[Q] Phone has locked itself to network? - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi, I am looking for some help/advice about a Samsung Galaxy s2 (GT-i9100).
I purchased this phone new and unlocked in the UK back in October 2011 and have been using it fine over the last few months. Recently I gave this phone to a friend who was going traveling in India.
She bought an AirTel sim and used it in the phone for the past several weeks, however, last week she woke up and the phone was asking her to enter a “Network Access Lock Control Key”, and she can no longer use the phone or data (wifi still works).
I’ve done some research and it appears that the phone has somehow locked itself to a network. So I am now trying to figure out how to help her restore connectivity.
I know you can buy unlock codes online, however, we don’t know what provider the phone has locked itself to and all the unlock websites I’ve been on need you to specify the network provider. Is there any way of finding this out?
I also know you can get apps from the app store to unlock, however, you need to be rooted to do this, and this isn’t an option due to where she is at the moment.
So, does anyone have any advice or suggestions?
She has been to AirTel and they don’t know what is going on, she also took it to an official Samsung store who did a full firmware re-install but the phone still appears to be locked. Would this code be available from Samsung?
Any advice or suggestions is appreciated.
Thanks.

engdmorr said:
Hi, I am looking for some help/advice about a Samsung Galaxy s2 (GT-i9100).
I purchased this phone new and unlocked in the UK back in October 2011 and have been using it fine over the last few months. Recently I gave this phone to a friend who was going traveling in India.
She bought an AirTel sim and used it in the phone for the past several weeks, however, last week she woke up and the phone was asking her to enter a “Network Access Lock Control Key”, and she can no longer use the phone or data (wifi still works).
I’ve done some research and it appears that the phone has somehow locked itself to a network. So I am now trying to figure out how to help her restore connectivity.
I know you can buy unlock codes online, however, we don’t know what provider the phone has locked itself to and all the unlock websites I’ve been on need you to specify the network provider. Is there any way of finding this out?
I also know you can get apps from the app store to unlock, however, you need to be rooted to do this, and this isn’t an option due to where she is at the moment.
So, does anyone have any advice or suggestions?
She has been to AirTel and they don’t know what is going on, she also took it to an official Samsung store who did a full firmware re-install but the phone still appears to be locked. Would this code be available from Samsung?
Any advice or suggestions is appreciated.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tell ur friend to do the below and see if it resolves the issue
1)Turn off the phone and then remove 'Simcard'
2)Turn ON the phone without 'Simcard' and let it boot completely.
3)Turn Off the phone again and this time put the 'simcard' back.
4)Turn ON the phone with 'Simcard' and let her have 'Finger's Crossed' and pray god not to give the same issue until she leaves INDIA

GalaxSim unlock from market
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

vanisleryan said:
GalaxSim unlock from market
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you need to be rooted: he says thats not an option.

Sorted out now
Thanks for the suggestions but we managed to sort it out now.
After much research we rooted the phone using cwm-touch (ver 6.0.1.2-i9100) and the SU-Busybox installer zip.
We then used the GalaxySim unlock app from the app store to unlock the phone, all seems to be working now!

