How I factory unlocked my iPhone 4S in 10 minutes

By , Aug 28, 2012

Recently, I’ve been interested in factory unlocking my still on-contract iPhone 4S. I’d heard of various services over the past few months, but never really investigated them until recently.

After asking around on Twitter, I stumbled upon Cellular Medic — one of many services available online that claims to be able to factory unlock the iPhone for a fee.

I was pleasantly surprised that the entire unlock process took a mere 10 minutes. I went from an iPhone 4S locked to AT&T, to a permanently unlocked iPhone 4S that’s usable on virtually any GSM carrier. Take a look inside for a video walkthrough documenting the experience…

For the record, let me just say that there are many unlocking services available on the web, but Cellular Medic promised to have my iPhone unlocked within a very small amount of time — generally within 10 minutes using their “Instant” service. Granted, they did perform this unlocking service free of charge for me, as a means to test it out, but this should be fairly indicative as to what you can expect if you use their service.

Cellular Medic charges $75 for their “Instant” unlock, and $60 for their unlock within 24 hours. Again, there are other options out there on the web, and many on eBay that have a good reputation. Many times, you may even be able find similar services for even cheaper than what Cellular Medic offers.

Their process works like this for AT&T customers:

  • Visit their website, and choose the unlock — instant, or regular
  • Pay with PayPal, and include your IMEI number in the PayPal notes
  • Wait for a response from Cellular Medic via email to verify the IMEI
  • Your iPhone should be unlocked within the selected time frame

If you’re locked to another carrier besides AT&T, you still may be able to unlock; check their website, or contact them to verify. To find your IMEI number, open up the phone app, and dial the following code: *#06#

If you have an iPhone 4S, it’s as simple as popping out the current SIM, and replacing it with a SIM from another carrier. The iPhone will automatically go through the activation process.

If you have an iPhone 4, you will need to perform a backup, and then restore. During the setup process, your device will activate the SIM card from the alternate carrier(s).

The great thing about a factory unlock is that it is permanent, and requires no jailbreaks, special SIM cards, etc. It just works.

Again, check around the web, and perhaps even eBay, and see what works for you. Though, I can say that I’ve personally used Cellular Medic, and recommend them; they lived up to their claims.

Right now is probably a great time to start considering a factory unlock for your iPhone 4S, especially if you plan on selling it to get the next iPhone. For a small up-front investment, a factory unlock will command much more resale value on eBay or Craigslist.

Have you considered factory unlocking your on-contract iPhone? Have you already done so? Which service did you use, and how much did it cost? Sound off with your thoughts in the comments below.

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  • http://twitter.com/mariusm1 Marius Øye

    In norway, my carrier (Telenor Norway) does it for free on the click of a button… xD

    • Mads Teland

      I am also from Norway, for the carrier Netcom Norway does get factory unlock for free if you have the plan expired after one year, not two year :)

      • http://twitter.com/mariusm1 Marius Øye

        From telenor’s webpage: “Har du binding, får du koden uten å betale for den.” Translated= If you have contract, you can get the code without paying.” On the iPhone 4 and older you needed a restore, on the iPhone 4s just wait..

      • Mads Teland

        Ok :)

      • Mads Teland

        I see in this video, it’s possible to unlock with this service in Norway only with Netcom and Telenor, but we do have more carriers like that Talkmore, One Call, Djuice, Ventelo, Tele 2 that you can’t unlock with this service :)

    • J M

      AT&T does it here too once your phone is out of contract. Actually, AT&T unlocked my 4S for me without questioning it for some reason :) Never hurts to ask!

      • http://twitter.com/mariusm1 Marius Øye

        I have the possibility to do it whenever i want to, don’t need expired plan. Did it with my first iPhone..:P

  • Niraj Khanal

    Advertisement…

    • anasiatka

      Why are you here? What does this benefit any reader to see your comment? Does it add value? Are you mad? I think Jeff clearly made it a point to say he got it free to test it out, tested it, liked it and also mentioned other services and at times even cheaper methods may be available. I do not actually see this as an advertisement but just an article to help remind people the many different options available.

