[HOWTO] / [GUIDE] SPH-L720 Domestic SIM Unlock T-Mobile:AT&T:metroPCS:Straighttalk

[ecs87]

Okay i understand. So i won't be able to use any custom roms at all after i unlock and after i flash back to the mk2 modem? i like CM11 & custom themes

will i be able to at least root my phone or update to 4.4.2 without losing unlock ?

please reply asap

You MAY be able to use custom ROMs but the issues you face can easily be resolved by sticking to stock because...everything works right out the box. Custom ROMs are cool...but troublesome in our case.

You can do anything you want minus resetting the nv/efs with ##72786# (note to everyone, DO NOT EVER RESET YOUR PHONE WITH THIS DIALER CODE). You can wipe data/cache through recovery and your unlock will stick. You can upgrade to NAE without losing your unlock. You can root without losing your unlock. The only thing you cannot do is dial that code I mentioned. THAT will force your device to re lock itself (domestically, your international unlock SHOULD still be active).

Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app

 

[Brainfeederz]

You MAY be able to use custom ROMs but the issues you face can easily be resolved by sticking to stock because...everything works right out the box. Custom ROMs are cool...but troublesome in our case.

You can do anything you want minus resetting the nv/efs with ##72786# (note to everyone, DO NOT EVER RESET YOUR PHONE WITH THIS DIALER CODE). You can wipe data/cache through recovery and your unlock will stick. You can upgrade to NAE without losing your unlock. You can root without losing your unlock. The only thing you cannot do is dial that code I mentioned. THAT will force your device to re lock itself (domestically, your international unlock SHOULD still be active).

Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app

Thanks a lot man , appreciate it

 

[iBowToAndroid]

You can do anything you want minus resetting the nv/efs with ##72786# (note to everyone, DO NOT EVER RESET YOUR PHONE WITH THIS DIALER CODE). You can wipe data/cache through recovery and your unlock will stick. You can upgrade to NAE without losing your unlock. You can root without losing your unlock. The only thing you cannot do is dial that code I mentioned. THAT will force your device to re lock itself (domestically, your international unlock SHOULD still be active).

Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app

Say someone who had unlocked performed an SCRTN (or even RTN, since that also wipes programming info). Would you be able to re-unlock domestically, from what you know of how the process works?

 

[steveokinevo]

Does this work for boost mobile?

Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA Free mobile app

 

[ecs87]

Say someone who had unlocked performed an SCRTN (or even RTN, since that also wipes programming info). Would you be able to re-unlock domestically, from what you know of how the process works?

They should be able to. They're just going to need to repeat the process (downgrade modem, use service menu to unlock, put current build modem back on, profit!)

Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app

---------- Post added at 05:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:35 PM ----------

Does this work for boost mobile?

Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA Free mobile app

Boost Mobile is CDMA not GSM. You need to FLASH to CDMA carriers, there's no such thing as "unlocking" to a CDMA carrier. Flashing phones is NOT for the faint of heart.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app

 

[iBowToAndroid]

They should be able to. They're just going to need to repeat the process (downgrade modem, use service menu to unlock, put current build modem back on, profit!)

Good to know. Unlocked another one today, it's ridiculous how easy it is!

 

[ecs87]

Good to know. Unlocked another one today, it's ridiculous how easy it is!

It really is. After the first 10 I didn't need the service menu instructions anymore. Makes the process go by so much faster lol

Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app

 

[iBowToAndroid]

It really is. After the first 10 I didn't need the service menu instructions anymore. Makes the process go by so much faster lol

Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app

I'd never be able to memorize all those steps lol

 

[Roxisayshi]

stuck in firmware upgrade

I need some help here. I am stuck in Point 1 where it says to refer to http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2486134

I followed the steps but when I started the ODIN flash process, it failed and now I am getting error "Firmware upgrade encountered as issue. Please select recovery mode in Kies & try again". Can someone please help me out here?

 

[ecs87]

I need some help here. I am stuck in Point 1 where it says to refer to http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2486134

I followed the steps but when I started the ODIN flash process, it failed and now I am getting error "Firmware upgrade encountered as issue. Please select recovery mode in Kies & try again". Can someone please help me out here?

You're flashing the whole firmware file. The OP is outdated. You're going to need to get out of your soft brick and follow the updated instructions throughout the thread.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app

 

[Roxisayshi]

You're flashing the whole firmware file. The OP is outdated. You're going to need to get out of your soft brick and follow the updated instructions throughout the thread.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app

Thanks! I am going to come out of soft brick. Can you please let me know on which page of this thread can i find updated instructions?

 

[levitation]

lol

Thank you for this awesome How to for the Sprint galaxy S4!

I've sucessfully unlocked my sprint s4. MY question is, is there any way to possibly back up the settings that were changed for the unlock, such as via NV items, EFS backup, etc? Where is this information exactly stored? Maybe it would be possible to backup the new settings, and restore to another Galaxy s4, as sort of an "One click" solution to unlocking the Sprint s4? Has anyone tried?

Good work!:good:

 

[iBowToAndroid]

Thanks! I am going to come out of soft brick. Can you please let me know on which page of this thread can i find updated instructions?

Pages 12 and 13 - if you're signed in to XDA (more posts per page)

Thank you for this awesome How to for the Sprint galaxy S4!

