I got a Sprint iPhone 6 from Best Buy pre-owned, and contacted Sprint today. The only info they needed was the MEID, and after a lengthy wait told me they it was unlocked. They didn't need the previous owners account info or anything. When I put my T-Mobile SIM in to activate the phone, I still get the SIM Not Valid message. I contacted chat, who confirmed that it shows as unlocked. They told me it could take up to 48 hours to go through. Has anyone else and to wait, or is it usually instant? Thanks.
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Sprint Automatic Domestic SIM Unlock WIKI
- Thread starter eyoungren
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How do you access chat with Sprint to ask for a DSU? I tried a search on "Sprint Chat" but the only options seemed to be for business use not personal...
What was the link for International Chat? And how did you go about getting the DSU? Did you just say you'd bought a pre-owned Sprint 4S and that you wanted a DSU, or did you take a different approach?
Swap it onto your own account. If you're not a customer Sprint has no responsibility to you.
The DSU is always instant, and if you have a delay most likily someone owes money on the phone. Check back and they'll tell you the reason. I returned a Best Buy Sprint iPhone 6 myself because of that.
If you don't see the "chat Now" option, then chat is unavailable or your browser is not cooperating.
http://www.sprint.com/chat/
http://sprintworldwide.custhelp.com/app/chat/chat_launch
Don't mean to revive an old thread, but this is the closest the search function has brought me to answering my question. I had an inactive iPhone 4s, requested an international unlock, but the phone was not able to be used domestically and had been locked out of sprints database. Was wondering if there were any updates on this procedure? I have another 4s that is giving me the "inactive" message, should i request an international unlock to get the domestic unlock? Maybe i did something wrong the first time.
Best of luck to you, I am not sure.
I have a my own question about an active Sprint iPhone 5, since their unlocking FAQ (http://www.sprint.com/legal/unlocking_policy.html#!/) states that iPhone 5 is not DSU capable, but others on this thread have indicated that there may be a way to unlock for domestic use, can any one confirm the procedure at this time to have Sprint do this for an iPhone 5?
Call Sprint international services and request an international unlock.
The international unlocks for both the 4s and the 5 have been converting to full unlocks for some (didn't work for my iPhone 5). You may get lucky.
There is no other way. If you are not fortunate for the international unlock to convert then that's pretty much it.
Ah, thanks for the info. Is there any risk for not being able to go back to Sprint, if after the international unlock, the switch from Sprint to AT&T is not successful?
That issue for some reason only seems to be with the 4s and not the 5. At least I have heard no reports from someone who managed to do this with a 5 saying they could not come back to Sprint in all the places I trawl for info.
Why this is different between the 4s and the 5, I don't know but it could be due to the fact that the 4s is not an LTE capable iPhone while the 5 is.
It appears I was unlucky. While I successfully "unlocked to use international sim" using a web interface on the Sprint website, later at the AT&T store, I was unable to successfully connect to the AT&T network with an at&t provided sim card.
Thanks for the help, but appears I'll have to get a new iPhone 6 (or 6S), and donate my at&t iPhone 5 to the Sprint user.
Thanks for the help, but appears I'll have to get a new iPhone 6 (or 6S), and donate my at&t iPhone 5 to the Sprint user.
I just created a new account to say thanks - especially to HarrisonTaylor!
I have a Sprint iPhone 5 that I've been trying to figure out how to unlock for ages. Sprint would only give me that stupid MSL code bs - total waste of time. I switched to a factory unlocked 6 and AT&T in January, so the 5's just been collecting dust.
Decided to do some more digging and found the start of this thread. I called Sprint international yesterday (Monday) and requested an unlock. There was a surprisingly knowledgeable person on the other end who asked if I wanted an international or domestic unlock. Unsure, I said "both?". She explained the usual about the domestic unlock ("MSL blah blah"), but she said for the international she'd have to submit a ticket to an offline team. She said it could take up to five days, but I'd probably hear something by Wednesday.
