[Q] Unlocking a s5 that's still activated with sprint? - Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I just bought a galaxy s5 off craigslist and verified the imei # on swappa.com and it said it was ready to activate. But it turns out it's still on someone's account. I don't think it's stolen cause the guy at sprint said the last name on the account was the same as the person that sold it to me. It didn't have a SIM card in it so I couldn't tell it was still activated.
So is there anyway I can still unlock it and use it with verizon cause the girl I bought it from keeps acting like she is getting it removed but the account is in her grandmothers name and she is really sick

Neil_615 said:
I just bought a galaxy s5 off craigslist and verified the imei # on swappa.com and it said it was ready to activate. But it turns out it's still on someone's account. I don't think it's stolen cause the guy at sprint said the last name on the account was the same as the person that sold it to me. It didn't have a SIM card in it so I couldn't tell it was still activated.
So is there anyway I can still unlock it and use it with verizon cause the girl I bought it from keeps acting like she is getting it removed but the account is in her grandmothers name and she is really sick
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A Sprint S5 will not work on Verizon, so even if you could unlock it while it's still activated on a Sprint account, it wouldn't do you any good.
Unless the person you bought it from is willing to refund your money, you're stuck with a phone you can't use.

bsweetness said:
A Sprint S5 will not work on Verizon, so even if you could unlock it while it's still activated on a Sprint account, it wouldn't do you any good.
Unless the person you bought it from is willing to refund your money, you're stuck with a phone you can't use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Damn. We'll is there anything I can do to make it able to be activated on any network so I can sell it and hopefully get my money back? Other than just selling for parts witch I might end up having to do anyway

well she deactivated the phone and I got the MSL code from sprint and Verizon says they can activate it if I got it flashed to Verizon's software but now the problem is version dosent flash phones

Neil_615 said:
well she deactivated the phone and I got the MSL code from sprint and Verizon says they can activate it if I got it flashed to Verizon's software but now the problem is version dosent flash phones
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You would also need the IMEI number to be entered into Verizon's system in order to access their CDMA network, and Verizon does not add non-Verizon phones to their system for that.
If she deactivated the phone, I would just sell it.

I have a similar problem with my galaxy S5 from sprint. I was told from 2 different sprint call center people that with the MSL code (which I already got) the phone can be used with another domestic company and also international.
From that point I started an account with T Mobile, but when I inserted the SIM card into my phone it doesnt recognize it and obiusly have no signal.
Ive tried different methods to get the phone into the GSM frecuency, even accesing to the Hidden Menu and choosing ONLY GSM FREC, tried to add an APN, and now I'm thinking to install a g900t ROM to make it work...
If anyone here can help me out with this or refer me to a thread that could help, I will appreciate that

Related

[Q] HELP !!!

Im having a big issue (maybe small for you techs out there)... I found a nexus 4, it was all beat up and cracked... i did contact the owner, but he said that it was too much money to fix it... I paid 200 bucks to fix it and now it looks like new... the person that had it had service with t-mobile (as i do), ... but the phone wont work with them on their network. I even replaced the sim card thinking it was mine that was bad. The phone says emergency calls only (making me think maybe it was blocked)... I paid for a code which i have not been able to input because i can even get it to go to the screen to put it... i tried to do a hard reset and nothing, tried this three methods send by the company i bought the code from
Method #1 Go to the dial screen on your phone as if you are going to make a call and press 2945#*model number#. For example, if you have an LG Prada P940 you enter 2945#*940# or if you have an LG Optimus L3 E400 you enter 2945#*400#
Method #2 Go to the dial screen on your phone as if you are going to make a call and press: 2945#*71001# Once prompt for the code enter the unlocking code you received from us.
Method #3 Go to the dial screen on your phone as if you are going to make a call and press: *#865625#
and nothing has worked so far. I called TMobile again and they told me the phone was blocked by them, and supposedly since it was a prepaid line they requested it for the IMEI to be taken off their blocked list, and that it was going to be from 24-48 hours before the phone would work...
now for the weird part, just to try something out i put my daughter's ATT sim card in it, and voila, the phone works perfectly fine without even unlocking it... makes calls, access internet, etc...
can someone tell me what the heck is wrong with the phone??
The phone is factory unlocked.. Not sure why you bought an unlock code. Or why someone sold one.
Sent from my Nexus 4
It's still blocked on T-Mobile. Call them again.
QUOTE=myturbo1;39907855]The phone is factory unlocked.. Not sure why you bought an unlock code. Or why someone sold one.
Sent from my Nexus 4[/QUOTE]
Thats what i thought too , but for some reason it does not work for Tmobile and it works for att
nothings wrong with the phone, its doing just what its supposed to. its your research about it thats a little off. someone blocked the phones imei with tmobile, so you dont get service. also, the phone is a pentaband, so itll work with most, if not all, gsm carriers. att being one of them. since the imei was blocked at tmobile, not att, it still works with att radio band.
im actually calling tmobile again as i type... i dont understand why a blocked was put on this IMEI... when i talked to the previous owner of the phone he told me he never report it damage or lost because it was a prepaid plan, and that he anyways had decided to get an iphone (suckss)

