How are people able to unlock phones for a profit? - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

There are a couple of local used phone stores that will unlock phones for a certain amount of money (example being iPhone 5s on Sprint for $50) and I have no idea how they are able to do this. Do they take apart the phone and find the unlock code somewhere within? Do they use a complicated software hack or use some sort of strategy that requires college education?

i was wondering the same, so many places around where i live do unlocking service

DragonfireEX402 said:
There are a couple of local used phone stores that will unlock phones for a certain amount of money (example being iPhone 5s on Sprint for $50) and I have no idea how they are able to do this. Do they take apart the phone and find the unlock code somewhere within? Do they use a complicated software hack or use some sort of strategy that requires college education?
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XDA is a place for developers
These illegal posts are not allowed on xda
You may even be banned from xda for doing so
Stop posting on this thread!!
Regards,
milkyway3

milkyway3 said:
XDA is a place for developers
These illegal posts are not allowed on xda
You may even be banned from xda for doing so
Stop posting on this thread!!
Regards,
milkyway3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is my post even remotely illegal if there are local businesses that outright say they do this? If it was illegal, those local business owners would be shut down and arrested already.

Ok let me explain.
There are 2 ways to go about this.
1. Is the legal way. This is when shops like this buy a large list of unlock codes from an Oem. Now there are rules they are supposed to follow when doing so. Most don't though.
2. The illegal way. This is done with a jtag system and some old school know how. I won't get into more then that.
As for things here. As you can expect anything posted here would be of the 2nd kind and as such not allowed to be posted.
On a side note. Don't assume that a business is legit. I have worked at a few that did things illegally as hell and never got bothered.

Related

[Q] Newbie Help Flash Photon 4G?

