Database Develop

[Q] phone not unlockable, why?

Ok, I'm a noob, but I do not hate myself, and I have done a search for similar threads. None apply.
Here's the situation:
I received a used Samsung Captivate with Gingerbread on it from a co-worker, who upgraded to a Galaxy SII. He erased all his personal info/data, but I don't have the details.
I called AT&T, since I'm a customer in good standing, and since the Captivate is not subject to a contract. I asked for an unlock code. They gave it to me. I put it in the dialog, and it did not work. I got something along the lines of "Network unlock unsuccessful. You have 9 attempts left." Not the EXACT wording, but it gets the point across. AT&T and I checked and re-checked the IMEI, and they kept generating the exact same unlock code (which is 8 digits).
In all, I've spent 3-4 hours on the phone with AT&T service, and about an hour with Samsung service, which is where AT&T sent me after they couldn't figure out why the phone wouldn't unlock.
With one attempt left, Samsung said the phone needed to be reflashed, and sent me a UPS label to send it in. So I did. They replaced a component by the power port, reflashed, and sent it back to me. So, stupid me, I tried the unlock code again, after twice again verifying the IMEI. Now, the phone says "Network unlock PIN number is entered incorrectly. Contact your Service Provider," when I put in a T-Mobile SIM to test. (Yes, I know I can only get EDGE on the Captivate on T-Mobile.)
I called Samsung, and they said they don't know why it wouldn't work, and that the unlock code was indeed correct, and that the mainboard probably needs to be replaced.
Has anyone ever heard of this? Does this sound logical? Am I dead in the water unless the mainboard is replaced, unless I want to use AT&T exclusively? I had hoped to be able to use a foreign SIM when I go out of the country, but it looks like this is no longer possible, unless the mainboard is replaced.
An AT&T GoPhone SIM works just fine.
Thanks,
Tracy

What happened most likely appears to be a miscommunication. Do you know what excatly they flashed ?
Personally speaking, without going through AT&T route, I myself have used the Galaxy_S Unlock by Helroz which works like a charm. ( you need to be rooted though)

They flashed Froyo 2.2 I897UCKB2. I was considering rooting and flashing a new ROM, but having searched for unlock info before calling AT&T, I learned that in Gingerbread, they hid the unlock code. Thus my reason for calling AT&T (since I didn't want to pay for something I could get from AT&T for free). I'm glad I didn't do any rooting or flashing before I sent the phone back to Samsung. I have NO problem experimenting once I either: 1) know for sure I can never unlock the phone, or 2) can successfully unlock it. I don't want to have to undo a bunch of stuff before I send it back to Samsung. I'm lazy.
From what I was told by AT&T and Samsung, once you've used up your attempts, you're permanently locked to the original network.
Thanks!

About I guess 6 months ago there was a little app that would let you root your phone temporarily. It stayed rooted until you reboot. It worked very well. I used it a lot until I rooted my Captivate for good. Unfortunately I can't find my copy of it. I did a quick search here and didn't run into it either. It may be worth a try if you can find it.

If you root the phone, unlock it with the the app mentioned before, then do a factory reset, you will no longer be rooted, but the unlock will be there. Once you unlock a phone, it stays that way unless you decide to relock it. When you unlock the phone, it will put a folder on your phone. Keep that folder in a safe place. Just to be safe, copy and save it in multiple places. If you ever want to relock the phone you will need that folder.

Cool, thanks, guys. I'll look for the app and try it out.
Tracy

My wife and I just switched over to t-mobile about a month ago and at&t wasn't much help in getting our phones unlocked either. The gave us unlock codes for some other phone.
I used the same app that theevildevil mentioned, Galaxy_S Unlock by Helroz on my phone. On my wife's phone I used Samsung Galaxy S Unlock Tool by DaGentooBoy. Her phone was running a gingerbread ROM. Mine even had a screwed up IMIE number. Both apps worked great though.

