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Unlocking an AT&T iPhone Question

P

pmcjr

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 12, 2013
57
9
Both the Apple and AT&T unlocking instructions say to make a current backup, then "Erase" your iPhone, then Restore from your current Backup. Depending on which Tech Rep you get, some say Restore iPhone in iTunes would work the same as "Erase" in Settings. Is one method better than the other? If you do a Restore instead of Erase, then everything is done in iTunes. That make sense to me.
 
You actually don't need to do that as of a while ago. As long as the phone gets unlocked on the carrier side of things that's all there's to it (you can try it with a SIM from another carrier basically if you want).
 
Is there another way to check that, C DM? I can't find anything online, including within Apple's support pages, to confirm what you're saying. My carrier sent an unlock request to Apple for my iPhone 6 quite a while ago, and I believe he did say I wouldn't have to go through the whole Erase/restore thing (which is, in my opinion, a major hassle), and I haven't done so. I don't have access to another carrier's SIM card, so I wondered if you knew of another way to confirm that the phone is actually unlocked.
 
MiniGeek said:
Is there another way to check that, C DM? I can't find anything online, including within Apple's support pages, to confirm what you're saying. My carrier sent an unlock request to Apple for my iPhone 6 quite a while ago, and I believe he did say I wouldn't have to go through the whole Erase/restore thing (which is, in my opinion, a major hassle), and I haven't done so. I don't have access to another carrier's SIM card, so I wondered if you knew of another way to confirm that the phone is actually unlocked.
Click to expand...
The only real ways to confirm would be to use another SIM to see if it works or I believe actually restore as new which isn't necessary to actually unlock but as I recall would show the message about the phone being unlocked (or at least it used to).
 
MiniGeek said:
Is there another way to check that, C DM? I can't find anything online, including within Apple's support pages, to confirm what you're saying. My carrier sent an unlock request to Apple for my iPhone 6 quite a while ago, and I believe he did say I wouldn't have to go through the whole Erase/restore thing (which is, in my opinion, a major hassle), and I haven't done so. I don't have access to another carrier's SIM card, so I wondered if you knew of another way to confirm that the phone is actually unlocked.
Click to expand...
Both Apple and AT&T still stay to unlock you have to Erase and then Restore from Backup. You should then get a "Congratulations, your phone is unlocked" message. I don't know what the Erase actually does to unlock, but maybe the Restore from Backup would work by itself. An Apple rep did tell me that they an tell if your phone is unlocked by checking it via the IMEI. Of course, if it works with a different carrier's SIM, then it's unlocked. I've talked to several reps and none have told me you don't have to either Erase via Settings or Restore iPhone via iTunes. Note: Restore iPhone and Restore Back Up are two different things. I'm trying to find out if Restore iPhone would work the same as the Erase instruction.
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MiniGeek said:
Is there another way to check that, C DM? I can't find anything online, including within Apple's support pages, to confirm what you're saying. My carrier sent an unlock request to Apple for my iPhone 6 quite a while ago, and I believe he did say I wouldn't have to go through the whole Erase/restore thing (which is, in my opinion, a major hassle), and I haven't done so. I don't have access to another carrier's SIM card, so I wondered if you knew of another way to confirm that the phone is actually unlocked.
Click to expand...
MiniGeek...Were you using an AT&T SIM or not. Here are the non AT&T SIM instructions. They do not need the Erase/Restore Backup steps:
Using a Non-AT&T SIM Card 1. Remove your SIM card. 2. Insert the new SIM card. 3. Complete the setup process. 4. Once you have completed the process you will receive message in iTunes: "Congratulations your device has been unlocked!"
The AT&T SIM instructions are different:
Using an AT&T SIM Card 1. Back up your iPhone using iTunes Tip: How to Back Up 2. When you have a backup, erase your iPhone Tip: How to Erase Phone 3. Restore your iPhone from the backup you just made Tip: How to Restore Your Phone 4. Once you have completed the process you will receive message in iTunes: "Congratulations your device has been unlocked!"
 
pmcjr said:
What a horror story. With the varying opinions on how to unlock, and the problems this could create, I don't know if I want to unlock my 5S or not. Since I plan on using it as an iPod, unlocked or locked doesn't make any difference. Working on on wifi, it's carrier independent.
Click to expand...
If you get it unlocked through your carrier you should be all set.
 
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