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

[bthorne79]

code is 373546. not sure how to use it though.

Thanks for the code most cases if your full stock and not unlocked When you put in a SIM card from your new carrier, you should be prompted for an unlock code. Punch that in and you should be good to go. If you can’t get your*hands on the new SIM right away, but want to have your Samsung Galaxy S4 prepared ahead of time, you should be able to input the unlock code by opening the phone dialler app and punching in #7465625*638*(unlock code)# or #0111*(unlock code)#.*

Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app

 

[optimummind]

Thanks for the code most cases if your full stock and not unlocked When you put in a SIM card from your new carrier, you should be prompted for an unlock code. Punch that in and you should be good to go. If you can’t get your*hands on the new SIM right away, but want to have your Samsung Galaxy S4 prepared ahead of time, you should be able to input the unlock code by opening the phone dialler app and punching in #7465625*638*(unlock code)# or #0111*(unlock code)#.*

Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app

Those dialer sequences doesn't do anything on my Galaxy S4 on the OD2 Lollipop build.

====================================================================================

So I called Sprint and talked to their "Advanced" tech support representative. He said all Sprint is obligated to do is to provide the customer with the MSL number needed for the Domestic Unlock but not actually perform the Domestic Unlock for the customer. When asked why, he replied that they have not been trained to perform the Domestic Unlock procedure on the Galaxy S4.

He also corrected the previous information I received from the non-Advanced tech support personnel, which is to say that there is no remote Domestic Unlock procedure.

The Advanced tech rep said I have 3 choices on what to do with the MSL code.

[1] Take the phone into an official Sprint Repair Store and have them unlock for Domestic with the provided MSL code. Yet, when I called a Sprint Repair Store, they said no one knows to perform a domestic unlock on the Galaxy S4.

[2] Call my new carrier of choice, such as AT&T or Straight Talk, and ask them for the domestic unlock procedure with the MSL code. I called Straight Talk tech support and they don't know how to perform the domestic unlock. They asked me to perform the domestic unlock first then call them to activate service with Straight Talk, lol~

[3] Call a local phone repair store and see if anyone knows how to do domestic unlock with the MSL code.

In the end, I decided to simply revert back to NG2 and perform the domestic unlock as outlined in one of the DIY threads here. Seems much simpler and straightforward, I hope.

 

[dromango]

Those dialer sequences doesn't do anything on my Galaxy S4 on the OD2 Lollipop build.

====================================================================================

So I called Sprint and talked to their "Advanced" tech support representative. He said all Sprint is obligated to do is to provide the customer with the MSL number needed for the Domestic Unlock but not actually perform the Domestic Unlock for the customer. When asked why, he replied that they have not been trained to perform the Domestic Unlock procedure on the Galaxy S4.

He also corrected the previous information I received from the non-Advanced tech support personnel, which is to say that there is no remote Domestic Unlock procedure.

The Advanced tech rep said I have 3 choices on what to do with the MSL code.

[1] Take the phone into an official Sprint Repair Store and have them unlock for Domestic with the provided MSL code. Yet, when I called a Sprint Repair Store, they said no one knows to perform a domestic unlock on the Galaxy S4.

[2] Call my new carrier of choice, such as AT&T or Straight Talk, and ask them for the domestic unlock procedure with the MSL code. I called Straight Talk tech support and they don't know how to perform the domestic unlock. They asked me to perform the domestic unlock first then call them to activate service with Straight Talk, lol~

[3] Call a local phone repair store and see if anyone knows how to do domestic unlock with the MSL code.

In the end, I decided to simply revert back to NG2 and perform the domestic unlock as outlined in one of the DIY threads here. Seems much simpler and straightforward, I hope.

Thanks for explaining further. When I was on the phone with sprint, they said they can remotely unlock it and I should wait 3-5 days....

on another note, I never got a prompt to enter a code when I put in a live sim card for tmobile. The phone gave me a Sim Card error notification.

If this is going to be too much hassle which it is already, im going to just sell it and get newer phone for same value. Farewell sprint and farewell samsung.

 

[optimummind]

Thanks for explaining further. When I was on the phone with sprint, they said they can remotely unlock it and I should wait 3-5 days....

on another note, I never got a prompt to enter a code when I put in a live sim card for tmobile. The phone gave me a Sim Card error notification.

If this is going to be too much hassle which it is already, im going to just sell it and get newer phone for same value. Farewell sprint and farewell samsung.

And looking over at the official forum, Sprint said Samsung has no plans to update the firmwares of older devices so that a popup screen appears asking for a SIM unlock code. Samsung will implement such functionality only for newer devices going forward.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

 

[iBowToAndroid]

Ughhh. So much bad information in the last 10 posts or so. Allow me to clarify:

1. No Sprint phones (iPhone 5c and up excluded) that were released before February of this year will get Domestic SIM Unlock (DSU) capability. The bit about "automatically doing it over the air" is utter BS.

2. Sprint phones are not GSM based. Therefore they have never, and likely will never, have or use "unlock codes" like a GSM phone will. That's why, when you insert a different carrier's SIM, it doesn't ask you for the code - it just sits there and tells you "Invalid SIM".