ZeroG1, how many digits were your unlock codes? I ask because Samsung thinks AT&T gave me the number for the wrong thing.
Thanks,
Tracy

[Q] Internet Sharing Enable WP8.1

Hey there guys, I've been searching the forums for the past couple hours and I can't really find what I'm looking for, mostly just references to Android devices. I have a Lumia 520 that I am using on the Straight Talk service, and I cannot get the internet sharing capability to work. I have seen tutorials on youtube and in other places (besides these forums) and none of those methods have worked for me. Could anyone give me any insight into what I might be able to do to get this feature working? Thank you.

Obvious first question: what happens when you try to use it?

GoodDayToDie said:
Obvious first question: what happens when you try to use it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sits there for about a minute or two and says 'Connecting....."
and then eventually I get this screen.

Wow, I have never seen or heard of that error before (there are a few common ones; that's not among them in my experience). That sucks.
Best guess: is the 520 branded to a particular carrier? You might want to try flashing an unbranded ROM (or a Straight Talk one, if such a thing exists) to the phone, just in case it's some carrier-specific configuration BS.
Otherwise... there's hacks that can be done with registry editing, and it *might* be possible to apply them to your phone, but I wouldn't count on it.

GoodDayToDie said:
Wow, I have never seen or heard of that error before (there are a few common ones; that's not among them in my experience). That sucks.
Best guess: is the 520 branded to a particular carrier? You might want to try flashing an unbranded ROM (or a Straight Talk one, if such a thing exists) to the phone, just in case it's some carrier-specific configuration BS.
Otherwise... there's hacks that can be done with registry editing, and it *might* be possible to apply them to your phone, but I wouldn't count on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I didn't see the error mentioned on any of the threads I was looking at. To be honest I am not a developer and half the stuff people say on this website I really don't understand. I was looking at your interop unlock thread and I should have worn a bib to catch the drool. I had no idea what you guys were even talking about half the time. The only thing I could gather from that thread was that the interop unlock doesn't work on any Nokia Lumia anyway regardless of branding. I bought my Lumia 520 as an AT&T gophone, but was able to put a Straight Talk SIM in it with no issues. So I do know that it works on different carriers, but the code someone had me put into my phone showed a locked icon which I guess means that it's sim locked or something? Bah. I'm confused.

It's *probably* not SIM-locked (or at least not anymore), since you aren't using it with the original carrier, but that's not the problem anyhow; SIM-unlocks don't remove carrier customization of features like Internet sharing. If it was something like the phone telling you to contact your carrier to have tethering added to your account (when your carrier already allows it), that would probably be a carrier branding issue. Similarly, if the phone just lied and said you had no data connection to share (when you totally did), that's probably the phone trying to use a carrier-specific tethering feature instead of doing it generically. Yours *could* be another example of the same kind of thing - you might try flashing an unbranded ROM, I guess - but I really don't know.
There are other options. For proxy-aware apps (web browsers for sure, many other things as well), you can run an app that sets up a proxy server on your phone. Tether-X is one such example; I've successfully used it before.

MM2 - Unlock bootloader post

I came to this forum to read the excellent "[All-In-One] Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 (chiron): Unlock Bootloader, Flash TWRP, Root, Flash ROM" thread.
I knew there was a method to unlock the bootloader and root the phone, which is why I was interested in the MM2. And Amazon currently has it for a great price ($424 US) so I was going to buy it today. Before I pushed the "Place your order" button, I came to the forums to do a little more research before I made the commitment.
I read the process more closely of how to unlock and root. It included the phrases
"You have to give a reason for requesting to unlock the bootloader."
"This permission process can last up to 10 days"
"In case you get the message that the unlocking can be done after 72h, then you have to wait for that time to pass."
Having to possibly wait almost two weeks before my phone could be rooted after having to write an excuse for wanting to unlock not only caused me to not consider buying this phone, but also to ignore Xiaomi's offerings altogether from now on.

