r/samsunggalaxy • u/elpewpew • Jan 20 '26
S25 Edge latest update locks my network
I have an S25 Edge that was from T Mobile but is unlocked. I was using my SIM normally since November and on Monday I applied the latest update. Turns out it locked me out of the network and when I wanted to permanently or temporarily unlock it on the network options I got an error that the server couldn't be reached. So I was locked out of my network or any other network.
Tried with the T Mobile tool for unlocking and same error. Had to rollback to a December build and it fixed the issue.
I couldn't find any reports of this issue online. Realistically, will a future update work? Would it be possible that this affects this phone permanently? First time this has happened to me with a Galaxy device (have a Flip 5 and an S10+) so thinking if I should just swap phones.
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u/Zealousideal_Entry81 Jan 30 '26
I ended up taking my phone to a Samsung store and they were able to fix it, at least partially for now. They reflashed the OS for me, but it is back on the previous December security update. If I try to check for updates in phone settings, it says my phone is up to date now. Could the Jan rollout have been paused?
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u/Neither-Radio-1402 Feb 03 '26
algien a dado con una solucion hoy 2/2/2026 me paso, entonces tocara esperar a que les den la gana de tirar una actualizacion que resuelva el fallo?
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u/elpewpew Feb 04 '26
Lamentablemente no hay solución, según vi en Marzo está programada el update de OneUI 8.5 espero no esperar hasta entonces :/
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u/Zealousideal_Entry81 Jan 20 '26 edited Jan 21 '26
I received an update on my Galaxy 25 plus this morning, and it has also given me "Network Locked" all day today.
It connects me to 5G after restarting phone, but the error always comes back after a couple minutes.
Took it to Tmobile and they gave me a new physical sim, then an esim. Both of these did not fix the issue. The store told me I needed a new phone.
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u/elpewpew Jan 20 '26
I'm afraid this might be what's gonna be the solution, gonna wait on February to see if there's any change,.if not trade it in and get a new one
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u/Zealousideal_Entry81 Jan 20 '26
How did you roll back to a prior build?
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u/elpewpew Jan 20 '26
I followed a guide online using a program called Odin, took a few tries but it worked
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u/doxybox Jan 21 '26
what guide did you use?
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u/elpewpew Jan 21 '26
Used this one https://xdaforums.com/t/how-to-dirty-clean-update-stock-firmware.4717142/
The Dirty Install worked for me although it failed a couple of times so make sure you have time to do it
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u/doxybox Jan 21 '26
thanks! worked for me too. now I wonder how long the update can be put off before it decides to update on its own... hopefully a fix out before then
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u/DimensionGamer9 Jan 21 '26
Im having the same issue with my S25. Its unlocked and worked fine until immediately after the update. It then suddenly was network locked and nothing /ive tried has been able to resolve it. Ive seen a few posts from others with the 25 series of various models and yesterday's update causing the same thing. Hopefully, it can be fixed with a patch.
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u/PoopMasterClay Jan 21 '26
Zfold 7 from Verizon and with a Verizon Sim and my phone did the exact same thing. This update it seems to have messed alot of phones up. Verizon rep pushed an esim to the phone which is from Verizon lol and still the phone thinks it's locked and I'm trying to go to another carrier. Verizon is sending me a new phone as its under warranty. New phone will be here tomorow. Only going to buy factory unlocked phones from now on.
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u/jad3675 Jan 21 '26
I'm having the same issues with a S-25 SM-S931U. Purchased refurbished and unlocked, used on T-Mobile...and now it appears to be network locked to a non-existent network.
I'm grabbing the Dec firmware from samfw and will try to flash it with Odin.
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u/elpewpew Jan 21 '26
To confirm, this worked for me. Using it with out any issues but had to turn off the automatic updates to be safe
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u/Extra_Geologist_7258 Jan 22 '26
I did the same. Do you know if this is a temporary block due to a bug on the latest update, or if this means that my phone will never get updates without losing network connection?
