[GUIDE] Galaxy S4 Sim-Unlocking

chavxxx · May 17, 2013

Follow steps carefully and correctly. Remember, this could damage your device.
Regular disclaimer applies to all.

you have been warned

Instructions:

METHOD 1

1. Dial *#0011#

2. press Menu then tap BACK

3. press the Menu again the tap KEY INPUT then enter 1, press OK button

4. press Menu then tap BACK

Your are now in the SERVICE MODE MAIN MENU

Tap [1]UMTS

then [1]DEBUG SCREEN

then [6]PHONE CONTROL

then [6]NETWORK LOCK

then tap [3]PERSO SHA256 OFF

Go back to the UMTS MAIN MENU by pressing Menu then Back then tap [6]COMMON

then [6]NV REBUILD

then tap [4]RESTORE BACK UP

the device will freeze, black screen, Blue LED Light, Menu and Back key ON. Wait for it to reboot (about a minute).

Your Samsung Galaxy I9505 is now Sim-Unlocked.

----------

METHOD 2 - artnada

This is what I did. Slightly different to OP.

I did this with my AUTHORISED Sim in first.

1. Dial *#0011#
2. press Menu then tap BACK
3. press the Menu again the tap KEY INPUT then enter 1, (wait a few seconds) it auto jumped into service menu.

4. press Menu then tap BACK (not needed for me)

Your are now in the SERVICE MODE MAIN MENU

Tap [1]UMTS (may auto go into next menu (mine did)

then [1]DEBUG SCREEN
then [6]PHONE CONTROL
then [6]NETWORK LOCK
then tap [3]PERSO SHA256 OFF

Go back to the UMTS MAIN MENU by pressing Menu then Back (several times)

then tap [6]COMMON

then [6]NV REBUILD (if this does not work next time)

do [4]RESTORE BACK UP

the device will freeze, black screen, Blue LED Light, Menu and Back key ON. Wait for it to reboot (about a minute).

Your Samsung Galaxy I9505 is now Sim-Unlocked.

Edit:

When I booted back in with AUTHORISED sim, I had to turn off Mobile Data, then turn it on.
I then turned off the phone, put my UNAUTHORSIED Sim in, booted back up and NO NETWORK PIN request!

Again, I had to turn off Mobile data, then turn it back on. The UNAUTHORSIED Sim worked!!!

My previously locked to Three UK GT-I9505 is now unlocked to all networks Thanks again to XDA (Y)

----------

It has been reported that this is indeed a "permanent" unlock:

artnada's tests:

I had sim unlocked my phone when I was on the "djemby" pre-rooted I9505XXUAME2-DEODEXED-KNOX-FREE-HD-VOICE

I have just re-flashed my original factory Three ROM. I9505XXUAMDC_I9505H3GAMD6_I9505XXUAMDC_HOME and the Sim unlock was still UNLOCKED!

I then re-flashed back to I9505XXUAME2-DEODEXED-KNOX-FREE-HD-VOICE.tar.md5 and the sim unlock was still UNLOCKED!

So, I think we can safely say this sim unlock method is a permanent unlock! :good:

Mod Edit

In order to get this to work ,you need modem ME2... follow this :

LordLink said:
Finally I managed to sim unlock my phone after 10 days of experiments

I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-i9505 LTE with Android 4.4.2 bought from France (XEF):

I rooted my phone using CF-Auto-Root

I flashed with Odin the ME2 modem only (XXUAME2 for my case) using the CP/PHONE bouton - find the list in this thread

I used RegionLock Away as described in this post

Thanks to all members of XDA

----------

Credits:
royskeyz
djembey
artnada

shub · May 17, 2013

chavxxx said:
Tested only on Samsung Galaxy I9505

Instructions:

1. Dial *#0011#

2. press Menu then tap BACK

3. press the Menu again the tap KEY INPUT then enter 1, press OK button

4. press Menu then tap BACK

Your are now in the SERVICE MODE MAIN MENU

Tap [1]UMTS

then [1]DEBUG SCREEN

then [6]PHONE CONTROL

then [6]NETWORK LOCK

then tap [3]PERSO SHA256 OFF

Go back to the UMTS MAIN MENU by pressing Menu then Back then tap [6]COMMON

then [6]NV REBUILD

then tap [4]RESTORE BACK UP

the device will freeze, black screen, Blue LED Light, Menu and Back key ON. Wait for it to reboot (about a minute).

Your Samsung Galaxy I9505 is now Sim-Unlocked.