phoneturf said:
I came to this forum to read the excellent "[All-In-One] Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 (chiron): Unlock Bootloader, Flash TWRP, Root, Flash ROM" thread.
I knew there was a method to unlock the bootloader and root the phone, which is why I was interested in the MM2. And Amazon currently has it for a great price ($424 US) so I was going to buy it today. Before I pushed the "Place your order" button, I came to the forums to do a little more research before I made the commitment.
I read the process more closely of how to unlock and root. It included the phrases
"You have to give a reason for requesting to unlock the bootloader."
"This permission process can last up to 10 days"
"In case you get the message that the unlocking can be done after 72h, then you have to wait for that time to pass."
Having to possibly wait almost two weeks before my phone could be rooted after having to write an excuse for wanting to unlock not only caused me to not consider buying this phone, but also to ignore Xiaomi's offerings altogether from now on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very good, thanks for letting us know

In my case i just wrote that i wanted to change my mix 2 ROM, and got the approval on the next day.

Well i did asked for permission, they approved it after 10mins. Via sms.

phoneturf said:
I came to this forum to read the excellent "[All-In-One] Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 (chiron): Unlock Bootloader, Flash TWRP, Root, Flash ROM" thread.
I read the process more closely of how to unlock and root. It included the phrases
"You have to give a reason for requesting to unlock the bootloader."
"This permission process can last up to 10 days"
"In case you get the message that the unlocking can be done after 72h, then you have to wait for that time to pass."
Having to possibly wait almost two weeks before my phone could be rooted after having to write an excuse for wanting to unlock not only caused me to not consider buying this phone, but also to ignore Xiaomi's offerings altogether from now on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dear @phoneturf
Regarding "Wait for permission" in my "All-In-One" for Mi Mix 2: I have 5 different accounts approved by Xiaomi and the longest I had to wait was 1 day for the approval of each account. Most users are reporting the same, however very few users are reporting a waiting time of up to 10 days! But you can create an MI-Account and ask for approval before you order your phone. I assume you will receive your approval for unlocking the bootloader before you receive your device.
With the 72h waiting time to actually unclok bootloader, Xiaomi wanted to stop the resellers (such as Aliexpress, Gearbest, LightIntheBox, etc.) from unlocking the bootloader and installing their custom firmware which are buggy and contain a lot of bloatware.

I got the unlock code the same day but I still haven't been successful unlocking my bootloader. If you are unsuccessful you get a message saying you have to wait 3 days to try again. The Allow OEM Unlock tab in developer options won't stay on and keeps switching itself back to off. According to the Xiaomi support site you also need to use a VPN for a Chinese city on your phone when binding your account and also possibly on your computer when using the unlock tool--which I did not do. That's easier said than done if you don't want to spend money. The VPN service I subscribe to has no Chinese servers. Plex which is the service people usually recommend will not let you connect to a Chinese server on your phone unless you pay for VIP access--the Chinese servers are walled off from use in the free trial. Nordic VPN offers a 7 day free trial but most of their Chinese servers are walled off from the free trial as well. The two that were available were unable to connect after hours of trying. None of the free services that promise free VPN access to China were able to connect to servers. One of those didn't even allow you to choose a Chinese server unless you paid for the service even though the Play Store description said otherwise. For free the app would only autoconnect to whatever server it wanted. I'm going to do some more research but people sometimes spend weeks or even months trying to unlock the bootloader on Xiaomi phones after getting permission to do it. I don't know that I have that much persistence and patience.

jhs39 said:
I got the unlock code the same day but I still haven't been successful unlocking my bootloader.
The VPN service I subscribe to has no Chinese servers. Plex which is the service people usually recommend...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try FlyVPN works like a charm.
Or alternativelly (since unlocking bootloader will erase your data anyway) you can download the Dev Rom here:
http://en.miui.com/download-334.html
and install it via Updater, connect the Mi-Account to your device (in this case no need for VPN to cennect to chinese seevers) and unlock the bootloader. After this you can install all the roms you want as in my All-In-One explained.

