Question Verizon S21 Ultra Locked and not unlocking

[DodgeTransmissionsGoBoom]

I appear to be in one of those samsung lock horror stories. I purchased a paid off verizon s21 ultra that was suppose to be unlocked but after i put my tmobile sim into it works for 5 minutes perfectly then an error pops up saying unable to change carrier call verizon customer support. So i did long story short i got no where. So i filed an FCC complaint and got in contact with a verizon executive and he got in contact with who i bought the phone from and they provided all the paperwork proving it was paid off and he reprocessed the unlock request and said it will now for sure be unlocked and it didnt unlock so i contacted samsung like he said for me to do if it didnt so i did and they told me to wait 48 hours for it to process. 48 hours later guess what its still not unlocked so i call samsung back and they said verizon still hasnt released it supposedly and there is nothing they can do and i need to go back to verizon. Im stuck in an endless loop of verizon executives telling me to call samsung and samsung telling me to call verizon.

What is there left for me to do now? This is stupid why is it not unlocking... The only thing that i can think is left is that the phone is flashed with stock firmware and not verizon firmware to remove the bloatware. But that seems like it shouldnt matter. Also the phone never asks for an unlock code it just says call verizon customer service.

 

[OnnoJ]

It's more a Verizon lock horror, not Samsung.
Flashing other FW won't solve your issue.

 

[DodgeTransmissionsGoBoom]

It's more a Verizon lock horror, not Samsung.
Flashing other FW won't solve your issue.

Any other tips you have?

 

[OnnoJ]

Return to seller and demand refund...

 

[yygemmi770]

I appear to be in one of those samsung lock horror stories. I purchased a paid off verizon s21 ultra that was suppose to be unlocked but after i put my tmobile sim into it works for 5 minutes perfectly then an error pops up saying unable to change carrier call verizon customer support. So i did long story short i got no where. So i filed an FCC complaint and got in contact with a verizon executive and he got in contact with who i bought the phone from and they provided all the paperwork proving it was paid off and he reprocessed the unlock request and said it will now for sure be unlocked and it didnt unlock so i contacted samsung like he said for me to do if it didnt so i did and they told me to wait 48 hours for it to process. 48 hours later guess what its still not unlocked so i call samsung back and they said verizon still hasnt released it supposedly and there is nothing they can do and i need to go back to verizon. Im stuck in an endless loop of verizon executives telling me to call samsung and samsung telling me to call verizon.

What is there left for me to do now? This is stupid why is it not unlocking... The only thing that i can think is left is that the phone is flashed with stock firmware and not verizon firmware to remove the bloatware. But that seems like it shouldnt matter. Also the phone never asks for an unlock code it just says call verizon customer service.

First, did you verify that the unit is paid off?

Second, do you know anyone that has verizon?

Don't know if it will work, but I would try flashing the unit back to stock Verizon firmware and finding someone who has a verizon sim card.

Verizon units kind of unlock on their own. It is troubleshooting I would try because I do not believe the unit will unlock on U1 software on its own. Once it can get unlocked then flash back.

I suggest someone who has a verizon active SIM as it may help in it unlocking even though you can connect through WIFI

 

[DodgeTransmissionsGoBoom]

First, did you verify that the unit is paid off?

Second, do you know anyone that has verizon?

Don't know if it will work, but I would try flashing the unit back to stock Verizon firmware and finding someone who has a verizon sim card.

Verizon units kind of unlock on their own. It is troubleshooting I would try because I do not believe the unit will unlock on U1 software on its own. Once it can get unlocked then flash back.

I suggest someone who has a verizon active SIM as it may help in it unlocking even though you can connect through WIFI

The verizon executative said it was guaranteed paid off and he unlocked it remotely again. But it does have u1 firmware on it im guessing i need to use frija and download the vzw firmware? And will another unlock request need to be processed again? And none of my friends have verizon due to how much of a ripoff they are lmao but i can have another verizon demo sim put in at another verizon store. I feel like i would have to file anpther fcc complaint just to talk to another verizon executive.

 

[yygemmi770]

The verizon executative said it was guaranteed paid off and he unlocked it remotely again. But it does have u1 firmware on it im guessing i need to use frija and download the vzw firmware? And will another unlock request need to be processed again? And none of my friends have verizon due to how much of a ripoff they are lmao but i can have another verizon demo sim put in at another verizon store. I feel like i would have to file anpther fcc complaint just to talk to another verizon executive.

I believe for it to be unlocked or at least go through the process, the verizon U package is what I would flash, but you may be in a little bit of a issue if you don't have a verizon SIM on hand, even if not activated.

There are multiple ways to get it to flash back to U. I would use a patched ODIN and just flash the appropriate files from somewhere like samfw.com

If he sent out the remote unlock, it is very possible that once you flash back to U verizon package and connect to WIFI and go through the setup process etc. It may just unlock on its own. If you do not have a Verizon SIM card, leave your SIM out of the phone while going through the initial setup. You will need WIFI.

I would start with a clean flash just to be safe.

 

[DodgeTransmissionsGoBoom]

I believe for it to be unlocked or at least go through the process, the verizon U package is what I would flash, but you may be in a little bit of a issue if you don't have a verizon SIM on hand, even if not activated.

There are multiple ways to get it to flash back to U. I would use a patched ODIN and just flash the appropriate files from somewhere like samfw.com

If he sent out the remote unlock, it is very possible that once you flash back to U verizon package and connect to WIFI and go through the setup process etc. It may just unlock on its own. If you do not have a Verizon SIM card, leave your SIM out of the phone while going through the initial setup. You will need WIFI.

