Unlocking a phone

madasaflake · 08-04-2016, 14:32

I have an iPhone 4s which was on Vodafone. When I went in to discuss my upgrade they couldn't offer much so I ended up elsewhere and got a great deal on a 5s with EE. My account with Vodafone has now been cancelled and I have wiped the phone so a family member can use it. My number was ported over to the new phone. I am told I can have the old one unlocked for free as I have had it for over a year. My question is how does the unlock code work when I get it if the phone is deactivated? Never done this before so this may be a daft question but I'd still appreciate an answer! Thanks.

moox · 08-04-2016, 14:48

With an iPhone, you don't need a code.

When you start using an iPhone (or put in a new SIM card, or after you factory reset it), the phone contacts Apple to see if and how it should be locked. At present, Apple will tell the phone to lock itself to only accept any Vodafone SIM, but once Vodafone give the nod, Apple will start saying "this phone is unlocked" and the phone will accept any SIM from any network.

So once Vodafone have done the unlock, you should be able to give the phone to your relative, they can put their SIM in, and it should all just work.

Remember to factory reset the phone and to turn off "find my iPhone" to make it easier for your relative too

BKM · 08-04-2016, 15:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by madasaflake

My question is how does the unlock code work when I get it if the phone is deactivated? Never done this before so this may be a daft question but I'd still appreciate an answer! Thanks.

You basically fill in the form at https://www.vodafone.co.uk/vodafone-...-code-request/

Hopefully, Vodafone will still recognise you as the owner of the iPhone 4s and will pass the request along to Apple - for zero cost!

After a few days just try (any) other SIM card to test it out.

tdenson · 08-04-2016, 16:02

Must emphasise what moox said about turning off find my iPhone. Otherwise the new user will need your Apple password to be able to use it.

The Vonz · 08-04-2016, 16:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdenson

Must emphasise what moox said about turning off find my iPhone. Otherwise the new user will need your Apple password to be able to use it.

I think it is also possible to turn off Find My iPhone remotely by deleting the device from your iCloud account without giving the new user your details, but you have to remember the answers you gave to the security questions way back when!

tdenson · 08-04-2016, 16:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Vonz

I think it is also possible to turn off Find My iPhone remotely by deleting the device from your iCloud account without giving the new user your details, but you have to remember the answers you gave to the security questions way back when!

Ah, that's handy to know.

Those security questions are a real bugbear to me, they are just so naff and difficult to remember and designed by someone who's just left school - so full of questions like who was your favourite school teacher, where did you first kiss blah blah. To someone who left school 50 years ago I struggle to remember

However, what I do instead is I pick the nth word of the question (I'm not telling you the value of n as you could hack my account !) and use that as the answer. Apart from being easy to remember years later, it also ticks another box making it impossible for somebody to guess your security answers by knowledge of you.
I originally was intending to use the first word but a lot of questions begin with the same word and Apple do not allow the same answer to two different questions.

BKM · 08-04-2016, 16:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdenson

Must emphasise what moox said about turning off find my iPhone. Otherwise the new user will need your Apple password to be able to use it.

It is, of course, impossible to factory erase any iPhone without first turning this off! The handset will insist!

jchamier · 08-04-2016, 18:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by BKM

It is, of course, impossible to factory erase any iPhone without first turning this off! The handset will insist!

You can actually using iTunes wipe any phone even that with a PIN number. (Its how you get around not knowing a PIN number, if you don't have auto wipe after 10 failures turned on).

However you can't activate the phone again unless you know the Apple ID email address and current password that it was previously activated with. The phone will NOT show any clue as to the required email address.

This is a theft deterrent - and the police report it has made a difference.

08-04-2016, 14:32	#1
madasaflake Forum Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 812	Unlocking a phone I have an iPhone 4s which was on Vodafone. When I went in to discuss my upgrade they couldn't offer much so I ended up elsewhere and got a great deal on a 5s with EE. My account with Vodafone has now been cancelled and I have wiped the phone so a family member can use it. My number was ported over to the new phone. I am told I can have the old one unlocked for free as I have had it for over a year. My question is how does the unlock code work when I get it if the phone is deactivated? Never done this before so this may be a daft question but I'd still appreciate an answer! Thanks.

08-04-2016, 14:48	#2
moox Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 14,645	With an iPhone, you don't need a code. When you start using an iPhone (or put in a new SIM card, or after you factory reset it), the phone contacts Apple to see if and how it should be locked. At present, Apple will tell the phone to lock itself to only accept any Vodafone SIM, but once Vodafone give the nod, Apple will start saying "this phone is unlocked" and the phone will accept any SIM from any network. So once Vodafone have done the unlock, you should be able to give the phone to your relative, they can put their SIM in, and it should all just work. Remember to factory reset the phone and to turn off "find my iPhone" to make it easier for your relative too

08-04-2016, 15:53	#3
BKM Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6,288	Quote: Originally Posted by madasaflake My question is how does the unlock code work when I get it if the phone is deactivated? Never done this before so this may be a daft question but I'd still appreciate an answer! Thanks. You basically fill in the form at https://www.vodafone.co.uk/vodafone-...-code-request/ Hopefully, Vodafone will still recognise you as the owner of the iPhone 4s and will pass the request along to Apple - for zero cost! After a few days just try (any) other SIM card to test it out.

08-04-2016, 16:02	#4
tdenson Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,214	Must emphasise what moox said about turning off find my iPhone. Otherwise the new user will need your Apple password to be able to use it.

08-04-2016, 16:14	#5
The Vonz Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 59	Quote: Originally Posted by tdenson Must emphasise what moox said about turning off find my iPhone. Otherwise the new user will need your Apple password to be able to use it. I think it is also possible to turn off Find My iPhone remotely by deleting the device from your iCloud account without giving the new user your details, but you have to remember the answers you gave to the security questions way back when!

08-04-2016, 16:24	#6
tdenson Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,214	Quote: Originally Posted by The Vonz I think it is also possible to turn off Find My iPhone remotely by deleting the device from your iCloud account without giving the new user your details, but you have to remember the answers you gave to the security questions way back when! Ah, that's handy to know. Those security questions are a real bugbear to me, they are just so naff and difficult to remember and designed by someone who's just left school - so full of questions like who was your favourite school teacher, where did you first kiss blah blah. To someone who left school 50 years ago I struggle to remember However, what I do instead is I pick the nth word of the question (I'm not telling you the value of n as you could hack my account !) and use that as the answer. Apart from being easy to remember years later, it also ticks another box making it impossible for somebody to guess your security answers by knowledge of you. I originally was intending to use the first word but a lot of questions begin with the same word and Apple do not allow the same answer to two different questions.

08-04-2016, 16:40	#7
BKM Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6,288	Quote: Originally Posted by tdenson Must emphasise what moox said about turning off find my iPhone. Otherwise the new user will need your Apple password to be able to use it. It is, of course, impossible to factory erase any iPhone without first turning this off! The handset will insist!

08-04-2016, 18:34	#8
jchamier Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: This forum Posts: 3,392	Quote: Originally Posted by BKM It is, of course, impossible to factory erase any iPhone without first turning this off! The handset will insist! You can actually using iTunes wipe any phone even that with a PIN number. (Its how you get around not knowing a PIN number, if you don't have auto wipe after 10 failures turned on). However you can't activate the phone again unless you know the Apple ID email address and current password that it was previously activated with. The phone will NOT show any clue as to the required email address. This is a theft deterrent - and the police report it has made a difference.

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Unlocking a phone