senerex said:
Try FlyVPN works like a charm.
Or alternativelly (since unlocking bootloader will erase your data anyway) you can download the Dev Rom here:
http://en.miui.com/download-334.html
and install it via Updater, connect the Mi-Account to your device (in this case no need for VPN to cennect to chinese seevers) and unlock the bootloader. After this you can install all the roms you want as in my All-In-One explained.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will give that a try. Thanks. I hope downloader isn't the same Windows app I downloaded from Xiaomi. That app kept giving me an error that my device needed to be updated.

jhs39 said:
I will give that a try. Thanks. I hope downloader isn't the same Windows app I downloaded from Xiaomi. That app kept giving me an error that my device needed to be updated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try first with FlyVPN to connect your Mi Account to your device. If that does not work then try System Updater to install the Dev Rom:
Settings/about phone/system update, then you see 3 points in the uper right corner, click them and then select "Choose Update Package", find the downloaded rom and click OK.

sansan.alyx said:
Well i did asked for permission, they approved it after 10mins. Via sms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am glad to hear people reporting that it does not really take 10 days to get permission. This is excellent. Is there a standard response people give when asked why they want to unlock? Like, "I want to be able to backup the phone operating system?"

phoneturf said:
I am glad to hear people reporting that it does not really take 10 days to get permission. This is excellent. Is there a standard response people give when asked why they want to unlock? Like, "I want to be able to backup the phone operating system?"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why dont you try, lets say you want to experience full features of the phone, something like that. And be detailed. Be unique coz xiaomi also compares those reasons to others. If your just copying reasons probably it might take awhile.
Register account using cellphone number thats the fastest way i think.

Wow, I'm glad I read this before buying this phone. I don't want to go through the hassle of being for a bootloader unlock code.

awdrifter said:
Wow, I'm glad I read this before buying this phone. I don't want to go through the hassle of being for a bootloader unlock code.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This thread is old. Now you don't have to apply unlock permission anymore, only have to wait XXhours(the exact waiting time will show up when you unlock). This is a security measurement, prevent lost/stolen phone being unlock.

aarwwefdds said:
This thread is old. Now you don't have to apply unlock permission anymore, only have to wait XXhours(the exact waiting time will show up when you unlock). This is a security measurement, prevent lost/stolen phone being unlock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same... Mine was actually instant... No waiting required... Download app and unlocked. Never been through any unlock code business...

I even didnt wait. The pc app did all the stuff. I just insertet my mi account username and password, the app asked me to put the phone in fastboot and connect it to the pc. After a minute or two, the phone boot up with the writing "unlocked" beneath the mi logo
Never saw a more user friendlly method to unlock the bootloader

v1k1n9 said:
I even didnt wait. The pc app did all the stuff. I just insertet my mi account username and password, the app asked me to put the phone in fastboot and connect it to the pc. After a minute or two, the phone boot up with the writing "unlocked" beneath the mi logo
Never saw a more user friendlly method to unlock the bootloader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed... Same experience as mine was quite pleased...

v1k1n9 said:
I even didnt wait. The pc app did all the stuff. I just insertet my mi account username and password, the app asked me to put the phone in fastboot and connect it to the pc. After a minute or two, the phone boot up with the writing "unlocked" beneath the mi logo
Never saw a more user friendlly method to unlock the bootloader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How about open a cmd: fastboot oem unlock (hit the enter key) select unlock from phone using volume buttons and power, done, you're unlocked. To me that's much more friendly, faster and if you use Android then you already have adb and fastboot installed on whatever setup you use.
This unlock method has caused me to purchase windows again because I don't use it nor have it on my computers and the java made mi unlock tools no longer works so if you don't have Windows tough luck. It made me extremely pissed for like two hours then I bought windows again so I can unlock this bad boy. lol. Forcing users to use Windows really sucks and is crappy imo but I love my phone. They really need to make a universal tool if this is what they want to do. That way everyone's happy. Just my opinion..
Sent from my chiron using XDA Labs

No Bootloader OEM Unlock Option?