Related

[FAQ:Request for Sticky] Atrix 4G - Wifi Problem on Unlocked Phones

Please if you found solution reply here, but read at least first post before.
1. Does AT&T SIM reactivate WiFi, after other operator SIM used? - Yes (in my case), but you may need to reboot (soft) 2-3 times.
2. Does Motorola Update 1.57 solve the WiFi problem? - NOT IT DOES NOT.
3. Why part of unlocked phones have WiFi problem and others not? - Open question, as it is NOT a hardware failure, it is somehow related to unlocking process.
4. Is there any solution at all? - Honorable member crnkoj is developing the solution in this thread
IMHO WiFi related issue currently deserves sticky. Also it would be perfect to have one stop FAQ for WiFi related issues.
Im using an unlocked atrix n the wifi is working fine...
You in the lucky group. Mine is unlocked and none of the many potential solutions get me on wifi (short of tossing a broken sim in, which is a pain...)
nazrin313 said:
Im using an unlocked atrix n the wifi is working fine...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
RootManOne said:
Dear Moderators,
I've red almost 200 posts but still have no answer for following questions.
1. Does AT&T SIM reactivate WiFi, after other operator SIM used?
2. Does Motorola Update solve the WiFi problem
3. Why part of unlocked phones have WiFi problem and others not
4. Is there any solution at all.
IMHO WiFi related issue currently deserves sticky. Also it would be perfect to have one stop FAQ for WiFi related issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Apparently people who have one, reported it reactivates wifi after a few reboots, otherwise you have to put in a broken sim and do a factory restore to get it to work
2. It does NOT (not the leaked 1.5.2, not the leaked 1.2.6 and not the prerelase 1.5.7)
3. i think it has something to do with a config file or an app that blocks it (altho im leaning toward a config file that gets from the carrier some info and not really blocks but more like a bug disables wifi, because of some conflict)
4. you can use your phone with sim card and 3g/4g data, while preinstalling everything before on wifi, or just use it a a small wifi only "tablet". I am unfortunately not that good with android/linux to figure it out on my own (i sort of got the phone into a boot loop 3 times now, trying to delete apps/ change config files in the /system dir). One of the forum/irc users is nice and tries helping me , but he doesnt have the phone himself so, hard thing ...
5. Hopefully the released source codes will help, doing a semi custom rom without the att bloatware, which could probably fix the issue.
What about the new update that was just released does that fix the problem?
It seems up to now there is no solution for wifi problem. Several reboots doesn't work for me. Please respond if someone was able to succeed.
BMW, maybe read the 2nd point of my above post, no update fixes it.
crnkoj said:
BMW, maybe read the 2nd point of my above post, no update fixes it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought the new update started with a 4 but now I figured it out sorry.
It was big buzz week ago on broken wifi on unlocked AT&T phones. Now I can't find even the thread on that. Did you people find solution?
I have upgraded to 1.57 and it is definitely not a solution.
I tried hard reset with non-working card and wifi on hardware level works perfect. As soon as I've put working SIM in, it stopped and even reversing to non-working sim doesn't help. hard resetting every time is not a solution.
Still waiting for final solution.
I unlocked my Atrix in Australia. I shall walk you though my steps to see if you can pick out anything specific. I was very worried about the WiFi issue so i took many precautions.
I bought the code from Cellunlock.net - using the android50 code to bring it to $20
in the meantime I used an old, inactive SIM in the phone and on boot I would just hit dismiss on the network unlock screen and run the phone on WiFi on my home wireless. (WPA2 key)
When my unlock code arrived (2 days) I went to the wireless settings, DELETED my wireless network from being saved.
TURNED OFF WiFi entirely
Turned phone off properly and replaced the SIM card with my active Vodafone AU SIM
on the network unlock screen, I used the first code out of the two they provided and it was accepted
went back and re-added my wifi network, and doneeee all is working well.. hope this helps someone somewhere.
Thanks a lot DarkRyoushii
Problem is that I received my Atrix already unlocked. I contacted Cellunlock.net if it is possible to unlock it second time, but they responded it is impossible.
What gives me hope, Motorola has to sell originally unlocked phones and their ROM should be free of this AT&T crap. So using that ROM supposedly will help.
I have an AT&T Atrix and the unlock code didn't adversely affect my Wifi. I've actually never had an Android that locked onto Wifi as well as my Atrix. It's tight as hell. Never, ever drops!!
I don't see the correlation between the two but maybe there is some weird quirk. Not denying anyone though. I just wonder what the heck Motorola did to the framework to cause that to happen. Weird.. hope it gets patched up too.
I hope this gets fixed soon. I have an atrix with the sim unlocked. I cant connect to wifi, and I cant get passed the motoblur to set debugging and root the phone. This is very frustrating. I'm in qatar so I dont have a att sim, nor do I have a broken sim either. I guess I have a $600 dollar paperweight.
mine is perfect
wargame1 said:
I hope this gets fixed soon. I have an atrix with the sim unlocked. I cant connect to wifi, and I cant get passed the motoblur to set debugging and root the phone. This is very frustrating. I'm in qatar so I dont have a att sim, nor do I have a broken sim either. I guess I have a $600 dollar paperweight.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't put any sim in it at all then turn it on. You should be able to connect to wifi that way and get past the setup.
I don't have an atrix yet but I heard that this works. Goodluck.
wargame1 said:
I hope this gets fixed soon. I have an atrix with the sim unlocked. I cant connect to wifi, and I cant get passed the motoblur to set debugging and root the phone. This is very frustrating. I'm in qatar so I dont have a att sim, nor do I have a broken sim either. I guess I have a $600 dollar paperweight.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi friend
i have the same problem, if u find a solution, let me know, thx
zeidof said:
hi friend
i have the same problem, if u find a solution, let me know, thx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you try my solution it should work. ( it was right above your comment)
Don't put any sim in it at all then turn it on. You should be able to connect to wifi that way and get past the setup.
Your wifi wont be fixed after you put a sim in but it should get you past the motoblur sign up.
zeidof said:
hi friend
i have the same problem, if u find a solution, let me know, thx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Guys, if you have 3g (or in fact any) data available on your sim its not a problem. When the motoblur setup tips up, click the settings hard button (the one to the left) choose "configure apn" (or something similar), put in the data you get from your carrier and bam, you should be able to finish the setup.
Wargame1 I bought several sims at eBay and is planning to check with them. As soon as they work, I'll let you know and even send you one from Baghdad.
Wifi problem is not solved yet. When Motorola is going to start selling originally unlocked versions? Their rom should help.
RootManOne said:
Wargame1 I bought several sims at eBay and is planning to check with them. As soon as they work, I'll let you know and even send you one from Baghdad.
Wifi problem is not solved yet. When Motorola is going to start selling originally unlocked versions? Their rom should help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just try it with mobile data man, youll be able to activate motoblur...
and erm, you probably wont be able to install the unlocked rom on the att atrix, sicne you cant change the att/bell roms on the phones either .... maybe just a /system reinstall, like the Gingerblur/Gladiatrix mods

