How to SIM unlock Samsung Galaxy S4 SGH-M919 (tested - works) - Updated: 7/2/13

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kaleido

New member
Mar 6, 2008
4
200
Hi Everyone,

I'm a long time lurker and benefited greatly from the postings here at xda.
So I'd like to contribute something back.

After trying many methods and reading all the posts in the various S4 forums, I finally found a way for SIM unlock that works for me.

I have tested it, and it works on my T-Mobile S4.

Credit to these posts:

FAQ:
  • Is this for real? Does it really unlock?
    YES! Many people have tried it, and most people have successes.
    If you are having problems with the unlock process, please read the rest of the FAQ.
  • Will this SIM unlock work on my model of Galaxy S4 that is not T-Mobile (SGH-M919)?
    This unlock has been tried on the T-Mobile (USA) version of the phone, if you're coming from any other model, YMMV, it might or might not work.
    That being said, many others have tried it on the AT&T model, and on the international I9505 with success.
  • Do I need to be on stock rom?
    Yes, you need to be on stock rom for this to work.
    One of the main causes of failure to unlock is people not flashing back to stock rom first. The reason is the special dial codes only work on stock roms.
  • Is the unlock permanent? Do the unlock last through reboot/reflash/etc.?
    Yes, the unlock is permanent.
    You can reflash a custom rom, or do anything you want to the phone, and the unlock will stay.
  • In step 7, my phone is already "SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[0]", what should I do?
    Great, this is the setting you want.
    It means your phone already allows you to make some settings changes, it DOES NOT mean your phone is already unlocked.
    You should continue with the rest of the process until the last step.
  • In step 14, backup missing.
    If the golden backup doesn't exist, try the work around found by GrndSers-Rcng:
    http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=43172004&postcount=292
  • How do I know the unlock is successful?
    If your phone is not unlocked, when you put in an unauthorized SIM card, a dialog pops up on your phone asking you to enter the unlock code.
    If you're successful with this procedure, there would be no popup dialog asking for the unlock code when you put in any SIM card.

Here are the steps:
  1. Goto phone dailer, and enter *#27663368378# for the debug service menu.
  2. In "ServiceMode", select [1] UMTS
  3. In "UMTS MAIN MENU", select [1] DEBUG SCREEN
  4. In "DEBUG SCREEN", select [6] PHONE CONTROL
  5. In "PHONE CONTROL", select [6] NETWORK LOCK
  6. In "NETWORK LOCK", select [3] PERSO SHA256 OFF
    It should show:
    SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[1]
    SHA256_OFF => SHA256_ON
  7. Now touch the first line SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[1]
    It should show:
    MENU NOT EXIST
    PRESS BACK KEY
    Current Command is 116631
  8. Now press the menu button and select "Back"
    It should show:
    SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[0]
    SHA256_OFF => Not Change
  9. Again, press the menu button and select "Back", and you're back in the "NETWORK LOCK" screen
  10. Press the menu button and select "Back", and you're in the "PHONE CONTROL" screen
  11. Press the menu button and select "Back", and you're in the "DEBUG SCREEN" screen
  12. Finally, press the menu button and select "Back", and you're back in the "UMTS MAIN MENU" screen
  13. Select [6] COMMON
  14. In "COMMON" screen, select [6] NV REBUILD
    Now you are in the "NV REBUILD" screen, you should see the following text:
    ------------------------------
    Golden-Backup exist
    You can Restore Cal/NV
    ------------------------------
  15. Now for the final step.
    In "NV REBUILD" screen, select [4] Restore Back-up
    The button lights for menu and back should come on, and the phone will auto reboot in a few seconds.
    Note: chavxxx's post of selecting "[1] Load default NV" DID NOT work for me.

Congratulations, your phone is now unlocked.
Stick in a sim card from a different carrier and try it out.

Please post followups of your experience with this unlock method.

Thanks, and good luck!
 
Last edited:

marcoveli

Senior Member
Jan 20, 2011
138
19
Columbia
no way; is this for real ?
im already unlocked, can someone confirm this ?
rock on dude.

yes it works dude wow

---------- Post added at 07:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:26 PM ----------

Hi Everyone,

I'm a long time lurker and benefited greatly from the postings here at xda.
So I'd like to contribute something back.

After trying many methods and reading all the posts in the various S4 forums, I finally found a way for SIM unlock that works for me.