I got the S10 recently, and when I went into developer options, the "OEM Unlock" option is missing. This confuses me since I ordered a Hong Kong model (SM-G9730) that supposedly allows for an unlockable bootloader according to people here and elsewhere. Would appreciate it if someone could help shed some light on this. If it matters, in Settings > About Phone, it definitely says SM-G9730 is the model, and under Software Information, the build number is G9730ZHU1ASBA, which is apparently the February 2019 build date.

Same issue
I'm getting the same problem. I am 100% certain without a shred of doubt that I have the exynos version but OEM unlocking does not appear in developer options immediately after developer options is turned on. From what I have noticed in my recent struggle to put this piece of ---- to good use, the OEM unlock option decides to appear after a certain amount of time after developer mode is enabled. Idk whose bright idea this was but if pissing off the customer was their goal then they did a stellar job.

I have this vague memory of reading that the oem unlock option is timed. So I went ahead and set the phone's system time to a month into the future (also checked 24 hour time but im not sure if that had an impact) to 7/9/19 while the phone was connected to wifi and now the OEM unlock option has appeared again. Hope this helps.

I have tried resetting the time trick a dozen times and OEM unlock does not appear. What is really frustrating is that it was there when I first got the phone and I had it turned on. Of course back in March, there was nothing you could do with the phone. Then bright people started to figure out how to root but by then, a firmware update had come along and OEM unlock disappeared. I tried to install Magisk but it failed badly. Now I'm stuck with the first phone/tablet I can't clean up all the unwanted crap I will never use or want. Very frustrating.

you need to wipe data, and when you set up your phone have wifi connected. Then it should appear in the options, if it does not change the time into the future

bengtc said:
you need to wipe data, and when you set up your phone have wifi connected. Then it should appear in the options, if it does not change the time into the future
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have reset the phone back to a previous firmware version, which should have wiped the data completely. I enabled Developers Options right away but OEM Unlock was not there. I tried the time thing again, but to no avail.
Of course my carrier promptly wanted to install the last update which I accepted. Strangely enough, the phone is behaving better since I did this but I still would prefer to have it rooted so I could get rid of a bunch of junk apps.

khocking said:
I have reset the phone back to a previous firmware version, which should have wiped the data completely. I enabled Developers Options right away but OEM Unlock was not there. I tried the time thing again, but to no avail.
Of course my carrier promptly wanted to install the last update which I accepted. Strangely enough, the phone is behaving better since I did this but I still would prefer to have it rooted so I could get rid of a bunch of junk apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So wait 7 days and it will be available ..

dynospectrum said:
So wait 7 days and it will be available ..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
khocking...did this work for you?
I bought my device direct from Samsung, S10+, Snapdragon variant and I, too, am not seeing the OEM unlock, even after the time change and after 7 days.

Radio2006 said:
khocking...did this work for you?
I bought my device direct from Samsung, S10+, Snapdragon variant and I, too, am not seeing the OEM unlock, even after the time change and after 7 days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. I believe my carrier must have blocked it from appearing. I've given up all hope of rooting this phone and I'm learning to live with it the way it is. But this may very well be the last Samsung phone I have.

Why did you get the exynos verison?

Player04 said:
Why did you get the exynos verison?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's the only version available in Canada

khocking said:
It's the only version available in Canada
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is unbelievably unreal. All these versions and only two are unlockable? I have always bought my phones direct from the manufacturer to prevent a carrier from telling me what I could and could not do with my phone, now the manufacturer is getting in on it. A waste of $1000. However, I refuse to accept this mode of operation. I will perform better research and find a phone that gives me the freedom I feel I am paying for.
Thanks for the information guys!

Solution:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF2Nxck4FtM
Note: You have Internet to be activated. But first i would do all other steps. and then restart, do time sync, deactivate set 7+ days back in time (25-7-2019 > 17-7-2019)
DONE! UNLOCK OEM appers (at least in aprils version)

||||| said:
Solution:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF2Nxck4FtM
Note: You have Internet to be activated. But first i would do all other steps. and then restart, do time sync, deactivate set 7+ days back in time (25-7-2019 > 17-7-2019)
DONE! UNLOCK OEM appers (at least in aprils version)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might have noticed that I have said I've tried this a number of times to no avail.

