iPhone iTunes Restore No Longer Required for Unlock?

[skywavesli]

I used Swift Unlocks to unlock my iPhone 6 and the directions told me that I will need to restore the iPhone by plugging it into iTunes to unlock it, something I've needed to do in the past.

However, this time the second I put in a SIM card from another carrier (before plugging it into iTunes) iOS 8 asked me to activate the phone by entering in my Apple username/password. After that the phone activated and it worked right away, no iTunes or restore required!

Anyone experience this? Is this new to iOS 8?

 

[scjr]

That's interesting. Maybe something changed? Apple says via their website it can only be done through iTunes:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5014

I just unlocked my AT&T 5s through iTunes. I received the unlock message at the end of the restore.

 

[skywavesli]

That's interesting. Maybe something changed? Apple says via their website it can only be done through iTunes:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5014

I just unlocked my AT&T 5s through iTunes. I received the unlock message at the end of the restore.

Yeah, I also recently unlocked my AT&T iPhone 5s and it gave me an unlock message through iTunes, but that was running iOS 7 so not sure if that made the difference? Was yours running iOS 8?

 

[scjr]

Yeah, I also recently unlocked my AT&T iPhone 5s and it gave me an unlock message through iTunes, but that was running iOS 7 so not sure if that made the difference? Was yours running iOS 8?

Yes, unlocked on 8.02 via iTunes.

 

[winterny]

Since iOS 7 you do not need to restore to unlock. Once the unlock has been authorized on Apple's servers, if you put in a sim card from another carrier, the phone will go back into activation mode, check the server, and if authorized, it will be unlocked.

 

[dhlizard]

Since iPhone 5, it has not been necessary to do a restore to attach a factory unlock. Prior to that, iPhones were "wildcat" activated and a restore was required.

Just putting in any sim other than the official carrier and starting up iTunes while the phone is plugged in.

 

[scjr]

Since iPhone 5, it has not been necessary to do a restore to attach a factory unlock. Prior to that, iPhones were "wildcat" activated and a restore was required.

Just putting in any sim other than the official carrier and starting up iTunes while the phone is plugged in.

That's great to know for next time! I did it the old way this time. Thanks!