[Q] International travel questions

Hey guys,
I tried searching on the topic but I'm hoping for more information specific to this phone.
I'm traveling to Germany in September. This will be my first time out of the country. I just called Sprint and requested for the phone to be unlocked for international travel. Since I've had the GS4 less than 90 days, I'm told this process will take a few days.
My questions are:
Now that my phone is unlocked, I can use international/locally bought micro-SIM cards, correct?
If I use these SIMs, will I still be subject to Sprint's high usage billing or will it operate entirely independently of Sprint's service?
If I flash a ROM, should I stick to the TW-based variants to ensure international capability? Or is it safer to leave the phone entirely stock until my trip is over?
If you have any tips and tricks for traveling (best SIM card, how to save money, the ROM you used while traveling, best apps for using minimal data, etc.) please do so! I appreciate your advice, everybody.
Thanks
-Tory
Edit:
D'oh! Thought I was in the Q&A forum. Mods, please move.
-Tory
mynameistory said:
Edit:
D'oh! Thought I was in the Q&A forum. Mods, please move.
-Tory
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you lucky and your unlocking will go through without issues that some of us here are having then you should be able to use any non-US sim cards while outside the US. You will be subject to those carriers charges only. Just don't forget to turn off CDMA roaming and switch the phone to GMS/UMTS mode.
I cannot comment on the ROMs though.
I'm currently delpoyed with the military. Had my gs4 remotely unlocked and I now use a rebelphone sim card for my local area. Just turn your phone to gsm and I turn off data because its not included in my rebel phone package. Should be all good to go once u get that done.
Oh and I use blue kabans ROM
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
Please read forum rules before posting
Questions and help issues go in Q&A and Help section
Thread moved
Thank you for your cooperation
Friendly Neighborhood Moderator
Possible to use US sim?
obender said:
If you lucky and your unlocking will go through without issues that some of us here are having then you should be able to use any non-US sim cards while outside the US. You will be subject to those carriers charges only. Just don't forget to turn off CDMA roaming and switch the phone to GMS/UMTS mode.
I cannot comment on the ROMs though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it possible to use a US sim card from another carrier in the US to check that the phone has successfully been unlocked before traveling? Sprint's told me that they unlocked my phone, but I want to be absolutely sure before I step on a plane in two weeks. I also have an update procedure to unlock the phone - I'd like to do that here in the US before I leave so that if there's any problem, I can work them in advance.
Thanks for moving Kenny!
Kate, from what I've been reading, under no circumstances will Sprint allow the phone to connect to a US GSM network using a T-Mobile or AT&T SIM card. I think this is analogous to "unlocking" the phone from its carrier, which carriers do not tolerate.
Buck, I will look at rebel phone among others. It seems data will be expensive, no matter what SIM card I choose. I expect things like Facebook updates and photo uploads should wait until I connect to wireless at hostels or my friend's place.
kate98 said:
Is it possible to use a US sim card from another carrier in the US to check that the phone has successfully been unlocked before traveling? Sprint's told me that they unlocked my phone, but I want to be absolutely sure before I step on a plane in two weeks. I also have an update procedure to unlock the phone - I'd like to do that here in the US before I leave so that if there's any problem, I can work them in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the same boat as you are, from what I could gather from forums and Sprint itself, the answer is NO, you cannot verify that you phone was unlock while here in the US with _ANY_ SIM card.
obender said:
I'm in the same boat as you are, from what I could gather from forums and Sprint itself, the answer is NO, you cannot verify that you phone was unlock while here in the US with _ANY_ SIM card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey obender, when you use international SIM cards, you lose your phone number for one they provide, correct?