Hi ,
I can't yet post in the development section so here i am. What i am wanting to do is switch carriers and use MetroPCS. I bought my photon 4g and i don't want to have to trash it or sell it since i am switching. And yes, i do know that my phone is 4G Wimax and is not compatible with Metro's 4G LTE service. That is fine, as i will flash the CM9 ICS ROM on to it which disables 4G, anyway.
I know that this can be a sensitive subject for some and that some people use certain methods to get around the restrictions on stolen phones. My phone is paid for and payments are current. I do not need ANY information that will lead to any topics being illegal. So. Let me begin my long and drawn out cry for help.
I have obtained my MSL/SPC code from Sprint. She told me how to get in and change my number by going to my dialer and pressing ##MSL#, etc. But i know that this is not all that is necessary to fully flash to MetroPCS. I heard something about changing information in some NV files and saving the changes, then flashing the desired carriers PRL on to the phone using QPST or something like that. I'm not too sure. Is this all that is required? Am i missing something? How do i do this ?
I also ran accross a site/program that makes the entire process of flashing to ANYTHING extremely easy and wanted to know if this looks legit to others. Here is the video on their website.
https://magicalphones.com/site/index.php?page=videos
If there is a step-by-step guide that someone knows of that applies to my Photon 4G, that would be extremely helpful. I do not understand why i cannot find a single site with a step by step guide on this. If i can get this thing figured out i will give back to the community by putting together a detailed guide myself.
Please help i really need to save a couple bucks by switching to Geico.. i mean metropcs =p ... Plus its bothering me that i can easily root and flash ROMs on to any device but i can't figure out how to properly flash to another carrier !!
BUMP ?
I really cannot believe how people refuse to help on this subject. It requires a lot of research... but why help someone on almost every single other topic except this one? It's just retarded if you ask me...
But to save anybody who is trying to do the same thing that i was time, i will provide information that pretty much everyone else refuses to give.
If your flashing your CDMA device to a different carrier.... Ensure that they will add your phone's ESN to their database. If they DO NOT, then don't even bother starting up QPST or whatever you use to flash the carriers info. Bigger carriers like Sprint and Verizon will most likely do it for you at no problem. Because you pay a ridiculous amount and they say "Why not".
I was researching how to flash my Photon 4G to MetroPCS for hours upon hours, only to find out after visiting a metro store that all software to add the ESN to their database was taken away from allMetroPCS dealers. Their are some people that say they can flash it to metro on craigslist... but if metropcs has taken software from ALL Authorized Dealers.... then how are they doing it? Stay away from those because they are most likely cloning ESN's which is ILLEGAL and you can do fed time for it.
This is why i kept searching and searching and searching... i thought to myself "If THEY can do it, then i can learn how to do it no problem". So either A.) They are cloning ESN's or B.) I haven't done my research correctly and there is a work-around to get the ESN added to their database. If someone finds out, PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW ! =)
If your goal is to save some money, have you considered Straight Talk? It seems like there's decent success using domestic gsm carriers, and it's pretty well documented:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1664212
chairman_meow said:
If your goal is to save some money, have you considered Straight Talk? It seems like there's decent success using domestic gsm carriers, and it's pretty well documented:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1664212
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Click to collapse
seconded
Keep under 100MB data usage a day and you are golden. Been using them for just over a month now with AT&T's fauxG support.
exitpr0gram said:
I really cannot believe how people refuse to help on this subject. It requires a lot of research... but why help someone on almost every single other topic except this one? It's just retarded if you ask me...
But to save anybody who is trying to do the same thing that i was time, i will provide information that pretty much everyone else refuses to give.
If your flashing your CDMA device to a different carrier.... Ensure that they will add your phone's ESN to their database. If they DO NOT, then don't even bother starting up QPST or whatever you use to flash the carriers info. Bigger carriers like Sprint and Verizon will most likely do it for you at no problem. Because you pay a ridiculous amount and they say "Why not".
I was researching how to flash my Photon 4G to MetroPCS for hours upon hours, only to find out after visiting a metro store that all software to add the ESN to their database was taken away from allMetroPCS dealers. Their are some people that say they can flash it to metro on craigslist... but if metropcs has taken software from ALL Authorized Dealers.... then how are they doing it? Stay away from those because they are most likely cloning ESN's which is ILLEGAL and you can do fed time for it.
This is why i kept searching and searching and searching... i thought to myself "If THEY can do it, then i can learn how to do it no problem". So either A.) They are cloning ESN's or B.) I haven't done my research correctly and there is a work-around to get the ESN added to their database. If someone finds out, PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW ! =)
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Click to collapse
NO, they are not cloning,whats happening here is that this stores still have Houdini credits left,soon as they use all this credits flash will be gone forever...(unless someone do it the illegal way)
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
metalsnakebite said:
MOD EDIT....
Sorry that I didn't go into detail, hope this helps in your "educational endeavours ".
"the beauty of ignorance is possible denial, the disgust of the ignorant the lack of wanting to learn"
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I would love to see you try,lol
Also clonning is highly illegal...
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Illegal Cloning
Ok Folks, listen up.
It's against XDA rules to discuss illegal activities. IE; Cloning of phones.
I think you all know this. This is to include suggestive or subtle "hints", as in "educational purposes only". It's also against rules to "urge or tempt" somebody to engage in such activities.
There are lots of sites that condone these activities, but XDA is not one of them.
Any further discussion of illegal activities will result in thread deletion.
MD
Sorry boss I was completely wrong to even hint such things my bad. Will never happen again.
"the beauty of ignorance is possible denial, the disgust of the ignorant the lack of wanting to learn"
Ok,when I said "would love to see you try" I didnt mean to tempt him,just trying to discourage him,btw wont happen again...
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

Getting unlocked bootloaders from Motorola, a new tactic.