[Q] Samsung Galaxy S3 was unlocked, now its locked again...

Hello,
I have a UK version of the S3 (i think its the I9300) About a month ago I had it unlocked from the 3 network (UK) by one of the hundreds of shops that offer unlocking services.
When the phone was unlocked I could enter *#7465625# and it would say that the phone was unlocked to all networks ( I don't remember the exact words) Anyway all was good until last night when my phone upgraded something (I got a reminder in the notification bar that there was an upgrade available) - I've done this before. Now it is saying that the phone is SIM network locked again. And I am unable to enter the code to see whats up.
When I got it unlocked, I was told (obviously incorrectly) that once the code has been entered the phone can never lock itself to a network.
It seems to me, that somewhere in the upgrade 'Three' (who the phone was locked too) has made the phone relock itself.... Has anyone else had this problem, or can point me to the right forum. FYI I am on the O2 network.
Thanks in advance.
Seems like a bit of a nuisance, if every time the phone upgrades it relocks... Perhaps I need to Root the phone..
Known issue on some phone with the latest ICS updates from samsung
Use GalaxSim Unlock to re-unlock your phone
(needs to be rooted)
Update make your phone lock it self common thing.Mate this shops ripe u off. Just root your phone and take simlock using one of the apps from market or voodoo unlock. There is pleanty tutorials how to do it on xda. Its not really complicated o and u can try galaxy S 3 toolkit I think u can take simlock as well using that program hope t helped
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