mynameistory said:
Hey obender, when you use international SIM cards, you lose your phone number for one they provide, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that's correct.
And does the phone need to be rooted? It sounds like maybe not for voice, probably for data? I will want both when we go to Spain in a few months. I don't have the phone yet but plan to pick one up this week - love my S3 but I can't use it internationally, and I don't think I can go back to my Photon for the trip.
RhinoDoc said:
And does the phone need to be rooted? It sounds like maybe not for voice, probably for data? I will want both when we go to Spain in a few months. I don't have the phone yet but plan to pick one up this week - love my S3 but I can't use it internationally, and I don't think I can go back to my Photon for the trip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People report issues with data but according to sprint once it is unlocked it should work just fine both gsm voice and data, no rooting should be needed.
You can verify your UICC(sim) slot is unlocked by sticking in any "non-Sprint" sim card... if you get an error saying "Invalid Sim" then it's not unlocked... if you see no error.. you are probably unlocked. You can further verify this by going into About Device > Status and seeing if it's reading the ICCID of your new sim card.
You can test this with domestic sims too(ATT/Tmo etc).. though you will not get service due to Samsung blocking them. But yes.. the phone will read the ATT/Tmo ICCID if unlocked.
autoprime said:
You can verify your UICC(sim) slot is unlocked by sticking in any "non-Sprint" sim card... if you get an error saying "Invalid Sim" then it's not unlocked... if you see no error.. you are probably unlocked. You can further verify this by going into About Device > Status and seeing if it's reading the ICCID of your new sim card.
You can test this with domestic sims too(ATT/Tmo etc).. though you will not get service due to Samsung blocking them. But yes.. the phone will read the ATT/Tmo ICCID if unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to sprint what you just said is not true. It should show "invalid SIM" all the time while you are in US no matter if you unlocked or not.
obender said:
According to sprint what you just said is not true. It should show "invalid SIM" all the time while you are in US no matter if you unlocked or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
I got my sprint s4 unlocked by sprint for international use. I've got a europe orange sim, and when I put it in the phone, I don't get any error msg. (BTW, when I leave the phone without any sim card, it shows some small icon on top saying I'm missing a sim, also it won't let me go into network settings..) is it how it's suppose to be when Sprint unlock the phone for 3rd party sim (international) card? meaning If the phone was "unlocked" i would have get some error msg. saying the device "Can't access" the sim card etc.?
Thanks!
wolf1_o said:
Hi,
I got my sprint s4 unlocked by sprint for international use. I've got a europe orange sim, and when I put it in the phone, I don't get any error msg. (BTW, when I leave the phone without any sim card, it shows some small icon on top saying I'm missing a sim, also it won't let me go into network settings..) is it how it's suppose to be when Sprint unlock the phone for 3rd party sim (international) card? meaning If the phone was "unlocked" i would have get some error msg. saying the device "Can't access" the sim card etc.?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The error message would be the same small icon but it would just say "Invalid SIM", but this is just on my phone that was supposedly unlocked by Sprint, I cannot confirm that it actually works with non US SIM card since I haven't had a chance yet to travel outside the US. Your phone can be unlocked as well or not, you, unfortunately, have no way of telling this until you travel outside the US and try it.
obender said:
