3 Ways to Unlock Samsung: SIM Network Unlock Pin

3 Ways to Unlock Samsung: 

SIM Network Unlock Pin

How Would I Know If My Phone is Locked?

SIM Network Unlock PIN is actually a PIN you have to input to unlock your mobile device that is locked by a specific carrier. Phones are usually sold locked on contract with a network. They are also sold by networks at asubsidized price to attract customers and they end up paying at any charging network imposes. But you can sim unlock a phone to use it with your desired network.

In order to find out if your device is locked, be sure to follow these steps:

• 1) Turn off the phone
• 2) Remove the existing SIM Card
• 3) Insert an activated SIM from any other network.

After following the above three steps if your phone requests for:

• a) unlock code , or
• b) SIM Network Unlock PIN, it means that your SIM card is not accepted and your phone is locked.

When this happens don’t fret because there are ways to get around this problem. And we will explore three ways of unlocking your smartphones in decreasing order of effectiveness. The first way involves the best sim network unlock pin software in business of unlocking phones: dr.fone - Android SIM Unlock.

Option 1: Unlock Samsung Phone by dr.fone - Android SIM Unlock

dr.fone toolkit- Android SIM Unlock takes less than 10 minutes to SIM Unlock your Samsung phone. And it does it while keeping all your data completely safe. Dr.fone - Android SIM Unlock supports a plethora of devices (over 400) including but not limited to Samsung Galaxy Note, Samsung Galaxy S, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Samsung Galaxy A and other models like Ace3 and Mega. To sweeten the deal, it offers a high success rate and 24X6 support.

dr. Fone is a lightweight applicationand doesn’t consume a lot of system’s resources. It unlocks your phone permanently and with its intuitive interface it does not require any technical expertise on your part. It’s a simple five step process.

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How Android SIM Unlock Works?

Step 1: Install and launch dr.fone on your computer. Then click on More Tools on the left column. You should see the below screen. Here, select ‘SIM Unlock’.

Step 2: For Samsung S3~S7 devices, it requires root access to SIM unlock your phone. Connect your Samsung phone to the computer via a USB cable. After the phone is recognized by dr.fone, click on Unlock on dr.fone interface. Then your phone will be SIM unlocked successfully within a few minutes.

Step 3: For Samsung S2~S4, Note 1~Note 3 devices, it does not require root access to SIM unlock your phone. Connect your Samsung phone to the computer using a USB cable. After the phone is recognized, click on Next to move on.

Step 4: Then follow the instruction on dr.fone to set the phone in USB Settings > Diagnostic > Service Mode. Then Dial *#0808# or ##3424# or #9090# on your Samsung phone keypad. Normally one of these numbers and symbols will work for you. Then select DM + MODEM + ADB or UART[*] or CDMA MODEM on the phone. After the phone is set properly, click on Unlock.

Step 5. In a few minutes, your Samsung phone will be automatically SIM unlocked. Then follow the instructions again and set your phone in normal mode again.

Option 2 - Unlock Samsung: SIM Network Unlock PIN by Contacting Network Carrier

By meeting all the requirements of your contract, you may avail yourself with SIM network unlock PIN provided by the operator for free. These requirements may include the following:

• 1) You need to have used the carrier for 3-6 months (varies from carrier to other).
• 2) You need to have paid for the smartphone in full.

Please be advised that some career may charge you an early termination fee if the cost of the smartphone is not paid off in full.

Once you receive the unlock code follow the below steps:

• 1) Switch off the phone.
• 2) Insert the other carrier’s sim card.
• 3) Restart the phone.
• 4) Upon restart you should be prompted to enter the unlock code. Please enter the code received from your carrier. Entering incorrect code may lock you out of your device.

For the above steps please ensure that you’re within the network range of your new service carrier.

Option 3 - Manually Unlock Samsung: SIM Network Unlock PIN

Before trying the below manual options, we recommend contacting the network provider. Ask for the solution and their recommendations. If you have completely paid off your device and used their services for up to 3 months, they would suggest you the right way.

For unlocking Galaxy 3 and Note 2 follow the below steps:

Step 1. Update Your Galaxy 3/Note 2 Device

Your device must be running Android Jellybean 4.1.1. or later. To check the software version, go to "Settings", scroll down and tap on "About Device" and find Android version on which your device is running.

To update your device, tap on "System Updates" and "Check for Updates". Your device will update the network. Since you didn't get any connectivity on new SIM, you can turn Wi-Fi network on to update your device.

Step 2. Open Dialer

After the dialer is open, enter the code *#197328640# when the dialer is open. This should open the service menu.

