iPhone AT&T Unlock without using iTunes Restore?

[rizajj]

From searching around the forum, it seems like I can use SAM to do the "re-activation" on my JB phone (4s), but I'm also reading that Apple has "blocked" this method of unlocking.

Given that this is an AT&T "sanctioned" unlock, will SAM work? I don't want to lose my JB on my 4s if I restore via iTunes, and I don't have my SHSH blobs saved.

any advice is appreciated!

 

[TriJetHero]

the SAM route was closed 2 years ago and it certainly not an AT&T sanctioned unlock.

SHSH don't work on a 4S on 6.x only on 5.x

You can use iLEX RAT to restore while preserving your JB

You can unlock via an IMEI unlock, check the forum on that.

 

[rizajj]

thank you. I've already submitted a request to unlock via AT&T so I figure it's the best/cheapest (free) option.
I am running 5.1.1 but I never saved my SHSH blobs so it's too late to restore and re-JB, right?

I will look into iLEX, thank you.

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the SAM route was closed 2 years ago and it certainly not an AT&T sanctioned unlock.

I should have been more clear. I realize SAM isn't "sanctioned" by AT&T (or anyone), but can SAM do the activation piece on the phone for me? I believe that is what the iTunes backup/restore process does which allows the carrier to unlock the phone. Does this make sense?

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sorry, I feel like I left out this piece of information:

I've called AT&T and submitted a (succesful) unlock request for the phone, so all I need to do is "restore" it via iTunes, which should re-activate the SIM, which in turn unlocks the phone (at least that's my understanding). So how do I "restore" without actually restoring? i.e. how do I just re-activate the SIM?

 

[jermy4]

I just did this recently. You can use SAM to deactivate the phone so when you hook it back up to itunes on your computer it will unlock the phone. That is what the restore does for the unlock anyways (it reactivates it to make the unlock take effect).

 

[TriJetHero]

AT&T Unlock without using iTunes Restore?

I just did this recently. You can use SAM to deactivate the phone so when you hook it back up to itunes on your computer it will unlock the phone. That is what the restore does for the unlock anyways (it reactivates it to make the unlock take effect).

Correct

The original use for SAM was deactivation to solve push issues.

After a while it could also be used to unlock a phone, this was closed 2 years ago.

The original feature, deactivation, still works.

So do as suggested, deactivate with SAM, connect to itunes and the AT&T unlock will artach.

 

[hackthatphone]

On a related note, when my wife's iphone 4 was eligible for att unlocking she didn't want to restore it to unlock it nor did she want to jailbreak it either to use another method.

I used an old program called iphonetool and ran the --deactivate command. Then I let itunes reactivate it and it was unlocked and nothing was messed with on the phone.

 

[rizajj]

I just did this recently. You can use SAM to deactivate the phone so when you hook it back up to itunes on your computer it will unlock the phone. That is what the restore does for the unlock anyways (it reactivates it to make the unlock take effect).

thanks! Did this and it worked liked a charm.

and good to know about the iphonetool --deactivate command, i'm going to try that on my wife's iphone when her 5s comes in.

 

[spyguy10709]

thanks! Did this and it worked liked a charm.

and good to know about the iphonetool --deactivate command, i'm going to try that on my wife's iphone when her 5s comes in.

For future reference, you literally could have just gone into the settings app, general, reset -> Network Settings. That would have done the charm.

 

[TriJetHero]

For future reference, you literally could have just gone into the settings app, general, reset -> Network Settings. That would have done the charm.

Haven't seen that sollution yet….

 

[TypeMRT]

I've unlocked 3 iPhones and I've never had to do a restore. I just waited for my unlock confirmation email and then plugged into my computer. As soon as iTunes launched it said "Congratulations..." without even needing to sync.

 

[rizajj]

For future reference, you literally could have just gone into the settings app, general, reset -> Network Settings. That would have done the charm.

I will try this with the wife's iphone. thanks for the tip! hopefully this thread helps some other folks who are upgrading. I did some searching but couldn't find anything definitive other than the itunes restore.

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I've unlocked 3 iPhones and I've never had to do a restore. I just waited for my unlock confirmation email and then plugged into my computer. As soon as iTunes launched it said "Congratulations..." without even needing to sync.

If this worked, why would AT&T's official email ask you to do a backup/restore? I'm not saying your method doesn't work--i'm just confused as to why AT&T doesn't recommend this as the default, or even spyguy's simpler method of "Reset All Network Settings"?