    • notewar

      Stupid indian

  • J M

    How do these companies manage to do this? I thought it was through some sort of unauthorized access to whitelist your phone’s IMEI, and I had seen instances where people’s phones were relocked once the “unauthorized” unlock was found.

    • http://www.youtube.com/myjailbreakmovies/ Jeff Benjamin

      I’m actually working on finding that out now…

    • http://twitter.com/KraKsX KraKsX

      From what i understand all these ‘companies’ do go thru unauthorized access to whitelist your phone’s IMEI. But iv never heard of someone using these companies and then getting the phone relocked, once the ‘company’ closed (changed names).

      • J M

        Not once the company closes, but I thought I read somewhere that individuals had found their phones relocked after some apple process (maybe automated IMEI check?) found their unlock to be unauthorized. Much in the same way, periodically Microsoft will check product keys for invalid entries and relock programs that previously used fake product keys.

      • HouseOfHouse

        Well, all I can say is one method is a person working at a carrier and receiving the IMEI number and then unlocking it. They usually will set up unlocking sites themselves or are approached to do it for a slice of the cash each time an unlock is performed. This is one method I know of and the unlock has to be approved at Apples end so the request is sent to them. It cannot be performed via the sim or OTA.

    • seimen_x

      just wasted 75 bucks on this. doesn’t work. i guess it’s a scam… so beware!!!

  • Niraj Khanal

    Advertisement..

    • http://www.youtube.com/myjailbreakmovies/ Jeff Benjamin

      We heard you the first time. And no it’s not an advertisement, did you even read the article? Obviously, no.

  • No Whammy

    Who in their right mind would PAY $60+ to switch to T-Mobile? I’ve never understood unlocking in the US.

    • http://www.youtube.com/myjailbreakmovies/ Jeff Benjamin

      Many people travel outside the US, so the ability to use a foreign SIM is very desirable.

    • RubberShoes

      I pay $6 for unlimited data and that will soon be HSPA+ unlimited data. For $6 on Tmo.

      I also don’t have to deal with the terrible company called AT&T and have them decide what I can and can’t do. Not to mention their history with spying on their customers.

    • Kok Hean

      It’s not as if T-Mobile is the only other GSM carrier.

    • No Whammy

      The international travel aspect is noted. Travelling internationally is not really “in the US” as I specified though, is it?

      T-Mobile is obviously not the only GSM carrier, but in the US it’s the only GSM carrier with a decently sized 3G network. You’d have to be even crazier to go with Alltel or some such other nonsense.

      Again, anyone in their right mind wouldn’t switch to T-Mobile over AT&T. RubberShoes may be stoked on paying $6/month for what he thinks is unlimited data, but it’s predominantly 2G “soon to be 4G” (we’ll see about that), and it sure as hell isn’t unlimited….at least not for $6 a month. They just went back to a true* unlimited plan 6 days ago, and it costs about $30/month.

      Tangent time: It’s sad that I have to specify true unlimited data plans. I’m amazed there’s never been a class action lawsuit on behalf of everyone against every cell provider ever.

      • Ti Du

        The contracts are written as to deny the possibility of a class action law suit.

  • http://www.facebook.com/ifans.vietnam IFans Vietnam

    Less than $15 on Ebay :)

    • Wasib Hayat

      seriously? any trusted sellers?

      • http://www.facebook.com/raul.rosas.568 Raul Rosas

        Unlock fusion $17 100% guarantee

      • http://www.facebook.com/chris.rose Chris Rose

        unlock fusion website is quoting $99….where you getting this 17?

      • http://twitter.com/rlmeena Roshan

        Unlock fusion ebay on google.

