IPhone 5C 'Bad ESN' - Ok for unlocking in Italy?
Quick question. I am trying to get a good price on an iPhone 5C off of eBay. I have found one in the USA that has 'Bad ESN, means can't be activated with Sprint.' Will I be OK to buy this and unlock it for use in Italy on TIM / Vodaphone / WIND etc?
If the device has a bad ESN it will never work. Sprint will not and cannot unlock it with a bad ESN.
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got an iphone 3gs as gift, but for unlocking the same the company is asking for a bill. Where do i get one?
The company is asking for a bill to ensure the account has been payed off / qualifies for unlocking. The company will also need the information to log any requests.
Solution:
Get in contact with the origional owner of the phone and have them contact the previous carrier to get it unlocked. -
Can I use unlocked iPhone with bad ESN in South America?
I want to buy an unlocked iPhone 4s or newer but it has a bad ESN/IMEI/MEID. I read that even though it is blacklisted and can’t be used in the USA and Canada, it can be used in most of the world’s GSM carriers (assuming a compatible frequency). Assume the iPhone is GSM and the carrier abroad is GSM too. Because it has a bad ESN it’s cheaper.
But I’d like to buy the phone in Canada and test it here before I leave the country so I can return it if something doesn’t work. How can I test it? I read that data might work wherever there’s public Wifi but I mean I wanna test if it can actually make calls and text. Is there usually problems with those features with used iPhones? Do any carriers abroad check the ESN blacklist and not allow the phone?
I also read that some phones have a country code lock, which says that the phone won't connect to systems with particular country codes and that cracking the country code lock is a lot more difficult than the SIM unlock. Is this true or usual in iPhones?
For the record, "bad ESN" isn't exactly a synonym for "stolen phone”.dariuchi wrote:
For the record, "bad ESN" isn't exactly a synonym for "stolen phone”.
No, it's a synonym for 'very likely to be stolen, and more problem than it's worth, don't waste your money'. -
How can I use a SCH-LC11 device in CHINA which bought from ebay. I am not Verizon customer but I prefer to using your 4G LTE Router . How can I get the unlock code? The device may have a bad ESN but I only use it in CHINA. Kindly looking forward your reply. Thanks!
It's good to read Antoniad's post. It reassures me that I can use my new iPad as an international communication device which is the reason I purchased the thing. However, I called Verizon today (my provider of cellular data) who told me that I can't just pop in a SIM card as you suggested. He also said that he was from the "Pre-Pay" division of Verizon and he was certain that I couldn't do what I planned to do. I was extremely disappointed as I had called Apple prior to buying the iPad and I read the algorhythm on the website for choosing an iPad before purchasing. Those sources were quite specific and the information seemed clear. I would be able to use my iPad to communicate through cellular connections while traveling on the road, literally, abroad. I was told that I could pop in a data card wherever I was, just as you indicated in your message above, and voila I was good to go. The Verizon rep definitively rained on that parade, but said that I might be able to do this if I have a "Post-Pay" account, a different area of Verizon. I haven't had the chance to talk to this division yet, so I looked to Apple's Support for answers. Maybe I will find out that I can use my iPad as an international communication device while traveling on the road afterall, however, it appears I may need a different type of account (Post-Pay), something I was never warned about. Can I switch to this kind of account? I don't know. I have to find out. If you have any information about this issue, it would be good to share since I strongly suspect there are others who bought the iPad for the same purpose that I have.
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If i buy an iphone with a bad esn, will i still be able to use the apple appstore?
1. If I buy an iphone with a bad esn, will i still be able to use the apple app store?
2. Searching craigslist, it looks like iphones with a bad esn are cheaper than buying an ipod. If it's the same functionality, then is there a downside to getting an iphone with a bad esn instead of an ipod touch?
ThanksActually, you can in fact restore it or re-activate it using iTunes. A bad ESN just means it can't ne activated for phone service, but it can still be used as a touch. Phones with bad ESN's are not necessarily stolen, if the owner/account holder fails to pay their bill, the carrier will list with a bad ESN.
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if an iphone has a bad esn can i use the touchscreen as a repalcement for a phone with a working esn?
as long as the models were the same i dont see why not but warning to you doing it will void any warranty you have with apple
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I have been given permission for unlocking my iphone 3 GS from Orange. I want to set up the phone for my wife to use with a new number and carrier. Do I unlock under my itunes account first ( I now have a new iphone on this account) or set one up for her and then unlock the phone. I am worried about upsetting the new phone.
I would complete unlocking as is and then
restore as new once you know the iPhone is unlocked
Be aware Orange will process the request at their speed
one of the reasons they usually reside at bottom of User Sat surveys
will likely take weeks
This may also help
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5014 -
Official solution for unlocking for an old iPhone 3GS
Last summer, I purchased an iPhone 3GS together with a 2-year contract with Swisscom, one of the mobile telephone operators in Switzerland. A few weeks ago, my phone was stolen while I was on a trip. I contacted Swisscom and informed them that the phone had been stolen. They deactivated the old SIM card, and sent me a replacement SIM card. I reported the theft to the police too. My understanding is that the IMEI number of my old iPhone will be added to a blacklist so that it cannot be used on any mobile telephone networks anymore.
