[Guide] GSM unlock for Sprint LG G5

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hyelton

Recognized Contributor
May 26, 2010
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Unlocking the LG G5 Sprint model!

First and foremost thank @vittger over in this thread where the method was posted - HERE

Reason I am making this Guide/post is it seems like even though its been posted, theres not a thread for it and some miss the actual method of doing it.

I haven't tested or seen it tested on any OS below Android 7.0 so it may not work unless you've updated.


1. Download this APK - HERE
2.Install the APK
3 Open the App
4. Scroll down & Select IOT(CDG2)
5.Select LTE setting,Select Operation Mode, Then Select Lab Network
6. Device will reboot, Then go back to step 3,4, and 5, and the option Band25 make sure its enabled. scroll down to LTE Data roam config, and enable all the bands towards the bottom in that menu as well.
7. Go back to the Hidden menu APK main menu, ModemProtocol, RAT Selection, then choose GSM/WCDMA/LTE Auto
8. Reboot and you should be good to go!
9. You now have you Sprint LG G5 LS992 GSM unlocked for both US and international GSM carriers :)


To Add your APN (for data):
Go to, The hidden menu APK, IOT(CDG2), LTE Settings,
APN settings and then add your APN for your carrier

Remember you'll need to set APN type to "default" and
authentication type to "None" or else it wont work


Tested and working with AT&T 3G/HSPA,4G/LTE And T-Mobile
2G/4G/LTE working perfectly fine in the USA. Also tested with a GiffGaff UK sim roaming in the US.

This method also works with the LG V20 and LG Tribute HD so it may work on other LG devices.

Having an issue with it stop working?
Disable your screen lock. No password/swipe to unlock/fingerprints - Having a password seems to be an issue with this method.


Here's a quick YouTube video I made,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10k8I5sDtuQ
 
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PhantasmRezound

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wking1976

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Mar 22, 2017
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What do you mean by locked G5?

Will this work on a Boost LG Stylo 2? I have tried and it is not unlocked and I cannot find "scroll down to LTE Data roam config, and enable all the bands towards the bottom in that menu as well. " this part in the app.

FYI it has Android 7.0 on it.


Thanks
 

hyelton

Recognized Contributor
May 26, 2010
13,958
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Wilmington
Will this work on a Boost LG Stylo 2? I have tried and it is not unlocked and I cannot find "scroll down to LTE Data roam config, and enable all the bands towards the bottom in that menu as well. " this part in the app.

FYI it has Android 7.0 on it.


Thanks



Its not supposed too so I wouldn't think in would. But it probably doesn't hurt to try at least. But it's doubtful.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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ljm625

New member
Sep 4, 2011
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same issue with somebody mentioned before, I was using on at&t and after a reboot, it will display no sim no matter what you do, have to do a R&D reset to make it work again, and this has happened 2 times for me. anyone have solutions?
 

hyelton

Recognized Contributor
May 26, 2010
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Wilmington
same issue with somebody mentioned before, I was using on at&t and after a reboot, it will display no sim no matter what you do, have to do a R&D reset to make it work again, and this has happened 2 times for me. anyone have solutions?



This has never happened to me. Only way I can see it happening is unless your phone had an update, or something Sprint wise is doing something. Did you do a FULL reset before doing so? As in ##RTN#? Where it wipes all the Sprint carrier config etc?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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  • 35
    Unlocking the LG G5 Sprint model!

    First and foremost thank @vittger over in this thread where the method was posted - HERE

    Reason I am making this Guide/post is it seems like even though its been posted, theres not a thread for it and some miss the actual method of doing it.

    I haven't tested or seen it tested on any OS below Android 7.0 so it may not work unless you've updated.


    1. Download this APK - HERE
    2.Install the APK
    3 Open the App
    4. Scroll down & Select IOT(CDG2)
    5.Select LTE setting,Select Operation Mode, Then Select Lab Network
    6. Device will reboot, Then go back to step 3,4, and 5, and the option Band25 make sure its enabled. scroll down to LTE Data roam config, and enable all the bands towards the bottom in that menu as well.
    7. Go back to the Hidden menu APK main menu, ModemProtocol, RAT Selection, then choose GSM/WCDMA/LTE Auto
    8. Reboot and you should be good to go!
    9. You now have you Sprint LG G5 LS992 GSM unlocked for both US and international GSM carriers :)


    To Add your APN (for data):
    Go to, The hidden menu APK, IOT(CDG2), LTE Settings,
    APN settings and then add your APN for your carrier

    Remember you'll need to set APN type to "default" and
    authentication type to "None" or else it wont work


    Tested and working with AT&T 3G/HSPA,4G/LTE And T-Mobile
    2G/4G/LTE working perfectly fine in the USA. Also tested with a GiffGaff UK sim roaming in the US.

    This method also works with the LG V20 and LG Tribute HD so it may work on other LG devices.

    Having an issue with it stop working?
    Disable your screen lock. No password/swipe to unlock/fingerprints - Having a password seems to be an issue with this method.