Phone not Allowed MM#6

Hi,
After using a CL purchased At&T Galaxy S3 for 14 days, the phone now says "Phone not allowed MM#6", and does not allow any calls.
I verified the IMEI number with T-Mobile and AT&T and the number is not Blacklisted / Reported Stolen (had to confirm this before I tried anything). AT&T even gave me an unlock code for the phone (no use, as the phone is already unlocked through UMTS/Debug Screen/......./Network Lock settings).
I have also refreshed the IMEI data.
Any advise on how to get rid of this message.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
neerajyadav86 said:
Hi,
After using a CL purchased At&T Galaxy S3 for 14 days, the phone now says "Phone not allowed MM#6", and does not allow any calls.
I verified the IMEI number with T-Mobile and AT&T and the number is not Blacklisted / Reported Stolen (had to confirm this before I tried anything). AT&T even gave me an unlock code for the phone (no use, as the phone is already unlocked through UMTS/Debug Screen/......./Network Lock settings).
I have also refreshed the IMEI data.
Any advise on how to get rid of this message.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, I also have been having the same problem with a Samsung Galaxy Note (first version), I bought used. I have confirmed that mine wasn't blacklisted with T-Mobile. Another indication that it is not blacklisted is if the phone "comes back" to the network. I would at times get the MM#6 error and my phone would not see the network.. Luckily in about 1-2 hours my phone would magically connect back to T-Mobile.
I talked this over with T-Mobile and they believe in my case it is probably the phone. I had to clean the SIM contacts to see if that made a difference (didn't really). I am running ICS on the phone and it is rooted and unlocked. I am also using the TMART extended battery..
What seems to help me a bit is going into Titanium Backup and under Batch Actions , going to MANIPULATE DATA and then CLEAR CACHE for USER & SYSTEM APPS and then reboot the phone. I also take the battery out for a minute or two after I clear cache. Mine started happenign when I started using the T-MART extended battery so it is possible that my phone is getting pretty hot, but I am just speculating. After doing this, my phone typically comes back and I have fully connectivity.
According to T-MOBILE if the phone isn't blacklisted, and the SIM card works in another phone (mine did) it could the SIM card contacts. Since they think the phone is having trouble reading the SIM card. Hope this helps.
same problem
---

