yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] cctw:
I think that the unlocking issue has to do with the stock firmware the phone comes with.

I've tried unlocking 4 diff Canadian i337m this week. Only one out of 4 worked. The only thing different about that one is that it came with firmware AMDC instead of AMDJ.

I suspect the unofficial AMDC allows the unlock but I can't find a Canadian version try it on =(
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] scott14719:
The Golden backup is located in NV memory. Firmware (directly) should not have anything t do with it. AT&T phones are on AMDB or AMDL and have mixed results with the method. I do think different phones contain different information in the Golden backups when they leave the factory and deciding which phone contains which information could be helpful. That's the problem also. Will it work, will it not work yet have no negative results, or will it mess your phone up...that is the gamble.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] PopcornKiller:
Didnt work

I tried this method many many times and it didnt work. I have ATT&T with 4.2.2, 1337UCUAMDL

I did all the steps just as described, but it didnt work. I did the method while my AT&T sim card was in, rebooted after the method and then turned it off, and then put in Verizon sim card (my friend has verizon iphone), and turned it on. Once it booted it asked for sim unlock code. I tried the same method again while the Verizon sim card was in and after the reboot it still asked for sim unlock code.

When i follow the steps after "[6] NV REBUILD" it says Golden Backup exists (with Verizon sim card in) even tho i did "[4] Restore Back-up" during the unlock process and verified that Golden Backup does not exists after the reboot (with my att sim card in). Golden Backup comes back after i put the Verizon sim card in.

After all of this I was able to get the unlock code from AT&T but when i enter it in, it doesnt work. I called AT&T again to verify that they gave me the correct code. I carefully entered the code it about 3-4 times and every time it was it said unsuccessful.

Does this method have something to do with no accepting the code? Some where i read that i should do "[2] PERSO SHA256 ON" if i want to enter the sim unlock code, so i did that but it didnt work as well. What do i have to do to unlock using my sim unlock code?

Please help...
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] @rbiter:
I don't think it has been confirmed get but it is possible that using the internal sim unlock might be counting as attempts toward the sim lockout.

Sent from my GT-N7100
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] PopcornKiller:
Well that would suck...what are the options if that is the case?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] @rbiter:
i am not sure. taking it to samsung service center and seeing if they can reset it?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] ChronoReverse:
Would it be possible to copy the golden backup of someone's phone that this method worked with?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] mzahs:
If this method does not work or some problem happens with the phone, is there a way to undo these changes or restore to prior state?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] george241312:
Same here i got the original unlock code and its not working even after i turned the Security back On
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] PherChe:
I did it several times, you lose the unlock when your reset all the data (hard reset) bur can unlock again. I did it and works again and again.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] scott14719:
If you people are still screwing your phones up with this method, it's your own damn fault at this point for not reading. Maybe, just maybe, you will learn for the next time.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] sloanster:
WOW you did not say anything about the eye that appears on the screen!!!:eek:

But it worked.... Thanks!
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] mzahs:
I am new to this forum, can you please tell me how to hard reset on galaxy s4? I know about soft/factory reset (if that is correct).
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] kimonasen:
telus not working with hidden menu

telus doesnt work wtih that method ? does anyone have telus ?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] keithhidalgo:
I have telus didn't work. Even tried on rogers still didn't work...
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] skedi:
I have tried:

Virgin, Rogers, Bell, Fido, Telus. None of these worked. Some reported that their Bell and Fido phone worked with this method. I don't think its a carrier depend rather phone dependent.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] yorgasor:
Didn't work for me

I have the AT&T 32G model with the AMDL firmware, and the unlock method didn't work for me. I gave up and paid for the unlock code, and that failed as well. I've tried suggestions here and from support at cellunlocker.net that I bought the code from, and so far nothing. I only have a tmobile sim, I bought this model because I couldn't get a 32G model on tmobile :(

So, where things get a little more interesting, I called AT&T to see if they could unlock it for me. I was directed to their unlock website service at and when I enter my IMEI number, it says, "Currently, this device cannot be unlocked." The support rep opened a ticket to discover why and fix the problem, but that will likely take another week. She verified the unlock code I was given earlier was correct (she seemed surprised it was already in the system, I assume that happened when I ordered the unlock code earlier).