The error message would be the same small icon but it would just say "Invalid SIM", but this is just on my phone that was supposedly unlocked by Sprint, I cannot confirm that it actually works with non US SIM card since I haven't had a chance yet to travel outside the US. Your phone can be unlocked as well or not, you, unfortunately, have no way of telling this until you travel outside the US and try it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, If it says invalid sim after you put international card in it's definitely not unlocked. Me and me friend got the phone on the same day and called sprint about 100 time to get the phones working. After sprint told me and my buddy that phones are unlocked, we put it German sim card in and it said invalid sim, but sprint said it will change when you go to Germany. So i didn't believe them and called them another 100 times till about mid June I talked to some supervisor and she said that phone is unlocked. So I put it my German sim back in and it sent me an SMS about the rates of that German service in USA. After that my friend called those assholes another 100 times and they assured him that it will definitely work even though it says invalid SIM. Long story shor... we get there and he is screwed for 3 weeks. Even more so, he was willing to pay $10 per minute to roam in Germany with Sprint... NO SIGNAL ANYWHERE... AND my data did not work with different sim card. only calls and sms. Later i found out that it could be fixed by going to a local branch and downloading something but it was too late. SO Sprint sucks.
Here's the email I got upon requesting the unlock:
Hello Torrance,
This email is intended to confirm that Sprint has successfully processed the unlock request for your Samsung Galaxy s4 Device.* In order for the unlock to be completed, the device has to be connected to the CDMA Network or Wi-Fi connection for the update to finalize.
*Once the update has been completed, please follow the steps below to unlock the device after you have the third party SIM:
*Turn off device > Insert 3rd party SIM > go to Settings > More (tab) > System Update > UICC unlock.* You will receive the update and it should change to GSM Mode.* *
*Phone number: XXX-XXX-XXXX
*If you have any additional questions comments or concerns please contact Sprint World Wide care 24/7 at 888-226-7212
*Thank you,
Ayesha J.
Sprint eCare
tarasator said:
Alright, If it says invalid sim after you put international card in it's definitely not unlocked. Me and me friend got the phone on the same day and called sprint about 100 time to get the phones working. After sprint told me and my buddy that phones are unlocked, we put it German sim card in and it said invalid sim, but sprint said it will change when you go to Germany. So i didn't believe them and called them another 100 times till about mid June I talked to some supervisor and she said that phone is unlocked. So I put it my German sim back in and it sent me an SMS about the rates of that German service in USA. After that my friend called those assholes another 100 times and they assured him that it will definitely work even though it says invalid SIM. Long story shor... we get there and he is screwed for 3 weeks. Even more so, he was willing to pay $10 per minute to roam in Germany with Sprint... NO SIGNAL ANYWHERE... AND my data did not work with different sim card. only calls and sms. Later i found out that it could be fixed by going to a local branch and downloading something but it was too late. SO Sprint sucks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What version of the firmware are you running, is it the latest OTA MF9?
---------- Post added at 02:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:29 AM ----------
tarasator said:
Later i found out that it could be fixed by going to a local branch and downloading something but it was too late. SO Sprint sucks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you be more specific?
obender said:
According to sprint what you just said is not true. It should show "invalid SIM" all the time while you are in US no matter if you unlocked or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint doesnt know what theyre talking about half the time. that is incorrect info.
no matter what sim you put in... if its PROPERLY unlocked... then you wont see a "invalid sim error". even att/tmobile.
if you put a sim in and it says "invalid sim" then the OTA sim unlock was not properly done and despite saying unlocked in sprints system.. it's really not.
I have both a sprint gs4 and sprint htc one. it's exactly the same on both.

