i337m (Bell Canada) Unlock codes not working - will downgrade fix this ?
I have purchased a S$ i337m on carigslist and it came with 4.3 - apparently seller did the official Bell update from Samsung, and phone was 4.2.2 prior to that.
I purchased unlock codes from 3 different providers (same codes) and they are not working. Also service menu not available, etc.
I wonder how does the unlock feature work? I somehow I found stock firmware for 4.2.2 , would the codes work?? IS unlocking done via firmware or hardware?
USB unlock also not working on this version due to added security.
Thanks,!!!
Also - prior to downgrade - do I need to root the device?
mfreeman3769 said:
i337m (Bell Canada) Unlock codes not working - will downgrade fix this ?
I have purchased a S$ i337m on carigslist and it came with 4.3 - apparently seller did the official Bell update from Samsung, and phone was 4.2.2 prior to that.
I purchased unlock codes from 3 different providers (same codes) and they are not working. Also service menu not available, etc.
I wonder how does the unlock feature work? I somehow I found stock firmware for 4.2.2 , would the codes work?? IS unlocking done via firmware or hardware?
USB unlock also not working on this version due to added security.
Thanks,!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
I have a Galaxy S5 which is region locked to the Americas. I'm trying to use it in other region, but when inserting non-USA SIM it asks me for a PIN code to unlock.
I have stumbled acrosst his site (with another one that offers the same service):
---.fastgsm.com/en/page/how-to-unlock-samsung-via-imei-s5230-star-s5620-monte-galaxy-tab-s3370
replace --- with www
Do you think it is safe? What other alternatives I have rather than going to the USA and making a five minutes call?
Sounds like SIM-Lock rather than Region Lock. - Both are different and I think you may have confused them
SIM-Lock means it is locked to a carrier, region lock would show no signal and no service etc until you had bypassed it by making that 5minute phone call
radicalisto said:
Sounds like SIM-Lock rather than Region Lock. - Both are different and I think you may have confused them
SIM-Lock means it is locked to a carrier, region lock would show no signal and no service etc until you had bypassed it by making that 5minute phone call
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it's SIM unlocked. I get message saying to insert "SIM network unlock PIN" which is region-lock, according to search in google.
European Model: This product should be activated with a SIM card issued from a mobile operator within Europe. (as defined EU/EEA, Switzerland and the following Non-EEA countries Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (F.Y.R.O.M), Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia and Vatican City.) To use SIM cards from other regions, a cumulative call over five minutes must first be made with the SIM card from European operators.
I'm having the same problem with the SM-G900H from America. I'm in Singapore now. Is it possible to use a USA-sim to unlock the phone WITHIN Singapore?
timweri said:
I'm having the same problem with the SM-G900H from America. I'm in Singapore now. Is it possible to use a USA-sim to unlock the phone WITHIN Singapore?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure, I would try this with roaming but I guess the system is smarter and will check for location.
I ended up buying an unlock code from Cellunlocker.net. They are very fast and responsive, and the code did the work for me.
etaiso said:
I'm not sure, I would try this with roaming but I guess the system is smarter and will check for location.
I ended up buying an unlock code from Cellunlocker.net. They are very fast and responsive, and the code did the work for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure. I think you're lucky...
I purchased a code from them but it doesn't work. I asked them and got this:
Hi
We do not unlock region locks. We only unlock the network.
This was written in red font on our website while placing your order:
All SAMSUNG devices manufactured after the date of JULY 2013 and Samsung devices running on Android version is Android 4.4 (KITKAT) are subject to REGION LOCKING
If your phone has been used previously with the original carrier, this will not apply to you. However, if your device is BRAND NEW, your must activate it with the original carrier.
If your Samsung device becomes Region locked, you will not be able to fully factory Unlock your Samsung devices so it can be used internationally. Even the correct code will not work anymore.
*All USA and European Carriers ARE subject to Region Locking
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totally ignored this as on their website, above this part says:
PLEASE READ THIS DISCLAIMER: If you have a Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, Note 2, Note 3 or your Android version is Android 4.4 (KITKAT)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there any other site that can really unlock a region lock?
Try this:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1...e-at-t-t-mobile-metropcs-rogers-bell-etc_tech
Try this
timweri said:
I'm not sure. I think you're lucky...