Step 3. Select UMTS.

After you enter the code, the phone will automatically open the Service Mode menu. Here, Select [1] UMTS.

Step 4. Open the Debug menu.

In the UTMS menu, tap [1] DEBUG SCREEN. In the Debug menu, tap [8] PHONE CONTROL. And then in the Phone Control menu, tap [6] NETWORK LOCK.

Step 5: Select [3] Perso SHA256 Off.

After you select this option, wait about 30 seconds. Press the Menu button and select Back. Choose [4] NW Lock NV Data INITIALLIZ.

Restart Your Phone: After one minute, restart your device. It won't give you any notification that the phone has been unlocked successfully. So you need to test your phone out by inserting another carrier’s sim. If you don’t get an ‘Unlock Pin’ prompt, it means your phone has been successfully unlocked.

For unlocking S4 follow the below steps:

Step 1: Check your device’s compatibility with the method.

This method is for T-Mobile and AT&T Galaxy S4s. It is meant for a stock phone. This method won’t work on Customized ROMs. Also, in all probability, this method won’t work for CDMA phones. So for Sprint and Verizon S4’s the below steps may not work.

Step 2: Open Dialer.

After the dialer is open, enter the code *#27663368378# when the dialer is open. This should open the service menu.

Step 3: Select UMTS

After you enter the code, the phone will automatically open the Service Mode menu. Here, Select [1] UMTS.

Step 4: Open the Debug menu

In the UTMS menu, tap [1] DEBUG SCREEN. In the Debug menu, tap [8] PHONE CONTROL. And then in the Phone Control menu, tap [6] NETWORK LOCK.

Step 5: Select [3] Perso SHA256 Off

After you select this option, the following text should be displayed on your screen:

• SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[1]
• SHA256_OFF > SHA256_ON

Tap the first line (SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[1]). Now, the menu should display:

• MENU NOT EXIST
• PRESS BACK KEY
• Press the Menu button and select Back.

Step 6: Make sure the changes in the setting were saved

When you go back, the text from Step 5 should now change to:

• SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[0]
• SHA256_OFF > Not Change

Step 7: Go back to the UMTS menu

After pressing the menu button, select ‘Back’ four times to return to the UMTS Main Menu. Now, select [6] COMMON followed by tapping [6] NV REBUILD. The following text should be displayed:

• Golden-Backup exist
• You can Restore Cal/NV

Step 8: Restore the backup

In the NV REBUILD menu, tap [4] Restore Back-up. The phone should automatically reboot. At this point the phone should be unlocked. Now you can test your device by inserting a SIM card from another network carrier. If you don’t get an ‘Unlock Pin’ prompt, it means your phone has been successfully unlocked.

For models other than the Galaxy 3, Samsung S4 and Note 2 follow the below steps:

Step 1: Make Sure that Phone is Locked

To check if your phone is locked, insert the new SIM card of the new network. Several devices come unlocked out of the box. So, check before proceeding to save your time

Step 2: Update Your Device

Your device must be running Android Jellybean 4.1.1. To get this method to work, update it to Android 4.3 or later. To check the software version, go to "Settings", scroll down and tap on "About Device" and find Android version on which your device is running.

To update your device, tap on "System Updates" and "Check for Updates". Your device will update the network. Since you didn't get any connectivity on new SIM, you can turn Wi-Fi network on to update your device.

Step 3: Make Sure it's a GSM Phone

It is impossible to unlock device running on CDMA network. Only GSM network lets you to unlock your phone. It is not sure whether this method will work or not but you may want to at least give it a try.

Step 4: Open Dialer

To access the Service menu, you will have to enter the Samsung SIM network unlock Samsung PIN. Enter the code *#197328640#, when the dialer is open:

Select UMTS-By selecting it, you will access maintenance menu. If you chose wrong option, you can get back to the menu by pressing Menu button.

Select DEBUG SCREEN: You will access the Debug menu.

Select PHONE CONTROL: It will open a menu and you can adjust settings.

Select NETWORK LOCK: You can reach the controls of SIM Lock function.

Select PERSO SHA256 OFF: Wait for 30 seconds after selecting this option. Get back to NETWORK LOCK menu by pressing Menu button

Select NW LOCK NV DATA INITIALLIZ: Wait for one minute after taping on it.

Restart Your Phone: After one minute, restart your device. It won't give you any notification that the process has been done successfully. If you find that your phone doesn’t prompt you for an unlock pin after you have inserted a new SIM card, it means the unlock process worked