In late July, we covered a way to activate iPhone with a what-so-called Phonebook SIM card. Early adopters reported that the method worked great and they could easily hactivate the iPhone without an official sim. Lately, however, it was reported the phonebook sim card does no longer work.
What it turn out is that the phonebook sim hack has brought up to Apple’s attention and they immediately developed a fix to block it out. Recently, if you use phonebook sim card to activate an iPhone, you will get a “Different SIM Detected” error and are prompted to connect to iTunes.
That’s really discouraging when you encounter this kind of error. However, someone has already developed a fix to resolve the “Different SIM Detected” issue.
Procedures to fix the “Different SIM Detected” Issue
1. Restore your iPhone to iOS 4.0.1 via iTunes
2. Once it is restored, insert the phonebook sim card to activate the iPhone.
3. After the activation, remove the phonebook sim card.
4. Open Safari and go to http://jailbreakme.com. Slide the “slide to jailbreak” to kick off the jailbreak process.
5. After the jailbreak process completes successfully, launch cydia. Install both “afc2add” and “ultrasn0w”.
Note: The “afc2add” is a service for USB file browsing and the “ultrasn0w” is to unlock your iPhone.
6. After running ultrasn0w, it is supposed your iPhone is unlocked but you will still receive the “Different SIM Detected” error. Next, download iPhone Explorer, which is a freeware for browsing iPhone’s file system. The software is available for both Mac and PC.
7. Connect your iPhone to computer via USB and launch iPhone Explorer.
8. Browse to the folder /var/root/Library and delete the “Lockdown” folder.
9. Download the patched version of lockdown folder from here.
Note: You need to register before you can download the file.
10. Copy the “Lockdown” folder to /var/root/Library (i.e. the same location as the Lockdown folder you have just deleted in step 8).
11. Restart your iPhone to activate the fix.
That’s it. I hope this fix works for your iPhone. As always, feel free to leave comment and share your experience.
OH MY GOD IT WORKED!!!! I’ve been fooling around with the stupid DITS simcard but wouldnt work, I hate Apple for blocking everything!
Recommending you guys! Thanks a heap, worked right off the bat
Great… it works… The super Team… Thanks…
Hey buddy, it shows an error of 0xE8000001 when I connect my iPhone to the computer. What do i do?
@Roland,
Probably, it’s related to the USB driver. Here is the suggested fix.
It wont let me paste the folder
Hey guys just got the phonebok sim in the mail and it doesn’t even say different sim detected anymore. I’ve been phone less for almost 5 days now this is getting stupid. anything you guys can do to help is awsome!!
I LOVE U MAN……. u just save my LIFE and my 3GS@4.0.1. This really helped me. But I used iDisk to brows the folder and replace instead iexplorer as it was giving me itune error.
Thanks dude.
Hi, is there a way to turn/convert an unused sim card to a phonebook card!!!!
I know I am probably asking too much…but where I am I don’t see to be able to get the phonebook Card
thanks
Sam
@Sam,
There is no way to convert a sim card to phonebook sim. But, you can purchase the phonebook sim card online.
Hi Simon Ng,
Please let me know the procedure to hacktivate using an At&T Sim card (different from the one which Iphone came with)
Situation:
I have an Iphone 3G 8 GB which was working fine on 4.0
I did “erase all data and settings” on the iphone.
After having done that I got stuck on apple logo.
When I tried to start it in DFU mode it is now stuck on ‘ Slide for emergency ‘ & “Please insert a valid sim with PIN no.”
I tried to hacktivate & jailbreak it through IPhone 4 firmware and Redsnow but no luck.
Its still stuck on Slide for emergency. Now I want to know in detail how do I activate it
by borrowing a Sim card from someone and what all will I need
Please help me out. I am here in US for about a month and I need to get it done.
Thanks in advance Sir
Kavish
Hi Simon
my canadian friend send me a iphone 4 & I am using this phone with gevey turbo sim but my facetime won`t work pl. help me.
if any other solution like unlock my phone & using without turbo sim pl be advice me .
ver 4.3.3(8j2)
model MC605C
BB 04.10.01
I am from India
thank a lot
GIRISH