I purchased a code from them but it doesn't work. I asked them and got this:
I totally ignored this as on their website, above this part says:
Is there any other site that can really unlock a region lock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I selected the "Phone freeze + network unlock" from their menu. They provided 4 different codes, and when first used the network unlock code it didn't work, but I then entered the freeze code and it did the job.
cellunlocker.net:
Dosn't provide codes for Region Lock only for decives that open for Region Lock & Close for network lock !
*All Canadian Carriers are NOT subject to Region Locking
*All USA and European Carriers ARE subject to Region Locking
*There will be absolutely no refunds, if your device is Region Locked and an Unlock code is provided for your Samsung Device.
*If you are not sure please contact us first before placing your order
http://www.cellunlocker.net/samsung-unlock.php
Only fastgsm.com help to unloack SIM lock + region lock ...
etaiso said:
I have a Galaxy S5 which is region locked to the Americas. I'm trying to use it in other region, but when inserting non-USA SIM it asks me for a PIN code to unlock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung region locks to make it difficult to do exactly what you are trying to do. Reliable information on the topic is difficult to come by as it doesn't affect most of us.. hence most of us have little direct experience with region locking. And those affected frequently make assumptions and guesses but seldom study the issue methodically.
Some very knowledgeable people say that a normal SIM unlock will likely remove the region unlock as well. So that may be the best option for many. The question of whether using an Americas SIM, e.g. a prepaid SIM for example outside of the America's will release the region lock? The question gets raised from time to time but I have yet to see an authorative answer.. so the only thing that we can say is that it would probably work.
Lastly, one can, with root, directly examine and modify the region lock blacklist. So it is easily circumvented if you root your phone. I can vouch for the later. The other suggestions should work as well, but were not tested myself.
.
what about the people who already bought the phone and came back to their own country.?
it s too late for me to use a sim based in the purchase country. my phone has no sim lock, when i put the sim and try to call someone it says "not registered on network". I wonder is this because region lock or a different problem?
i would appreciate any kind of help.
I suppose you could try flashing firmware from your region and change your CSC. Worth trying since you don't have much choice.
russ18uk said:
I suppose you could try flashing firmware from your region and change your CSC. Worth trying since you don't have much choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the advice but my phone is G900H and G900FQ is the phone available in my region
i will try to change CSC when i get my phone back. It is in samsung service now. They are trying to fix it but no luck so far
My friend use .fastgsm.com to unloack SIM lock + region lock ...
I wounder if there is a way with root to unloack it ?
for some reson no one in XDA didn't give a solution to the problem...
anyone know another web to unlock SIM lock + region lock for non-rooted?
what about root deviecs?
Region lock on the 900A
I am looking to buy the galaxy s5 for use in several Sub-saharan African countries. I already have an old ATT sim with me and I will probably be ordering the 900A in/from the US and i want to make sure that the region-lock is not an issue. Will i be able to region unlock with an ATT sim card while in Africa or do i need to have someone make the 5min call for me while the phone is in the US? and is this call meant to be to or from the s5? Also, can the american s5 models be bought already sim-unlocked? (meaning only the region lock is left)?
Thanks!
timweri said:
I'm having the same problem with the SM-G900H from America. I'm in Singapore now. Is it possible to use a USA-sim to unlock the phone WITHIN Singapore?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are u sure that u have g900H? cauze the specific model is unlocked for all regions/countries
http://swappa.com/specs/samsung-galaxy-s-5-g900h
Galaxy Note 4 European locked
I have note 4 which is region locked, I have tried most of all the online unlock services, but they ether do not unlock region lock or they did not find my IMEI in the database.
the region lock away app will not work cause it only for not 3
I emailed Samsung support and they just say you cannot unlock
and I cannot go to Europe to make five or ten minute call to activate and come back
so the only question now which have been asked before, if using a European sim card outside Europe and make a roaming call will solve it or not?
I hope that someone can try it and let us know it will be very much helpful
Similar problem in Alpha
I face a similar problem with my Samsung Alpha....
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-alpha/help/region-lock-issue-help-required-t3044934
Can someone give me a lead on how to proceed with directly examining and modifying the region lock blacklist.
I have my device rooted.
Also, I read somewhere that installing a stock ROM from different Region, will not help with Region Unlocking.
Can some members please clarify and guide a way forward.
Thanks !!
