"Fully unlocked" phone shows "network locked" when I put in my SIM. Any ideas?

[Sonj]

I bought a refurbished Samsung S21 from Woot.com and it was specifically labeled as "fully unlocked." But when I moved my SIM card to the new phone, it said "network locked (searching)" where the PM network name usually is. 

Things I tried: (a) Restarting the phone, (b) waiting a bit longer, (c) resetting network settings.

When I checked out the "network operators" settings, it was set to automatic (but I guess it didn't find anything). I tried turning off the automatic mode and it only gave Telus, Rogers and Bell as possible selections. 

Any tips appreciated,

Sonja

[computergeek541]

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@Chalupa_Batman wrote:

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@computergeek541 wrote:

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@Chalupa_Batman wrote:

Or if you wish to keep the phone, contact Woot for an unlocking code. If they say they don't have one, then return it. This is why I suggest to everyone who purchase phones from 3rd parties when they first get their phones to do a factory reset to make sure the phone is 100% unlocked. It may be unlocked at first, but once a factory reset has been done and it's locked again, it just means the seller used an unlocking code. Good luck.

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Phones almost never lock again after a factory reset.  I have seen one Samsung device do this before after a factory reset, but most Samsung devices do not need the network unlocking code again after a factory reset.

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Oddly enough, this happened to a co-worker of mine. They purchased a Samsung from the US and it was unlocked. Months later he had to do a factory reset and the phone was then locked. No clue why. 

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I'm not saying that it never happens, and I['ve had it happen to me, but it's rare.  I've had other Samsung devices that have been factory reset and never had to enter the unlock code again. 

[Chalupa_Batman]

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@computergeek541 wrote:

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@Chalupa_Batman wrote:

Or if you wish to keep the phone, contact Woot for an unlocking code. If they say they don't have one, then return it. This is why I suggest to everyone who purchase phones from 3rd parties when they first get their phones to do a factory reset to make sure the phone is 100% unlocked. It may be unlocked at first, but once a factory reset has been done and it's locked again, it just means the seller used an unlocking code. Good luck.

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Phones almost never lock again after a factory reset.  I have seen one Samsung device do this before after a factory reset, but most Samsung devices do not need the network unlocking code again after a factory reset.

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Oddly enough, this happened to a co-worker of mine. They purchased a Samsung from the US and it was unlocked. Months later he had to do a factory reset and the phone was then locked. No clue why. 

[computergeek541]

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@Chalupa_Batman wrote:

Or if you wish to keep the phone, contact Woot for an unlocking code. If they say they don't have one, then return it. This is why I suggest to everyone who purchase phones from 3rd parties when they first get their phones to do a factory reset to make sure the phone is 100% unlocked. It may be unlocked at first, but once a factory reset has been done and it's locked again, it just means the seller used an unlocking code. Good luck.

---

Phones almost never lock again after a factory reset.  I have seen one Samsung device do this before after a factory reset, but most Samsung devices do not need the network unlocking code again after a factory reset.

[Chalupa_Batman]

Or if you wish to keep the phone, contact Woot for an unlocking code. If they say they don't have one, then return it. This is why I suggest to everyone who purchase phones from 3rd parties when they first get their phones to do a factory reset to make sure the phone is 100% unlocked. It may be unlocked at first, but once a factory reset has been done and it's locked again, it just means the seller used an unlocking code. Good luck.

[computergeek541]

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@Sonj wrote:

I bought a refurbished Samsung S21 from Woot.com and it was specifically labeled as "fully unlocked." But when I moved my SIM card to the new phone, it said "network locked (searching)" where the PM network name usually is. 

Things I tried: (a) Restarting the phone, (b) waiting a bit longer, (c) resetting network settings.

When I checked out the "network operators" settings, it was set to automatic (but I guess it didn't find anything). I tried turning off the automatic mode and it only gave Telus, Rogers and Bell as possible selections. 

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Sorry, but your phone isn't unlocked.  Return it for exchange or refund or insist that the seller provide the unlock code.