So, given these attempts have failed, and if AT&T is unable to help me unlock the phone (I've tried the code and the original method described here many, many times, so if there is a limit, I'm sure I've gone over it), is there any other hope? I've tried doing a factory reset, and that didn't help either. Is it possible that using a tethered unlock method might work when these other attempts have failed? I'm not keen on paying another fee just to try it, but if it's my only other hope then I'd be happy to pay it just so I can finally use this awesome phone for something more than a mini tablet.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] niceppl:
Sorry after 5 attempts, you are locked forever .... no way to unlock it with any method.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] alex6speed:
I may be wrong, but when you reset your phone, if you used a code to unlock your phone, it stays unlocked after the reset. Hence it exists at a depth that doesnt get reset. Shouldnt that mean that its antenna configurations and locks also shouldnt be wiped out on a reset? Again, I may be wrong considering a hard reset.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] PherChe:
Yes, but if you read the title, the unlock is by hide options, no by code. I think something change with the flash, I flashed to Canada virgin version then go back to my carrier stock (Telcel).
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] alex6speed:
I was trying to make a tie between code unlocks and antenna configs, but I guess thats the XDA charm. I guess I'll find out for myself when I get my S4 back from repairs with Sammy. Its coming back with factory defaults.

Edit: "Hide options" are antenna configs, at least when you look at the options that you're given.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] Bender B. Rodgriguez:
So I recently performed this unlock on my S4. I tested today with a verizon SIM and did not get asked for an unlock code. I was unable to make calls and got the "emergency calls only" notification. Is this just because I didnt set up the APN, or something like AT&T where the imei of the phone needs to be allowed on the network?

I would assume that if I didn't get asked for an unlock ode that the unlock was successful. Any thoughts? Sorry for noobishness about SIM unlocking.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] rfb813:
Well the Verizon system is CDMA and the ATT system is GSM which is incompatible with CDMA phones. Try a GSM sim like T-Mobile.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] willxander3:
I did this method with my wife S4 from at&t and it work, she's using it with t-mobile right now.

Sent from my GNOTE2
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] oldblue910:
You won't be able to use a Verizon SIM card in any GSM phone. AT&T is a GSM carrier, so you will only be able to use SIMs from other GSM carriers, which in the US means AT&T, T-Mobile and a very small handful of regional carriers like Cincinnati Bell. You'll also be able to use SIM cards from cell networks all over the world since GSM is basically the global standard for cellular communications. Of course, that will only matter to you if you travel abroad regularly.

Verizon, Sprint and countless small guys (Cricket, C Spire, US Cellular, Appalachian Wireless, you name it) are based on CDMA2000 technology, which never saw worldwide adoption rates even close to that of GSM. CDMA2000 and GSM technologies are 100% incompatible with one another.

For what it's worth, I believe the US is the only country in the world that can say its largest wireless carrier is a CDMA2000 network (Verizon).
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] Weathm:
Worked like a charm on mine. Used my old T-Mobile sim card and it works on their network. Thank you!
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] Dranakin:
Great, I think the instructions in the OP worked for my 16GB. After rebooting, I turned my phone off, inserted an unactivated T-Mobile sim, turned back on, and tried making a call. It routed me to a T-Mobile activation line and said "T-Mobile" in the top left corner. If these indications are correct, then I should be network unlocked.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] millergr:
Also worked for me. But when you do a factory reset, it goes back to normal. I tried it and had to redo the steps but it does work.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] r00t55:
Thank you folks. I just unlock att version and works fine :D
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] thisisit123:
gave up and paid for a code but the code is not working ... i turned PERSO SHA256 ON and it says SHA256_ENABLE_FLAG[1],

SHA256_ON => Not Change .... w.e that means.....does that mean i turned it back on? halp gaiz
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] scott14719:
You should have read the thread before doing anything. Now all you can do is enjoy your unlockable phone...and be happy that is all that happened to it. Good luck.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] thisisit123:
some people have tried this and them used a sim unlock code and it has worked for them....so im not sure who has read the thread and who hasnt
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] scott14719:
You gambled and you lost. What good has it done for you that this method has worked for some people? You were not one of those people and you were well warned that it didn't work for all people. If four people are in a room with a button and it is well known that pressing the button will kill one out of four people, I would be smart enough not to press the button. You were not. It would be different if warnings didn't exist. The people that tried this method before it was known it could screw your phone up didn't have the same advantage that you should have taken. You see, I did read, and when I tried this, there weren't numerous warnings about it. I was lucky. It didn't unlock my phone, but it didn't screw it up either. Now, with all of the warnings that exist, there is no excuse anymore. So if you did read, you would have seen them...and if you chose to ignore them, that is all your choice.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] thisisit123:
How can you tell if your sim is permanently locked? Wouldnt it say that permanently locked if u try and put another SIM in?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] rfb813:
For those that have the problem it would be good if someone found a solution. Perhaps we need a new thread with recommendation for what to do or find a solution to the problem. It may entail them getting the unlock/unfreeze code or some other solution. Those that have found a solution should identify the method.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] electron73:
Awesome! This worked perfectly!

Vodafone SIM card from Germany confirmed working, logged on to T-mobile here in Vegas.