      • http://www.facebook.com/fmbar00 Fabio Rodrigues

        testing that one, if it works will be great!!!! thanks for the tip!

      • http://www.facebook.com/fmbar00 Fabio Rodrigues

        I just did it, (using the unlock fusion @Roshan comented before me for U$17 dollars lol )my iphone 4S is unlocked, they were saying that because
        of labor day all orders made after 11AM would be done for sunday, but I
        just got an email confirming the unlock, I just put a simple mobile sim
        card in my 4S disconnected the wifi before the activation screen came
        out, so I would have the option to activate with itunes, plugged the
        phone in and itunes got it activated with an error message (common if
        you dont backup-restore), I disconnected and connected the phone again
        and the unlock message came to my screen :)

      • http://twitter.com/DmitriDon Dmitri

        Strange, my unlock fusion on ebay was just 1.95, and it worked.

      • http://www.facebook.com/fmbar00 Fabio Rodrigues

        they dropped their price, it is one of the most inexpensive phones to unlock lately

      • kash.tarun

        Unlocked all types of phones/ network with best – best – best price contact at kash.tarun at gmail com

        Skype: kash.tarun

      • http://twitter.com/DmitriDon Dmitri

        Thank you! unlock_fusion did the magic, and just for 1.95 :)

      • http://www.facebook.com/raul.rosas.568 Raul Rosas

        eBay go on eBay is 16.45 I use it twice. Already

    • http://twitter.com/steph_assouline Stephanie Assouline

      Which user did you use on eBay to unlock your phone? I am looking to unlock my iPhone 4S on AT&T but weary due to scams etc.

      • http://www.facebook.com/raul.rosas.568 Raul Rosas

        U can use unlock fusion 24hr like $17

      • http://www.iCosmoGeek.com/ iCosmoGeek

        Do the eBay guyz use Gevey method?

      • http://www.facebook.com/jcheaven Juan Canaan

        unlock_fusion

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003172597133 Ecc Thanh

      Link please ?

      • http://twitter.com/rlmeena Roshan

        Unlock fusion ebay on google

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Stefan-Jansen/100000869300374 Stefan Jansen

    What’s the white dialer theme in Jeff’s video?

    • http://twitter.com/tnkrulz Taimur Khan

      if want that search ios 6 in cydia dialer theme comes up

  • Guest

    What is the white dialer theme in Jeff’s video?

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002136300838 Michael Hulet

      iOS 6. There are probably themes available in Cydia, but what he’s using is legit iOS 6

  • http://twitter.com/paidinfully1 Rich Porter

    What is the white dialer theme in Jeff’s video?

    • http://www.youtube.com/myjailbreakmovies/ Jeff Benjamin

      It’s not a theme. It’s iOS 6.

      • http://twitter.com/JanoXDs Alejandro

        NDA!

      • http://twitter.com/tnkrulz Taimur Khan

        There are themes available as well on cydia of the dialer , notification bar etc for ios 6 gives exactly the same look of ios 6 on ios 5.

  • http://twitter.com/Zach_Krase Zach Krase

    my friend has tmobile and wants to buy an iPhone and get it unlocked what happens to the two year contract hell have to sign for with it if he were to do this way of unlocking?

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Matthew-Childs/1067107105 Matthew Childs

      deleted by poster

    • http://twitter.com/iwasgpscar George

      He’ll still have to pay AT&T each month unless he cancels the contract

  • http://twitter.com/iAmManny74 Manny A. Canales

    @JeffBenjam:disqus Question my friend, After we have an unlocked iPhone 4s for T-Mobile, how do we activated iMessage, Facetime and Push Notifications? If you can make a video for that, I would greatly appericate it! :)

    • http://twitter.com/tnkrulz Taimur Khan

      just put your email id and phone number for imessage while push notifications are automatically activated in FU iphone there is no need to put some hack or anything.

