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How to unlock your Galaxy Note II and some Galaxy S III versions for free (Jelly Bean req'd)

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How to unlock your Galaxy Note II and some Galaxy S III versions for free (Jelly Bean req'd)
Samsung seems to have a hidden menu in its Galaxy line, which allows you to carrier unlock your device for free, and appeared on an XDA-Devs thread submitted by user owl74. 

It is confirmed working at least with the two most prominent members of the Galaxy family this year - the Galaxy S III (but only some versions), and the trendy Galaxy Note II.

Your phone has to be running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and above for the trick to work, though, and you can follow the steps below with the usual "do at your own risk" warning:

1. Enter the following into the dialler: *#197328640#
2. From the menu that appears choose 

Main Menu > [1] UMTS > [1] Debug Screen > [8] Phone Control > [6] Network Lock > Options [3]Perso SHA256 OFF > (after choosing this option, wait about 30 seconds, then go back one step by pressing the Menu button then select Back, now you are in [6] Network Lock then choose [4] NW Lock NV Data INITIALLIZ ..... wait for a minute then reboot your phone... enjoy!!! There is no confirmation on the phone that the unlock was successfull.... just reboot your phone....


Read the thread for which S III versions were successfully unlocked with this hidden menu function of Samsung, and try it out with a SIM card from another carrier to confirm. 

Users say the unlock is permanent and works even after full reset of your device, so you don't have to pony up for a carrier unlock, or use murky codes from eBay.

source: owl74 (XDA-Devs) via RedmondPie

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1. modyt posted on 07 Dec 2012, 05:40

I hope PA realises that they are jeopardizing the chance of people unlocking their phones by posting this in broad view. Samsung is not dumb enough to read this by chance and not act on it.

2. redmd posted on 07 Dec 2012, 05:54 2

huh I don't get the jeopardy part. BTW this is old news.

7. aahmed215 posted on 08 Dec 2012, 03:11

Keeping it a secret won't do any good either. At least, by sharing it to the masses, many people can get the information before Samsung or carriers put a stop to it.

3. kicksetc posted on 07 Dec 2012, 11:59

It isn't working for me. My S3 is on Sprint and shows it is running 4.1.1. Any other way to do this?

6. htc_prep posted on 07 Dec 2012, 17:51

Sprint is cdma for voice and 3g the sim lte card is embedded on the motherboard. So its not gping to work on cdma variants

4. scsa852k posted on 07 Dec 2012, 13:48

It works fine on T-Mobile versions.
Not sure about this, but it could lose your 1-year warranty though.

5. tremzee posted on 07 Dec 2012, 17:15

I just unlocked mine t-mobile Galaxy S 3 locked on t-mobile and its working fine i check it by using at&t sim card and its perfect.
my phone s rooted and i am on custom rom build number XQZv45.T999UVDLJA

8. LiveFromMN posted on 13 Dec 2012, 19:05

Worked on my T889

9. rstrong2010 posted on 17 Dec 2012, 10:34

I have a note 2 from Verizon, typed the # in dialer nonethin happen??

10. paulrubio posted on 25 Jan 2013, 19:52

hi im from mexico, ive got a sgs3 tmobile (t999), i did all the steps but when i put sha256_off it says this.... SHA256_OFF => NOT CHANGE ... and sim doesnt work... need help

how can i make it change??

11. tremzee posted on 29 Jan 2013, 21:35

paulrubio did you make this sure that your phone is running jelly bean not ics

12. corleyman posted on 03 Feb 2013, 00:22

Wow, that's awesome! The Note 2 is already thoroughly amazing, and now that it can be used on a no-contract, unlimited-everything service plan for as little as $49/mo ... Wow! And this awesome service plan that I'm talking about can be explored at PenniesOverDollars.com ... :)

13. paulrubio posted on 03 Feb 2013, 09:55

Yea tremzee, its running latest jellybean. :( dont know how to unlock carrier and make simcard work, i tried and retried the steps and still says NOT CHANGE. Did wvery step right and running latest jellybean, anyone knows how to reset the wholw phone so i can try it again? Or what can i do? Im desperate i have my sgs3 as paperweight :'(

14. zahirkhan posted on 06 Feb 2013, 16:39

it works for sumsung galaxy s3 ............ but it doesnt work for sumsung galaxy note2 jellybean 4.1.2 is there any way to unlock it and when ever i put this into my note 2 it just says servicemode and nothing else with blank window ?????? how to unlock it please help me

15. 70700 posted on 26 Feb 2013, 09:09

i just want to say a Big Thank you..it worked for me in Switzerland on an AT& T Samsung S3..unbelieveable ....this is 2013 :O

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