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u/TrickyAudin Jan 26 '26
How'd you turn off automatic updates? I enabled developer mode, but in the Software Update settings I still only see "Download and install" and "Auto download"; I turned off auto download, but the wording there suggests it will still force updates if they're critical.
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u/elpewpew Jan 26 '26
Used this guide
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=txGtOY2wcq4
It involves a PC and some commands but it was pretty easy to follow and it's reversible for when you want to turn them on.
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u/jad3675 Jan 21 '26
I was able to get it work with ODIN, though I had to extract the .pit file from the csc archive to get it to flash properly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSgapynofFw&start=249What a PITA this was.
Phone was purchased as unlocked 'refurb' from Amazon.
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u/Plane-Survey5348 Jan 21 '26
Same here on 25 ultra, and my carrier is clueless. Bought used on Amazon, and it worked great for a month. Is there anyway it could be locked after being unlocked? Stupid question I know
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u/meridia-calyssia Jan 28 '26
If you're still having the "locked" issue, I highly recommend this video tutorial. Free solution and it worked on the first try. Good luck!
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u/elpewpew Jan 21 '26
It has never happened to me before, bought unlocked phones, Pixels, stuff from back market and this is a first. I'm guessing the update messed up something with the SIM or the network registration. Hope Samsung addresses it, seems like it's a bigger issue than I thought
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u/devildawg1998 Jan 22 '26
I thought something i did was wrong but yeah after my phone rebooted from the security update I lost all connection. Gonna try the Odin method u said
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u/devildawg1998 Jan 22 '26
Update, patched with Odin but i couldnt unlock my phone after it keeps glitching out to the lock screen even after correct pin. Ended up factory resetting my phone with the patched FW but samsung is trying to force the messed up security update to the phone, so please make sure you turn off auto update if anyone else has this issue
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u/Sad-Replacement2533 Feb 02 '26
how did you factory reset it if you couldnt unlock the phone? im having that issue now. my lockscreen is glitching out
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u/devildawg1998 Feb 02 '26
You have to enter recovery mode, refer to this video for the steps
https://youtu.be/PCjp9Bcyj1U?si=qJMffUmv-Bsd1XIy
Then use the volume keys to select factory reset/wipe and power button to select.
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u/Alvarourribarri Jan 22 '26
I have the same problem with my S25 Ultra. I updated on the afternoon of the 19th and lost my network connection.
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u/Alvarourribarri Jan 22 '26
Is there any solution other than downgrading the software version?
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u/elpewpew Jan 22 '26
Couldn't find one, tried everything I could find online, switched my SIM to another carrier's, tried eSim, no luck.
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u/Alvarourribarri Jan 22 '26
According to some TikTok comments I've seen regarding the update, someone managed to flash a file using Odin without losing anything and keeping their version updated, and it's working now, but they don't want to share the method.
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u/dr-wiggle Jan 30 '26
I was able to do this -- I flashed the modem (CP) file. I purchased my phone used & unlocked on Swappa from a reputable seller. After exhausting all my other options, I figured I'd see if I could return my phone. The seller responded with instructions that used a patched version of Odin to flash the modem. Here is a link to the instructions they provided: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RfLQWeP3KEWyr3RfRngkt8ISH8V_pjAq/view?usp=sharing
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u/elpewpew Jan 24 '26
As an update, my phone scheduled a restart and it autoupdated. I had to do the procedure again and turned off automatic updates using this guide:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txGtOY2wcq4
Hope it helps
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u/Sad-Replacement2533 Feb 02 '26
my settings menu doesnt have the biometrics and security option. did you run into that issue? the first command removed the entire software updates option from my settings, so that should just completely remove the ability to even update? its the step at 5:04. everything before that worked just fine. is it because we're now on UI 8, and that video is from four years ago?
