Verizon iPhone 4S SIM UNLOCK Tutorial

[AppleFanatic10]

going to try this when i get home.

so far i just get the invalid sim when i put in my AT&T sim card.

As said many times in the thread:

Verizon has confirmed (here, here and here) they will unlock the SIM on the iPhone 4S, allowing for use of foreign SIM cards while traveling abroad, or for use of foreign SIM cards roaming on GSM networks in the United States (this will not allow for AT&T or T-Mobile SIM card use.)

 

[b24pgg]

is there any way that i can unlock or jailbreak my phone for it to work?

The only way to get it unlocked at the moment would be to somehow get the phone temporarily activated on an existing Verizon line and request an unlock from Verizon Global Support. There is no jailbreak unlock available for the iPhone 4S yet.

 

[Obscurelight]

ok here is my problem i was visiting the states a few weeks ago and a buddy of mine helped me buy a verizon 32gb iphone 4S on ebay model number MD279LL running OS 5 with firmware 1.0.11 from my understanding at first i thought the phone was already unlocked since it was advertised as unlocked but it turns out that it isn't even so i thought i could unlock it and use it back in china... now i am back in shanghai and when i insert my sim card it says "phone has not been activated" and other such error codes when i plug into itunes or when i insert a prepaid sim card i buy here in china... the phone doesn't work... is there any way that i can unlock or jailbreak my phone for it to work? i've never had a service with verizon before and i have no plans to return to the states anytime soon

You're unfortunately screwed. Wait for a jailbreak and unlock

 

[Rocko1]

Do the 4S's from Verizon come with a Verizon SIM card installed or is the slot blank?

 

[b24pgg]

Do the 4S's from Verizon come with a Verizon SIM card installed or is the slot blank?

They come with the VZW SIM installed

 

[Rocko1]

They come with the VZW SIM installed

Thanks. I got my 4S replaced at the Apple store and they did not swap out the SIM card and now I get a no SIM message each time I restore from itunes.

 

[apollo1444]

if you buy a verizon iPhone 4s or a sprint one (and yeah do the unlock process or whatever) and bring it to a different country for normal gsm use, is this possible? or do you need to have an active plan on verizon for this to work,..

 

[b24pgg]

if you buy a verizon iPhone 4s or a sprint one (and yeah do the unlock process or whatever) and bring it to a different country for normal gsm use, is this possible? or do you need to have an active plan on verizon for this to work,..

You don't need an active VZW plan for it to work abroad once it's unlocked

 

[atici]

I've read the entire thread and have some questions. Thank you for your effort in this and it's been very helpful.

I don't expect to travel abroad anytime soon and won't have the chance to try it out with a foreign sim for a while. Should I still have it unlocked asap with verizon? I am just curious if it would be registered in the system.

Another question is some people said wifi or itunes is required *each time* after verizon sim is used. Could somebody please confirm this? Essentially would the unlock be completely gone if i use the phone with verizon again after i test it with a foreign sim?

It is just difficult because it is hard to test what will happen abroad while I am in USA. If it was a simple unlock code then i'd know it would work forever.

 

[wateron]

I would also like to know if you have Verizon unlock the sim, travel overseas, insert a local sim - are you going to have to have itunes available in order to activate the sim? I have read where some have said that has happened to them.

 

[atici]

I would also like to know if you have Verizon unlock the sim, travel overseas, insert a local sim - are you going to have to have itunes available in order to activate the sim? I have read where some have said that has happened to them.

I think this is already mentioned in the thread. You will likely need wifi or itunes (connected to internet). I imagine apple servers need to confirm that the phone is unlocked on verizon's end.

 

[wateron]

I think this is already mentioned in the thread. You will likely need wifi or itunes (connected to internet). I imagine apple servers need to confirm that the phone is unlocked on verizon's end.

wifi would be no problem, itunes would as would not have a computer with me

 

[atici]

wifi would be no problem, itunes would as would not have a computer with me

Just read the thread please. I remember clearly wifi was mentioned as a sufficient condition.

 

[b24pgg]

Should I still have it unlocked asap with verizon? I am just curious if it would be registered in the system.

There's no reason to wait in my opinion. Once Verizon unlocks it, it is permanent.

Another question is some people said wifi or itunes is required *each time* after verizon sim is used. Could somebody please confirm this?