This method does not work

JewsRshady said:
This method does not work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqbu7jCmeMY

My OEM is grayed out off disabled will not let me go to download mode from recovery or by pressing the buttons phone will not register to odin at all it's not Verizon or TMobile either

khocking said:
It's the only version available in Canada
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it's not.
I just got off of the phone literally less than 5 mins ago with a Telus rep and we were discussing rooting (I'm in this forum wondering if there is a root method for the SD S10 version yet ~ I don't own one). He has the S10 and is waiting for a method to root it. We joked about how the Exynos version is inferior to the SnapDragon one. "Thank god we live in North America" he said.
So I don't know how you got the Exynos S10 from Telus. In Canada you should only be able to get the SnapDragon S10,

xunholyx said:
No it's not.
I just got off of the phone literally less than 5 mins ago with a Telus rep and we were discussing rooting (I'm in this forum wondering if there is a root method for the SD S10 version yet ~ I don't own one). He has the S10 and is waiting for a method to root it. We joked about how the Exynos version is inferior to the SnapDragon one. "Thank god we live in North America" he said.
So I don't know how you got the Exynos S10 from Telus. In Canada you should only be able to get the SnapDragon S10,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're correct, I was mistaken in thinking the Qualcomm processor was the Exynos version. My apologies for that. Nevertheless, the OEM unlock switch is not available and has not been since the first updated firmware I got from Telus.
When I called Telus to ask about it, I got the run-around and essentially a non-answer. I have to believe it is Telus that is blocking this function although I've not read about anybody having this trouble who is with any of the other carriers. If you are looking to buy, you might explore this theory.

khocking said:
You're correct, I was mistaken in thinking the Qualcomm processor was the Exynos version. My apologies for that. Nevertheless, the OEM unlock switch is not available and has not been since the first updated firmware I got from Telus.
When I called Telus to ask about it, I got the run-around and essentially a non-answer. I have to believe it is Telus that is blocking this function although I've not read about anybody having this trouble who is with any of the other carriers. If you are looking to buy, you might explore this theory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no root method yet for the SD S10.
It's not Telus, It's Samsung.
If you want root, don't buy a Samsung device. There will be a method eventually probably, but there has been a problem with root on the S line for quite some time now.
I would recommend a Pixel myself (monthly updates for 3yrs+), but there are other options out there.

Help with redmi 8, cannot flash because locked

Good afternoon fellows,
I seek your help for the next issue. Long story short, a partner from my work asked me if i could help her with her Redmi 8 (she told me that his son found it somewhere on the street), the device was locked by the mi account and frp from google. Looking for tutorials and such i finally could by pass both of them but i think i messed up something.
now the phone opens normally but the wifi won't connect and the sim card is in "just for emergency calls". I have tried to install a new rom but there is no way to flash it as (i think) is bootloader locked.
Is there a way to install a rom (i dont care if its the latest or newest) to make it usable at minimun?
thx before hand.

honesty id suggest to not go further. modern phones are pretty resilient nowadays and when you successfully bypassed the lock, the phones definitely blacklisted by xiaomi. what they shouldve done is tried their luck and go to a xiaomi service center instead. network and WIFI locking is usually a false indication, sometimes they can get within range (of a free WIFI or network restrictions) and track through GPS. it was probably locked in the beginning because the owner ordered xiaomi/google to wipe the phone. even with legit methods (buying|giving used ETC) a millenialist without any knowledge how internet accounts work can get blocked often.
some 'unofficial' tools are malicious, ive reversed engineered a few in the past for the fun of it and found 'sketchy' stuff behind the scenes. i havent tried any xiaomi tools so i cant call out theit methods.
and from a parents POV, theyre definitely in the wrong. what if the old owner successfully tracked the phone back to you guys?
-_-