I came home from work today, checked the phone, and noticed there was a "Network Update", but I still haven't gotten any email from the offline team. I had some time to kill, so I plugged it into my laptop and did a restore through iTunes. I set it up as a new phone, and low and behold I get a congrats message in iTunes stating my phone has been unlocked. After some more setup, I took the AT&T SIM out of my 6 and popped it into the 5. A few seconds later it was activated!
Of course I'll only get 4G and not LTE, but it's gone from a nearly useless phone that I could hardly give away (Sprint - never again) to one that is fairly useful as a backup or a hand-me-down to my folks.
Thanks again!
I have a Sprint iPhone 5 that I've been trying to figure out how to unlock for ages. Sprint would only give me that stupid MSL code bs - total waste of time. I switched to a factory unlocked 6 and AT&T in January, so the 5's just been collecting dust.
Decided to do some more digging and found the start of this thread. I called Sprint international yesterday (Monday) and requested an unlock. There was a surprisingly knowledgeable person on the other end who asked if I wanted an international or domestic unlock. Unsure, I said "both?". She explained the usual about the domestic unlock ("MSL blah blah"), but she said for the international she'd have to submit a ticket to an offline team. She said it could take up to five days, but I'd probably hear something by Wednesday.
I came home from work today, checked the phone, and noticed there was a "Network Update", but I still haven't gotten any email from the offline team. I had some time to kill, so I plugged it into my laptop and did a restore through iTunes. I set it up as a new phone, and low and behold I get a congrats message in iTunes stating my phone has been unlocked. After some more setup, I took the AT&T SIM out of my 6 and popped it into the 5. A few seconds later it was activated!
Of course I'll only get 4G and not LTE, but it's gone from a nearly useless phone that I could hardly give away (Sprint - never again) to one that is fairly useful as a backup or a hand-me-down to my folks.
Thanks again!
I've never actually had a problem with Sprint unlocking phones, except for those that had never been activated(replacements from AppleCare).
Also just so you know, if you buy a full-price Sprint phone, it is still locked to Sprint. You have to contact their international department(888-226-7212, option 1), to get it unlocked. If you don't want to wait the 24-48 hours you can contact their chat support and get your phone unlocked instantly.
I had recently bought a Sprint iPhone 6s Rose Gold 128 GB full price from Best Buy and it was NOT unlocked out of the box, I had to contact Sprint to get it done but rest assured they will DSU a phone bought full price and my AT&T SIM works without issue.
In this new era of Sprint unlocking, I have not had an issue either.
My comment was more from the perspective that an iPhone 5 owner actually got a full unlock out of the international unlock. That didn't work for me earlier this year.
Thanks for the update on the full price Sprint phones!
PSA: I have switched to T-Mobile, but I will continue to maintain this wiki and respond to questions about Sprint unlocking as my time here on MR has given me some insight and information.
If you've closed out your Sprint account and your phone is no longer active, you could request an inactive international unlock which will unlock it for domestic use.
The international unlock only unlocks for domestic use if the phone is inactive, if its on an account while the unlock is being processed it won't DSU
I have unlocked 3 Sprint iPhone 5 that weren't active at the time of unlock, they were all domestically unlocked and worked with my AT&T and Verizon SIM after calling Sprint's international department and requesting an "inactive device unlock".
If you still have the phone, you could probably get it DSUed if you called in again, just request an international unlock(dont mention youve already had it done beforehand) and you should get DSU.
Interesting! Thanks. That might be something to investigate. T-Mobile would not accept my two iPhone 5's for credit (too old) so if I could unlock them then it'd be easy to add a line (with a phone) when my son eventually needs a phone.
Thanks!
If they're in good condition I'd throw some money your way for one, I miss mine dearly.
Thanks for the great info regarding the international unlock. I have an interesting situation with a Sprint iPhone 5. I bought it used off eBay awhile back and activated it on Ting. Worked great for the time I had it on Ting. I swapped to an iPhone 5s T-Mobile when Ting went to GSM. Phone was inactive for a few months. I called Sprint International and gave them the MEID but they said they couldn't unlock because I didn't have the last account holder's name and the contract was not finished or in bad standing. Checked the IMEI at Swappa and Ting and they're both showing it's ready to activate.