Sim Unlock Sprint Galaxy S5 for use on the AT&T Network?

Hello everybody, sorry if this has been asked I tried searching everywhere and have come up with nothing that has been helpful to me. I am new here so if I'm posting in the wrong place I'll be happy to remove this.
I will try to provide you with every detail but my main problem is this: I have obtained an unlock code I received directly from Sprint for a Galaxy S5 I received from a friend. The friend made sure the device and his account met their qualifications, and he received a six digit "MSL Code" that he was told is the unlock code.
I have been told by Sprint, AT&T, countless YouTube videos and forums that the sequence for unlocking this phone is as simple as 1.) Entering a foreign sim into your device. 2.) When you turn the device on you will be prompted to enter the sim unlock code. 3.) Enter the unlock code and your device will be unlocked.
Of course it's turned out to be way less simple than that. My most obvious problem is with step #2. I am never prompted to enter the sim unlock code and instead only receive the message "Invalid Sim card."
Okay here is a back story if you want more details: I am on a family plan with AT&T right now that I believe is a good deal and would not like to switch carriers, although AT&T hires some of the biggest idiots I've ever encountered to work in their retail stores and tech support. I have been tempted to switch to Sprint because throughout all of this they have been the only ones to give me straightforward information and any help at all so far.
The Galaxy S5 in my possession meets all of Sprint's requirements to be unlocked and the previous owner received the unlock code directly from Sprint. It should be good to go.
I went to AT&T retail store with the locked device and unlock code for assistance and to make sure the process would go smooth and easy. The first time I was told it's impossible to sim unlock a phone and all I can do is sell the phone on eBay. I called tech support after this and they told me my problem was that I was using the AT&T sim card from my old HTC One, that SIM Card would be incompatible with the Samsung, so therefore I am receiving an "Invalid Sim card" error. The second time I went in I requested a sim card for a Samsung Galaxy S5 because AT&T tech support told me the SIM card in my HTC will not work. The dude grabbed an empty SIM card and gave it to me without asking me for my information or anything about my account and when I asked him about this he told me that it's not necessary, "SIM cards don't have any memory or carry any information on them for the phone to read other than what service the phone is supposed to use". I honestly don't know much about cell phone technology but I knew this was bull**** but he was no further help after I told him I think he might be wrong about that. I called AT&T tech support and they told me that guy was an idiot and to go back to them and request another SIM card.
I don't want to go back into that stupid store until I'm absolutely sure what the **** I need to do to get this stupid phone to work with my AT&T account. Please educate me on how this process works and what the correct steps I need to take are. Thanks a million times in advance for whatever help you can give me, and again let me know if this is being asked in the wrong place I'm still new here.

Unlocking Sprint S7 for non-Sprint customer - 3rd party only option?