[Q] use of a foreign sim

Ok so I (foolishly) bought a galaxy s4 with verizon even though I was moving overseas to Israel in two months. I made sure that the phone was world capable (like it can do cdma and gsm) and the guy at the store said it would handle foreign sims no problem. Once I arrived here I got a new sim. I figured out that it needed to be in gsm. From then on it had the service bar and confirmed it was connected to Orange. Since then I have been able to receive calls and texts, but not make them, every time I try to make a call before one ring I get a prerecorded message saying that my number cant be completed as dialed. I have tried several things already to fix this: to a cell phone repair person, to the local sim carrier where a lady tried using the sim of her own phone, customer service at verizon and samsung (who both told me to go see the other). I also did a factory reset which didnt do anything.
my phone is not rooted and is schi545 ME7. I will root if I have to, but if I dont I would prefer not to for the time being
Anyway I suspect the problem has something to do with the fact that I got the phone from verizon. Every time I start the phone I get the Verizon logo and after a minute I get a notification from the verizon set up wizard saying that I have a non verizon sim and that the sims source is unknown. I also tried disabling the verizon security and was able to make the notification go away but the problem persists.
Can someone with experience with this kind of stuff help me please? Thank you so very much:good:
Are you sim unlocked? I don't think the phone is unlocked. Talk to verizon to see if they'll unlock it.
According to verizon I am. I spoke with multiple representives from verizon and they said the phone was unlocked
medphratalon said:
According to verizon I am. I spoke with multiple representives from verizon and they said the phone was unlocked
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Has any one told you if you have to change any apn, access point name? That may be the problem too. They can be specific to the carrier.
No, how do you configure that
medphratalon said:
No, how do you configure that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In system settings, network & wireless, more, mobile networks, access point name. It'll be specific to the carrier so i can't help you there.
all LTE Verizon phones after Galaxy Note 2 are factory unlocked it must be a APN issue. Try maybe to do a factory reset and as previous poster suggested do the steps he told you to change the APN or look into I think it's called HiApn in Play Store.
Also try to put it in global mode or GSM? play with the settings.
still having problems
Thanks for all the input everyone but my problem still persists
I downloaded HiApn and followed its instructions to which told me to set up 3 Apns. I noticed that only one of them can be active at the time. I tried with each one active and I still can not make phone calls. Does anyone have any other ideas?
medphratalon said:
Ok so I (foolishly) bought a galaxy s4 with verizon even though I was moving overseas to Israel in two months. I made sure that the phone was world capable (like it can do cdma and gsm) and the guy at the store said it would handle foreign sims no problem. Once I arrived here I got a new sim. I figured out that it needed to be in gsm. From then on it had the service bar and confirmed it was connected to Orange. Since then I have been able to receive calls and texts, but not make them, every time I try to make a call before one ring I get a prerecorded message saying that my number cant be completed as dialed. I have tried several things already to fix this: to a cell phone repair person, to the local sim carrier where a lady tried using the sim of her own phone, customer service at verizon and samsung (who both told me to go see the other). I also did a factory reset which didnt do anything.
my phone is not rooted and is schi545 ME7. I will root if I have to, but if I dont I would prefer not to for the time being
Anyway I suspect the problem has something to do with the fact that I got the phone from verizon. Every time I start the phone I get the Verizon logo and after a minute I get a notification from the verizon set up wizard saying that I have a non verizon sim and that the sims source is unknown. I also tried disabling the verizon security and was able to make the notification go away but the problem persists.
Can someone with experience with this kind of stuff help me please? Thank you so very much:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go to Setting, call setting, disable the prefix international. I have done the same for using Verizon S4 in Indonesia.
Mine was not unlocked either, although I knew this before buying. This is a guide I tried (without success) to unlock it on my own.
Like the last poster, I reside in Indonesia, but I was never with Verizon. I rooted mine and have had no problems since.
Ok so I went to call settings and the closest I found was assisted dialing for international calls and the option to turn it on or off. I played with that for a bit and it didnt work.
I also tried the code and it said connection problem or invalid code
during my fiddling I came upon an app that showed promise of fixing my problem if I had adb shell. Does anyone have a good place to get that? I tried a few that didnt work out for me. There was another that showed promise but it wouldnt send a package no matter what I try
Thanks
If you want ADB, you need to download Android SDK and have Java Runtime Environment also installed. Then, it is just a matter of typing in "adb" into the command prompt of Windows.
Is there a serious conflict for you not rooting the device? The true benefit of doing this is to get SIM cards from anywhere to work, and to allow certain apps to work. Rooting is simply a matter of bypassing security parameters. As long as you follow instructions strictly, you won't have an issue using the phone as it should be used.
yea I suppose I could try to root it. Im just not great at that stuff and am worried about messing up my phone permanately
medphratalon said:
yea I suppose I could try to root it. Im just not great at that stuff and am worried about messing up my phone permanately
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need to root. You need to sim unlock. Get a hold of att international chat and adj them for an unlock code.
Hey guys thanks for all the help but I figured out that it was just a bad sim all along and that the first school screwed me over
But everything works now