:good:
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] thisisit123:
So....how do u tell if your phone is permanently locked?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] scott14719:
It won't unlock.

If you try a valid code (from AT&T or a site like Cellunlocker.net) and it doesn't work. You can even try the reset code that some places sell (costs extra). If none of that works, you are permanently locked. Until / if something else comes along.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] thisisit123:
Until / if something else comes along? what does that mean?

I'd always assume that if u plugged ina different sim, a message would come up stating that the phone couldnt be unlocked.guess not
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] WarbyParker:
I think it means until someone else is able to find another method to unlock the phone.

Or if someone is able to restore the phone to a state prior to running the golden backup method indicated in the thread.

It's most likely the golden backup made some minor fundamental changes, where the phone cannot match the unlock code to the IMEI, even tho it appears it has not changed.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] taiwanese:
Anyone able to get this working for a Bell S4?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] toxicpaulution:
Just got a Tmobile sim card today. did this and it just says invalid sim and then asks for code.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] G3N0M3:
So if you flash a new rom you lose the unlock?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] alex6speed:
In fact, a factory restore does it too. When I got my phone back from repairs from Sammy, every setting was set to default, and was relocked. I kept the unlock code from AT&T. Confirmed work with T-Mobile.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] G3N0M3:
Well that sucks. :(

I'm on the Goldeneye ROM now and was hoping to be able to use my phone when I travel overseas in two weeks. I still have my stock backup but man this ROM is way too smooth for me to ever go back. I'll give ATT a call but I am not hopeful. I can still access ServiceMode for what its worth but I'm concerned this golden backup is different from the stock ROM.

Anyone try flashing the golden backup from another TW based ROM with success?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] parmar.saab:
Didn't work on AT&T i337 after several attempts.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] pixelsquish:
this worked for me while i was overseas for the last 2 weeks. popped in a Cypriot SIM card and it worked like a charm
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] aimfire72:
Didn't work for me, on AT&T stock rom, phone made in Korea. Put in a tmob sim and asked me to enter an unlock code. Oh well, got the phone off contract, so I'll just ask att for the code.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] aimfire72:
Wow, like pulling teeth trying to get AT&T to give me the unlock code - and I bought it full price, off contract! Was doing the online chat and they started off asking me why I wanted to unlock it and tried to sell me on an international roaming plan. Said no thanks, got transferred to another guy who was a total ****... he looked up my account info and saw that I also had an HTC One and was in disbelief that I actually use more than one phone on the same line :rolleyes:... Then he basically accused me of using a stolen phone and asked me to take a photo of my receipt and email it to him, wtf! I just bought it Friday at a corporate store and didnt like what he was getting at there. He told me he was under no obligation to unlock my phone. Click the window shut and gonna try again by calling CS direct. Unreal. :mad:
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] taiwanese:
I see. Guess it doesn't work
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] G3N0M3:
I just tried a friends tmobile sim and can confirm flashing a ROM does not remove the unlock. ServiceMenu still shows a golden backup exists but the phone is unlocked. I was able to both place and recieve calls with a tomible sim.

I always wipe data, system and factory reset before flashing so I am curious as to why some have claimed they lost the unlock after a factory restore.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] millergr:
Yes I loose the unlock but I just go through the passes again and it works.

I just wish it was permeant for me.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] ocjmakaveli:
Unlocked 3 tmobile s4 white versions. The only thing was a little different was clicking on the persha off twice . Thank you very. much
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] arkui0129:
It seem's my Bell s4 does not work on stock rom or even a custom rom
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] rfb813:
Don't be so pessimistic, check out his thread: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=42955834#post42955834. There are solutions.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] slooky:
Don't quote me on this...but if I'm not mistaken, the Bell version of the GS4 doesn't have as many radio options as Rogers or Wind / Mobilicity's...
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] motumbo:
For those of you having problems with bought unlock code, I did NV REBUILD instead of restoring backup and just then I pushed the unlock code and this did the trick for me on two AT&T s4.

BTW, this method worked for me in one out of three I337.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] Sc4ryB3ar:
Would you please detail this process?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] motumbo:
NV rebuild option is in the same menu where golden backup is. It is option number 1. My code didn't work so I did PERSO SHA 256 ON as recommended in this thread tried code didn't work either, then I tried NV rebuild it reboots exactly the same as when you restore golden backup and then submitted code and it worked!!

