Unlocking a Samsung S4 mini that i haven’t used for years

[Popsy59]

Please can someone help me with this?

vodafone protect keep asking me for my PIN even after I used the NUC. 

Do they want my PIN for my account, the activation PIN or something completely different?  When they don’t accept any number I put in they tell me they will email me with the required number but they don’t.

please please help me someone?

thanks

[AnnS]

Hi @Popsy59 

Vodafone Protect was discontinued on  31 March 2017 and changed to Secure Net. 

If you have not used the phone for a long time and disabled Protect before the cut off date you would be unable to enter your password. Vodafone should have let you know Protect was being discontinued and it was advised  at the time that if you had forgotten your password, you would need to change this before the date of closure.

If you are able to get into the phone a factory reset may help, but unfortunately as soon as you changed the SIM  to enable you to enter the NUC given to you by Vodafone, the phone will lock.

You can try contacting Vodafone here using the Social Media Channels but not sure if there will be anything that can be done to enable you to enter the NUC provided to unlock the phone.

You can also try Samsung direct, there should be some information from Google, they may be able to help further.

[Popsy59]

Hi

thanks, I’ll try it and let you know...

[BandOfBrothers]

Hi @Popsy59 

When you insert the alternative activated  non Vodafone sim card in the phone it should just then invoke a pop up box to be able to enter the Nuc that then unlocks the phone to all network's. 

Not sure about why Vodafone Protect / Vodafone Securenet would hinder the unlocking process.

Vodafone-protect. 

How-do-I-use-my-Nuc. 

Live Chat  or the Vodafone Social Media Teams via Contact-us-for-account-specific-queries will be able to help you further if needed.

🌈 Stay Safe  🌈 

[BandOfBrothers]

If you cannot get into the phone then you could still try a Hard Reset via the methods in Hardreset.info/devices/samsung/samsung-i9195-galaxy-s4-mini but this will delete any info you've put on it.

Please do let us know how you get on @Popsy59 

[Popsy59]

Hi.

Thanks for that and no, it didn’t work.

This is what is on the screen after the Samsung logo

[AnnS · Accepted solution]

Yes @Popsy59 

Unfortunately, if you can't even get into the phone you won't be able to do the reset.  This was security protection software to prevent unauthorised use of the phone and there would have been no point having the feature if was was as simple as just hard resetting to clear the phone.

It might be worth logging into your Google account, the S4 would be listed on your devices, you may be able to remove the device but don't think it will make much difference.

The problem now is going to be unable to use the device without the necessary Protect password to uninstall Protect and you may have to admit to not being able to use the phone again.

[Popsy59]

Yes.

Just bought a cheapo from Music Magpie.

I hate waste 🙁

But wasting more time online or the phone with Vodafone would be worse, given that there seems to be no ACTUAL solution.
So thanks again for your help 🙂