Note for NYS: Apparently all Long Island stores are not eligible for this offer as they don't have the appropriate licensing with T-Mobile. Must go to an NYC store.
Folks not receiving verification text from BestBuy - Opt for text messages from BestBuy by sending 'HELP' to numbers - 332211 and 22891 (do both). You should receive verification text on the next try
Additional Info that may help
Q: Do we have to pick a plan from Best Buy for T-Mobile if we are not a current customer?
Ans: You don't have to pick a post paid T-Mobile plan from Best Buy to get this deal. You can sign up for the plan anywhere and have it active before trading in your device at Best Buy.
Q: Can we cancel the plan immediately out of the store?
Ans: If you cancel the plan immediately out of the store then you won't be able to unlock the phone because you are no longer with T-Mobile.
Q: Can we unlock by messaging T-Force?
Ans: Yes, you can. But, you have to be with T-Mobile and wait times are long. People had success unlocking anywhere between 3 days to 40 days after getting the iPhone 13. T-Force can override the system after 30 days.
Q: Do we wait 40 days with service or without service?
Ans: With service, of course. Otherwise you are no longer with T-Mobile and why would they unlock the phone?
Q: Do they accept phones with a lightly cracked front or back?
Ans: Cracked front or back. Totally depends on the rep helping you but more than likely it won't fly.
Q. Can I insert a SIM card from a different carrier other than Tmobile?
Ans: Due to Flex Policy, the device is locked to the first sim card inserted.
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If you get the message "We're sorry, there was an issue processing your request. Please try again later." when trying to validate your T-Mobile account, try the follow procedure below. It seems to help some users but not all YMMV!.
Go to your T-Mobile account and turn OFF every block for "chargeable" things including sms, downloads, etc. If they are already OFF toggle them ON and OFF just to clear the system of residual blocks. You CAN leave scam block ON. Then send "HELP" (without quotes) text message from each of your mobile no. that you are trying to upgrade to 22891, 332211 and 66803. Wait 30 minutes after completing everything above and try again. If it does not work, you might an account that has employee discounts or something else.
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Almost instant unlock process via ATT (AT&T) SIM card (as reported by multiple users)
Note: The iPhone 13 must not be be activated with T-Mobile sim card at Best Buy by the rep in order to use this ATT unlock trick! It needs to be in brand new, inactivated state.
You don't need to be a current ATT subscriber to use the ATT unlock portal as mentioned below.
- Get an ATT sim card.
You can go to a local Apple store and ask for a new ATT sim card. Users reported: I visited my local Apple store and asked for an AT&T not activated SIM card. They ordered one on their iPad and a few minutes later they handed it to me. They didn't ask for any personal or iPhone information.
You can also order one for $2 plus tax from the Microsoft store if you don't have an Apple store nearby or it's not worth the gas: https:// www. microsoft.com/en-us/d/at-t-sim-card/8n0scjxn845k
(Remove spaces!) - Put the SIM card into your new Best Buy iPhone and go through the activation process and connect to WIFI. The iPhone will then state under settings that it's carrier locked.
- Go to the ATT unlock page: https:// www. att. com/deviceunlock/unlockstep1
(Copy, paste and remove spaces as we don't want to send a lot of slickdeals referrers to this page) - Select "No" for "Are you an AT&T wireless customer?"
- Enter the IMEI into the field. You can get the IMEA under settings or dial *#06# on your iPhone to bring up device information.
- Go to the next step and enter your personal information. The email needs to be valid as ATT will send a confirmation email to this address.
- If everything is correct, wait for the confirmation email and click on the link to confirm the request. Note: Use it within 24 hours or ATT will cancel your request.
Users reported that the "No SIM restrictions" info under "Carrier Lock" appeared within 60 seconds after clicking on "confirm your unlock request".
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Once you get the email, click on the link to confirm the unlock. It should be unlocked within a minute
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I can confirm that the ATT sim card unlock trick worked for my 3 Best Buy iPhone mini 13. I used an unactivated (new) prepaid AT&T SIM card when I started the iPhone and then proceeded to unlock via the portal.
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Top Comments
Good luck!
Jon
6,472 Comments
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Need some advice. I wanted to do the iphone mini (walmart phone) trade-in with Best Buy to get the iphone 13 pro for my son as his holiday gift. But he is on Visible mobile.
If purchase them online & pick-up in store without inserting the T-mobile SIM, Can i come home & use my son's Visible SIM and activate this phone and continue to use them on Visible Network? Will this work or should i go get a brand new AT&T SIM card and try the unlock method?
Need your suggestions. Thanks for your time.
Dan
I went in store and they said I had to do the offer online, there was no way to help me with the trade in offer, nor buy it in store. Been on chat/phone with both best buy and tmobile for a couple hours now no one knows what to do and Tmobile says the offer doesn't even exist anymore?
Is it possible to just get a plan through tmobile? They were confused when I went in store and also on the phone/chat but can i just get a line, say for the phone I have and will trade in, and then get it activated that way? I asked at my store and they were confused but should I just not even mention I'm trying to upgrade at best buy when I go to tmobile, just say I want a new line/new account? I was trying but they were confused and they kept wanting to get me to switch out of visible, which I want to keep. I will try another store if this will work, these people were morons.
edit: just spent time online trying to figure it out and they are telling me that it's the same offer, except it's not (some thing about $200 off with magenta is the only offer) and that I don't know what I'm talking about. they said they couldn't just set up a line for me even on my phone I have online which sounds wrong?
Get them before the trades lowers again
Bestbuy only scan iphone was sealed input att sim unlock 3 min
Call tmobile said as long as it don't activate sim card or input in any phone account will not register and cancel automatically
Awesome no charge don't need tmobile to do this even better
So when pickup 13 if its sealed then dont put in new/old tmobile sim and use any old/inactive Att sim then use Att portal to unlock.
But if they did insert new Tmobile sim and activated 13 then old Tmobile sim is disabled and have tweet to T Force to unlock. Then if I cancel will I get prorated refund? Also is the phone number still the same with a new Tmobile sim?
Thanks
I hope the loophole is still open by the time I receive my phone (ETA 12/17).
Get them before the trades lowers again
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You can, however, sign up for the plan online through chat with one of TM's sales reps. Just make sure they sign you up for the right plan - don't sign up for a prepaid plan.
You can also go into a store and sign up for it.
I signed up for it with a chat agent and the SIM card was shipped via two-day. TM failed at setting up my account and phone number.
I had to tweet with T-Force to get them to fix it and it's taken them two days to admit that their system didn't activate my SIM so they had to manually set up a new line and send out another SIM card. It's been a royal PITA.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
You can, however, sign up for the plan online through chat with one of TM's sales reps. Just make sure they sign you up for the right plan - don't sign up for a prepaid plan.
You can also go into a store and sign up for it.
I signed up for it with a chat agent and the SIM card was shipped via two-day. TM failed at setting up my account and phone number.
I had to tweet with T-Force to get them to fix it and it's taken them two days to admit that their system didn't activate my SIM so they had to manually set up a new line and send out another SIM card. It's been a royal PITA.
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