[Q] Galaxy S2 Won't Register on Netowrk

Hi all,
I'll explain my situation. I had a work supplied HTC Sensation. The most god-awful handset known to mankind... except the iPhone. I digress. We are on Vodafone UK. When it came to renewing the work phones I was given an "upgrade" iPhone 5s. Long story short, I'm not using it. I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 which was on T-Mobile. I was given it and I thought I'd give it a go as it has to be better than the HTC Sensation.
Firstly I put in my Vodafone SIM. As I expected it didn't work. I have checked the IMEI number and it hasn't been blacklisted. So I thought I'd unlock the phone and root it. I followed the advice in this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2365701
After the first go of installing Jellybean which is what was on there initially I got to the end, rooted it and it wouldn't unlock using the method given. The method goes on to say that it works with ICS. So, I went through it again and installed ICS. Rooted it. Ran the unlock. Still locked.
Question 1: Is SIM lock the same thing as Network Lock?
At the moment, I have the stock ROM from the above thread for ICS installed. 4.0.3 I think it is. If I put my Vodafone UK SIM in this phone, when I try to make a call it says "Not registered on network". Tried following lots of advice in different threads. None worked. I thought, maybe that it can't register on the network as I am boosting my signal through a Sure Signal. I tried going to a place where I know I would normally get signal and tried doing it there. Still no luck. I keep digging and I come across the DEBUG MENU on the device:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1882796&page=4
It suggests this:
dial "*#197328640#" to enter debug menu
click "6 [common]"
click "6 [nv rebuild]"
click "2 [erases three partition!]"
Except in the 3rd option there is no menu option 2. I have kept digging and then came across the "Personalizatiob Status" (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=740167) and it shows this:
Network Lock
[OFF]
Network Subnet Lock
[OFF]
SP Lock
[OFF]
CP Lock
[OFF]
Please note that during all this my Vodafone SIM is NOT in this phone. It is in the HTC Sensation and is working just fine.
Question 2: Do I have to have my SIM in the phone when I do all this?
Question 3: How can I get this phone to register on the network with my existing Vodafone UK SIM that is working just fine?
I've tried the Galaxy S2 Unlock apps on the market store. The unlock code and unfreeze code show gibberish.
What am I missing? I don't actually care for using the stock Samsung ROMs because the phone is way out of warranty anyway. I just want to avoid having to use the iPhone I've been given.
Any advice welcome.
Any advice from anyone?
Cheers.
Did you try spockys app
theunderling said:
Did you try spockys app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is Spocky's app? Everything I've done is in the post.
snert said:
Everything I've done is in the post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you dont know what it is; then one would presume you havent tried it.
You can do a google or xda search, or charge up the iphone.........
theunderling said:
If you dont know what it is; then one would presume you havent tried it.
You can do a google or xda search, or charge up the iphone.........
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, haven't tried that one. I will give it a go later on this evening. I've tried a couple of unlockers that have been recommended in other threads and neither have worked. I'll keep you posted.
Any thoughts on the other questions I had on the original post?
With regards to the iPhone, I think I'd rather stick with the HTC Sensation despite its multiple daily crashes/restarts and almost constant need for recharging.
I tried the app and it said everything was unlocked except for CSC Lock. Now, I did some reading on that lock and that seems to be a geographic lock applied by Samsung. As this phone was bought in the UK and I'm putting a UK sim in it, then this won't affect me because both the original TMobile SIM and my Vodafone SIM are UK.
It said my unlock code was 00000000. I doubt it is that, but on the slim chance it is, where do I even put the unlock code in?
Attached is a screenshot of the lock status from GalaxSim by Spocky.
It now shows everything is unlocked. Any ideas?
I can see the sim operator is listed as Vodafone and the registered operator is O2 according to that. Weird as it had a working T-Mobile sim in it prior to my getting it.
Thanks.
Any further ideas? There has to be something I've missed.
Well, I have still not managed to find out why this phone won't connect to the network. Sadly my old HTC Sensation has pretty much now become unusable and I've had no choice but to start using the iPhone provided by my work as I've not been successful in getting the S2 up and running.
I cannot believe just how bad the iPhone is. I've always said they were rubbish from day one despite having never owned one. Now I have one, I can justifiably say that I was correct in that they are dreadful things, however, I didn't quite realise just how rubbish they really are. Now I know.

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