Edit: I mean to say Load default NV instead of NV rebuild
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] JJ5150:
N00b question: What's the purpose of unlocking the sim card anyway?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] lanwarrior:
Doesn't work with the S4 Active
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] pixelsquish:
the advantage is you can now use it on any other carrier you want to that supports the same frequencies the s4 does. so in the US you can now use the phone on say TMobile or on a pay as you go. if you travel overseas, the benefit is huge, as you can install a sim from a local carrier and avoid the outrageous prices AT&T charges for international roaming.

i just did this while I was in cyprus for 2 weeks. i got a local number and incoming calls were free, texts were 2 cents, and i kept in touch with all my relatives that were there while i was.

this also would allow you to sell the phone for more money and probably faster as well since now the buyer also has more options of where to use the phone.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] djdef80:
How can you silence the shutter with this ROM? Is there a file I can rename?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] ma678:
Wrong thread. Unlocking does nothing related to Rom features.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] thisisit123:
confirmed fix when codes arent working. it literally fetches the code or something it was the most legit thing ive seen.buy for 15$ plug in and run the program and in 30s ur phone is unlocked....couldnt be any easier.

thats so much for the heads up
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] riammx:
Hi, i have a question about this unlock

I have a i337m from telcel mexico and i have unlocked it with this guide, i am now in the us and i have 2 sim cards one from att and one from tmobile

Both of them are 4g sim cards with prepaid 4g plan, but none of them connect to 4g they just connect to 3g

Yes i am in a 4 g area for both companies.

I have already called att customer service they registered the imei and it didnt help, aldo i already tried changing the lte bands but when i do that it dosent connect to internet

I also have tried changing the apn with no luck.

Please help what should i try now?

Any ideas?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] Brava27:
Download TELINFO https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aebeinroth.telinfo&hl=en Make sure LTE/HSPA etc... is selected on PHONE INFO in the menu down below.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] Brouss:
Nice

Works for me on AT&T. Thanks!!
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] riammx:
Downloaded, installed and LTE/GSM auto (PLR). Was selected then when i clicked any other option with lte in it it didnt changed then i selected wcdma only and it changed but when i tried to go to lte gsm auto now i cant it dosent change

Any other idea?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] Radraph:
This works

I can confirm this works on m919(t-mobile) version of the S4.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] dvandriesen:
I can confirm this worked on my att s4 just tried different courier sim and made call. That's great.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] gravedigger76:
If one would to ODIN back to stock rom not rooted, would this unlock survive?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] terahertz5k:
Would I need to be on stock firmware for this to work? The menu doesn't seem to open with that code on cm 10.1
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] gravedigger76:
Service menus are always TW framework. You don't have to be on stock but you do have to be on Touchwiz flavor rom. Aosp will not work
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] aguacateojos:
Was just coming here to ask the same question - thanks for the informative answer! Guess I need to find a TW rom that I could live with instead of CM if the need arises.

One more question: once unlocked through this method would I be able to use the phone internationally or just in the US? I'll be traveling to Europe in the fall and am trying to figure out my phone situation.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] gravedigger76:
Well don't quote me on this, but i'm 99% sure, ones you run through this unlock through TW, you can go back to CM, or any other AOSP ROM, and keep the unlock in tacked. (Since you're only flashing and not removing baseband or anything else -- by the way there were already a number of posts stating that if you flash to the new baseband just posted yesterday from ATT update, you do lose this function..)

What i'm wondering (see my previous post), is if you ODIN back to stock, does that wipe it out? ^^ maybe i answered my own question above with what folks are saying when they flash the new baseband, which would of course happen when you ODIN ....
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] bigcid10:
hello,I here mostly every day ,but I'm not nearly as smart as you guys when it comes to modding my phone

I have a stock att s4 and I've been trying to do this unlock procedure to no avail

I type in the *#27663368378# at the caller screen but nothing happens when I do

so I type *#0011# and I get a service mode screen but only the lte and signal info but when I go to the menu and click on back

nothing happens

so I tried *#9090# and got a service mode screen but not the right info

if it matters ,does the new firmware update have anything to do with it

tia,bigcid10
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] gravedigger76:
Yes, new firmware from yesterday apparently disables service menu.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] bigcid10:
thanks,I'm glad it didn't pull my hair then
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] terahertz5k:
I went back to my TW backup, performed the unlock, phone wouldn't boot and was stuck at boot screen. TWRP thought my data partition was encrypted and was asking for a password. formatted data partition, restored CM backup and tested the unlock with another sim. Not sure why my phone wouldn't boot, but the unlock worked.

I guess you could say this confirms what you were saying.

Thanks!
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] gravedigger76:
On S4 ones you wipe data in TWR (where you have to type yes) you screw up something that does not allow TW to boot... Only way out of that is Odin back to stock believe it or not. In 2.6.0 TWR its supposedly fixed but 2.6 freezes on recovery boot sometimes.

If twr asks for password next time it's : TWR

Or

TWRP
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] josemald:
Check the APN on the phone, it should be this one:

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=41717915&postcount=9
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 General] aguacateojos:
I, too, would like to know this...