Hi,
I have a brand new Galaxy S4 i9505 that was purchased from the EE network in the UK and is currently locked to EE - I would like to get it unlocked
Android version 4.4.2
Baseband version I9505XXUFNC4
Kernel version 3.4.0-481100
I have purchased unlock codes (sim, region and 'defreeze') from a reputable eBay seller but these are unfortunately not enabling me to unlock the phone from the EE network - I want to be able to use it with the Vodafone Ghana network in Ghana, West Africa
> When I use the unlock method that starts with dialling *#0011#, I am unable to access the UMTS menu;
> The method using code *#197328640# is not working with this handset;
> The method using code *2767*3855# is not working with this handset;
> The method using code *7465625*638*# is not working with this handset;
The retailer of my unlock codes advised me to check that my Samsung software is up-to-date but I've checked and it's already running the latest OS - via Kies I was unable to access any more recent updates.
I would be very grateful if someone could please advise how I can get the handset unlocked and whether it looks like I will need to Root it?
Cheers,
pbt04
Use this post and thread as a starting point.
You probably need to flash an old modem.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=55217133&postcount=1280
Hey people, I have an issue going on here.
I was going to unlock, but decided to reflash firmware and change the csc from rogers over to bell.
Kies recognizes the phone now as being a 'bell' phone, and have done an update just to confirm it but it still will not accept a bell sim. Every time I have inserted a bell sim it requests the 4 digit unlock code. The sim works just fine in my S3 and another bell S4, so that is not the problem.
All settings in the phone also show it to be 'bell', home screen and all, so the csc did take.
All the modems/firmware on sammobile are multi-csc, as i have tried to just flash the modem alone after I extracted it.
I could care less about being truly carrier free, as I am locked into a bell agreement through work.
Any suggestions on this, or do i have to purchase a code? I assume its locked now so I cannot downgrade to my understanding to a lower modem to use the service menu to unlock.
Thanks for the input.
I've flashed from a Bell 4.4.2 to Telus 5.01 without issue and the phone will remain sim-locked. The only difference I have seen between the Bell, Telus, and Rogers ROM are the carrier apps included with each ROM.
The sim unlock code is 8 digits long.
You should be able to downgrade the i337m's 5.01 stock ROM to a i337m 4.4.2 stock ROM. Then install the 4.2.2 modem, root the phone, run region unlock app, re-flash stock 5.01, and the phone will be sim unlocked. Doing this will trip the knox counter to 1 and void any remaining warranty.
I tried to downgrade, but it didnt take. I will try again. I know there was a discussion on booting the phone and not signing into google then reflash again. Is this needed?
Thanks for the reply.
Well, I got it to work this time. Much appreciated
You tried to flash a stock 4.4.2 rom from sammobile.com? Were there errors in Odin?
Hi,
I need to SIM unlock my N9005. The app "GalaxSim Unlock" says "Your device should be unlockabale if you downgrade your baseband to MJ2 or before". I live in Austria (Europe).
I'm familiar with changing the baseband but I can't find any MJ2 or before download-link.
Attached you can see the screenshots of GalaxSim Unlock and the request for an unlock code when I insert a simcard from another network provider.
Thank you very much!
8200 said:
Hi,
I need to SIM unlock my N9005. The app "GalaxSim Unlock" says "Your device should be unlockabale if you downgrade your baseband to MJ2 or before". I live in Austria (Europe).
I'm familiar with changing the baseband but I can't find any MJ2 or before download-link.
Attached you can see the screenshots of GalaxSim Unlock and the request for an unlock code when I insert a simcard from another network provider.
Thank you very much!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It all depends on what firmware you are currently running. I'm pretty sure "MJ2" is Jelly Bean. If you've already upgraded to Lollipop, there is now way you'll be able to downgrade, something to do with upgrading your bootloader to Lollipop makes it impossible to downgrade to stock Jelly Bean from what I've read, but you can research yourself if you like. If you are still running Jelly Bean (which I doubt by the looks of your icons), you can flash this right here: http://updato.com/firmware-archive-select-model?record=9434E847231211E6949E0CC47A44B7B2
I'd recommend just buying an unlock code on the internet, it's much faster for one and you don't have to mess with flashing anything on your phone.
Goes without saying, I will not be responsible for anything that happens to your phone if you decide to flash the file I've shared with you. Please do your research.
Thank you for the hints. I bought the unlock code for 12€ and it's working
https://handy-entsperren24.de