Unlock Verizon Samsung S4 to Use With TMobile

[persistentone]

While I wait for a new phone from TMobile - back ordered with a month wait - I am going to buy a cheap junk Samsung S4 and try to run that for a few weeks on TMobile's network, until the real phone arrives. The phone I purchased is a Verizon locked phone. How do I convert a Verizon Samsung S4 to be either unlocked or alternately to program it with an OS that is locked to TMobile? Which is likely to be more reliable with a TMobile SIM card?

 

[Fox Mulder]

If it's locked to Verizon you are out of luck unless you can get the seller to have it unlocked. Even then it would be of limited use because of its age (hardware limitations, older Android version) and only partial compatibility with T-Mobile radio bands.

 

[persistentone]

Can't you force a firmware version onto the phone that will change it to either unlocked or TMobile?

The inability to use TMobile frequencies is more problematic.

What would be a very cheap phone I could buy used and use perfectly with TMobile's network? I am going to be using this phone under one month.

 

[sheldenwhobrey]

it's locked to Verizon

 

[svim]

You really need to get a carrier unlocked phone instead for this, or just get carrier-locked T-Mobile model.
Flashing a different carrier's firmware only occasionally works, and when it does there's an added issue on whether everything will be fully functional.

 

[iBowToAndroid]

All Verizon phones were sold SIM unlocked out of the box (due to an FCC requirement) up until 2019. But with the network changes that T-Mobile has made this year, I'm assuming that such an old device is no longer compatible with them. You can check the IMEI here on their site though:

https://www.t-mobile.com/resources/bring-your-own-phone#imeiextender