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Carrier How to unlock AT&T IPhone after # ported. . .

A

acrafton

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 18, 2006
268
3
So.. switching family from AT&T to T-Mobile. Daughter is away at university and did the port of her number away from AT&T and to T-Mobile before checking to make sure it was unlocked. . It wasn't. Now the AT&T SIM card is doesn't work and when she puts in the T-Mobile Sim it says "SIM Not Supported". .so it is still locked.

It is an iPhone 8 that is not under contract and if it was still on the AT&T network apparently they would unlock it. . .but how can I unlock now with no working SIM? Only think that comes to mind is to either turn ATT back on or plug in an ATT SIM and then try.

kind of urgent. . she is freaking out.

Thanks!
 
Thanks. . but ARRGH. .getting an error message that says "looks like you haven't paid off your phone yet". The phone was purchased outright a year ago. . .

I guess I'll call ATT to see if they can fix it.
 
Ok - so I called them last night and they took all the info and it is supposed to be unlocked within 48 hours.

But I have a question on the process. . .since the iPhone is not in the ATT network how will it "know" or get the signal that it is unlocked? Specifically how will it be able to start using the t-mobile sim. . what is the unlock with ATT process?
 
acrafton said:
Ok - so I called them last night and they took all the info and it is supposed to be unlocked within 48 hours.

But I have a question on the process. . .since the iPhone is not in the ATT network how will it "know" or get the signal that it is unlocked? Specifically how will it be able to start using the t-mobile sim. . what is the unlock with ATT process?
Click to expand...

Do not worry. I'm on AT&T. Had same issue with previous XS Max that I sold on Swappa before receiving my Pro Max. I got in contact with AT&T technical support. I shipped phone on a Friday. Called AT&T on Saturday. By Sunday they had emailed me it was unlocked. Monday buyer received phone. Tuesday buyer verified it was unlocked/activated on his account and left me positive feedback on Swappa. Ok no worries. You'll get an email soon.
 
sjperformance said:
Do not worry. I'm on AT&T. Had same issue with previous XS Max that I sold on Swappa before receiving my Pro Max. I got in contact with AT&T technical support. I shipped phone on a Friday. Called AT&T on Saturday. By Sunday they had emailed me it was unlocked. Monday buyer received phone. Tuesday buyer verified it was unlocked/activated on his account and left me positive feedback on Swappa. Ok no worries. You'll get an email soon.
Click to expand...

Thanks!!
 
acrafton said:
Ok - so I called them last night and they took all the info and it is supposed to be unlocked within 48 hours.

But I have a question on the process. . .since the iPhone is not in the ATT network how will it "know" or get the signal that it is unlocked? Specifically how will it be able to start using the t-mobile sim. . what is the unlock with ATT process?
Click to expand...
Every Apple device 'phones home' periodically to check in with Apple's servers. That's done with whatever connection is active at the time (WiFi or cellular).

When it checks in, the iTunes servers which are the servers that actually assign and apply the unlock policies per IMEI will see the phone and apply the unlock policy. At that point the device is unlocked.

It all happens OTA (Over the Air).
 
Ok. .STILL more problems. Got a reject email saying I had not met all my payment for the Next program (I don't even know what that is). I bought the phone outright. ..from a seller on amazon. Apparently it was assigned to another account and they did not pay it off. . .

What can I do? They are "looking into it".

Are there manual unlock services I can use?
 
Last edited:
acrafton said:
Ok. .STILL more problems. Got a reject email saying I had not met all my payment for the Next program (I don't even know what that is). I bought the phone outright. ..from a seller on amazon. Apparently it was assigned to another account and they did not pay it off. . .

What can I do? They are "looking into it".

Are there manual unlock services I can use?
Click to expand...

I don't know if there is anything you can do. Sounds like you bought a phone still under a payment plan with At&t. You need to contact the seller.
 
acrafton said:
Ok. .STILL more problems. Got a reject email saying I had not met all my payment for the Next program (I don't even know what that is). I bought the phone outright. ..from a seller on amazon. Apparently it was assigned to another account and they did not pay it off. . .

What can I do? They are "looking into it".

Are there manual unlock services I can use?
Click to expand...

Oh wow. That’s your issue. That phone isn’t paid for. Better hope payments are being paid on it. How long ago did you buy phone?
 
sjperformance said:
Oh wow. That’s your issue. That phone isn’t paid for. Better hope payments are being paid on it. How long ago did you buy phone?
Click to expand...

No one is paying on it. I bought it from a company (you would recognize the name) reselling on Amazon. . .AT&T doesn't care and doesn't want payment until I went to unlock it. So, any third party unlock suggestions? Or I can just sell it for use ONLY on AT&T.
 
acrafton said:
No one is paying on it. I bought it from a company (you would recognize the name) reselling on Amazon. . .AT&T doesn't care and doesn't want payment until I went to unlock it. So, any third party unlock suggestions? Or I can just sell it for use ONLY on AT&T.
Click to expand...

So you bought this awhile ago or recent? You might have triggered a red flag by trying to unlock it. Sell used only for AT&T. Doubt it you can unlock it.
 
So, here is what has happened to me. IUP, new 11pro, ATT customer.
I want to switch to Verizon.
ATT says the phone is unlocked.
Verizon states the phone is not compatible with their network.

Apple says the phone is unlocked as does ATT.

The issue is, The IMEI is not listed as a valid IMEI in Verizon's database.
 
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