My father, who lives in Texas, recently upgraded from an iPhone 3GS to an iPhone 4. He extended his original contract with AT&T and simply moved his number over to the new phone. Because he no longer had a need for his old iPhone 3GS, he agreed to send it to me. At my suggestion, he went first to the Apple Store in Austin and requested that they unlock the phone. The folks at the Apple Store informed him that they could not unlock it. They suggested that Apple or the mobile carrier in Switzerland could unlock the phone.
My father shipped his old iPhone 3GS to me, and I received it yesterday. This morning, I went to the Apple Store in Zürich and asked if they could unlock the phone so that I could use it with my Swisscom SIM card—the one Swisscom sent me to replace the one in my stolen iPhone. They told me that they could not do this, and that only the original carrier, AT&T could unlock the phone.
What is the official solution for unlocking an old iPhone 3GS?
I have posted this question to the AT&T discussion forum also.
http://forums.wireless.att.com/t5/Apple/Official-solution-for-unlocking-for-an-o ld-iPhone-3GS/td-p/1998765wjosten wrote:
Does Apple have a recommendation?
Read my post. There is nothing that Apple can do for you. The decision as to whether to unlock your phone or not rests entirely with AT&T, & they will not do so under any circumstances.
I read your post, and appreciate your having taken the time to write it. However, I would like to get an official reply from someone at Apple.
Apple is a company that prides itself on its commitment to the highest standards of environmental stewardship.
http://www.apple.com/environment/
Apple’s partner AT&T is also committed to being a good corporate citizen and protecting the natural environment.
http://www.att.com/gen/corporate-citizenship?pid=8506
Re-using old products to extend their useable lifetimes is one of the most effective ways of reducing the impact we have on the environment. When my phone was stolen, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to put this philosophy into action, using my dad’s old phone to use instead of just throwing it away, or leaving it on a shelf to be discarded later.
I think it would be a shame if there were no officially sanctioned way to put an old device to good use. -
please help i bought an iphone from ebay and it is unlocked and refirbished by apple how do i know what sim card to buy for it? iPhone 3G
Contact your chosen cellular provider to obtain a compatible SIM card.
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If I purchase an iPhone 4S in Indonesia can I unlock it for use in Canada and the US as well? Can I swap out sim cars in each country as well?
iPhone_Warrior wrote:
Shipping the phone back to Indonesia will be at your expense.
You can't ship back to Apple or any of the authorized carriers, as they do not accept international shipments for iPhone warranty or service work, you must physically bring the phone back. -
Hi I have a problem I forgot my pass for unlocking iphone with Touch ID.If someone know how I can remuved please tell
to be able to restore you need to put it into recovery mode first so it won't ask for the passcode
this article will go over how to put into recovery mode at the bottom of the article:
Forgot passcode for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or your device is disabled - Apple Support
basically with it being powered off hold the home button while plugging it in and keep holding the home button until it shows the iTunes logo with a chord and it will then let you restore the device in iTunes -
hi! i have a iphone 5s in t mobile but now i live in mexico city, what can i do for unlock this iphone and have a signal in telcel, please helpme guys! i lost mi sim
What do you mean? Your only way to unlock that phone is to have had 40 days continuous service with T-Mobile and then process the unlock through them. If you had an account with T-Mobile you should be able to login and process your unlock. If you did not you can click on the chat program but they are going to tell you the same thing.
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How much does apple store charge for unlock iphone by online
how much does apple store charge for unlock iphone by online
Apple does NOT unlock iPhones. ONLY the carrier it is locked to can authorize unlocking it. Fees and requirements vary by carrier.
You can find a list of supported carriers here along with details as to which ones offer unlocking and links to their support websites.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1937 -
What is the password for unlock iPhone backup file in iTunes ?
Last night I updaite my 3GS to iOS 5 and as you know I lose all my data information such as my photo video an the most important contact list . I had back up of that information in my last iTunes 10.5 but it says me "ENTER THE PASSWORD FOR UNLOCK THE iPHONE'' . I don't know what pasword it want . Can someone help me ? I seriously I need my data .
Thank youRagazzi, io ho avuto lo stesso problema ieri sera. Dopo svariati tentativi, leggedo su di un altro post simile sempre in questa comunità. La password richiesta non è altro che la password di accesso del vostro pc. Lasciate perdere quella user dell'id apple ecc io ho fatto mille tentativi. Appena immessa la password della macchina il ripristino è partito correttamente ed ora il mio iphone 4 funziona di nuovo!
Guis i had the some problem last night. After some try i read a similar post alwais in that comunity. The request password is the same of your laptop or pc. dont'try the password of your id Apple account or other i have tried a thousand time but nothing! just write the pc password the restore, it's correctly start, and now my Iphone 4 it's ready for use! sorry for my english! -
I bought an unlocked Iphone 3GS, I needed to update Ios5 and restored the settings for that which was not authorised for unlocke, but after that iphone is not getting activate and no sim card insatlled error is there. i m using local sim card in Pakistan
You didn't buy an 'unlocked' iPhone 3GS - you bought a 'hacked' one.
Updating to iOS 5 removed the hack and the unofficial unlock.
All you can do is try to find out which network the phone is locked to and ask them if they can unlock it properly.
Otherwise, sell it or throw it away and buy an officially unlocked phone from an official source.
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