      • http://twitter.com/iAmManny74 Manny A. Canales

        I want my iMessages to come to my T-Mobile number, not my iMessage email, anyway around that on an iPhone 4S, T-Mobile?

      • http://twitter.com/tnkrulz Taimur Khan

        simple put your tmobile number in you imessage account and make it primary for receiving.

    • http://twitter.com/RilesPro RilesPro

      That’s the thing, might still require jailbreak on unsupported carrier. It’s sorta tricky but I made a video of how did it. Check my YouTube RilesPro

  • http://twitter.com/AlamarMarine Spencer B

    Just emailed them my EMEI I’m on Spanish carrier Movistar Quoted $55 and 3-5 days turnaround time. I’m in!!!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=734875857 Rob MacLennan

    Damn… doesn’t work for us stuck in Canada! Anyone know of a similar site that can factory unlock an iPhone locked to Rogers Canada? Thx!

    • ottawa_gamerz

      thats y u dont buy from rogers i bought mine from istore and in canada u bring to any unlock store i bet they will just jailbreak it

  • http://www.facebook.com/jorge.doodasilva Jorge Do O’Da Silva

    i have an iphone 4 that is locked to an unknown carrier and im desperate already i will try it ill keep my fingers crossed. i live in africa btw… and sent my phone to apple to process but they seem not willing to help

  • http://www.facebook.com/jorge.doodasilva Jorge Do O’Da Silva

    do you guys have suggestions? i seriously want some help

  • seyss

    Jeff, please let us know if one day your 4S gets relocked

    • http://www.youtube.com/myjailbreakmovies/ Jeff Benjamin

      I definitely will.

  • seyss

    how do I find out which carrier a phone is locked to?

    • Tommy

      Go to unlockboot and use his imei checker.

  • KewlDewd

    You can’t “factory” unlock your phone. If it’s factory unlocked, it came that way…from the factory. Unlocked by Apple. You are simply “unlocking” your phone.

    • http://www.youtube.com/myjailbreakmovies/ Jeff Benjamin

      It’s the same exact thing. It can be used interchangeably. It’s the same thing as buying a car with factory wheels, or buying factory wheels after you buy the car. They still come from the same place, as does this IMEI method.

      • KewlDewd

        It may be used interchangeably, but that doesn’t make it correct. It’s a misnomer. Factory wheels come from the factory, but your phone was not unlocked in the factory by the manufacturer, which is what the term means. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but this is one of those things that annoy me.

      • http://twitter.com/RilesPro RilesPro

        Jeff is great no doubt about it, but this is a good point; it is important to distinguish otherwise we would use hte same term to have two meanings. Secondary market unlock is different than being unlocked at the factory or by Apple pre-sale. Great post though.. I’m going to give unlock fusion a shot i think!

    • kash.tarun

      Unlocked all types of phones/ network with best – best – best price contact at kash.tarun at gmail com

    • blu

      “factory” unlocked vs software unlocked. Factory is not dependent on the version of iOS, baseband and being jailbroken

  • http://www.facebook.com/raul.rosas.568 Raul Rosas

    I used unlock fusion $17 me to restore and I was unlock

  • f96lrs

    had mine unlocked by same place .nice

  • http://www.facebook.com/chris.rose Chris Rose

    link for unlock fusion?

    • http://www.facebook.com/fmbar00 Fabio Rodrigues

      Im not sure if link can be posted here

  • http://twitter.com/RECON1_ [RΞCØИ1]

    Dang $60/$75? And that other company was charging what? Like a few hundred?