I believe most people who start these threads, petitions, etc have good intentions but continue to travel down the same failed paths.
No matter how many times we rage against the machine or wave our cyber-fists in the air Big Corporations like Motorola are not going to unlock their bootloaders unless the federal government forces them to obey Block 4 laws.
Our wonerful Congressmen(women) aren't going to do a thing about making Moto unlock the bootloaders because they have no clue what a bootloader is or does. Hell, most of them need their grandchildren to set the clocks on their VCR's. And they have VCR's because they don't want to embrace that DVD fad.
A solution to force every cellphone equipment manufacturer and wireless carrier to unlock bootloaders.....
Gain public support and embarrass Congress into doing their job.
How you ask??
Here is a good start. The federal government mandates that all wireless carriers and wireless equipment manufacturers make smartphones accessible to the disabled.
Now ask yourselves, especially you Dev's, how a locked bootloader hampers programmers abilities to fully integrate accessibility software into a smartphone. How custom ROM's cannot be created for the hearing impaired, the low vision/legally blind, completely blind and also the physically handicapped. Sure there are pieces of software here and there that help to a certain extent but there is no integration and locked bootloaders not only hamper programmers but make it almost impossible for software to be created to give the disabled access. Even the ACLU might get interested if the Dev's of XDA can create a comprehensive and coherent statment supporting this stance. Mainstream media will pay attention to this topic because the handicapped = far better ratings than a relatively small group of programmers.
It's an election year folks, no politician wants to be labeled as ignoring the handicapped.
it's easier than all that. Tell Verizon to kiss your ass and move to another provider. Big Red is the reason for the locked BL.
MyEntityRemains said:
it's easier than all that. Tell Verizon to kiss your ass and move to another provider. Big Red is the reason for the locked BL.
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Click to collapse
I switched to Verizon Wireless earlier this year because I needed the more reliable service in my area. And yes, that is an option for many but why go to a different carrier. Running to a different carrier does not solve the problem, it only avoids it until some other carrier does the same thing. Precedent needs to be set that consumers will not stand for carriers violating the law and doing whatever they please. Take up the fight and get bootloaders unlocked for all.
MyEntityRemains said:
it's easier than all that. Tell Verizon to kiss your ass and move to another provider. Big Red is the reason for the locked BL.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's good when you have that option. For some of us it is not an option. I have tried AT&T and Sprint over the years and their phones are paper weights in my house. I would have to go outside my house looking for a spot to make a phone call. I see people doing that in my neighborhood frequently.
Sent from my A1_07 using xda premium
Sent from my A1_07 using xda premium
MyEntityRemains said:
it's easier than all that. Tell Verizon to kiss your ass and move to another provider. Big Red is the reason for the locked BL.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh so you mean that I who live in Europe with unbranded and unlocked Motorola phone should also suffer because the son of *****es carriers in USA wants to lock down their BL? Explain that for me.
PS. They can shove their dev edition up their arses
scottjb said:
It's good when you have that option. For some of us it is not an option. I have tried AT&T and Sprint over the years and their phones are paper weights in my house. I would have to go outside my house looking for a spot to make a phone call. I see people doing that in my neighborhood frequently.
Sent from my A1_07 using xda premium
Sent from my A1_07 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
eyriiii said:
Oh so you mean that I who live in Europe with unbranded and unlocked Motorola phone should also suffer because the son of *****es carriers in USA wants to lock down their BL? Explain that for me.
PS. They can shove their dev edition up their arses
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are many reasons people do not want to or cannot switch. There are also people in other countries with reasons to dislike the locked bootloaders. We don't need to argue the merits of unlocked bootloaders only join together in accomplishing the task. We must choose our battles wisely and pick a tactic that best suits the ultimate goal. Support from government officials, suppot from mainstream media and support from groups with large legal funds will give us a better chance of success. I am not a dev so I cannot compile the technical information and create a summary that can be easily understood by the average person. We need that person or persons.

Network blocked handset?