3. The MSL code has absolutely nothing to do with GSM unlocking. It's for unlocking the CDMA programming parameters so that you can have it flashed to a prepaid CDMA carrier. Even so, getting the code is only the first step - and the easiest. It's very easy to obtain he code from the phone itself, without contacting Sprint.

Bottom line: If you want a Sprint phone DSU'd, follow the existing guide here on XDA. But also read the entire thread(s) - the OPs are not maintained or edited and are out of date.

 

[mynameistory]

Texting and talking seem to work fine after I did this. However the big problem I have is it is storm in like 2G data mode. I get 0.2 down and 0.14 up. Is there some setting I screwed up on or something, because even 3 g should be hitting 1-3 Mbps... I am sort of technically competent, at least when it comes to following directions, so I am sort of hoping that you guys can help me out a bit.

Thanks!

See here:

One more time.
I found out why I was unable to get H+ on my phone!
Here:
Quote:
Originally Posted by imbmiller
10) Under the NETWORK CONTROL menu we just came from select [4] AQUISITION ORDER and change it to [3]UMTS_GSM

After selecting [1] UMTS-GSM in acquisition order, it somehow kept reverting back to GSM-UMTS, as if I had selected choice [2].
It seems as though the menu selections are titled incorrectly!
When I selected [2]GSM-UMTS, it said [1] UMTS-GSM selected. There's a mix-up in the menu!

Then I selected WCDMA ALL in the band selection, and instantly picked up H+.
Look for this little goof-up during your menu selections!

Make sure you only select WCDMA ALL. Don't mess with GSM, LTE, or any of the others.

 

[M1lt]

Lollipop anyone?

I've been running 4.4.2 with the MDC modem for about a year now. I'm using the SPH-L720 on T-mobile. Has anyone tried to upgrade to 5.0.1? Does anyone have a ROM they reccommend?

 

[iBowToAndroid]

I've been running 4.4.2 with the MDC modem for about a year now. I'm using the SPH-L720 on T-mobile. Has anyone tried to upgrade to 5.0.1? Does anyone have a ROM they reccommend?

Unlock is possible on stock 5.0

 

[iggloovortex]

Unlock is possible on stock 5.0

If it's already unlocked on 4.4.2 and I upgrade using the update they're pushing through the phone, will I have to re-unlock or will it stay unlocked?

 

[iBowToAndroid]

If it's already unlocked on 4.4.2 and I upgrade using the update they're pushing through the phone, will I have to re-unlock or will it stay unlocked?

If you're using it in the US, it will relock you

 

[iggloovortex]

If you're using it in the US, it will relock you

of course, and i did some seearching, unlocking isnt that easy huh

 

[iBowToAndroid]

of course, and i did some seearching, unlocking isnt that easy huh

Ehh... I think it is. But I've done lots of them

 

[eric303]

there was a ADB command that can get you into the secret menu, i cant seem to find it again, does anyone know what the command was?

 

[Shaun_vip]

If you're using it in the US, it will relock you

That is incorrect, at least for me... I started at ng5 and unlocked... did the OA3 OTA and OD2 OTA (had to flash stock recoveries and reflash mk5 modem), but turned on GSM and had straight talk ATT sim working properly when network set to GSM immediately after reboot with update. I used Galaxy Tools and it verified unlock status before I even tried using it.

I apologize I didnt realize this was the l720 NOT "T" forum... mine is a l720T delete this post if possible... Again Apologies.

 

[iBowToAndroid]

That is incorrect, at least for me... I started at ng5 and unlocked... did the OA3 OTA and OD2 OTA (had to flash stock recoveries and reflash mk5 modem), but turned on GSM and had straight talk ATT sim working properly when network set to GSM immediately after reboot with update. I used Galaxy Tools and it verified unlock status before I even tried using it.

I apologize I didnt realize this was the l720 NOT "T" forum... mine is a l720T delete this post if possible... Again Apologies.

Well the T doesn't have its own forum... But my response was to someone asking if accepting the Lollipop OTA would relock them, which is true. But yes there's a way to re-unlock again

 

[Shaun_vip]

My OTA to OD2 did NOT relock my phone... after the od2 OTA it was still unlocked

 

[iBowToAndroid]

My OTA to OD2 did NOT relock my phone... after the od2 OTA it was still unlocked

Are you in the US?

 

[Shaun_vip]

Yes.

 

[PorkMoon587]

I followed the steps in this guide and I no longer have the invalid sim. Can I use the CDMA sim that comes with the straight talk kit?

*Update:
I got ST to activate the AT&T sim card. Some tweaks and I've got sms, calls, and it shows H+ with some arrow movement but no data. Something I overlooked? Setting I fudged?

 

[iBowToAndroid]

I followed the steps in this guide and I no longer have the invalid sim. Can I use the CDMA sim that comes with the straight talk kit?

*Update:
I got ST to activate the AT&T sim card. Some tweaks and I've got sms, calls, and it shows H+ with some arrow movement but no data. Something I overlooked? Setting I fudged?

Mobile data has to be enabled and the APN has to be correct in order to get a data icon. So anything else is network or plan related