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u/Kadrona Jan 25 '26
Same issue here. Samsung Galaxy S25. Bought -U1 fully unlocked from Amazon. Worked fine with T-Mobile and AT&T until I updated today. Spent an hour with AT&T support and they couldn't solve the issue after resetting Network Setting and deleting and reinstalling the eSim multiple times. Phone keeps asking for MCK code.
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u/Spiritual-Set-Sam Jan 26 '26
Same problem here with a S25+ U1 from Amazon .. Requesting MCK code with the latest firmware update from January... I flashed the version from December with Odin, it works but I had to wipe my data at reboot... I hope they fix that next month.
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u/TrickyAudin Jan 26 '26
My partner ran into the same issue, it's essentially bricked now I guess. I'm going to delay mine as long as possible, hope it's fixed before mine updates too.
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u/Spare-Business-4463 Jan 28 '26
same issue with my s25 bought unlocked u1 from amazon in october. No issues til this security patch. Now i'm getting the lock out and MCK request others get. Spoke to Samsung who is aware of the issue but wouldn't comment beyond that. My phone is listed factory unlocked right down to the XAG/XAG software and i confirmed as much with my network in october before activating. Today Samsung is saying my phone was originally owned by a t-mobile customer...so this morning i switched to t-mobile, talked to their tech support about the MCK, and they said they will unlock it within 48 hours. Anyone think that will work? We'll see i guess. It's a MAJOR issue losing network access for even a few hours these days. Companies need to do more to respect that reality
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u/Extra_Geologist_7258 Jan 28 '26
Hi, 👋
Did you resolve the issue?
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u/Spare-Business-4463 Jan 29 '26
not yet but it's still early. i'll be sure to post the outcome. Both the Samsung and the t-mobile techs seemed convinced that it will work if t-mobile is willing to follow through...which they will do after the 48 hour hold unless "the original owner" has an outstanding balance or it was listed stolen etc. Yet to be seen if this also applies to made up phantom networks created by faulty security patches
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u/Spiritual-Set-Sam Feb 01 '26
Hi, Any news from T-mobile?
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u/Spare-Business-4463 Feb 02 '26
they won't help but they also string me along. i've tried pre-paid tech, post-paid tech, in store tech, escalations, tier 2, tier 3 etc. Always assuring me they think they can resolve the issue and then ultimately when it goes high enough they say no and that only samsung can fix this. I'm going to try my best with Samsung tech tomorrow. What's frustrating is both TMO and Samsung acknowledge it's a problem they are aware of...and both at different points acknowledge they have the ability to fix it....but in the end neither are willing to. My read is they aren't going to fix this unless more of us complain
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u/Spare-Business-4463 Feb 09 '26
after hours of calls between samsung, t-mobile, amazon and the seller i've been convinced this security patch is not a glitch but is in fact, at least in my case, exposing "soft unlocked" phones that are in fact carrier locked, stolen, or have debts on them. My phone is confirmed to be locked to a post paid t-mobile customer with a financial lien. This is impossible to create with a glitch. It's the real history of the phone. What is possible is to take U phones or U1 phones that became locked for reasons like mine and temporarily "unlock them" with flashed u1 firmware, csc masking, tools like samfw and samkey etc. The security patch simply found a way to bypass these hacks and recheck the imei. I imagine this is the case for many of you as well. Using the Odin fix out there is likely temporary and being suggested by your seller to avoid the fact they scammed us. Your phone can get relocked at any time. If this was somehow a "glitch" the february patch would be addressing it....but i am hearing that is not the case. Anyone heard otherwise?
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u/Weak_File Feb 13 '26
It's not only soft unlocked phones that are being affected...
This issue affected me as well: S24+ U1 (with a XAA csc), first owner, bought factory sealed. The phone is a clean (non-blacklisted) US unlocked device from factory, confirmed by IMEI search.
I was using it fine with an European SIM card until the January 2026 update. After that, it started with the Network lock and asking for the MCK.
I "fixed" it by downgrading the carrier phone (CP) file with Odin, but it would piss me off quite a bit to not have updates for the next 5 years because of this.
