S7 Active - Switch From AT&T - Confirmed Working

[Acinko]

Just wanted to post this for anyone else that wanted to use their S7 Active with another provider and didn't want to stay with At&t
or wanted to use other sims when traveling.
( I have nothing against At&T, but there was a better option I wanted to use...ie unlimited 4g)

I wanted the S7 active but also wanted to switch from at&t (for me it was too pricey and again there was no unlimited 4g) so I thought I might be in a bind on options and was holding off on making the switch

(For me the bttery lfe alone made the S7 and S7edge completely inferior to the active and that at first was enticing enough for to me to stay with At&t)

However... I didn't realize how easy At&T themselves made it to switch.

I can confirm the S7 active (SM-G891A) running 7.0 nougat works perfectly on the other network. Not trying to give that network free marketing... but its the other carrier on a GSM network in the US.

Though its pretty straight forward.. I thought I would just state below

Prerequisites
Own your phone outright
Not on contract (or you'll presumably pay a fee)
You are the account owner

Go to this site
https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/#/
Type in your devise IMEI number and info and account email

Request unlock code

Go to your email click the confirmation (Showed up for me in about a minute)

Wait about 10-40 minutes for a second email (It says up to 48 hours but I just did this on three separate devises and they all took less than an hour)

Write down the Code provided

Turn off phone

Remove AT&T sim card and insert other carriers SIM (can be a friends, classmates, coworkers if you don't have one yet)

Turn phone on

(Pop Up generates for unlock code request)

Enter Unlock code

Done!

S7 Active free to go.

Added note:
Once your new carriers SIm comes in and If you want to keep the old number DO NOT CANCEL your line with AT&T, first insert the new SIm from the New carrier and then port your number over...

You'll keep your AT&T number that you had and automatically end your service with them. No fees no hassle as long as you met the prerequisites above.


Hope that Helps for anyone wanting to make the switch

 

[Acinko]

Forgot to add, though it might be obvious I still don't want anyone to get hung up on it... you will have to set your new APN (access point names) per your new provider and or new location. It may auto populate with your new Sim card... BUT it also may be a generic APN with the new provider and not nessicarily the best 4g network.

Just Google or call your new provider and they will provide which APN is best for your S7 active on your network.

 

[ins0mniac]

*#*#4636#*#* - To change network settings

If you are struggling with default AT&T settings:

Dial *#*#4636#*#* -> 'Device Information' -> 'Set Preferred Network Type:' -> Select 'WCDMA' or 'Global auto (PRL)'

I used to get 1 bar on LTE, now I'm getting full coverage on UMTS. I'm on MINT SIM (they are T-mobile MVNO).

 

[Acinko]

I want to add, after the first week I realized 7.0 had some intermittent 4g issues (some it would say no Internet ever with full bars)

I flashed back to 6.0.1 and all the issues are gone.

Please just keep this in mind if you have issues with s7 active 7.0 off of at&t.

 

[goowacjai]

@Acinko thanks for the heads up on 7.0 issues. How were you able to get 7.0 on an unlocked S7 active? It keeps telling me that the firmware is up to date. (Using T-mobile service)

 

[Acinko]

@Acinko thanks for the heads up on 7.0 issues. How were you able to get 7.0 on an unlocked S7 active? It keeps telling me that the firmware is up to date. (Using T-mobile service)

On t-mobile you probably want to stay on 6.0.1 and not move to 7.0 n... t-mobile is having some data issues when the phone is on 7.0

However if you want to try it anyways... download the full firm file for 7.0 and 6.0.1 (both available on this site, just search recent posts) make sure you get both so you can switch back if need e d.

And your gonna need to flash them with Odin when your phone is in download mode.

There is walkthroughs for this on this site and others so I won't repeat it all here but that is what you will need to do.

No root needed.

 

[Acinko]

Here's the 6.0.1 file, you can down load from these links and use the password to open (which is in the third post)
https://forum.xda-developers.com/s7-active/development/how-downgrade-7-0-to-6-0-1-t3590649

 

[Acinko]

And here's 7.0 n
https://forum.xda-developers.com/s7-active/how-to/g891a-android-n-offical-odin-package-t3581042

Just FYI due to heavy bandwidth usage with these types of files the links regularly break (or really just get taken off) so you may have to search for another upload if these stop working.


