yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] MattMatt0240:
Indeed, quite unfortunate that Sprint has to be so greedy in a way. If we buy a phone, it is OUR phone. We should not have a locked down, strict carrier lock anyway you look at it. Quite a process, but I have faith in the XDA community and the very talented Devs here. Professional hackers, and will find an exploit. Patience my friend.

On another note, anyone have any ideas if flashing a custom ROM is possible? At the worst, what, have to redo hidden menu settings I'm assuming?

EDIT: Currently on KitKatKiller Rom thanks to the best, JoshBeach. All I had to do was set APN and delete old Sprint ones again, and working like a charm so far. Custom Rom= working XD Thanks again OP!!

EDIT2: MMS Does work as well, I just have no service at home :) just confirming for those wondering.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] irel37:
Maybe off topic a lil bit only place I think I can post I just got of phone with t mobile they said if I call sprint and unlock my phone I can bring it over to t mobile. I just called sprint and unlocked for china. Question is has any one did this before and of so will it work. I don't want to open account with t mobile of it don't work. Thanks in advance
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] hichair:
Does this still work as published

I just got my note 3 internationally unlocked by sprint and am thinking of going to tmobile. I notice this thread was started in January. Are all the steps still the same. My phone is on Android 4.4.2.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] femmyade2001:
It worked for me. I'm on ATT now.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] droidzer1:
Oooooohhh! That is exactly what I wanted to hear but just to clarify are you saying that by flashing the Custom ROM KitKatKiller and deleting Sprint's APN's and setting the APN's to another carrier you went from a Sprint SIM locked phone to one that's UNLOCKED? That would be awesome if that's all it takes. I like rooting and flashing way better than trying to deal with Sprint.

Or did you already have it UNLOCKED internationally from Sprint ? :(
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] MattMatt0240:
Alright... Here's a quick breakdown of my experience:

1st and foremost, international unlock IS REQUIRED, and fairly quick and painless. The problems start when you don't have a sprint account, or an account in bad standings.

Then I flashed mi3 modem, and used regionlock away by the main man chainfire. This is what allows you to pop in a domestic carrier's Sim card.

After that, go through the steps in OP, set up Straight Talk account and activate, set APNs, profit.

As for the custom ROM, I too am obsessed with root and its privelages lol. KitKatKiller being my favorite ROM, I said to hell with it, what's the worst that could happen (should know better than to think like that). Wiped, flashed ROM, Gapps, and booted fine of course. Then I deleted all APNs, set Straight Talk APN, and bam, hspa+ immediately after a reboot. I just chatted with a ST rep, hopefully the APN they just gave me will give me AT&T 4G LTE now XD

Cheers, and good luck to you. As always, thank the OP, AMD tread lightly. Nobody wants a $500 paper weight ;)
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] droidzer1:
Thanks for clarifying - I started reading back further and saw that you DID get Sprint to unlock Int'l so sort of answered my own question. I'm not surprised now having learned things about Sprint in the last few weeks why so many people seem to be dumping Sprint. And agree once you got ROOT it's very hard to live without it ;)
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] MattMatt0240:
Indeed. I strongly believe it is quite cruel of Sprint to SIM lock such a powerful and universal device. I'm assuming you don't have a sprint account or the device is associated with a deactivated account? if so, don't give up hope, there are VERY talented devs within this community. I can make a few android apps, but they write Android itself lol.

Sorry to get so off topic. Anyway, any other questions I may be able to help with?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] droidzer1:
I had two Note 3's (they are such great phones! ) but per the info I have found here and on Sprints site they would not unlock either one as neither one was active. However one of them was apparently flashed by Cricket and I bought it from the person who had it on Cricket. It was a Sprint phone before being on Cricket so do you think that would mean it was unlocked since it had been put on Cricket ? I sold it before I knew how to check the unlock status (I just figured that out this weekend using the *#0011# Service menu). I found out how to check the status from the OP in this thread but I found it easy to use that *#00011# to get into the Service menu as I detailed in a post I made a few messages back - so no need for a special program to get in to the service menu.

I'd be interested in your opinion on how correct the following info I've gleaned sounds: From what I have picked up if someone has a special hardware box or dongle and software to reflash phones (not just ROM's) they can set them up to work on any carrier but it will probably cost a Jefferson or two to get that done. I think Cellular resellers and little shady cell places are likely to have a service like that. ;) I haven't looked around for any yet as I'm so far out in the boonies but I may do that sometime. I currently just use my Note 3 for everything except cellular and use it as a phone on Wifi with Groove IP. For actual cellular I just use a little Samsung Galaxy Centura on pre-paid Tracfone so I get away with an average of only about $7 per month. :D

Yeah I guess we're a bit off topic but it's all about getting the Note 3 even better for everyone :)

---------- Post added at 01:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:35 AM ----------
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] ecs87:
They flashed the phone to cricket. Kinda similar to unlocking....ehhh....nope, completely different. You can return it back to Sprint by dialing ##72786# but seeing as though you don't get any signal out there I assume you're not on a Sprint plan then (if not DO NOT dial that ## code above).