I've sucessfully unlocked my sprint s4. MY question is, is there any way to possibly back up the settings that were changed for the unlock, such as via NV items, EFS backup, etc? Where is this information exactly stored? Maybe it would be possible to backup the new settings, and restore to another Galaxy s4, as sort of an "One click" solution to unlocking the Sprint s4? Has anyone tried?

Good work!:good:

I'm not sure if it's possible to make a one click that will perform the service menu steps. You really don't need a one click anyways - the whole process takes all of 5 minutes. One clicks are for lazy people. Better to actually learn something about the process and your phone.

 

[jumpman6235]

I need some help here. I am stuck in Point 1 where it says to refer to http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2486134

I followed the steps but when I started the ODIN flash process, it failed and now I am getting error "Firmware upgrade encountered as issue. Please select recovery mode in Kies & try again". Can someone please help me out here?

I have the same issue, Followed OP post and now its soft bricked.. but I cannot get out. I think my NAND has been currupted?

EDIT: nevermind, I was trying to flash firmware + bootloader and it kept failing. I tried just firmware and it worked

 

[levitation]

lol

Pages 12 and 13 - if you're signed in to XDA (more posts per page)

I'm not sure if it's possible to make a one click that will perform the service menu steps. You really don't need a one click anyways - the whole process takes all of 5 minutes. One clicks are for lazy people. Better to actually learn something about the process and your phone.

Lazy? Hardly. But call it what you want. I like to be efficient. I've learned the process. Now I want to learn the process of making it into a sort of one click solution, for convenience. The same way there are a lot of one click solutions on XDA that we don't have to perform manually. Not to be lazy but to be more efficient. And it is possible. The international unlock is a one click solution, but the same process can also be performed manually. Now can we get to learning on how we can customize this into a one click solution? Any input would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[iBowToAndroid]

Lazy? Hardly. But call it what you want. I like to be efficient. I've learned the process. Now I want to learn the process of making it into a sort of one click solution, for convenience. The same way there are a lot of one click solutions on XDA that we don't have to perform manually. Not to be lazy but to be more efficient. And it is possible. The international unlock is a one click solution, but the same process can also be performed manually. Now can we get to learning on how we can customize this into a one click solution? Any input would be appreciated. Thank you.

Sure, go for it :laugh:

 

[xpertx]

Emergency Calls only

hello,

Ive followed all the steps on the and successfully unlocked a few L720s. However, i have a few phones that are giving me emergency calls only error. after i finish the domestic unlock process and reboot the phone, they power on and it says T-mobile and kicks to emergency calls only, switches back for a brief second and then back to emergency calls only and remains on that.
I've checked the roaming settings, and the apns as well as different sim cards still same thing. I even tried flashing back NAE after procedure was done, as well as leaving it on MDC and still no luck. anybody have any idea what the issue might be? like i said, on some s4's it works perfect while others it does this. oh and i even tried ##72786# and redoing the steps all over.

 

[iBowToAndroid]

hello,

Ive followed all the steps on the and successfully unlocked a few L720s. However, i have a few phones that are giving me emergency calls only error. after i finish the domestic unlock process and reboot the phone, they power on and it says T-mobile and kicks to emergency calls only, switches back for a brief second and then back to emergency calls only and remains on that.
I've checked the roaming settings, and the apns as well as different sim cards still same thing. I even tried flashing back NAE after procedure was done, as well as leaving it on MDC and still no luck. anybody have any idea what the issue might be? like i said, on some s4's it works perfect while others it does this. oh and i even tried ##72786# and redoing the steps all over.

Blacklisted. It's the only possible answer, as long as you're sure you have a SIM that works

 

[xpertx]

Blacklisted. It's the only possible answer, as long as you're sure you have a SIM that works

I used that same sim to unlock anther phone today and it worked, but not on this one. i checked the serial number of the device that worked with the carrier they both came up as bad. i checked it under the Checkesnfree.com IMEI/Blacklist checker and it shows they both pass. the sim card im using is a simple mobile. to be specific it says no service on this particular device, i am going to try this same sim with all the procedures on one more phone right now.

EDIT: just tried another s4, does the same thing.

 

[Roxisayshi]

Pages 12 and 13 - if you're signed in to XDA (more posts per page)

Thanks. I was able to recover from soft brick and as a fast step tried to downgrade from NAE to MDC. It worked. But now while I am in MDC, my phone keeps getting hanged with error "Google Play has stopped". It gives me OK button to close the alert but it pops up again and again. Due to this I am not able to follow rest of the steps to unlock my phone with T Mobile SIM.

---------- Post added at 04:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:23 AM ----------

Thanks. I was able to recover from soft brick and as a fast step tried to downgrade from NAE to MDC. It worked. But now while I am in MDC, my phone keeps getting hanged with error "Google Play has stopped". It gives me OK button to close the alert but it pops up again and again. Due to this I am not able to follow rest of the steps to unlock my phone with T Mobile SIM.

Alright! Please ignore the above post. I was able to find a workaround. Stopped Google Play services which resolved the issue. I will check back later on how to resolve this permanently. As of now I am just focussing on getting my TMobile sim working. I am now stuck in Step 12 of the original post. I am pretty new here and not sure how to go forward on this one -

12) WIFI that sonofa up and search for apn settings shortcut and build.prop editor in the Play Store.

Go into the build.prop editor and add the following two lines:

ril.sales_code=LOL
ro.csc.sales_code=LOL