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Activating my unlocked iPhone 6S using a Friend's SIM temporarily

W

Whiteman007

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 21, 2008
179
61
So I bought an unlocked iPhone 6S and im stuck at activation. I just want to get into the phone, get some apps and other stuff via Wifi. My friend has an unlocked iphone as well, can I put his SIM into my iPhone to get through activation and then remove it ?

Will that affect my phone or soon to have SIM ? Will that affect his SIM or his iPhone ?
 
Won't affect either of you, unless *your* either phone is actually locked.

I bring that up because some people believe they are unlocked only to discover they are not when they switch SIMs.
 
Last edited:
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eyoungren said:
Won't affect either of you, unless either phone is actually locked.

I bring that up because some people believe they are unlocked only to discover they are not when they switch SIMs.
Click to expand...

well hes in a contract with somebody
 
If he is on a contract with someone there is a good chance the phone is still locked. Some carriers will unlock under contract and some not.
 
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eyoungren said:
If his phone is truly unlocked that does not matter. I have nine months to go on a lease. My iPhone was unlocked 40 days in.
Click to expand...


Sounds like you have T Mobile. They are pretty cool about unlocking. I have never been told no by them when I have put in a request.
 
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I do. I've heard the opposite though. I understand that it was easy for me simply because we were new customers which made this part of their coverage guarantee. Had we been on EIP though I'm not certain they would have unlocked.

Not that I intend to go anywhere. Because of how well I've been treated and the great coverage, I now have four additionals lines to the four I ported over!
 
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so if my friends iPhone is locked i cant use his sim to get pasted the sim card activation. Mine is unlocked
 
If you use the same carrier sim his phone is locked to then I would think it would work. Again I can only talk for T Mobile. I ran into that problem once on Straighttalk Wireless.
 
Whiteman007 said:
so if my friends iPhone is locked i cant use his sim to get pasted the sim card activation. Mine is unlocked
Click to expand...


You can use any sim card in the world to activate your carrier unlocked iPhone and get into the home screen.
It doesn't matter if your friends phone is locked or not.
Just stick the sim in, activate your iPhone and then put the sim back to his phone.
You'll be fine.
[doublepost=1496551657][/doublepost]
Reno Raines said:
If you use the same carrier sim his phone is locked to then I would think it would work. Again I can only talk for T Mobile. I ran into that problem once on Straighttalk Wireless.
Click to expand...

All you're doing is confusing the OP.
His iPhone is carrier unlocked.
It will activate with any sim card.
It doesn't matter if his friends phone is locked or not.
 
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Applejuiced said:
You can use any sim card in the world to activate your carrier unlocked iPhone and get into the home screen.
It doesn't matter if your friends phone is locked or not.
Just stick the sim in, activate your iPhone and then put the sim back to his phone.
You'll be fine.
[doublepost=1496551657][/doublepost]

All you're doing is confusing the OP.
His iPhone is carrier unlocked.
It will activate with any sim card.
It doesn't matter if his friends phone is locked or not.
Click to expand...

I can use my friends to activate. then when i get phone service/sim card from a carrier I can then active that sim right?
 
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Whiteman007 said:
when is it ok to remove the sim card when it gets to the location services screen?
Click to expand...

As soon as you get passed the insert sim screen you can remove the sim card.
Its activated.
[doublepost=1496596106][/doublepost]
macfacts said:
Why does the iPhone even need a SIM for activation?
Click to expand...

Its been like that since day 1.
The iPhone needs a sim card to activate in order to let you in the home screen.
Without that you will be stuck at the insert sim screen.
 
Applejuiced said:
You can use any sim card in the world to activate your carrier unlocked iPhone and get into the home screen.
It doesn't matter if your friends phone is locked or not.
Just stick the sim in, activate your iPhone and then put the sim back to his phone.
You'll be fine.
[doublepost=1496551657][/doublepost]

All you're doing is confusing the OP.
His iPhone is carrier unlocked.
It will activate with any sim card.
It doesn't matter if his friends phone is locked or not.
Click to expand...

I am sorry then. I misunderstood him. I bought an iPhone from straight talk once and it would not activate with any other sim except a trac phone wireless sim. Same with t mobile for me. Perhaps I ran into some proprietary software you have not seen yet.
 
Reno Raines said:
I am sorry then. I misunderstood him. I bought an iPhone from straight talk once and it would not activate with any other sim except a trac phone wireless sim. Same with t mobile for me. Perhaps I ran into some proprietary software you have not seen yet.
Click to expand...

Its not any proprietary software that we have not seen before, its called a carrier locked iPhone. Locked iphones will only activate with simcards from the carrier that its locked to.
The OP's iPhone is factory unlocked. Unlocked iphones will activate with any sim in the world.
Dont post wrong information if you dont know the answer, all you're doing is passing down your confusion to the person asking.
 
Applejuiced said:
Its not any proprietary software that we have not seen before, its called a carrier locked iPhone. Locked iphones will only activate with simcards from the carrier that its locked to.
The OP's iPhone is factory unlocked. Unlocked iphones will activate with any sim in the world.
Dont post wrong information if you dont know the answer, all you're doing is passing down your confusion to the person asking.
Click to expand...


Thank you sir for correcting me. I will do 3 Hail Marys and and an our father and then ask for absolution before the night is over. I am sure I am the only person who has made a mistake by misreading a post. I knew the answer but made a mistake. I know the difference between an unlocked and locked phone. Thank you again for catching my mistake.
 
Reno Raines said:
Btw by your avatar I am guessing you are a patriots fan and I am from Atlanta. We will get our revenge this season when we meet again. Actually we will probably lose again. Never mind.
Click to expand...

Lol :)
Bro, it was a crazy Superbowl this year.
Everything that needed to go right towards the end of the game went right for the Patriots and completely wrong for Atlanta.
Very good game.
 
Applejuiced said:
Lol :)
Bro, it was a crazy Superbowl this year.
Everything that needed to go right towards the end of the game went right for the Patriots and completely wrong for Atlanta.
Very good game.
Click to expand...


That is the MO of our fair city. We have only one pro sports championship in our city history. 1995 Braves. All the credit to the Patriots on that come back. It hurt to watch as a Falcons fan but Brady was a super man that second half. He may play till he is 50.
 
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