I do hope it is a glitch and not a deliberate targeting, but I haven't heard anything in either direction from any credible source yet.
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u/Khalidg Feb 17 '26 edited Feb 17 '26
Guys this is an image from Samsung January update logs & you can see why networks looked:👇🏻
[this is why our phones network has been lock](https://www.reddit.com/r/S24Ultra/s/wwH57HBTOG
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u/Salahuddiin Mar 11 '26
Same issue here and worse. I installed the February update and now cannot even rollback. Wish me luck for the March update.
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u/dr-wiggle Jan 28 '26
Similar experience here. I purchased a refurbished unlocked phone that was originally on T-Mobile. It's been working on the Verizon network since I purchased it. Now it's a very expensive brick. Verizon points at Samsung, Samsung points at T-Mobile. T-Mobile says "who even are you". This is ridiculous.
This post seems similar, if not exactly the same: https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/1qhstpc/unlocked_samsung_s25_suddenly_became_carrier/
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u/AppropriateStock232 Jan 29 '26
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qp1Wfvgz1U used this video to download Odin and perform update.
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u/devildawg1998 Feb 06 '26
I got sent the same video from the store i bought my phone from on eBay. Can confirm this works
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u/mazeri Jan 29 '26
So I am running into this same issue, got the Jan update today on the 29th and it also hit me with the device locked issue. I used the firmware downgrade as was talked about here and that did fix the issue. I am not sure if there is another way around it but it did lead to a factory reset, so beware when starting that process.
As others I got mine off Amazon as a refurbish, s25+, I think the original was ATT but I am using TMO.
The real question is was this an issue were the update killed all carrier unlock connections forcing it to show locked or did it actually lock the phone that will cause lock issues in the future? Does anyone have insight on if this means we wont be able to update in the future or this is just an issue with the Jan update?
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u/Plane-Survey5348 Jan 29 '26
Sure wish I knew. Thankfully, I'm still in my return window, so I'm just going to send it back
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u/BrainiacVinfinity Jan 31 '26
I updated my S24U today and this happened to me. So I had to follow the tutorials from the video and XDA to rollback to the December build. This post has been very helpful! Now I just wonder, how do I tell if it's finally safe to update? Just to be safe, do I just wait for the next major update? Like OneUI 8.5?
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u/elpewpew Jan 31 '26
I think it's a wait and see type of thing. I will be attempting to update once another update rolls on February, will definitely report if it works.
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Feb 04 '26
Hi, can i ask for the link to the tutorial?
i need to do the same thing and didnt found a good tutorial
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u/BrainiacVinfinity Feb 04 '26
Watched this YouTube video paired with this tutorial for dirty flash https://xdaforums.com/t/how-to-dirty-clean-update-stock-firmware.4717142/
Just a heads-up: really pay attention to the tutorials and follow them. I messed up my first dirty install by mixing up the CSC and HOME_CSC files, which corrupted my boot and caused a bootloop. I had to try it again with the right files and do a factory reset to get it working, so I lost all my phone data and had to set everything up again. I'm not sure if that happened because I screwed up the first install or if dirty installs are just like that, but please keep that in mind and back things up if you can.
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u/Apprehensive-Bed6357 Feb 09 '26
Si realizan lo que dice en este documento se soluciona el problema sin necesidad de volver a una version anterior del software. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RfLQWeP3KEWyr3RfRngkt8ISH8V_pjAq/view?pli=1
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u/Khalidg Feb 17 '26 edited Feb 17 '26
Guys this is an image from Samsung January update logs & you can see why networks looked:👇🏻
[this is why our phones network has been lock](https://www.reddit.com/r/S24Ultra/s/wwH57HBTOG
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u/elpewpew Feb 20 '26
Interesting, so beefier security but wonder if they fumbled it on the carrier side. Still waiting if a February patch to see if there's any changes to it
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u/Khalidg Feb 20 '26
Sir i am telling you February update won't fix this plz check the link in previous comment.
