock our 3G devices, other than our non-iPhone Global Ready 3G phones". According to this new policy, my iPhone should be unlocked now.

No. That's not what it means. If you were to buy a new one today, it would not be locked. They did not magically unlock all the iPhones they ever sold.

A Verizon rep assured me that my phone would be unlocked, and forwarded me this communication. I guess we'll have to wait until after the 11th to see.

I wanted to share some important updates with you regarding unlocks – start celebrating.

We are in the process of bulk unlocking all iPhone 4 & 4s for domestic and international use (iPhone 4 can only be used domestically since it’s not a global capable phone).

What does that mean?

We have asked apple to unlock all the iPhones behind the scenes so that a customer can either take the device to another carrier (technology might still prevent the device from working), or use a third party international SIM. This process is scheduled to be completed no later than 2/11/2015.

If a customer should call you with an iPhone that has already been unlocked, it will provide a message in ACSS that will tell you that the device is unlocked. If they should call prior to 2/11, and it has not been unlocked yet, you might still have to process the request.

Unfortunately, the other 3G devices, such as the Samsung Renown or a Blackberry, could not be processed via bulk, primarily because the customer will have to follow certain steps to enter the unlock code. Your expertise is needed in these scenarios.

I wonder if this change that Verizon made is what caused the issues described in the thread about iPhone 4 issues with Verizon phones requesting a SIM, when the iPhone 4 from Verizon did not require a SIM? I wonder are reading that memo.

Things that make you go, Hum! 😕

This is accurate. I just plugged in an AT&T SIM card into a used Verizon iPhone 4S running iOS 7.1 I bought from someone recently. Before February 11, 2015, AT&T SIM cards don't work. Now they do, and I didn't have to call Verizon or do anything but switch the SIM cards. Tested working with T-Mobile SIM card as well.

Thanks for believing me, earlvanze!

Nearly all the people with Verizon I spoke with about this told me that I was wrong about how I read their policy change or whether it would ever be possible to use my handset on my network of choice. I am glad to hear that your second hand iPhone is now unlocked as well.

It would have been so much better if Verizon was honest in their policy on the web. Claims that it would work "by the end of January 2015" and then subsequent claims that phones like mine weren't locked at all were just flat out lies.

Before February 11, all iPhone 4S on Verizon were locked. I guess it depends on who you talked to and if they knew about the FCC policy change that took effect February 11. Fortunately, it looks like we don't even have to speak to a CS rep to get the phone unlocked as it did it for me automatically. They must have done a bulk unlock of all Verizon MEIDs on the Apple servers to comply with the FCC regulations.

From another thread, it appears that Verizon DID unlock all iPhone 4 and 4S models. Unfortunately, they screwed something up in the process, and iPhone 4's started asking for a SIM, which is kind of difficult to do, as there is no SIM slot in an iphone 4. So Verizon iPhone 4's have become bricked. Currently the problem can be resolved by calling Apple, and escalating to a senior engineer, who can flip the right bits in the activation record and fix the problem. However, there must be millions of these phones to deal with, so right now they are doing it only for people who call and know enough to escalate. I'm sure they will find a blanket way to undo the error given enough time.