  • http://twitter.com/Khamz1989 Khamz

    eBay 87$ 2 day…was best option at the time

    • http://www.facebook.com/fmbar00 Fabio Rodrigues

      I did with unlock_fusion, less that 3 hours my 4S was unlocked, give it a try, I paid less than U$17

  • Nicek1d

    Bravo geniuses, apparently I was recently tipped by an At&t employee that I can unlock my 4S after using it for 6 months. even if I am still under a 2 year contract! Well all it took was a 5-10 minute phone call to 611 and giving the tech support my IMEI on my 4S. Sure enough the emplyee was right and my 4S was eligible. I was told to wait approximately 48-72 hour after recieving unlock instructions. But i restored the next day with itunes and I now have a free carrier unlock from At&t. It didnt hurt at all to give At&t a call about unlocking. Way to go, I hope they let people unlock their iphone 5

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1129677617 Héctor Alexis Solís Andrade

    And appears the factory unlock for Chile.. and in Chile the factory unlock it’s free xd

  • Nicek1d

    I thought this would be a write up of how you can now get your iphone 4S unlocked by At&t if youv’e had your device for atleast 6 months. Why pay another person or company to unlock for you. I’ve seen this service at Applen berry for $70 for 2-3 day unlocking and $100 for their 10 minute unlocking. It is like paying someone to call for you. Not to mention these mom n pop businesses are probably getting your unlocks done against apples knowlege. Who knows:p Stop making others rich by paying for iphone services. I did my own full housing conversion myself with my 4S and also called At&t myself to get it unlocked. both services are rip offs. Atleast if you get carrier unlocked by At&t they send an email to Apple so they know its a legit unlock.

    • http://www.youtube.com/myjailbreakmovies/ Jeff Benjamin

      I’ve personally tried this. AT&T has never cooperated with me, and normally I cannot get my iPhone unlocked on AT&T unless it is off contract. Good to know, though.

      • Nicek1d

        Well i guess At&t is picky about being in good standing with their accounts. I know its been a hassle for some but it is good for people who want to move onto other carriers. I personally this At&t is getting ridiculous with their pricing and bandwith throttling.

  • genXhippie

    I suggest that in the future to be more specific regarding titles of write-up of this nature. So, readers that are on dealing with the mention carrier(s) are not disappointed, thanks.

    • http://www.youtube.com/myjailbreakmovies/ Jeff Benjamin

      Noted, but you can’t always divulge every single detail in a title.

      • genXhippie

        True,but one can be more explicit. For example, “How I factory unlocked my iPhone 4S in 10 minutes on supported carriers.”

  • seimen_x

    just tried it and apparently wasted 75 bucks. no one picks up the phone or responds to email. it’s one big scam!!!

  • http://www.grischke.net/ Maciek

    Fuck, america is so behind with this unlocking business. Why didn’t you just get the unlocked iPhone in the first place, but instead you choose to pay $75? Really?

    • genXhippie

      Spot on, tell me about.

    • seimen_x

      Well fuck schmuck…during that time unlocked phones where not available in the us. an the prices are drastically lower in the us, than e.g. in Switzerland, Germany or UK

      • http://www.grischke.net/ Maciek

        Yes if I went to the operator I would not have to pay anything for the handset, but I never do that. I always buy phones in store without any pathetic simlock!

      • I know how to do math -

        Unlocked phones have been available in the us for about a decade now. All Nokia phones are unlocked.

    • http://www.facebook.com/raul.rosas.568 Raul Rosas

      Cause unlock iPhone cost 650 and up and lock is 250

  • seimen_x

    i just wasted 70 Bucks with this. The instant Unlock function does not work at all. To me this is like a scam. beware!!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/anchit.shethia Anchit Shethia

    Jeff how much did they pay you for posting this article? :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/anchit.shethia Anchit Shethia

    How much did they pay you for posting this article Mate? :) i got my iPh 4S factory unlock for $10 in 24hours!

    • http://www.facebook.com/Toumi.Mounir Mounir Toumi

      Ever thought of sharing ?

      • jasmin

        For the people who wants to unlock ATT phones, go google attiphoneunlocking, they unlock any model and firmware up to date. I did mine there, took me couple hours.

