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At&t unlock approved instructions ?

C

Che Castro

macrumors 603
Original poster
May 21, 2009
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my unlock request was approved , the instructions say I have to backup & restore the phone
Or change sim

I don't have another sim and plan to use at&t for a while longer before I switch to T-Mobile , do I really need to restore my iPhone for the unlock to work ?
 
Che Castro said:
my unlock request was approved , the instructions say I have to backup & restore the phone
Or change sim

I don't have another sim and plan to use at&t for a while longer before I switch to T-Mobile , do I really need to restore my iPhone for the unlock to work ?
Click to expand...
I was just about to post this same exact question. I am ditching AT&T and moving to T-Mobile unlimited next month. AT&T is telling me I will have to use iTunes then restore but then I am also hearing that all you have to do now is just put in your new SIM card.
 
The restore will pull the next activation profile, and permanently unlock your phone. When you restore, you'll get a "Congratulations, your iPhone is now unlocked". The poster above me might be right about it being immediate, but you'll know 100% by doing a restore.
 
DaveOP said:
The restore will pull the next activation profile, and permanently unlock your phone. When you restore, you'll get a "Congratulations, your iPhone is now unlocked". The poster above me might be right about it being immediate, but you'll know 100% by doing a restore.
Click to expand...

Who cares if you get the pop-up saying "Congratulations...." lol As long as it works and you don't have to waste an hour of your day storing and possibly setting up an Apple Watch.
 
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DaveOP said:
The restore will pull the next activation profile, and permanently unlock your phone. When you restore, you'll get a "Congratulations, your iPhone is now unlocked". The poster above me might be right about it being immediate, but you'll know 100% by doing a restore.
Click to expand...
I don't know why the carriers keep pushing restores, but the only difference between that and just putting a new SIM in the phone is that you do not get the 'Congratulations' message.

The activation ticket is pushed to the device and applied OTA. No restore necessary.
 
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Mlrollin91 said:
Who cares if you get the pop-up saying "Congratulations...." lol As long as it works and you don't have to waste an hour of your day storing and possibly setting up an Apple Watch.
Click to expand...
I certainly don't care either, just answering his question. My post does not disagree with yours or anyone elses in any way. Thanks for taking the time to respond with your valuable insight.
 
DaveOP said:
The restore will pull the next activation profile, and permanently unlock your phone. When you restore, you'll get a "Congratulations, your iPhone is now unlocked". The poster above me might be right about it being immediate, but you'll know 100% by doing a restore.
Click to expand...
DaveOP said:
I certainly don't care either, just answering his question. My post does not disagree with yours or anyone elses in any way. Thanks for taking the time to respond with your valuable insight.
Click to expand...
Well, to be fair your post makes it sound like a restore is needed to pull the activation profile and make the unlock permanent, when it seems like it's all already done as soon as the unlock actually happens, regardless of any restore or anything like that. In a sense knowing 100% would essentially be using a different SIM and actually making sure it works (since even doing a restore and getting a "Congratulations" message doesn't really check that last part of actually successfully using a different SIM, even if it basically implies it).
 
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A full restore was needed before but for years now it's not needed and it's pointless.
Put the new carriers sim, it will take you to the activation screen and phone will work with the new company.
No need to download a big .ipsw file, backup, restore, sync your things back etc...
Total waste of time.
 
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Applejuiced said:
A full restore was needed before but for years now it's not needed and it's pointless.
Put the new carriers sim, it will take you to the activation screen and phone will work with the new company.
No need to download a big .ipsw file, backup, restore, sync your things back etc...
Total waste of time.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that info. It's about time they made this process easier!
 
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Mlrollin91 said:
You do not need to restore. Its an immediate 'activation'. As soon as you received the confirmation you can install a new SIM and it will work.
Click to expand...
I had mine "unlocked" and it didn't actually unlock until I restored. I tried multiple sims from overseas and they didn't work until I restored and got the congrats message. About two weeks later I got a factory unlocked replacement device after breaking my screen.
 
OriginalClone said:
I had mine "unlocked" and it didn't actually unlock until I restored. I tried multiple sims from overseas and they didn't work until I restored and got the congrats message. About two weeks later I got a factory unlocked replacement device after breaking my screen.
Click to expand...

Was it an iPhone 3GS?
Cause since iOS 7 a restore is not needed. As long as the device connects to wifi or carrier data to get passed the activation process then it doesn't need iTunes.
 
Applejuiced said:
Was it an iPhone 3GS?
Cause since iOS 7 a restore is not needed. As long as the device connects to wifi or carrier data to get passed the activation process then it doesn't need iTunes.
Click to expand...
It is a 6. I tried that and it didn't work. It took multiple calls to AT&T and when I finally restored it, the unlock worked. This was just last month. Not saying what you're saying isn't possible, but it wasn't the case for me..
 
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OriginalClone said:
It is a 6. I tried that and it didn't work. It took multiple calls to AT&T and when I finally restored it, the unlock worked. This was just last month. Not saying what you're saying isn't possible, but it wasn't the case for me..
Click to expand...

This is more of the process I was used to. Worked previously at the Apple Store, and had to do this with plenty of customers. If the process is more streamlined now, that's terrific, and a much needed change. 100% of the customers who did a restore were unlocked, so it was easier than trying to call the carrier and find the right person to verify. I am glad that all of the posters are trying to avoid a "total waste of time", but I suggested a method that will work as a last resort. A restore does not have to take that long, maybe 10 minutes if you're prepared and have a good connection.
 
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i did this a few weeks ago. i followed the instructions and it worked. i used a old sprint sim with no service to test it out.
 
OriginalClone said:
It is a 6. I tried that and it didn't work. It took multiple calls to AT&T and when I finally restored it, the unlock worked. This was just last month. Not saying what you're saying isn't possible, but it wasn't the case for me..
Click to expand...

Sounds like all the previous tries that failed att didn't really unlock it and they blamed it on you not doing a full restore instead.
I know for a fact a full restore is not needed any more.
 
I just finally got my iPhone unlocked from AT&T. Just inserted new T-Mobile SIM card. No more using iTunes to complete unlocking process. Very easy now.
 
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