I have nearly every Service box for Samsung devices where I work (SPT, NSPRO, Z3X, and Octopus). A few of them claimed to be able to do the Sprint devices...until I told them the unlock doesn't come from clearing the EFS. Then...they took the Sprint models off (excluding the L720). Those boxes are more for GSM use, and their only real use is being able to calculate the AT+MSLSECUR and AT+AKSEEDNO commands. They're not going to be able to unlock Sprint phones.

Oh and yea...they do cost 100-200 a pop. Not cheap at all, but easily pay for themselves.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] krixxux:
Region Unlock

Hey i thought the region unlock didnt work on 4.4.2. I have a note 3 thats tmobile, that has EIP and i have heared i can get it on TT straight talk, if i use the chainfire app, but i've been reading that it doesnt work on kitkat.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] droidzer1:
Dang, I guess I was totally wrong then about it being unlocked after a flash by Cricket. Looks like I'll be buying back a Note 3 from the person I sold one too as I gave him wrong info. Although if he can get it working with Net 10 or T-Mobile he will likely keep it.

Do you think it is possible to get it on one of those 2 GSM carriers by a dealer? This had a bad ESN according to Sprint but swappa.com/esn says it is a good ESN ready to activate. It also showed as being a Samsung Galaxy S3 per the IMEI at one online place but it is definitely a Galaxy Note 3 and per my Real Galaxy program it is NOT a fake Note 3. Maybe Cricket changed the IMEI or I suppose the online info just might be wrong.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] MattMatt0240:
Well, all I can say is, I was on JoshBeach's KitKatKiller ROM (4.4.2 - Stock based) when I followed steps in OP. I realized it'd probably be safer if I did it on stock, so odin'd back to stock (nc5) re-followed OP, and found most of the settings in hidden menu stuck, and all I had to do was set up my Straight Talk account, set APN, and voila. Back on Custom ROM with straight talk (AT&T SIM)

On another note, has anyone been able to get 4g? I've read a lot on it and some say it isn't possible. I've also seen screenshots and a whole forum post about 40mb download speed on AT&T straight talk with note 2. Anybody have any insight?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] danon.brown:
I didn't get on on tmobile. 2 different networks but still no 4g.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] MattMatt0240:
Hmmm... Interesting. I'll keep trying, if any luck I'll post results and hopefully instructions. Until then... :( lol

I cannot get voicemail set up on my phone for some reason. I have tried dialing *86, my phone number from straight talk, and all the other options on their help page. On settings, it says my phone number is 0, and voicemail is +10. I have manually edited my number and after a reboot, of is still "0". Everything works fine as far as MMS, SMS, calls and data, so this stumps me. Anybody have similar issues?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] droidzer1:
No Exploits yet for Sprint Unlocking?

So it's been - what - a year now since the Note 3 came out and still no hacks or exploits for Sprints International locking? Many years ago I worked on doing my own hacks on various things and I know it is hard tedious work. As it is I looked at this Sprint Note 3 all one night and found some tidbits but nothing I can say will get me from point A to point B - point B being an unlocked Note 3. I did find some interesting things looking at the code in the modem and finding a 25 year old Microsoft DOS 5.0 boot loader. LOL - and I thought it was all Linux based. Maybe that's just like an MBR to get things started. Found some indications of the locking code but considering I read here that it is encrypted and who knows what it's encrypted with that might be a dead end. Some where at some point something has to flip a bit to lock it and at the pure machine level there must be a way to do that which bypasses the encryption I would think. Unless of course it is hard coded into a chip that can't be written to. I'm not even seeing any of the hardware boxers saying they can unlock this but I know it's been bypassed somehow or at least a locked phone was made usable on another carrier when it was locked and even had a bad ESN. So someone knows a way around this. I might need to make some calls to get more info and I know one place to start.... To be continued unless someone breaks this open soon.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] MattMatt0240:
I don't know anything about that kind of stuff, but all it was when they unlocked mine was an OTA update (UICC unlock in settings -> updates). That's all I know to help, sorry I could'nt help more.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] danon.brown:
Try dialing your phone number from your phone. You should get your voicemail and be able to set it up.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] MattMatt0240:
Every time I do, it says "the person you are trying to call is not accepting calls at this time" or "cannot be completed as dialed".... Tried it all
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] ecs87:
Someone Mightve changed the IMEI. Compare what you see in the phone with the sticker on the phone. And yes, we will EVENTUALLY be able to get it onto GSM. First step is finding out how to access the international unlock nv item.

