Network locked - advice please

1am7h30n3

1am7h30n3

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I bought a new phone (yay), it turns out to be network locked (!yay) "this device is network locked to vodacom. it will not work on any network if there's no active vodacom sim in the device.", even after I asked the seller if it was network locked "it's open to all networks". So I'm going to fight with the seller soon to see if I can get this sorted out.

Assuming that I lose the fight, it seems like my options are:
1. Universal Android Debloater.
2. Root.
3. Cellphone shop?

I don't have a sim in the device yet, but I can't even get to menus, it's just permanently stuck on the network locked message (even if I reboot in safe mode, factory reset), so for example, to use universal android debloater I have to turn on usb debugging and developer mode, but I can't do that without accessing the menus.

I could try putting a vodacom sim in there, that would get rid of the error message and allow me access to the phone, then I should be able to use the android debloater or do a root.

Should I just take it to a cellphone shop rather, I guess it would cost around R150? Would they be able to unlock it?
 
1am7h30n3 said:
I bought a new phone (yay), it turns out to be network locked (!yay) "this device is network locked to vodacom. it will not work on any network if there's no active vodacom sim in the device.", even after I asked the seller if it was network locked "it's open to all networks". So I'm going to fight with the seller soon to see if I can get this sorted out.

Assuming that I lose the fight, it seems like my options are:
1. Universal Android Debloater.
2. Root.
3. Cellphone shop?

I don't have a sim in the device yet, but I can't even get to menus, it's just permanently stuck on the network locked message (even if I reboot in safe mode, factory reset), so for example, to use universal android debloater I have to turn on usb debugging and developer mode, but I can't do that without accessing the menus.

I could try putting a vodacom sim in there, that would get rid of the error message and allow me access to the phone, then I should be able to use the android debloater or do a root.

Should I just take it to a cellphone shop rather, I guess it would cost around R150? Would they be able to unlock it?
Click to expand...
What phone is it ?
 
Zuner said:
i was looking at flashing a samsung the other day, but their Knox Guard locks the bootloader. normally I would just flash the global firmware, instead of the vendor locked firmware
Click to expand...
You can disable Knox , but warranty and Samsung Pay is doomed then
 
1am7h30n3 said:
I bought a new phone (yay), it turns out to be network locked (!yay) "this device is network locked to vodacom. it will not work on any network if there's no active vodacom sim in the device.", even after I asked the seller if it was network locked "it's open to all networks". So I'm going to fight with the seller soon to see if I can get this sorted out.

Assuming that I lose the fight, it seems like my options are:
1. Universal Android Debloater.
2. Root.
3. Cellphone shop?

I don't have a sim in the device yet, but I can't even get to menus, it's just permanently stuck on the network locked message (even if I reboot in safe mode, factory reset), so for example, to use universal android debloater I have to turn on usb debugging and developer mode, but I can't do that without accessing the menus.

I could try putting a vodacom sim in there, that would get rid of the error message and allow me access to the phone, then I should be able to use the android debloater or do a root.

Should I just take it to a cellphone shop rather, I guess it would cost around R150? Would they be able to unlock it?
Click to expand...
The solution to get rid of the lock message is simple.

Insert an active Vodacom sim with around 100MB data in the first slot. The message will clear in a couple of minutes.
 
Yeah, so feedback so far is pretty much: go with my idea of buying/rica a vodacom sim and put it in to get rid of the network lock message and debloat or root the phone.

I don't think I care too much about the warranty, it's a cheap phone. Would it be bad to lose samsung pay? Isn't there a google pay alternative? (or does rooting also screw up the google pay?)
 
Dudu if yo fone is an android, then know that on sim 1 slot it will always need a vodacom sim. If you dont put vodacom sim on sim 1 slot, it won't work. U can only use other networks on sim 2 slot only. After that u go and manually search signal for sim 2 on yo settings. U will be ok trust me!
 
SmartPhoneGeek said:
Dudu if yo fone is an android, then know that on sim 1 slot it will always need a vodacom sim. If you dont put vodacom sim on sim 1 slot, it won't work. U can only use other networks on sim 2 slot only. After that u go and manually search signal for sim 2 on yo settings. U will be ok trust me!
Click to expand...
Yes , was about to say , On my Samung , Vodacom only works on Sim 1 , I had to move my main sim (MTN) to slot 2
 
SmartPhoneGeek said:
Dudu if yo fone is an android, then know that on sim 1 slot it will always need a vodacom sim. If you dont put vodacom sim on sim 1 slot, it won't work. U can only use other networks on sim 2 slot only. After that u go and manually search signal for sim 2 on yo settings. U will be ok trust me!
Click to expand...
depends if its networked locked or not.
 
I don't want to use a vodacom sim at all though, I use cellc on sim1 and telkom on sim2 and will transfer both those sims to my new phone.

The shop phoned me 5min ago though, it sounds like a mixup on their side, that they have both locked and unlocked versions in stock and incorrectly sent me a locked one. It sounds like they're working to make it right, perhaps sending a courier to pick up the locked one and replace it with an unlocked version.
 
1am7h30n3 said:
I don't want to use a vodacom sim at all though, I use cellc on sim1 and telkom on sim2 and will transfer both those sims to my new phone.

The shop phoned me 5min ago though, it sounds like a mixup on their side, that they have both locked and unlocked versions in stock and incorrectly sent me a locked one. It sounds like they're working to make it right, perhaps sending a courier to pick up the locked one and replace it with an unlocked version.
Click to expand...
that would be first prize
 
SmartPhoneGeek said:
Dudu if yo fone is an android, then know that on sim 1 slot it will always need a vodacom sim. If you dont put vodacom sim on sim 1 slot, it won't work. U can only use other networks on sim 2 slot only. After that u go and manually search signal for sim 2 on yo settings. U will be ok trust me!
Click to expand...
Trust you that he is going to be okay if he can't even trust you to type correctly?
 
Update. It was a mistake that the shop sent me a network locked version accidentally, they took the device back and offered me an alternative unlocked phone, which I've received. All good.
 
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