switching vzw to tmobile. Will flashing the note 8 unlock the bands for tmobile

[Xerrad Anon]

Yes it will unlock all the correct bands for T-Mobile. The bands are controlled via carrier firmware. If you flash the T-Mobile firmware it will unlock the correct bands for T-Mobile.

https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga...m-n950u-u1-t3685884/post74087340#post74087340

I am in the same situation as the OP. I have a Verizon phone on the T-Mobile network. I just bought this phone yesterday for half off.
Do I need to follow the steps for the switching carrier section, or follow the switching firmware guide? Or do I need to do both?

 

[anon(7901790)]

You shouldn't really need to do anything. If the Note is paid off, you can have Verizon unlock it to take to another carrier. It won't work as well as a Note built for Tmo, but it should work.

All Verizon phones after SIM unlocked and work on all LTE bands. All you have to do is pop in an activated T-Mobile SIM.

 

[anon(7901790)]

I am in the same situation as the OP. I have a Verizon phone on the T-Mobile network. I just bought this phone yesterday for half off.
Do I need to follow the steps for the switching carrier section, or follow the switching firmware guide? Or do I need to do both?

What @eshropshire said. You don't need to do anything. Verizon phones are SIM unlocked.

 

[James Rogers2]

I am in the same situation as the OP. I have a Verizon phone on the T-Mobile network. I just bought this phone yesterday for half off.
Do I need to follow the steps for the switching carrier section, or follow the switching firmware guide? Or do I need to do both?

All Verizon phones after SIM unlocked and work on all LTE bands. All you have to do is pop in an activated T-Mobile SIM.

If you just put a T-Mobile Sim card in it will work but you won't have access to all the features like wifi calling and video calling. You have to flash the T-mobile firmware for those things to work.

 

[Xerrad Anon]

If you just put a T-Mobile Sim card in it will work but you won't have access to all the features like wifi calling and video calling. You have to flash the T-mobile firmware for those things to work.

So I need to follow the guide for installing a firmware then right? Not the guide for switching carriers since the phone is already unlocked? Or do I need to do both of those guides?

 

[bigmo555]

I am going from Sprint to T-Mobile, so I have a new SIM and can access LTE and everything, but Sprint's bloatware is still there.

Just flashing the T-Mobile firmware isn't working for me, so I'm not sure if I have to uninstall Sprint's firmware first perhaps?

Phone is (obviously) already unlocked and activated on T-Mobile.

 

[amyf27]

Welcome over to tmobile guys. I've been with them a couple years now.

 

[James Rogers2]

So I need to follow the guide for installing a firmware then right? Not the guide for switching carriers since the phone is already unlocked? Or do I need to do both of those guides?

If your device is from another carrier then you have to follow the instructions on how to switch carriers.

All the directions are on the xda site. Someone posted the link earlier in the thread.

 

[James Rogers2]

You also have to be on a ceartin build to flash the combination firmware.

 

[anon(7901790)]

So I need to follow the guide for installing a firmware then right? Not the guide for switching carriers since the phone is already unlocked? Or do I need to do both of those guides?

You should follow the guide for switching carriers. The phone is already unlocked. It's kinda like if you bought the unlocked version from Samsung. You can ask if T-mobile can flash its firmware. Like I said previously, it will work by just popping in an activated T-mobile SIM.

As far as WiFi calling and receiving updates, that I'm not sure about.

 

[Kendahl Titcomb]

by flashing the software you will have it unlocked but no the carrier bands are not just a software element it is a radio element as well. you will be able to use on the T-Mobile service but LTE and VOLTE will be limited to specific areas with more broad spectrum. so be careful because you may end up on lower bands with no real internet

 

[Rickyturner71]

Verizon doesn't "lock" their phones but if you try to use another SIM it will definitely cause problems my phone can call out but all calls go vm I can't use data while I'm o t h is phone this somehow blocks me from running a ussd code to enter an unlock code they are as deceptive as they get

 

[jgraves1107]

That's cause carriers don't like you using other carrier phones. I'm on an unlocked N8 and Verizon had to turn on all the features over a phone call to tech support. If they want your business they will just do it.

 

[anon(7901790)]

Verizon phones are SIM unlocked and all the radio bands are enabled. I've successfully used mine in Japan without doing anything special.

 

[Esechico]

You should follow the guide for switching carriers. The phone is already unlocked. It's kinda like if you bought the unlocked version from Samsung. You can ask if T-mobile can flash its firmware. Like I said previously, it will work by just popping in an activated T-mobile SIM.

As far as WiFi calling and receiving updates, that I'm not sure about.

Its even easier now. Assuming you have a regular Verizon Note 8 (not rooted, or flashed/altered) with a tmobile sim card, all you have to do is download the latest version of Samsung Switch on your computer and connect your phone to it.

Once it recognizes your phone do a backup. After the backup click on update software. This will download Android 8.0 Oreo (Verizon Version) and update your Note 8 to Oreo. After the system completely updates and restarts it will continue updating in the background.

A pop up should appear stating this sim card is not a Verizon simcard. Click restart to delete carrier software and download the correct software for your current carrier. ( im paraphrasing as I dont remember exactly what it said.) Click restart. A blue screen with a simcard logo will appear and it will configure your phone for tmobile (or im sure for whatever sim card you have in it but mine was tmobile.) After another restart you will no longer see the Verizon logo on startup, you will see the Tmobile one.

Once it starts up again there will be a progress bar in the task drop down. Android will finish updating in the background. You will notice most of the verizon bloatware is gone and I already had downloaded the t mobile apps so not sure if it adds them for you. Wifi calling is activated and if you have tmobile one plus then the ID should be there getting rid of that annoying verizon one that states your free trial is expired. (Advanced caller ID).

You can now text and talk at the same time (volte) and video call (if available). I did a speed test and got 89mbps down and 21mbps up on LTE.