AT&T Unlock code

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vmg1982 Author

Level 1

8 points

AT&T Unlock code

Bear with me, this might be confusing. All phones discussed below are Iphones.......

My mom was with AT&T but is moving onto my plan (Verizon). She initially thought she had to have a "Verizon" phone. My sister had one that she wasn't using, and my mom moved her number and service to my sister's phone. While during that process, the verizon rep let us know that her current phone was eligible to be used, we just had to have AT&T unlock it.

As of right now, all her contents (pics, voice mails, notes, etc) are still on her AT&T phone. We received an approved unlock email from AT&T.... but here are the instructions that came with the approval email:

Using a Non-AT&T SIM Card

1. Remove your SIM card and insert the new SIM card.

2. Complete the setup process.

Using an AT&T SIM Card

1. Back up your iPhone.

2. When you have a backup, erase your iPhone.

3. Restore your iPhone from the backup you just made.

Right now the SIM card in the phone is still the AT&T SIM Card. She doesn't want to erase her phone though. She just wants the verizon service to be on her AT&T phone. Does she have to do the back up and erase the Iphone and restore? Or can she just now insert her Verizon SIM card and move the service to that phone?

iPhone 6s

Posted on Oct 9, 2017 11:48 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 9, 2017 12:47 PM in response to vmg1982

vmg1982 wrote:

Do you know if she'll have to do the Restore or anything? Or will all her content (pics, voicemails, etc) still be on her phone?

It should take you about a minute and a half to put the Verizon SIM in the phone and see if it works. If it doesn't, back up the phone, restore it as new, activate and then restore from the back up. As long as you do an encrypted back up (iCloud is encrypted automatically; iTunes needs to have it selected), she shouldn't lose anything.

Your mother should definitely move the voice mails somewhere more suited to long term storage. Madra31's suggestion is the easiest, lowest tech. You can also try an application such as TouchCopy (Mac or Windows) that will allow you to archive things like voicemail messages.

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Answer 2

Oct 9, 2017 11:52 AM in response to vmg1982

The directions indicate all she needs to do is put in the Verizon SIM.

She should have a back up of her phone regardless.

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Answer 3

madra31

Level 6

9,946 points

Oct 9, 2017 11:53 AM in response to vmg1982

She can just insert the Verizon sim.

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Answer 4

KiltedTim

Level 10

230,432 points

Oct 9, 2017 11:53 AM in response to vmg1982

Yes, she has to complete the process in order to unlock it.

How to unlock your iPhone for use with a different carrier - Apple Support

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Answer 5

madra31

Level 6

9,946 points

Oct 9, 2017 12:31 PM in response to vmg1982

To help allay your concern about the losing the voicemail, record it on a totally separate device and keep it safe before you take any further action. In that way, your mother might not be so anxious about any changes being made to the phone.

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Answer 6

vmg1982 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 9, 2017 12:23 PM in response to KiltedTim

The instructions you provided say the following:

If you have a SIM card from a carrier other than your current carrier

Use these steps to finish unlocking your iPhone:

Remove your SIM card and insert the new one.
Set up your iPhone again.

What does "Set up your iPhone again" mean?

Here's the issue, she has a voicemail from my dad on there, who passed away last month. She's scared to death of losing it. So I'm being extremely cautious when doing anything, as I am no expert. She will be devastated if we lose that voicemail.

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Answer 7

vmg1982 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 9, 2017 12:16 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

Do you know if she'll have to do the Restore or anything? Or will all her content (pics, voicemails, etc) still be on her phone?

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