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iPhone 5 or earlier How do I activate my original iPhone?

I

ip18

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 14, 2019
25
3
United Kingdom
I recently got an original iPhone but I can’t activate it as it is locked to AT&T. I can’t get an AT&T sim because I’m in the UK, and I don’t want to jailbreak it as it is a rare model. Is there a way to unlock it without a jailbreak or another way of activating it?

Additional details:

Model: MB340B/A
Serial: 7R734***VR0
Capacity: 4GB
 
Last edited:
If your going to use it, then just jailbreak it. It is a rare model, for nostalgic reasons, but as a device it’s not something I’d personally want to rely on. No storage, poor battery life, majority of apps won’t work either.
 
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oVerboost said:
If your going to use it, then just jailbreak it. It is a rare model, for nostalgic reasons, but as a device it’s not something I’d personally want to rely on. No storage, poor battery life, majority of apps won’t work either.
Click to expand...
It’s rare because it is an Apple Store demo model, so I would rather not jailbreak it unless there is no other option
 
ip18 said:
I recently got an original iPhone but I can’t activate it as it is locked to AT&T. I can’t get an AT&T sim because I’m in the UK, and I don’t want to jailbreak it as it is a rare model. Is there a way to unlock it without a jailbreak or another way of activating it?
Click to expand...
Buy a used AT&T Micro SIM card for iPhone activation on ebay.
 
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ip18 said:
…and I don’t want to jailbreak it as it is a rare model.
Click to expand...
oVerboost said:
If your going to use it, then just jailbreak it.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure why jailbreaking is being brought up here.

Do both of you know a method whereby jailbreaking is going to allow the activation of this device? Or is because by jailbreaking it there is an assumption that it can be unlocked?

I've been jailbreaking since iOS 5, but I'm not aware of much that came before. I do know that software unlocks via jailbreaking died in 2011. Lots of people try to jailbreak because they think they can get their newer iPhone unlocked that way (you can't).

However, I'm uncertain if software unlocks still work for older iPhones, which is why I'm asking this question.

I'd hate for you to go through the process of jailbreaking the device only to find out that the death of software unlocks in 2011 also included older iPhones.
 
ip18 said:
It’s rare because it is an Apple Store demo model, so I would rather not jailbreak it unless there is no other option
Click to expand...
eyoungren said:
I'm not sure why jailbreaking is being brought up here.

Do both of you know a method whereby jailbreaking is going to allow the activation of this device? Or is because by jailbreaking it there is an assumption that it can be unlocked?
Click to expand...
I read that you can use redsn0w to install an ipsw file and bypass the "Connect to iTunes" screen and have the phone set up. You can then use the same program to unlock the phone (I'm guessing you have to use older softwares for it to work).
 
ip18 said:
I recently got an original iPhone but I can’t activate it as it is locked to AT&T. I can’t get an AT&T sim because I’m in the UK, and I don’t want to jailbreak it as it is a rare model. Is there a way to unlock it without a jailbreak or another way of activating it?

Additional details:

Model: MB340B/A
Serial: 7R734***VR0
Capacity: 4GB
Click to expand...
4G is indeed rare!
I still have my original iPhone in original box ( opened ) with 8G and the sale receipt on the day the iPhones were released. No lines back then. My daughter wanted me to give to her in my will, in case I die. She is such a loving daughter.
 
960design said:
4G is indeed rare!
Click to expand...
Mine is brand new but without a box, and it's even rarer because it's a UK demo model (the phones used in Apple stores). I bought mine off eBay so don't know the origin or background, but you can read more about it here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/what-is-the-rarest-iphone.1585277/ (Salvarth's post).

You can see the differences here (UK version is on the right):

Screenshot 2019-08-17 at 08.14.28.png

(Photo credit: GoldeneyeApple)

960design said:
I still have my original iPhone in original box ( opened ) with 8G and the sale receipt on the day the iPhones were released. No lines back then. My daughter wanted me to give to her in my will, in case I die. She is such a loving daughter.
Click to expand...
Wow, it's unusual to have an original box and a sales receipt from the release date! Early models are becoming harder to find (there is only one on UK eBay), and an original box is even better.
 
ip18 said:
Mine is brand new but without a box, and it's even rarer because it's a UK demo model (the phones used in Apple stores).
Click to expand...

It’s a UK Apple Store demo model but it’s locked to AT&T?

What proof did the eBay seller give you of the provenance of the phone?
 
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d123 said:
It’s a UK Apple Store demo model but it’s locked to AT&T?

What proof did the eBay seller give you of the provenance of the phone?
Click to expand...
Not much, however the s/n and IMEI both match the cover. Apple told me the phone was locked to AT&T, so I’m guessing they’re correct. The only idea I have is that the phone was for some reason activated in the US, but I doubt it. The seller bought it from a car boot sale and they didn’t know the network.
 
UK Apple store demo model can't be locked to AT&T. SO, what you are trying to do is illegal and no yailbreak can help you. Period.
 
ip18 said:
Not much, however the s/n and IMEI both match the cover. Apple told me the phone was locked to AT&T, so I’m guessing they’re correct. The only idea I have is that the phone was for some reason activated in the US, but I doubt it. The seller bought it from a car boot sale and they didn’t know the network.
Click to expand...

That suggests you bought an AT&T iPhone and a tale about a rare Apple UK demo model.
 
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ip18 said:
Not much, however the s/n and IMEI both match the cover. Apple told me the phone was locked to AT&T, so I’m guessing they’re correct. The only idea I have is that the phone was for some reason activated in the US, but I doubt it.
Click to expand...
d123 said:
That suggests you bought an AT&T iPhone and a tale about a rare Apple UK demo model.
Click to expand...
I did some more research and found that there is also a German version of this phone (MB342D/A). Do you think it might be locked to T-Mobile?
[doublepost=1566052754][/doublepost]
bbrks said:
UK Apple store demo model can't be locked to AT&T. SO, what you are trying to do is illegal and no yailbreak can help you. Period.
Click to expand...
Illegal?
 
ip18 said:
I did some more research and found that there is also a German version of this phone (MB342D/A). Do you think it might be locked to T-Mobile?
[doublepost=1566052754][/doublepost]
Illegal?
Click to expand...
A European phone is certainly not locked to a US cell provider, so T-Mobile would seem much more likely.
 
If I were to somehow get hold of an AT&T or T-Mobile sim, would it work? If not, then is there a way to set up the phone but not activate it?
I’m not sure why Apple said it is locked to AT&T as Apple never made 4GB phones with European CE labels except as demos for the UK (O2 network) and Germany (T-Mobile network).
 
ip18 said:
Wow, it's unusual to have an original box and a sales receipt from the release date! Early models are becoming harder to find (there is only one on UK eBay), and an original box is even better.
Click to expand...
I even bought the silly bluetooth headset thingy that really never worked that well.
2008-15-1926-a-500x353.jpg

Hopefully you get the full story figured out on yours. Good luck!
 
My OG iPhone was locked to O2 (UK) and unlocked just fine with an expired AT&T SIM (US).
 
oVerboost said:
If your going to use it, then just jailbreak it. It is a rare model, for nostalgic reasons, but as a device it’s not something I’d personally want to rely on. No storage, poor battery life, majority of apps won’t work either.
Click to expand...


I have an original iPhone and mine is jail broken and it made the phone a lot better in my opinion. I agree with ya.
 
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