Any ideas?
Any ideas?
Just like harikari I sing up to say thank you for the info!
I requested an unlock via the international support number for my iPhone 4s on Tuesday. It took 3 calls as my iPhone was not active on my account but a relative's so I had to get their account info to include the pin number. Waited FOREVER till the following Monday and heard nothing so I called and used the ticket number that was given. While talking to the representative, we realize the MEID was wrote down incorrectly. So she submitted another request and told me if I do not hear anything with in 3 days to call back. Waited again till that Thursday and they gave me the run around again to include being hung up on. So I fired up the international chat. Express my desire to get an international unlock on the iPhone 4s and complaint about the headache this process has been. Waited again over the weekend and today, Monday, restored the iPhone again (been doing this about everyday since the process started) and got the congratulation your iPhone is unlocked.
Been with Sprint for 12 years. They are truly great in some places, 90Mb+ 4G LTE where I used to work. I put up with the crap service in my area when it was the best price in town. This unlock will help me move to the wonderful world of just paying for service with the phone I want (Lumia 950XL).
I requested an unlock via the international support number for my iPhone 4s on Tuesday. It took 3 calls as my iPhone was not active on my account but a relative's so I had to get their account info to include the pin number. Waited FOREVER till the following Monday and heard nothing so I called and used the ticket number that was given. While talking to the representative, we realize the MEID was wrote down incorrectly. So she submitted another request and told me if I do not hear anything with in 3 days to call back. Waited again till that Thursday and they gave me the run around again to include being hung up on. So I fired up the international chat. Express my desire to get an international unlock on the iPhone 4s and complaint about the headache this process has been. Waited again over the weekend and today, Monday, restored the iPhone again (been doing this about everyday since the process started) and got the congratulation your iPhone is unlocked.
Been with Sprint for 12 years. They are truly great in some places, 90Mb+ 4G LTE where I used to work. I put up with the crap service in my area when it was the best price in town. This unlock will help me move to the wonderful world of just paying for service with the phone I want (Lumia 950XL).
Created an account to say thanks for the assist; and to let folks know that sprint are jerks. Just keep trying chat and calling until you get someone who will help you. I was told a few times that they could not get the phone information with the MEID, and that money was owed on the account, or anything else they can to not help you. Also, they like to hang up on you....a lot.
Again, thanks for this information, you all have a wonder rest of your <day, week, month, year, life> Peace.
Again, thanks for this information, you all have a wonder rest of your <day, week, month, year, life> Peace.
Just a quick follow up for those that might come across this info. A day after iTunes gave me the congratulations your iPhone is unlocked, I received the following email from Sprint.
Today I went over to AT&T and was successful in activating service. BTW they might say that only Sprint iPhone 5c and above will work but we know better.
Some final info for those that might not have a SIM card to double check the unlock was successful. Once the unlock happens you will see a Carrier menu in the iPhone settings right below the Cellular menu with the original Sprint SIM card installed. If you take off the SIM card the phone should say No SIM where the signal bars are usually located and the Cellular menu will be disabled (not selectable).
This email is intended to confirm that Sprint has successfully submitted the request to unlock the device to Apple. Within 4 hours, your device will be ready to unlock so please follow the steps in both of the Apple support articles below to complete the device unlock your phone. This will unlock the iPhone you requested for international use. Please note inserting and testing the international SIM while here in the US will not work. You will need to be in the foreign country before you can test the unlock. If you do have any trouble at that point please contact the number below.
Today I went over to AT&T and was successful in activating service. BTW they might say that only Sprint iPhone 5c and above will work but we know better.
Some final info for those that might not have a SIM card to double check the unlock was successful. Once the unlock happens you will see a Carrier menu in the iPhone settings right below the Cellular menu with the original Sprint SIM card installed. If you take off the SIM card the phone should say No SIM where the signal bars are usually located and the Cellular menu will be disabled (not selectable).