I am considering buying a handset from a seller on ebay that is network blocked in Australia (my country).
Can this be undone by flashing a new ROM? Or is the block done on the hardware or at the nerwork level?
And what are you going to do with it pal.I'm not going to get abusive....,but surely your not that stupid.
Crachel/Mistahbungle its over to you..
Sent from my GT-I9100
You will need unlock code. Network lock is stored in EFS.
What's he saying that the seller got the phone network blocked (maybe didn't pay the bills or its stolen). The device is identified by the IMEI and that does not change regardless of what ROM you have on the device.
Changing of the IMEI is illegal.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
block is done on a network level by the provider.
I suggest you get the IMEI from the seller and phone your provider and find out the reason for the block.
If it is a simple thing, like non payment ofd bills, once you show that it is going on a new account, it maybe possible to unblock it.
If they consider the handset stolen, you will not be able to d anything.
Did you steal it? If you change the imei you will go to prison for a long time and the Americans will probably deport you to Guantanamo and soldiers will pee on you and stuff.
The reason I asked was because it was going cheap on eBay and I thought if I could unblock it it would be a cheap way to buy a phone.
And wow, some of the people who replied here make retarded look smart.
mrnaz said:
The reason I asked was because it was going cheap on eBay and I thought if I could unblock it it would be a cheap way to buy a phone.
And wow, some of the people who replied here make retarded look smart.
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Click to collapse
Do you mean its its network locked, ie to one network or do you mean its blocked from all networks?
If its network locked you can download an app from market to unlock it, its easy and takes few minutes, called galaxy_unlock or somthing, worked for me.
If its blocked to all networks then you cant unblock it (easily) for use in same country as you would need to change it IMEI which is very illegal in most countries. However if you're importing it then it wont really matter as the networks wont be blocking it in another country. You should be able to just stick a sim card in and off you go.
So do some of the retards who consider buying phones that are IMEI blocked
Check. Your move.
mrnaz said:
The reason I asked was because it was going cheap on eBay and I thought if I could unblock it it would be a cheap way to buy a phone.
And wow, some of the people who replied here make retarded look smart.
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Click to collapse
MistahBungle said:
So do some of the retards who consider buying phones that are IMEI blocked
Check. Your move.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not everyone is born with all of the knowledge that they are going to die with. Sometimes esoteric knowledge, such as the various details considering network blocking of communications devices, can be exchanged on internet forums where those who are well versed in those details can provide assistance to those who are not as familiar with them. Unfortunately, not everyone on the internet is polite to those who ask questions, or acknowledges that they may be experts in fields other than the one they are asking about. Consequently, they respond with sarcastic and unhelpful comments.
mrnaz said:
Not everyone is born with all of the knowledge that they are going to die with. Sometimes esoteric knowledge, such as the various details considering network blocking of communications devices, can be exchanged on internet forums where those who are well versed in those details can provide assistance to those who are not as familiar with them. Unfortunately, not everyone on the internet is polite to those who ask questions, or acknowledges that they may be experts in fields other than the one they are asking about. Consequently, they respond with sarcastic and unhelpful comments.
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Click to collapse
Hello yes can be done find the right threads. Anything is achievable as long as u can get download mode
s2 RR jb siyah
mrnaz said:
Not everyone is born with all of the knowledge that they are going to die with. Sometimes esoteric knowledge, such as the various details considering network blocking of communications devices, can be exchanged on internet forums where those who are well versed in those details can provide assistance to those who are not as familiar with them. Unfortunately, not everyone on the internet is polite to those who ask questions, or acknowledges that they may be experts in fields other than the one they are asking about. Consequently, they respond with sarcastic and unhelpful comments.
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Click to collapse
+1
You'll find a lot of them sort of people on here, thats why its got a bad name, plenty of helpful people left though, thank God!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
mrnaz said:
Not everyone is born with all of the knowledge that they are going to die with. Sometimes esoteric knowledge, such as the various details considering network blocking of communications devices, can be exchanged on internet forums where those who are well versed in those details can provide assistance to those who are not as familiar with them. Unfortunately, not everyone on the internet is polite to those who ask questions, or acknowledges that they may be experts in fields other than the one they are asking about. Consequently, they respond with sarcastic and unhelpful comments.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol,this q + a section isnt a patch on the development section.See what happens when you ask stupid questions in there,or dont search the thread for questions that have been asked dozens of times before.
The only thing that I can imagine is that because eBay allows them to be listed,then it must be legal somehow then you think theres no harm done and you can "sort" the phone>you get cheap working phone.
If you were considering buying a used phone or water damaged one,then you wouldnt have got such a rough ride.
If blacklisted phones were simple to modify then it would lead to more phones getting stolen.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
+1 in the real world if u asked a simple question ud get a... Dunno or a sensible answer in a forum u usually get abuse because these people hide behind there screens. Face to face ud jus jaw the lairy ones.
Try to help everyone cos everyone knows something.

[Q] Provider unlock code not working. Any idea why?