Hi guys. Long time reader, been fortunate, but finally have to post a question.
Thanks up front, this forum is very awesome.
We are Verizon customers. I recently bought an SM-930P from a local guy. He's had his phone stolen, he got another, then it was recovered so he sold the replacement to me.
He called and made sure all was good and deactivated it before the sale.
Well from what I can tell, Sprint didn't push the unlock to the phone before he took it offline. From what I've gathered, the 930P is unusual in that it can't be manually unlocked via a code. Correct?
I called Sprint - (aside - boy it is very hard to get to a human being to talk to you if you aren't a customer) - the rep said, oh yes, the EMEI is OK, phone was paid off, we'll unlock it for you.
Yet it does not work.
Symptoms: My Verizon SIM won't work (just says invalid SIM), and when I tried a friend's SIM from their Spring S7 it also didn't work, said it was invalid.
Today I called Sprint back again, and this time the rep - this time it was somebody from the S7 tech group - said that the phone was still associated w/ the other guy's account. Since I didn't have authorization on the account she wouldn't do anything else. So now I have heard 2 different stories from Sprint.
Well, that guy is in the Army and can't be reached now to call himself.
So, I need to have it unlocked, but I'm stuck. I don't care about Sprint b/c I want to use it on Verizon.
Am I correct that the only option is to do a USB direct-connect unlock, like some people are offering as services (through eBay etc)? My understanding is that they manually update the phone so it thinks it's getting the unlock from the carrier?
And although I don't intend to use Sprint - what happens if, later, I or somebody else wants to put it back on Sprint if it has been unlocked this way? Will there be a whitelist issue with their records?
Thanks
RatLabGuy said:
Hi guys. Long time reader, been fortunate, but finally have to post a question.
Thanks up front, this forum is very awesome.
We are Verizon customers. I recently bought an SM-930P from a local guy. He's had his phone stolen, he got another, then it was recovered so he sold the replacement to me.
He called and made sure all was good and deactivated it before the sale.
Well from what I can tell, Sprint didn't push the unlock to the phone before he took it offline. From what I've gathered, the 930P is unusual in that it can't be manually unlocked via a code. Correct?
I called Sprint - (aside - boy it is very hard to get to a human being to talk to you if you aren't a customer) - the rep said, oh yes, the EMEI is OK, phone was paid off, we'll unlock it for you.
Yet it does not work.
Symptoms: My Verizon SIM won't work (just says invalid SIM), and when I tried a friend's SIM from their Spring S7 it also didn't work, said it was invalid.
Today I called Sprint back again, and this time the rep - this time it was somebody from the S7 tech group - said that the phone was still associated w/ the other guy's account. Since I didn't have authorization on the account she wouldn't do anything else. So now I have heard 2 different stories from Sprint.
Well, that guy is in the Army and can't be reached now to call himself.
So, I need to have it unlocked, but I'm stuck. I don't care about Sprint b/c I want to use it on Verizon.
Am I correct that the only option is to do a USB direct-connect unlock, like some people are offering as services (through eBay etc)? My understanding is that they manually update the phone so it thinks it's getting the unlock from the carrier?
And although I don't intend to use Sprint - what happens if, later, I or somebody else wants to put it back on Sprint if it has been unlocked this way? Will there be a whitelist issue with their records?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used the Android Doctor, a quick Google search will find it. Super easy, remote unlock...they will stay in contact with you and make sure your phone works before they charge you. Reasonable price. I've done my s7 and s7 edge. Both work flawlessly. I'm on Straight Talk/AT&T.
Just as an update - yes, after more reading what I learned was that the USB-key approach is the only solution to this.
I went through GSM-Zambia.com - pretty much the same as Android Doctor but slightly cheaper.
That did the trick.
Also FYI - once it was unlocked, I flashed the based G930u version firmware - the one intended for unlocked, non-carrier specific phones - instead of the G930p as intended for Sprint. No problems w/ it whatsoever, seems to have all the radio bands active AND no bloatware.
Only hitch was that I still had to call Verizon and work w/ a tech to activate it on their network b/c if you give the IMEI online to do it manually yourself it just complains that they don't recognize it as compatible.