I have tested it, and it works on my T-Mobile S4.

Credit to these posts:

Here are the steps:
  1. Goto phone dailer, and enter *#27663368378# for the debug service menu.
  2. In "ServiceMode", select [1] UMTS
  3. In "UMTS MAIN MENU", select [1] DEBUG SCREEN
  4. In "DEBUG SCREEN", select [6] PHONE CONTROL
  5. In "PHONE CONTROL", select [6] NETWORK LOCK
  6. In "NETWORK LOCK", select [3] PERSO SHA256 OFF
    It should show:
    SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[1]
    SHA256_OFF => SHA256_ON
  7. Now touch the first line SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[1]
    It should show:
    MENU NOT EXIST
    PRESS BACK KEY
    Current Command is 116631
  8. Now press the menu button and select "Back"
    It should show:
    SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[0]
    SHA256_OFF => Not Change
  9. Again, press the menu button and select "Back", and you're back in the "NETWORK LOCK" screen
  10. Press the menu button and select "Back", and you're in the "PHONE CONTROL" screen
  11. Press the menu button and select "Back", and you're in the "DEBUG SCREEN" screen
  12. Finally, press the menu button and select "Back", and you're back in the "UMTS MAIN MENU" screen
  13. Select [6] COMMON
  14. In "COMMON" screen, select [6] NV REBUILD
    Now you are in the "NV REBUILD" screen, you should see the following text:
    ------------------------------
    Golden-Backup exist
    You can Restore Cal/NV
    ------------------------------
  15. Now for the final step.
    In "NV REBUILD" screen, select [4] Restore Back-up
    The button lights for menu and back should come on, and the phone will auto reboot in a few seconds.
    Note: chavxxx's post of selecting "[1] Load default NV" DID NOT work for me.

Congratulations, your phone is now unlocked.
Stick in a sim card from a different carrier and try it out.

Please post followups of your experience with this unlock method.

Thanks, and good luck!

thank you dude i was so close to buy the unlock code thanks again u rock
 
  • Like
Reactions: rm.

sanjayjainin

Member
Feb 7, 2012
17
1
Works

Thanks man it works
Hi Everyone,

I'm a long time lurker and benefited greatly from the postings here at xda.
So I'd like to contribute something back.

After trying many methods and reading all the posts in the various S4 forums, I finally found a way for SIM unlock that works for me.

I have tested it, and it works on my T-Mobile S4.

Credit to these posts:

Here are the steps:
  1. Goto phone dailer, and enter *#27663368378# for the debug service menu.
  2. In "ServiceMode", select [1] UMTS
  3. In "UMTS MAIN MENU", select [1] DEBUG SCREEN
  4. In "DEBUG SCREEN", select [6] PHONE CONTROL
  5. In "PHONE CONTROL", select [6] NETWORK LOCK
  6. In "NETWORK LOCK", select [3] PERSO SHA256 OFF
    It should show:
    SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[1]
    SHA256_OFF => SHA256_ON
  7. Now touch the first line SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[1]
    It should show:
    MENU NOT EXIST
    PRESS BACK KEY
    Current Command is 116631
  8. Now press the menu button and select "Back"
    It should show:
    SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[0]
    SHA256_OFF => Not Change
  9. Again, press the menu button and select "Back", and you're back in the "NETWORK LOCK" screen
  10. Press the menu button and select "Back", and you're in the "PHONE CONTROL" screen
  11. Press the menu button and select "Back", and you're in the "DEBUG SCREEN" screen
  12. Finally, press the menu button and select "Back", and you're back in the "UMTS MAIN MENU" screen
  13. Select [6] COMMON
  14. In "COMMON" screen, select [6] NV REBUILD
    Now you are in the "NV REBUILD" screen, you should see the following text:
    ------------------------------
    Golden-Backup exist
    You can Restore Cal/NV
    ------------------------------
  15. Now for the final step.
    In "NV REBUILD" screen, select [4] Restore Back-up
    The button lights for menu and back should come on, and the phone will auto reboot in a few seconds.
    Note: chavxxx's post of selecting "[1] Load default NV" DID NOT work for me.

Congratulations, your phone is now unlocked.
Stick in a sim card from a different carrier and try it out.

Please post followups of your experience with this unlock method.