    • Shay

      Where did you get it unlocked at

      • Shay

        I found the phone at my children school a while back

    • daniel oropeza

      Where I want to know please

  • http://www.facebook.com/WhiteNfluFFy Iskan Greatest

    hey i unlock iphones on ebay! $15 a piece…takes 1-2business days. my ebay id : iskann

  • http://www.facebook.com/anchit.shethia Anchit Shethia

    Sorry, this page was not found.
    See this…i cant order my unlock ! Fake !

  • http://twitter.com/swissye Ye

    it is kind of cool thing but i live in Swiss, not added in the list below,so?

  • http://twitter.com/swissye Ye

    hey Jeff,what about unlockin’ your 4s using SAM?is it still working?

  • Gerard Hampton

    I just called up my carrier (optus in australia) and asked them to unlock my iphone 4s. they asked for my imei and unlocked it for free.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jorge.doodasilva Jorge Do O’Da Silva

    well i guess my post was ignored

  • seimen_x

    @JeffBenjam:disqus what can i do if i paid for the 75$ unlock and neither received an email nor unlock solution yet. I am also not able to contact anyone of cellularmedic through twitter phone or email? any ideas?

    • http://www.facebook.com/raul.rosas.568 Raul Rosas

      If u pay with PayPal file a dispute

  • Sandeep Mishra

    @JeffBenjam:disqus Thanks for the article. Was really scouting a legit Unlocker this week, and couldnt find any good ones that were cheap.
    The guys at cellular medic are pretty cool. They promptly responded to my mails, allayed my fears and got my phone unlocked within 24 hours as promised. Highly recommended.

    Folks at eBay have conflicting reviews. Leap of faith doesnt go down well.

  • http://www.facebook.com/fmbar00 Fabio Rodrigues

    Jeff, I don’t use the backup method for the iphone 4, I just use Redsn0w, put the iphone in DFU mode, hit “Jailbreak” and on the next screen I choose “deactivate” only, not Jailbreak or any other option, the phone will load and boot as normal, but you will have the activation screen again, put the unnoficial sim card and choose to activate with itunes, and then you are greeted with the “congratulations your iphone has been unlocked” message, so you dont need to restore your phone and music etc…

  • http://www.facebook.com/don.dellaporta Don Della Porta

    unlock fusion 15 dollars did yesterday from eBay took about 3 hours then restored with iTunes, after restore said your iPhone is now unlocked

    • http://www.facebook.com/JinOnyx Efrain Gonzalez

      There’s a lot of different ones ranging from $9-$20.
      Which one have you guys used on eBay? Just wondering because I’m purchasing an unlock for my iPhone 4S, but I don’t know which one to buy it from. Any help will be appreciated! Thanks!

  • http://twitter.com/IamYardvybz Daniel Hall

    this works with any baseband for iPhone 4?

  • Smitty

    Jeff was your T-Mobile sim card already activated with T-Mobile B4 you installed it back into your iPhone 4s? Thanks!

  • Luis

    this method is suck i pay 75 dolars and i waiting more than 2 hours and nothing

  • simone

    thanks to easyunlockiphone net..my new iphone work;s now on any network
    should check it out

  • http://twitter.com/vipsd87 Vipal Desai

    I just did it. It took no more then 5 mins for me. Great service! Thanks Jeff!

  • http://www.facebook.com/mar.naime Mar Naime

    WATCH OUT!!! I sent off to unlock my ATT phone nearly 2 weeks ago from this ‘cellular medic’ website linked, and still have not been unlocked.. after some hours of trying to get in touch with the guys, I was told the unlock is still processing and that I can’t have a refund. careful of these scammers

  • http://www.facebook.com/mar.naime Mar Naime

    my unlock still processing with cellular-medic after 2 weeks. I have been refused a refund. be careful guys

  • Hoax537

    Works just fine. I live in NYC. Did from my iPad in the park. And just took 15 mins. iPhone 4s AT&T now on simple mobile. It’s sooo worth it!!!

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