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How long does it take for AT&T to unlock your phone?

B

bobright

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jun 29, 2010
4,817
34
I want to unlock my iPhone 4s for resale once Friday is here and I got my 5 activated. How long does it take could I get the 4s unlocked the same day?

I sure hope so as I've got my 4s on eBay right now being sold as "unlocked" ending Friday. I hope they can do it instantly.
 
Did u pay full price?

Or did u pay the etf?

Are u military and have your deployment papers?

If u met those conditions than it usually takes 1-4 business days from request.
 
aneftp said:
Did u pay full price?

Or did u pay the etf?

Are u military and have your deployment papers?

If u met those conditions than it usually takes 1-4 business days from request.
Click to expand...

I will pay the early termination fee once the iPhone 5 is here.
 
Took them a week to do mine but I sent my request online - maybe if you call they can do it faster. I still haven't completed the process - I'm waiting till Friday when I get the new phone to restore my 4s.
 
aneftp said:
Did u pay full price?

Or did u pay the etf?

Are u military and have your deployment papers?

If u met those conditions than it usually takes 1-4 business days from request.
Click to expand...

I met none of those conditions and got it unlocked within 48 hours.
 
Roessnakhan said:
Use this: https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/client/en_US/termsAndCondition

It'll take a few hours to a few days, it really varies. None of mine have taken over two hours, however.

Since you won't be using the old phone, just restore it every now and then until you see the "Congratulations this iPhone has been unlocked" screen.
Click to expand...

SVT Amateur said:
Took them a week to do mine but I sent my request online - maybe if you call they can do it faster. I still haven't completed the process - I'm waiting till Friday when I get the new phone to restore my 4s.
Click to expand...
This might be a dumb question but can I go ahead and try doing it now? I'm assuming I can't since my new iPhone isn't here yet and the 4s is still activated?

They did charge me in full already though phone + ETF so it's kind of like I already paid to get out of the contract. I'm thinking by Friday once everybody wants to do theirs it might really take a while wish I can do it sooner.
 
bobright said:
This might be a dumb question but can I go ahead and try doing it now? I'm assuming I can't since my new iPhone isn't here yet and the 4s is still activated?

They did charge me in full already though phone + ETF so it's kind of like I already paid to get out of the contract.
Click to expand...

I don't see it working until it activates, but you can try it. No harm.
 
SVT Amateur said:
Took them a week to do mine but I sent my request online - maybe if you call they can do it faster. I still haven't completed the process - I'm waiting till Friday when I get the new phone to restore my 4s.
Click to expand...

Did you get a follow-up email? I submitted my request online over the weekend and got the Request Received email but haven't heard since.
 
if i unlock it now and wipe it clean to sell it, will the wipe basically undo the ATT unlock??
 
mlukens said:
I just filled out this form and I had an email within 48 hours saying it was done.

https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/client/en_US/?
Click to expand...

Sorry to bump a very old thread,...
I've got a friend who's been with AT&T for a very long time with an iPhone. She dropped her iPhone 5 about 3/4 months back and paid around $450 for a replacement 6 (and size upgrade) at a store.

Does anyone know if AT&T will unlock such a new phone if the customer has been a long term customer and or if it's just for an overseas holiday?
I want to give her the best advice to get her phone unlocked. She's hesitant to even fill in the form at that URL because of the following disclaimer.

All the device’s service commitments and installment plans are completed, and all early termination fees are paid in full.
Click to expand...

Has anyone had any luck with getting AT&T to unlock a phone for vacation purposes? I personally feel like, if she's sticking with AT&T (she is) and has owned a phone for so long with them, they she be willing to unlock as a sign of goodwill.
Any opinions / thoughts or experience?

EDIT: Also, can she just try this and if it's denied, they don't charge credit cards or anything? There's no assumption she's trying to end her contract, right?
 
Last edited:
scottylans said:
Sorry to bump a very old thread,...
I've got a friend who's been with AT&T for a very long time with an iPhone. She dropped her iPhone 5 about 3/4 months back and paid around $450 for a replacement 6 (and size upgrade) at a store.

Does anyone know if AT&T will unlock such a new phone if the customer has been a long term customer and or if it's just for an overseas holiday?
I want to give her the best advice to get her phone unlocked. She's hesitant to even fill in the form at that URL because of the following disclaimer.



Has anyone had any luck with "getting AT&T to unlock a phone for vacation purposes? I personally feel like, if she's sticking with AT&T (she is) and has owned a phone for so long with them, they she be willing to unlock as a sign of goodwill.
Any opinions / thoughts or experience?

EDIT: Also, can she just try this and if it's denied, they don't charge credit cards or anything? There's no assumption she's trying to end her contract, right?
Click to expand...


She needs to call ATT and ask. They have been loosening up on the unlock thing as they unlocked my 5S even though the two years were not up. They saw that I have bought a 6 and 6+ so that might have helped.

Call them, you never know.
 
https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/

Just tell them to go request unlock via online request. It's a 50/50 shot they accept the unlock.

We had a thread a couple of months ago with many people getting unlocks for iPhone 6/6 plus even under 2 year subsidy contract pricing and also ATT next installment.

I paid subsidized $399 for my iPhone 6 plus 64gb from ATT in September and got it unlocked via that website within 24 hours.

However couldn't get my brothers iPhone 6 plus unlock under his different account.

It's a worth a try.
 
bobright said:
I want to unlock my iPhone 4s for resale once Friday is here and I got my 5 activated. How long does it take could I get the 4s unlocked the same day?

I sure hope so as I've got my 4s on eBay right now being sold as "unlocked" ending Friday. I hope they can do it instantly.
Click to expand...

14 hours, 31 minutes, and 8 seconds
 
My contract was over in early Dec. It ended when I bought my iPhone 6 using Next. So I preceded to fill out the unlock form online. My 4s was denied an unlock until I got past the original contract date of the 18th. After the 18th the unlock was available so I was able to unlock my 4s and it only took about 48 hours or less.
 
I unlocked 2 iPhone 4 today. Basically after inputting the imei you will receive an order receipt. Keep in mind that you need to verify and click "here" link. If not the process will stop there. The first one it took only 5 mins after I initiate the verification. An email will tell you Like congratulations and some step by step procedure. I got them at craigslist 50 bucks each.
 
iPhone AT&T: 15 mins, Clean and out of contract.
Some time it take more than day.
 
Well she got shot down trying this, they said no - she's in contract, despite being with AT&T for many many many years.

It's only for a vacation, any other ideas? I suggested some charm in person at a store perhaps?
 
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