Thanks, and good luck!
 

spaided

Senior Member
Nov 28, 2010
84
16
San Antonio
Hi Everyone,

I'm a long time lurker and benefited greatly from the postings here at xda.
So I'd like to contribute something back.

After trying many methods and reading all the posts in the various S4 forums, I finally found a way for SIM unlock that works for me.

I have tested it, and it works on my T-Mobile S4.

Credit to these posts:

Here are the steps:
  1. Goto phone dailer, and enter *#27663368378# for the debug service menu.
  2. In "ServiceMode", select [1] UMTS
  3. In "UMTS MAIN MENU", select [1] DEBUG SCREEN
  4. In "DEBUG SCREEN", select [6] PHONE CONTROL
  5. In "PHONE CONTROL", select [6] NETWORK LOCK
  6. In "NETWORK LOCK", select [3] PERSO SHA256 OFF
    It should show:
    SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[1]
    SHA256_OFF => SHA256_ON
  7. Now touch the first line SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[1]
    It should show:
    MENU NOT EXIST
    PRESS BACK KEY
    Current Command is 116631
  8. Now press the menu button and select "Back"
    It should show:
    SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[0]
    SHA256_OFF => Not Change
  9. Again, press the menu button and select "Back", and you're back in the "NETWORK LOCK" screen
  10. Press the menu button and select "Back", and you're in the "PHONE CONTROL" screen
  11. Press the menu button and select "Back", and you're in the "DEBUG SCREEN" screen
  12. Finally, press the menu button and select "Back", and you're back in the "UMTS MAIN MENU" screen
  13. Select [6] COMMON
  14. In "COMMON" screen, select [6] NV REBUILD
    Now you are in the "NV REBUILD" screen, you should see the following text:
    ------------------------------
    Golden-Backup exist
    You can Restore Cal/NV
    ------------------------------
  15. Now for the final step.
    In "NV REBUILD" screen, select [4] Restore Back-up
    The button lights for menu and back should come on, and the phone will auto reboot in a few seconds.
    Note: chavxxx's post of selecting "[1] Load default NV" DID NOT work for me.

Congratulations, your phone is now unlocked.
Stick in a sim card from a different carrier and try it out.

Please post followups of your experience with this unlock method.

Thanks, and good luck!

When i started the process mine said this at the beginning:
SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[0]

I believe that was the desired result, but i didn't have to do anything, mine is already set there (step 6) ....I don't have an Att Sim to try, but when my buddy gets home i am going to see if mine came factory unlocked....
 

dheimann42

Member
Dec 15, 2010
16
2
When i started the process mine said this at the beginning:
SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[0]

I believe that was the desired result, but i didn't have to do anything, mine is already set there (step 6) ....I don't have an Att Sim to try, but when my buddy gets home i am going to see if mine came factory unlocked....

Same here, Got to this part of the process and I'm already at SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[0].
 

RMXO

Senior Member
Feb 20, 2011
3,712
646
CA
When i started the process mine said this at the beginning:
SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[0]

I believe that was the desired result, but i didn't have to do anything, mine is already set there (step 6) ....I don't have an Att Sim to try, but when my buddy gets home i am going to see if mine came factory unlocked....

Mine is same as yours & I won't be able to test mine out until the wkend when I see my GF since she's on AT&T. Do let use know your results when you are able to.
 
D

Deleted member 2653512

Guest
awesome.... next stop... AOSP direct from Google. in June, I believe? haha :good:
 

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  • 196
    Hi Everyone,

    I'm a long time lurker and benefited greatly from the postings here at xda.
    So I'd like to contribute something back.

    After trying many methods and reading all the posts in the various S4 forums, I finally found a way for SIM unlock that works for me.

    I have tested it, and it works on my T-Mobile S4.