I would start with a clean flash just to be safe.

What's a patched Odin? I've only used regular Odin can you send a link to the patched one?

 

[DodgeTransmissionsGoBoom]

VERIZON FIRMWARE FLASHING UNLOCKED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[yygemmi770]

VERIZON FIRMWARE FLASHING UNLOCKED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BAM!!!!! Glad it worked! I work with phones all day long and that was the protocol I would have used glad it worked out!

 

[chen2luqi]

VERIZON FIRMWARE FLASHING UNLOCKED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello, I have encountered the same problem. Can you tell me the solution to this problem?

 

[DS1000RR]

Hello, I have encountered the same problem. Can you tell me the solution to this problem?

You literally quoted the answer

 

[Guyinlaca]

Verizon firmware has an app called "Network Unlock". Perhaps at the 60 day mark, the phone automatically unlocks. However, if on the unlocked U1 firmware, there is no framework to remove the lock. It'd be interesting to see exactly how the Verizon unlock process works.

 

[yygemmi770]

Verizon firmware has an app called "Network Unlock". Perhaps at the 60 day mark, the phone automatically unlocks. However, if on the unlocked U1 firmware, there is no framework to remove the lock. It'd be interesting to see exactly how the Verizon unlock process works.

It is somehow tied into their U package software and I am assuming unlocks it at the modem level in background processes. It's like the "signal" they send out can only be detected on their U package. I've seen it many times where Verizon phones automatically unlock themselves when restored to original package from U1.

 

[bigkahuna7660]

It is somehow tied into their U package software and I am assuming unlocks it at the modem level in background processes. It's like the "signal" they send out can only be detected on their U package. I've seen it many times where Verizon phones automatically unlock themselves when restored to original package from U1.

I can confirm this works on my s21+ that was on verizon network, and was supposedly networked unlocked. Service carrier software said vzw/vzw, vzw/vzw. Tried to switch to tmobile with no luck with sim card swap. 5 minutes, error message about cannot which carriers, please call Verizon. Was on SM-996U1. So I tried to flash to SM-996U1 TMB, then SM-996U1 VZW, then, SM-996U1 XAA. No luck. Then I flashed, hesitantly, with SM-996U VZW . I thought that would put all verizons bloatware on it. Reseted phone and it did put all verizon bloatware on it. Then the magic! I installed my new tmobile sim, and a message appeared and asked if I wished to switch carriers. YES!!! phone rebooted to tmobiles network with no verizon errors. I checked service carrier software and it was TMB/TMB, VZW/VZW. I flashed phone again to SM-996U1 XAA. I rebooted and service carrier software was TMB/TMB, TMB/VZW! I then checked for software update, took update, and all it good! Thanks for all the information here. Took me days to find it and understand it and try it!!

 

[hoorrus]

Hi, folks. I am facing the same issue with my S21 5G (SM-G991U). I am also told that the phone paid off and clean. I am not sure what version I am on currently. I have tried SamKey, but that didn't work. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

 

[yygemmi770]

Hi, folks. I am facing the same issue with my S21 5G (SM-G991U). I am also told that the phone paid off and clean. I am not sure what version I am on currently. I have tried SamKey, but that didn't work. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Does your device boot up Verizon and have all the Verizon apps?

 

[yygemmi770]

I can confirm this works on my s21+ that was on verizon network, and was supposedly networked unlocked. Service carrier software said vzw/vzw, vzw/vzw. Tried to switch to tmobile with no luck with sim card swap. 5 minutes, error message about cannot which carriers, please call Verizon. Was on SM-996U1. So I tried to flash to SM-996U1 TMB, then SM-996U1 VZW, then, SM-996U1 XAA. No luck. Then I flashed, hesitantly, with SM-996U VZW . I thought that would put all verizons bloatware on it. Reseted phone and it did put all verizon bloatware on it. Then the magic! I installed my new tmobile sim, and a message appeared and asked if I wished to switch carriers. YES!!! phone rebooted to tmobiles network with no verizon errors. I checked service carrier software and it was TMB/TMB, VZW/VZW. I flashed phone again to SM-996U1 XAA. I rebooted and service carrier software was TMB/TMB, TMB/VZW! I then checked for software update, took update, and all it good! Thanks for all the information here. Took me days to find it and understand it and try it!!

From my experience, Verizon phones will not unlock unless on the U package, the U1 never allows the unlock to be processed.

 

[hoorrus]

Does your device boot up Verizon and have all the Verizon apps?

It does not boot up with Verizon but it does have a few Verizon apps included (it has Call Filter and Digital Secure) installed. The current version of the software is G991USQS6EWD5. Service provider version is SQOMC_SM-G991U_OYN_SPR_13_0020 SPR/SPR,SPR/VZW.

 

[yygemmi770]

It does not boot up with Verizon but it does have a few Verizon apps included (it has Call Filter and Digital Secure) installed. The current version of the software is G991USQS6EWD5. Service provider version is SQOMC_SM-G991U_OYN_SPR_13_0020 SPR/SPR,SPR/VZW.

Are you using this phone with Verizon service? From info you provided, your phone thinks you are using Sprint. It's a SPR CSC. You need to change the CSC to VZW. You need to bring the phone back to it's original state for any attempt of the unlock "processing".