[SOLVED] Total Wireless (Verizon MVNO) - New Phone / Same SIM

I am switching from my old Nexus 6 to a brand new Moto G5 Plus. I am with the carrier Total Wireless which is a Verizon MVNO. Their cellular service and pricing is excellent. Their CSRs are low functioning. What I want to know is if I can just pop out the SIM from my old phone and put it into my new one without any issues. They both take the same size SIM and they're both compatible with Verizon. I won't have to buy a new SIM card or anything like that, will I? I ask because a CSR told me that the SIM cannot be removed and is part of the phone so I would have to buy a new one. Yeah...I know. It was painful. I just left the chat. Thanks in advance for the help!
adamshumpisxxx said:
I am switching from my old Nexus 6 to a brand new Moto G5 Plus. I am with the carrier Total Wireless which is a Verizon MVNO. Their cellular service and pricing is excellent. Their CSRs are low functioning. What I want to know is if I can just pop out the SIM from my old phone and put it into my new one without any issues. They both take the same size SIM and they're both compatible with Verizon. I won't have to buy a new SIM card or anything like that, will I? I ask because a CSR told me that the SIM cannot be removed and is part of the phone so I would have to buy a new one. Yeah...I know. It was painful. I just left the chat. Thanks in advance for the help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as sim is not locked then you should be able to put it in the g5+, log in to your total wireless account on WiFi and input your IMEI or MEID (which ever is longer) into your account for that SIM, and boom your rocking. You might not even have to do all that sometimes popping the SIM in just works.
redman321 said:
As long as sim is not locked then you should be able to put it in the g5+, log in to your total wireless account on WiFi and input your IMEI or MEID (which ever is longer) into your account for that SIM, and boom your rocking. You might not even have to do all that sometimes popping the SIM in just works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, cool. Thanks! Do you have experience with this? I ask because I have not seen anywhere on the website where I can edit the existing IMEI in my account. All I see is their Compatibility Checker.
Sorry I just assumed, not helpful I know that's just how it's been for me with other. Carriers. Sorry about to bad answer. Sounds like they must lock the SIM to the phone.
https://www.reddit.com/r/NoContract/comments/4zzx47/total_wireless_sim_swapping_and_tethering/
According to that you can just pop in the Card though.
Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance
redman321 said:
Sorry I just assumed, not helpful I know that's just how it's been for me with other. Carriers. Sorry about to bad answer. Sounds like they must lock the SIM to the phone.
https://www.reddit.com/r/NoContract/comments/4zzx47/total_wireless_sim_swapping_and_tethering/
According to that you can just pop in the Card though.
Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I do appreciate the effort! That's more than I could find. When my new Moto G5 Plus comes in I'll pop my existing SIM in and go from there. I figure if it doesn't work I'll just play stupid, tell them my phone was working then all of a sudden it isn't and make them fix it. Worst comes to worst, I have to buy a new SIM for a dollar or whatever. Thanks again! I'll report back here with the conclusion
I bought a new unlocked phone for Total Wireless but it used a different SIM size. Once I put the new sim card in the new phone, I logged into my Total Wireless account online, clicked the upgrade to new device and went through the steps. Once I completed that I powered up the new device and it worked.
Hope this helps in some way.
dmeeks72 said:
I bought a new unlocked phone for Total Wireless but it used a different SIM size. Once I put the new sim card in the new phone, I logged into my Total Wireless account online, clicked the upgrade to new device and went through the steps. Once I completed that I powered up the new device and it worked.
Hope this helps in some way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see "upgrade to new device" anywhere listed on the site. Can you direct me more specifically? Thanks.
adamshumpisxxx said:
I don't see "upgrade to new device" anywhere listed on the site. Can you direct me more specifically? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Log into your account. It should be at the account options screen. If not, click on link to the left.
Once that comes up, click on view details. It should list your phone. Over to the right it should give you the option to upgrade the device.
If it doesn't then something is most likely wrong with the account and you'll need to get in touch with Customer Service.
dmeeks72 said:
Log into your account. It should be at the account options screen. If not, click on link to the left.
Once that comes up, click on view details. It should list your phone. Over to the right it should give you the option to upgrade the device.
If it doesn't then something is most likely wrong with the account and you'll need to get in touch with Customer Service.
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Can you post a screenshot or something? Nothing you're saying is even remotely on this site. Are we talking about the same company?! Also, I just got a hold of them and now they are demanding I buy a new SIM card because apparently I can't transfer service to a new phone. That makes ZERO sense. Do you have to be UNDER a certain IQ to work for this company or what?!
So the verdict is in. With Total Wireless you CAN pop out the SIM from your old phone and put it into your new one BUT...there is an issue. The old phone's IMEI stays associated with the SIM you just put into your new phone. That will never be an issue should you just put the phone into the "old phone drawer" but it MAY become an issue if you sell or give away your phone to be used with Verizon or another Verizon MVNO. From what I gather, that IMEI will show as in use and not allow another user to register it with a new SIM. Will it matter if you go with AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, etc...? I'm unsure but from what I gather, I doubt it. The really dumb part about this whole thing is Total Wireless's unwillingness to just unregister the old IMEI from your current SIM and register a new one. From speaking to a Verizon representative this is totally possible but Total Wireless refuses to do it. Instead they demand you buy a new SIM card. I assume this is from complete ignorance as their CSRs are almost completely inept. It's the best "bang for your buck" company to go with when you want / need Verizon service but if you need help...may the force be with you. Put it this way...They didn't even know what an APN was and insisted it was only a single word long (not even the right word).
I have two Moto G5 Plus's that I bought from Best Buy on the same day at the same time. I checked both IMEIs about 2 months ago to see if they were compatible both where. Now that my auto for ATT Gophone got turned off in time bought the CDMA sim kit. I went online to activate. Total Wireless said one is compatible and one is not. I called customer support and talked to a supervisor still got same thing. Was told if the phone wasnt activated on VZW then it would be unable to work. I told her both have been on ATT since day one. WTF! So looks like I am staying with ATT.

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