    Credit to these posts:

    FAQ:
    • Is this for real? Does it really unlock?
      YES! Many people have tried it, and most people have successes.
      If you are having problems with the unlock process, please read the rest of the FAQ.
    • Will this SIM unlock work on my model of Galaxy S4 that is not T-Mobile (SGH-M919)?
      This unlock has been tried on the T-Mobile (USA) version of the phone, if you're coming from any other model, YMMV, it might or might not work.
      That being said, many others have tried it on the AT&T model, and on the international I9505 with success.
    • Do I need to be on stock rom?
      Yes, you need to be on stock rom for this to work.
      One of the main causes of failure to unlock is people not flashing back to stock rom first. The reason is the special dial codes only work on stock roms.
    • Is the unlock permanent? Do the unlock last through reboot/reflash/etc.?
      Yes, the unlock is permanent.
      You can reflash a custom rom, or do anything you want to the phone, and the unlock will stay.
    • In step 7, my phone is already "SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[0]", what should I do?
      Great, this is the setting you want.
      It means your phone already allows you to make some settings changes, it DOES NOT mean your phone is already unlocked.
      You should continue with the rest of the process until the last step.
    • In step 14, backup missing.
      If the golden backup doesn't exist, try the work around found by GrndSers-Rcng:
      http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=43172004&postcount=292
    • How do I know the unlock is successful?
      If your phone is not unlocked, when you put in an unauthorized SIM card, a dialog pops up on your phone asking you to enter the unlock code.
      If you're successful with this procedure, there would be no popup dialog asking for the unlock code when you put in any SIM card.

    Here are the steps:
    1. Goto phone dailer, and enter *#27663368378# for the debug service menu.
    2. In "ServiceMode", select [1] UMTS
    3. In "UMTS MAIN MENU", select [1] DEBUG SCREEN
    4. In "DEBUG SCREEN", select [6] PHONE CONTROL
    5. In "PHONE CONTROL", select [6] NETWORK LOCK
    6. In "NETWORK LOCK", select [3] PERSO SHA256 OFF
      It should show:
      SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[1]
      SHA256_OFF => SHA256_ON
    7. Now touch the first line SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[1]
      It should show:
      MENU NOT EXIST
      PRESS BACK KEY
      Current Command is 116631
    8. Now press the menu button and select "Back"
      It should show:
      SHA256_ENABLED_FLAG[0]
      SHA256_OFF => Not Change
    9. Again, press the menu button and select "Back", and you're back in the "NETWORK LOCK" screen
    10. Press the menu button and select "Back", and you're in the "PHONE CONTROL" screen
    11. Press the menu button and select "Back", and you're in the "DEBUG SCREEN" screen
    12. Finally, press the menu button and select "Back", and you're back in the "UMTS MAIN MENU" screen
    13. Select [6] COMMON
    14. In "COMMON" screen, select [6] NV REBUILD
      Now you are in the "NV REBUILD" screen, you should see the following text:
      ------------------------------
      Golden-Backup exist
      You can Restore Cal/NV
      ------------------------------
    15. Now for the final step.
      In "NV REBUILD" screen, select [4] Restore Back-up
      The button lights for menu and back should come on, and the phone will auto reboot in a few seconds.
      Note: chavxxx's post of selecting "[1] Load default NV" DID NOT work for me.

    Congratulations, your phone is now unlocked.
    Stick in a sim card from a different carrier and try it out.

    Please post followups of your experience with this unlock method.

    Thanks, and good luck!
    15
    I was having the issue of trying and trying and not getting it unlocked... Mine had the [0] at the end already but the Current Command wasnt 116631... If this happens to you, you have to get the [0] value to [1]...how to do it? Do step 6 but select [2] Perso sha256 on, then do step 7 and 8 and then you should have the [1] value as it states on the OP... Now follow the OP instruction from step 6 all the way to the end (on step 7 you should see Current Command is 116631, thats how you know it worked). If on NV REBUILD there is no backup, make one (option 3) then restore that back up (option 4), wait till it reboots, pop a non tmobile SIM and you should be unlock...

    Ohhh btw this worked for me on the first try that I figured out how to get the Current Command is 116631... Poped my old SunCom SIM from Puerto Rico and never got that unlock code screen, I even got to see my old 787 number from PR (it brings back memories.... :rolleyes: )

    Sorry if my intructions are confusing to follow, I tried my best at this time of the night... But if it helped you please just hit that thanks button... :D

    Sent from my SGS4 using Tapatalk 2
    3
    Unfortunately this method doesnt work on my GS4 M919 :crying:

    You don't need to quote the whole original post just to say that.:silly:
    3
    connection problem or invalid mmi code

    thats the message i get when i dial the number in the first step

    Another way to get in to the service menu is *#0011#
    See this tread: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2282683
    3
    connection problem or invalid mmi code

    thats the message i get when i dial the number in the first step

    should i be on complete stock?
    im running wicked version 2 right now