---------- Post added at 09:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:57 AM ----------

This unlock hack is more complex, especially since the nv item is secured (can't write...OR READ it) and we were locked out of /nvm/num ever since 4.3 started rolling out. I've done the reverse engineering of the L720 Unlock and it's modifying nv item 10124. Getting to nv item 10124 is difficult though because even after sending the 16 character password and SPC you're still not able to access it in DFS, CDMA WS, or QPST EFS explorer. Maybe there's another 16 character password? I haven't been able to find it though and ive combed through the modem file LOTS of times.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] droidzer1:
You aren't talking about this Sprint password are you : 2012112120131219

I picked that up here somewhere and saved it - from the statement "if using DFS.. beside the SPC code, u have to input the Samsung default password for sprint too, which is 2012112120131219" might have even been from this message thread.

Based on what you said about being locked out after 4.3 that would seem to indicate it's not a hard coded item locked by strictly by hardware so something can write to it I'd assume. Didn't I also run across some people that managed to get around the block to downgrading from 4.4 to 4.3 somehow. If that's true it would seem you could downgrade, unlock and either leave it on 4.3 or possibly upgrade again. I know normally the downgrade has been nearly impossible but IIRC someone has managed to do this. Tnx for the info !
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Mrhunter13:
ok so I been reading and reading I just thought about this ...so most ppl that want this unlock has a bad esn phone ...even if we did get the unlock for the phone it would be useless until we was able to repair the imei...just like the S4 that has been unlocked if the phone has a bad esn the network would be blocked on ...it's just a crazy situation with this phone
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] mocoyombiflash:
Theres no access to the Nv item that does international unlock so this is why everyone is stuck
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] droidzer1:
I know this isn't a Note 3 but this member downgraded a galaxy S4 from 4.4.2 to 4.3 : http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2744061

The Note I had was 4.4.2 ... maybe it is possible on that also ??? I'll look into it as my other Note 3 is also locked and on 4.4.2 (but has a good ESN).

---------- Post added at 11:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:46 AM ----------

I see my mistake after re-reading ecs87's post as downgrading to 4.3 won't do it. But once you are on 4.3 isn't it possible or even easy to go back to 4.2 or 4.2.2 where you WOULD have access to the NV (if ecs87 is correct about that or that's what I inferred from his post). Then you can possibly get to 10124 and unlock and after unlock I would assume go back to at least 4.3 or 4.4.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] danon.brown:
Try an app called android system info. When you get it look under system-telephony . It will have a vocemail number. When i looked at mine it has some number I've never seen before but when i called it i got my voicemail.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] MattMatt0240:
Thanks, but still same results. I have published a similar app on the market (My Device by High Caliber Productions). The app you referred me to shows same number, 0... :( thank you for trying to help though, it doesn't go unnappreciated

I did notice it shows AT&T as registered operator name and network operator, but SIM OPERATOR was Sprint!? Lol, I think I have to call straight talk to get this straightened out. I already chatted with them, they said the same things...
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Omar04:
My Sprint account is on good standing been with them years and even yet they don't want to Internationally unlock my N3 or G2. So is a matter if they want to or not. Tried several reps, same answer. Last one I said **** you and hung up. >:/ and by the way the phone will lock again if you change ROMS sometimes, you need to call again. Is not permanent, it is as long you stay stock.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Crossvxm:
The G2 has VARIOUS unlocking techniques from international to domestic and its very simple. The Note is a different story.

I have already said F-U to Sprint plenty of times. Heck all current Sprint G2s circulating in my area have been unlocked domestically by me I see them running around CL all the time. As for myself, my LS980 is my favorite, and trust me its not on Sprint anymore lol.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] MattMatt0240:
I have 2 note 3s, one "slipped through" said a int. Rep supervisor, while I'm still trying to get my wife's old note 3 unlocked. In some ways, I think it just depends on who you talk to, but if all else fails, I have faith in the community to open the back door. To hell with sprint, played way too Mich for barely any (decent) coverage... This method works if you int. Unlock from sprint, which is an OTA code sent to uicc unlock in settings. Of has stuck so far and am on straight talk with very minimal issues. I just hope there's a willing dev with the talent to hack this for us. I understand the work behind it, and is light years away from being an easy task. Good luck folks, if there's anything I can do to help, I'll do my best.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] droidzer1:
That just turned on a light bulb ;) I wonder if it would be possible to get an app like Wireshark (captures all network traffic to and from PC) for the PC onto a Note 3. I think I've seen some but not sure if they just monitor Wifi or cellular also. If one could capture all the data on cellular and someone had a Note 3 they could get a Sprint approved unlock then if they were running the data capture it might be possible to crack this open. Or at least I believe it might make it a lot easier.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] hoangps:
Any country in the world or only us? because im living in vietnam and have a sprint note 3 :(
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] miguelfp1:
only for Sprint customers
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] quocvieth:
Đợi đi bạn ơi...chưa làm gì được hết
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] DieHARDFlasher:
Thanks OP
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] slow_one:
Thx OP :good:
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] DarkManX4lf:
I don't get why people buy the Sprint Note 3 for international use. Why not just get the international version of the Note 3?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Epix4G:
Because they don't read and they are cheap.... Sprint one is much cheaper on eBay