Credits:
royskeyz
djembey

hi

tried this on my I9505 locked to EE Uk - dosnt work

torrente777 · May 17, 2013

Hungary T-mobile?

chavxxx · May 17, 2013

shub said:
hi

tried this on my I9505 locked to EE Uk - dosnt work

did you follow the steps correctly? why give it another try, follow the steps one by one. just to make sure.

galaxy1026 · May 17, 2013

working on my o2 uk, i can use my three sim now, thanks

chavxxx · May 17, 2013

torrente777 said:
Hungary T-mobile Perfect!!THX

you're welcome... Enjoy your unlocked S4... a simple THANKS will do...

shub · May 17, 2013

should i have any sim inserted ? or without sim?

galaxy1026 · May 17, 2013

chavxxx said:
you're welcome... Enjoy your unlocked S4... a simple THANKS will do...

done, kababayan

chavxxx · May 17, 2013

galaxy1026 said:
working on my o2 uk, i can use my three sim now, thanks

you're welcome... a simple THANKS will do...

shub said:
should i have any sim inserted ? or without sim?

you can do it with an accepted sim inserted or you can try inserting a non accepted sim, when greeted with the ENTER UNLOCK PIN just press dismiss then follow the steps.

shub · May 17, 2013

chavxxx said:
you're welcome... a simple THANKS will do...

you can do it with an accepted sim inserted or you can try inserting a non accepted sim, when greeted with the ENTER UNLOCK PIN just press dismiss then follow the steps.

tried with and without working sim - still no luck - so far ive tried 5 times....

chavxxx · May 17, 2013

shub said:
tried with and without working sim - still no luck - so far ive tried 5 times....

Did your phone froze with Blue LED after doing the last step?

Devices:
Samsung Galaxy S4 i9505
Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100
Motorola Droid RaZr XT910
iPhone 4

shub · May 17, 2013

chavxxx said:
Did your phone froze with Blue LED after doing the last step?

Devices:
Samsung Galaxy S4 i9505
Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100
Motorola Droid RaZr XT910
iPhone 4

yes it did...

all 5 times i tried it done exactly what it said in the guide but didnt unlock

chavxxx · May 17, 2013

shub said:
yes it did...

all 5 times i tried it done exactly what it said in the guide but didnt unlock

Hmmm... We have confirmed successful unlocking reports from Philippines, Hungary and UK users. I don't know why you can't unlock yours. So far only the I9505 have been tested. Bytheway, mine has a MDM Version. Whats yours?

To those who successfully unlocked their i9505 using this method, what rom version are you on?

oxfordmark · May 17, 2013

Did anyone lose signal when the phone re-started?

I had to go in and search for networks. Its ok now.

seepheerd · May 17, 2013

torrente777 said:
Hungary T-mobile Perfect!!THX

Nekem azt írja a végén hogy nincs elérhető back-up verzió. Mi lehet a gond? T-mobile-os i9505. Üdv, Joe

---------- Post added at 02:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:26 PM ----------

chavxxx said:
Hmmm... We have confirmed successful unlocking reports from Philippines, Hungary and UK users. I don't know why you can't unlock yours. So far only the I9505 have been tested. Bytheway, mine has a MDM Version. Whats yours?

To those who successfully unlocked their i9505 using this method, what rom version are you on?

I'm from Hungary, the i9505 from T-Mobile and need to unlock. Followed the instructions but got this at the end:
"Back-up not exist [First you must make Back-up by using [3]menu]"

Cheers, Joe

-Sie- · May 17, 2013

Not working for UK Three I9505.

chavxxx · May 17, 2013

seepheerd said:
Nekem azt írja a végén hogy nincs elérhető back-up verzió. Mi lehet a gond? T-mobile-os i9505. Üdv, Joe

---------- Post added at 02:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:26 PM ----------

I'm from Hungary, the i9505 from T-Mobile and need to unlock. Followed the instructions but got this at the end:
"Back-up not exist [First you must make Back-up by using [3]menu]"

Cheers, Joe

Try tapping Load Defaut NV instead of restore. Then post what happens

Devices:
Samsung Galaxy S4 i9505
Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100
Motorola Droid RaZr XT910
iPhone 4

chavxxx · May 17, 2013

-Sie- said:
Not working for UK Three I9505.

Whats your rom version?

Devices:
Samsung Galaxy S4 i9505
Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100
Motorola Droid RaZr XT910
iPhone 4

shub · May 17, 2013

chavxxx said:
Hmmm... We have confirmed successful unlocking reports from Philippines, Hungary and UK users. I don't know why you can't unlock yours. So far only the I9505 have been tested. Bytheway, mine has a MDM Version. Whats yours?

To those who successfully unlocked their i9505 using this method, what rom version are you on?

MDM --

anything else i can try?

tedascuen · May 17, 2013

I create a post in spanish forum some days ago about unlock i9505.
Some user reports work well, but some users reports not work.
The thread is:

Code:

http://www.htcmania.com/showthread.php?t=607799

I have an orange locked i9505 and unlock only with sha256_enable_off. Not needed to use NV Rebuild.
But some vodafone users can't unlock his phones. They try all steps, include NV Rebuild/Restore Backup and NV Rebuild/Load default NV, but phone still locked. They are on I9505XXUAMDN...
I don't know what is the problem...

[GUIDE] Galaxy S4 Sim-Unlocking

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