Good luck.

 

[ins0mniac]

I want to add, after the first week I realized 7.0 had some intermittent 4g issues (some it would say no Internet ever with full bars)

I flashed back to 6.0.1 and all the issues are gone.

Please just keep this in mind if you have issues with s7 active 7.0 off of at&t.

This is not "S7 Active" specific issue. It is overall S7 issue on Android 7.0. You don't need to downgrade to 6.0.1. Just delete all the APNs (make it EMPTY!) -> Restart phone -> Add APN -> Restart. Problem solved.

 

[CFoote]

Any particular reason why you would go to T-Mo over ATT? I think ATT's network is better? If its cost than maybe consider Cricket?

 

[Acinko]

This is not "S7 Active" specific issue. It is overall S7 issue on Android 7.0. You don't need to downgrade to 6.0.1. Just delete all the APNs (make it EMPTY!) -> Restart phone -> Add APN -> Restart. Problem solved.

I'm not sure about yours, but for sure there was issues with my active on 7.0 off of ATT and wiping / replacing APNS did not fix it. What you said to do was the first step I tried.

Then I moved on to clearing location through the other company and fully resetting networks.

Tired default APNs, tried suggested APNs tried manual and custom APNs all of which still lead to intermittent or no connectivity

It became to have regular intermittent complete loss of network and data, no matter what apn was on there.

Flashing to 6.0.1 fixed it and I never had the issue again. Again maybe it worked differently for others, but that for sure is what fixed my issues.

 

[Acinko]

Any particular reason why you would go to T-Mo over ATT? I think ATT's network is better? If its cost than maybe consider Cricket?

CFoote, I shot you over a pm.

 

[nickel911]

So, I got a S7 active off swappa and it works with my cricket account. However everytime I make or receive a call a small notice a the bottom of the screen says PROVISIONAL FWD ACTIVE comes on. (see screen grabs). Basically if I am on the phone or have the phone down on a table and miss a call. My callers are being sent to this 916 area code in Sacramento which appears to be a general ATT (or old owner?) vmail bank. I have tried and failed to update from ATT instructions (failed to read data). And the 3 ATT reps I am talking to say I have to have the ORIGINAL OWNER turn the function off first! Any helpo or suggestions? Apologies if this really needs its own thread. https://goo.gl/photos/f7UzoQsQfS9sE2Vk9

 

[clbgrmn]

Reverted to 6.0.1 and still having connectivity issues

I'm not sure about yours, but for sure there was issues with my active on 7.0 off of ATT and wiping / replacing APNS did not fix it. What you said to do was the first step I tried.

Then I moved on to clearing location through the other company and fully resetting networks.

Tired default APNs, tried suggested APNs tried manual and custom APNs all of which still lead to intermittent or no connectivity

It became to have regular intermittent complete loss of network and data, no matter what apn was on there.

Flashing to 6.0.1 fixed it and I never had the issue again. Again maybe it worked differently for others, but that for sure is what fixed my issues.

I think I've tried all the things listed in this thread. I have a SM-G981a (unlocked) device. When I got it (on Nougat), I cleared all APNs and added the one recommended by my provider (mintsim). I had service for about one hour and then lost it and it never came back.
I rolled back to 6.0.1 and cleared the APNs and used the same mintsim recommended APN and still don't have service.

Any ideas of next things to try?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Vozie_Stockholm]

Dial *#*#4636#*#* -> 'Device Information' -> 'Set Preferred Network Type:' -> Select 'WCDMA' or 'Global auto (PRL)'

My phone worked fine in Sweden with default settings, but in Romania I had to type in the above and chose LTE/UMTS auto (PRL) and then it worked perfect!

 

[kindanewb]

i have an s7 active that was frp and network unlocked. i am trying to use this on tmobile.
my s7 active is running android 7.0
i have a few problems and need assistance
1. the wifi calling option is greyed out under settings. from the home screen using the pulldown menu the wifi option appears to be turned on.
2. text messaging and emails worked for about one day then quit
3. samsung pay has a message ..access to samsung pay has been denied call customer service
4. s health unable to open app. your device had been compromised

any ideas?

thanks

 

[mayfieldriley]

Would this work for switching s7 to Verizon?

Would this work for Verizon or because it's cdma not gsm it won't work