    Here's a quick YouTube video I made,
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10k8I5sDtuQ
    4
    Hey guys, I just found this out: Don't set up a phone lock (in my case I had pin lock when phone turned on and a screen lock) I removed pin lock and now I can shut down the phone and/or take the battery out and I don't lose SIM configuration.

    Thanks for sharing this, I tested and confirmed this.

    To clarify, the "normal" screen locks under Settings > Lock Screen > Select Screen Lock all work fine. I've been using a PIN lock with fingerprints on the standard lock screen this whole time.

    This "other" PIN screen lock causing this whole mess is the "Secure Start-Up" option under Settings > Fingerprints & Security > Encryption. If enabled, the phone requires a PIN before booting parts of the OS with more security sensitive features and data. This includes any enabled accessibility services, ADB debugging, and - apparently - the SIM configuration.

    Using Secure Start-Up with a non-Sprint SIM actually gave me a "No SIM card" error even after entering PIN and allowing the OS to settle for a couple of minutes. Without fiddling with the SIM tray at all, I disabled Secure Start-Up and rebooted to my standard lock screen, and all my SIM configurations through this method reappeared and worked fine as before.

    This "Secure Start-Up" is also known as "File Based Encryption (FBE)" and is new to Android starting with Nougat 7.0. You can learn more about its details here: https://yourtechexplained.com/2016/12/08/explained-android-nougat-file-based-encryption/

    Since it interferes with this SIM unlock method, I'd recommend disabling Secure Start-Up and using the standard lock screen options in conjunction with other security measures such as Google's Device Manager instead.
    4
    Im currently on ZVA for the G5. Today i received an update notification (110.4mb). Anyone know if its safe to update past ZVA ?

    I bit the bullet and installed it and I'm happy to report that there are no problems at all! I didn't have to completely re-do the unlock setting but I did have to re-enter the APN settings. Other than that small inconvenience everything's fine.

    EDIT: I did the update on my wife's phone as well. Again no problems, and I didn't even have to re-enter the APN settings on hers.
    3
    Alright so this has been a minute. However this is not an unlock i hate bringing this up but if your factory reset the phone you have to try and reconfigure everything.

    Second LTE bands and HSPA+are not the same. Do a speed test and you will find that out. This is more or less a configuration using LAB/Diag mode. Now some issues you will run into specific to the G5 and using this methond. Not receiving full 4g lte. Picturemail issues taking along time to send and also not being able to download Picture mail. MSL code is needed for this which if you haggle sprint you could get there are other methods of doing so. You also will not be able to use this method to hook it up on another CDMA carrier That will cause it to roam, data to not work, and poor reception. The phone has an EE lock for all bands except the bands Sprint supports. Now what your doing with this method is using the GSM Roaming bands that spint uses in case you need to roam because sprint towers aren't available. The GSM roaming bands are not LTE, they are low spectrum 4G/ 3G /2G This works i guess but keep in mind your service will not be as good , and will not work as well as it should . It is actually relatively cheap to unlock your phone so you dont have to deal with this method of "working around" the lock. If you have questions please feel free to PM ME i am a Lvl 3 Tech so we deal with this on a daily basis



    We already know all of this :). The Sprint model can't be "unlocked" like a normal gsm device.

    I have no problems getting LTE on both T-Mobile and AT&T when I was testing this. Along with others from the US. Of course some areas might be affected BUT a that's a limitation of the phone. But my 7 hour drive up the east coast was 99% LTE. I was pulling an average of 30-40mbps on AT&T LTE. That's defiantly not HSPA+. And doing a remote unlock will not allow more bands than this method.

    I never recommend buying a cdma device for use on a GSM carrier. But people still do or have no other choice. Or some get them really cheap.

    And there's no official unlock for any cdma device. There's a remote unlock that can be bought from some but still it's not a real full unlock.
    No one said this was an unlock to make it work on another CDMA provider.

    You can't complain about a free method to make the phone work. Most users that use this method usually outside of the USA due to unknowingly buying this model.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    3
    Not really anything we didn't already know, mainly a confirmation that updating past ZVA is a BAD, BAD, STUPID IDEA if you want to keep your phone unlocked.

    Make sure to turn on Developer Options and turn off Automatic System Updates, kids!

    Fixed that for you, "past ZVA" as ZVB is the culprit here.
    EDIT: I read it wrong, you are absolutely correct. ZVB is the last safe build for GSM Unlock.

    The bulletin is causing some odd formatting if I quote it; the details can be found here:
    https://lgsecurity.lge.com/security_updates.html

    The description explicitly states now it is patching features previously accessible through the hidden menus this guide exposes.

    So far on ZVB my HiddenmenuCall app still opens fine and all settings from the GSM unlock guide are configurable. I believe there is a security issue elsewhere in the hidden menus LG wanted to address, but I wouldn't put it past them to target the unlock method itself as they already took the OP's video down from YouTube. Will report if find anything different.

    As a side note, any here that do NOT accept the July security update when it comes may have a real shot at a root method in the form of BroadPwn exploit, if and when a safe root method based on it is made public.