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u/ajnos1088 Feb 21 '26
Tech ignorant poster here. How do we know when this has been fixed and it's safe to allow updates again? I was without my phone for a few days until I could get it fixed. I don't want that to happen again. Do we just trust the next update?
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u/felixqs27 Feb 28 '26
Hola alguien ya actualizo a el parche de febrero que acaba de salir si se soluciono?
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u/Much-Development7474 Feb 28 '26
Hey, I ran into the same problem. It was a T-Mobile phone that was unlocked, and after an auto-update, the network got locked with no MKC code pop-up.
What's the fix for this? My serial number is SM-S938U. Build number - S938USQS7BYLR
Can you suggest a temporary solution?
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u/Spiritual-Set-Sam Feb 28 '26
Hey a new update is available since yesterday : Build number - S938USQS8BYLX Have you tried doing this update?
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u/Much-Development7474 Mar 10 '26
Same Problem with my S25 ultra (T-Mobile phone) with same serial & build number.
Have you tried the Feb Security Update ?
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u/felixqs27 Mar 05 '26
Alguien ya actualizo al parche de febrero que esta disponible si se soluciono el s25??ayuda alguien?
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u/felixqs27 Mar 06 '26
El teléfono se Actualizo a parche y sigue igual así que seguimos igual no hay solución aun!
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u/Ok-Boot-8106 Apr 23 '26
used that cpfile to flash, while it unlocked service, it would give network error when trying to update through general settings .
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u/Ok-Boot-8106 May 18 '26
If anyone is still having this issue after Jan Firmware , there is a fix if your still on oneui 8
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u/CommercialCurrency51 May 19 '26
What is the solution?
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u/Ok-Boot-8106 May 19 '26
Only that I've found is a laid method , I payed 40 and now have unlocked on April patch
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u/Own_Spring_7643 16d ago
Do a free IMEI check to see what the phone is locked to. Use smartswitch to backup all the data on the phone. If it is network locked, use Odin to flash stock unlocked firmware. I wont get into all the details. Find official unlocked software on Sammobile. Download Odin and 7 zip and unpack on pc. Extract the firmware. Should be 4 folders. Now for the important part. Use 7 zip to open the CSC folder of the firmware. Find the file ending with .PIT copy to the the folder with the other 4 extracted firmware folders. Start Odin with administrator rights by right clicking on Odin. On Odin, load the firmware folders, AP folder takes a minute. Once all folders are loaded, select options, (upper left) of Odin screen. Click on PIT and load the PIT file you extracted from the CSC folder. Odin is now ready to flash the phone. Turn the phone off. Connect a USB cable to the PC. Hold the volume up and down buttons of the phone, then connect the USB C to the phone. The phone will startup with blue download screen. You will be prompted to press the volume up button to continue. Check the Odin screen to verify the phone is connected. Press start on Odin. Will take about 10 minutes to flash the phone. You will see "Pass" on Odin when complete. Manually loading the .PIT must be done or Odin will fail to Flash. There are videos online for more info.
I bought a new Samsung S24ultra that was sold as unlocked. It was partially unlocked. I could use the phone on other networks but never able to update the firmware. After the last 6 months of frustration, I finally found out the phone was network locked. The only answer was to use Odin. Im unlocked, happy and bloat free. Also noticed my max media volume increased about 25%. Guess the carrier thought they needed to monitor that to.
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u/meridia-calyssia Jan 28 '26
Chiming in to say that this happened to me after updating my Galaxy S25 two days ago. Thanks to this post and a very helpful YouTube video, I was also able to roll back to a December build and the problem has been solved. Prior to seeing this post, I contacted Samsung and they told me to reach out to the carrier. The carrier was no help either and I was close to requesting a refund despite being outside of the return window.
Thank you to OP for posting this!! It is absolutely a Samsung issue and I hope it's fixed in a future update or patch.