I would also like to know if you have Verizon unlock the sim, travel overseas, insert a local sim - are you going to have to have itunes available in order to activate the sim?

That's not true from my experience. I tested it out with a foreign SIM and the iPhone connected to the network without having to connect to iTunes; same when I removed the SIM and connected back to Verizon.

 

[jvmxtra]

verizon activation:

First part - rep has to unlock your device (but still not fully unlock until 2nd part is done).

second part --

Step Action
1 Inserts new SIM (prepaid or SIM from overseas carrier) into the device, then "bricks" and will require customer to perform activation.
2 Starts "unbricking" process, device will prompt to connect to Wi-Fi (if available) or customer may tether to iTunes.
3
Complete activation process. Device will:

perform a system check (data push-pull) with new SIM inserted to validate SIM Unlock,
completes SIM Unlock activation, then
the device becomes available for overseas use.

 

[El Cazador]

This thread has been very helpful. Thanks guys! I am a verizon customer and want to buy an iPhone. Here are my questions:

I work on a ship where I spend more time out of the US than I do in it, so when I leave for work, I temporarily suspend my account to avoid paying for unused service. Will I be able to use a foreign SIM while the phone is not in service by Verizon in the US?

Also, Verizon claims 1 unlock every 10 months but people are saying here that it is a permanent one time unlock? I am in and out of the US many times a year and visit multiple countries. Will I be able to switch back and forth from Verizon when I'm in the US to Foreign sims multiple times a year?

Thanks for any help

 

[b24pgg]

Will I be able to use a foreign SIM while the phone is not in service by Verizon in the US?

Yes

Also, Verizon claims 1 unlock every 10 months but people are saying here that it is a permanent one time unlock? I am in and out of the US many times a year and visit multiple countries. Will I be able to switch back and forth from Verizon when I'm in the US to Foreign sims multiple times a year?

The unlock is indeed permanent; the 10 month rule applies only if you switch to a new device and want to get that one unlocked. Once unlocked, you will be able to switch freely back and forth between VZW and foreign GSM networks no matter what.

 

[El Cazador]

Thanks SGMD1

 

[antelope5]

Sim unlock problems

Hi,

I have two iphone 4s' - on different Verizon accounts. Iphone 1 - I called to have it sim unlocked. Then I inserted a foreign sim, activated it using Itunes and it showed ATT as the carrier.

When I repeated the process with the second iphone the activation failed saying it was not a valid sim. I called Verizon again and they said it was SIM unlocked. But Verizon says that the activation part has to be done in the home country where the foreign SIM comes from. In their mind the phone
is behaving as it should.

Has anybody had this problem? Any workarounds?

Thanks

 

[b24pgg]

But Verizon says that the activation part has to be done in the home country where the foreign SIM comes from.

Whoever told you that was wrong. Try calling back and talking to a different rep...the phone shouldn't give you that notification if it is unlocked correctly.

 

[antelope5]

But Verizon says that the activation part has to be done in the home country where the foreign SIM comes from.

Whoever told you that was wrong. Try calling back and talking to a different rep...the phone shouldn't give you that notification if it is unlocked correctly.

Hmmm, I talked to two different reps. May be I should try again.

Thanks

 

[davidnyjets]

Hey guys,

I will be going to Israel in January for 10 days. I obviously have a Verizon iPhone 4S that I would assume is currently locked. I'm going to call global support and have them unlock it.

What's my next step to make sure it runs smoothly over in Israel?

Thanks.

 

[b24pgg]

I will be going to Israel in January for 10 days. I obviously have a Verizon iPhone 4S that I would assume is currently locked. I'm going to call global support and have them unlock it.

What's my next step to make sure it runs smoothly over in Israel?

If you follow the tutorial you'll be good to go.

 

[davidnyjets]

If you follow the tutorial you'll be good to go.

Awesome. Everything worked on Verizon's end. I'm unlocked. Thanks for the help.

I won't be able to get my hands on a prepaid SIM until I get there to complete the unlocking process.

Anyone have experience with prepaid MICRO SIMs in Israel?

 

[antelope5]

Whoever told you that was wrong. Try calling back and talking to a different rep...the phone shouldn't give you that notification if it is unlocked correctly.

Hmmm, I talked to two different reps. May be I should try again.
Thanks

Turned out it worked the next day. It took a day for whatever they were pushing to reach the phone.

Thanks