Dear XDA fellows,
i requested a provider unlock code for my simlocked samsung s2
Unfortunately the code does not work at all.
Now i wonder why,
i have rooted the phone with the old ICS and used the galaxy s unlock app on it to use other providers cards.
A few months later (now) i updated Android to 4.12 and tried to use the provider unlock code on it but it did not work.
Rooted the phone again and tried various unlock apps, but none of them work.
Now i wonder why the phone has become so defiant to my attempts to unlock it, after all i treated it good for all the time that i used it.
Maybe someone has any suggestions on how to unlock the phone after all?
IMEI blocked
Hello Everyone,
I don't know if this is the right place to post my issue. Briefly.... After having a Samsung Galaxy s II, GT-I9100, with a contract in Italy (VODAFONE), having paid the phone in full, suddenly after two years, I decide to close contract,
The Vodafone bastards tell me that I must pay 380.00 € (threehundredeigthy) because of some invoices. This obviously according to them. I always paid everything. I refuse to pay this sum and open a controversy with them demonstrating with facts and papers at hand that it is not right I pay this amount. Anyway, after a week, they block my IMEI.
I think this is absurd. I PAID THE PHONE IN FULL!!! They want 380.00 € of telephone calls related to the SIM card. I don't want to pay this money. The phone is no brand.
I went to a lawyer, and he told me it's not worth the hassle to go to court for such sum.
What I want to know is:
Why should I have a phone that doesn't work after I have paid for it?
You need to contact a guy called "gaston" on here.
He works for vodafone italy in the customer service dept.
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maybe your an iphone expert
------------------------------------------
If they IMEI block the phone, you're boned. Nothing anyone here can do to help. If they block it, the phone is blocked at the carriers end & in many countries on all networks in that country.
And further talk about changing the IMEI will likely see the thread closed, given this is illegal in most countries & talk of same is against XDA rules. Go see a local mobile repair shop, some might be able to 'help'.
Re:
arsy82 said:
Why should I have a phone that doesn't work after I have paid for it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why should we care ?
MistahBungle said:
If they IMEI block the phone, you're boned. Nothing anyone here can do to help. If they block it, the phone is blocked at the carriers end & in many countries on all networks in that country.
And further talk about changing the IMEI will likely see the thread closed, given this is illegal in most countries & talk of same is against XDA rules. Go see a local mobile repair shop, some might be able to 'help'.
Re:
Why should we care ?
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Click to collapse
I've asked for help..If you come up with "What should we care", then I guess you shouldn't care of anything and not be on the site. I think this site other than an educational point of view, can also offer expertise and technical assistence as it is a really important internet forum. I really don't understand your rude answer..honestly it has no sense or help to me.
Why should he care.....hes not getting paid.You are involved in a civil dispute with vodafone or whoever,so this isnt the carriers complaints dept.
Then you start talking about an illegal method to help you out which is against xda rules.
So dont pay then,sell the phone and use the money towards buying another phone.Make sure it isnt a vodafone one......lol
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maybe your an iphone expert
------------------------------------------
bahmonkeys said:
Go on Ebay and look for faulty phones. Basically ones with broken screens. Stay away from water damaged ones and ones with the same problem you are having. Once you get it, you could swap out the motherboards and sell yours on Ebay. Sell yours outside of the country as it might work. This would be the easy way. It might cost you about 50 bucks but you could sell your motherboard and make it back.
Remember Google is your friend for changing IMEI. I would choose the option above.
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Click to collapse
I just have 1 technical question: if i get a ****ty alcatel phone i have home and get my imei blocked samsung galaxy s2. CAN I TAKE THE ALCATELS IMEI E SHOVE IT IN THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S2?
I DON'T THINK IT IS ILLEGAL TO TRY TO HAVE A PHONE I PAID FOR WORK.,
I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF IT IS POSSIBLE.
And which part of changing an IMEI is both illegal, and more importantly, discussion of same is against XDA rules aren't you clever enough to understand ? I've reported this thread, hopefully your posts are removed (because the OP had legitimate queries about unlocking it until you hijacked it).
MistahBungle said:
And which part of changing an IMEI is both illegal, and more importantly, discussion of same is against XDA rules aren't you clever enough to understand ? I've reported this thread, hopefully your posts are removed (because the OP had legitimate queries about unlocking it until you hijacked it).
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Click to collapse
I'm really sorry if I caused any sort of trouble to any member of the forum. Honestly it was the last of my intents. I will obviously put a stop to my curiosity, thoughts & problems regarding the IMEI related issue to avoid any sort of problems. Sorry once again.
Regardless of the circumstances changing the IMEI, discussing how to change the IMEI, and I believe in the UK even possessing tools capable of doing so, is all illegal and can get the site in trouble. This is an issue you would need to take up with your local representative or vodaphone and should not be discussed in anyway here.
This is non-negotiable.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Can my s9+ be unlocked even though I am owe tmo balance, PLEASE HELP

OK so I got my Galaxy S9 plus at the mall and my buddy got on my Plan with me.. Now it's about 4 months later and he disappeared off the face of the Earth and I paid it the last 2 months and cannot do that anymore.... Now I have a balance of about $400 that I cannot pay and was hoping there was a way I could unlock this phone so I could switch to a plan like metro or something along those lines.... Is any of you guys know anything that I could do I would greatly appreciate it thank you so much..
This is not the site to ask these type of questions. But I bet if you search google, there are a bunch of 3d party companies that will pop up for you.
IllyaK said:
This is not the site to ask these type of questions. But I bet if you search google, there are a bunch of 3d party companies that will pop up for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry I didnt know.... just wanted advice from people who actually knew what they were talking about
Yes you can unlock the device to work on another carrier, however just a pointer. Metro PC won't work since it's part of TMobile and once you owe a balance generally your IMEI is block on their network
I just found that out but 8 can still go somewhere else and that's fine, but how do I do it... how do I unlock it though, do you know?
THREAD CLOSED.
This thread is now closed. I would recommend OP read the rules pertaining to what we can and can't do here in XDA. This is borderline theft of services. Ignorance is no excuse for breaking of rules.

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