Sent from my SM-N900P using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] donutkidd:
How to run hidden menu enabler?? It does nothing when I clicked on it so I'm basically stuck at this step.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] danon.brown:
you run that from your computer

---------- Post added at 10:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:58 PM ----------

Prerequisites

1. A windows, Linux, or Mac computer.

2. Ensure your Java is up-to-date

3. Your device must be rooted.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2077653
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] danon.brown:
Confirmed this works completely. Than you for this
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] idone:
I posted how to access hidden menus from terminal emulator directly on handset here http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2578216

Hope it helps you.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] vizi0nz:
Can I go back to sprint by just doing a flash recovery through twrp? And would it also work if you did a backup after it is unlocked for tmobile. That way everytime you want to switch carriers, you can just do a restore thorough twrp to switch back and forth. Hope this is not too confusing, seems like this trick might work.. Well seems like a good idea :)
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Dr.Roxxo:
Has anybody had luck with unlocking it with out having a sprint account?

Is anybody willing to start a bounty :(?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] idone:
##scrtn# resets network data settings and phone will reboot and do hfa it wont change any rom settings or userdata. recovery through twrp or the like wont do this.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] adventure95004:
If you use a lot of data 20 to 30 gigs they are a LOT cheaper..

I just used mine in the UK no problem..
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] DarkManX4lf:
What does the amount of data you use make the phone cheaper?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] adventure95004:
Sorry maybe I missed the point, if you are just buying a phone and not the contract then I would get the international one. I almost did but in the end the $199 BB price sucked me in, I have 5 lines and I'm the only one who uses the upgrades so I don't have to worry too much about getting the wrong phone lol..

The sprint n3 worked great for me overseas though so I don't see why it would not be good here on gsm other than no lte.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] DarkManX4lf:
Ah ok. What I was trying to say is, people who don't live in the US but the Sprint Note 3 and get sad when it won't work overseas.... Why not just buy the international version... But I realize why.... The Sprint note 3 is cheaper than international and I guess people don't understand it won't work without having a Sprint account and asking Sprint to unlock the sim for international use.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] nipzthegreat:
will it revert if i switch roms?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Epix4G:
Exactly the vzw one is unlocked but fcc mandated that when they last divvied up some spectrum to vzw .. Sprint doesn't have to yet so it only has to unlock the phone if they want to. People buy blocked esn ie... Stolen or phones people haven't paid bills on because they are useless on sprint so they have to sell cheap

Sent from my SM-N900P using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] MattMatt0240:
I pondered the same, wishes I would've logged it or something... If there IS a log for that command and such.

Maybe what you are saying may be the golden ticket, cheers to a try. Unfortunately, I cannot unlock my other note 3 at the time. My wife has a new one, and they have a 2-3 month wait until you can unlock. If there is nothing by then, I'll gladly try to catch some traffic.

The problem will still reside though, there is no read, let alone write, to said NV item. But as others have also said, it may be more than just that alone. Hopefully we will get lucky.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] ecs87:
Now you're thinking...which is how the L720 got unlocked. But...the N900P and G900P don't have a 4.2.2 version to go back to. They rolled out with 4.3.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] MattMatt0240:
OK, call me a noob on the subject. Maybe I need to do some research, but most of the changes seem to be within the modem (to me anyway), would it be possible to clone an unlocked modem (if thats the case, I mean, it was an OTA update to unlock SIM internationally), and flash to another note 3?

Just trying to help folks, I have an unlocked sm-n900p, and a locked one as well (friend borrowing it for now, ported him to android from crapple :p ). If there's anything I can provide from any img I have on my phone or whatever, I'm willing.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] ecs87:
Modem and EFS (NV items) are completely different. They do go hand in hand though. Think of the modem as a processor and the EFS as RAM (except the data there stays after power is cut to is: non volatile).

The modem controls access to the EFS. Newer modems=more security. That's why the L720 users have to DOWNGRADE their modem to bypass the SECURITY on the /nvm/ efs folder to run the international unlock program.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] mocoyombiflash:
This man knows his modems hahaha jk his really good
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] MattMatt0240:
I see, thanks for the clarification. I had high hopes for a moment lol.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 3] hichair:
Towelroot

Sorry if this has been asked before but I didn't want to read through 58 pages. Can I use towelroot instead of chainfire method and not erase data on my phone.