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Root Using my rooted Nexus 5 on Sprint

egernant

Well-Known Member
I'm considering switching over to Sprint to take advantage of a Framily plan where I'd pay $40 for 3GB of data. The rep told me I'd need a new phone since I was using a GSM phone. I told him it's unlocked and has CDMA radios as well and is perfectly compatible with Sprint. He didn't believe me. I pushed him to try it anyway, so he put in one of the numbers in the "About Phone" section of my Nexus' settings and it came up as invalid. He said two things could be the issue:

- The number on the phone could be incomplete (the original box might have an additional couple numbers that are necessary)
- I asked about root and he was like "oh no you can't root, that messes everything up"

He'd already lost all credibility saying my GSM phone couldn't work on Sprint, so I'm not buying the root shenanigans. Is it possible that rooting would change one of the ID numbers on your phone and make it incompatible with Sprint using whatever method of verification they use? I think it was the IMEI number they used, but not positive. I thought that was a product number that would never change, root or no root.

Anything else that could be causing this? I know this phone will work on Sprint.
 
I'm considering switching over to Sprint to take advantage of a Framily plan where I'd pay $40 for 3GB of data. The rep told me I'd need a new phone since I was using a GSM phone. I told him it's unlocked and has CDMA radios as well and is perfectly compatible with Sprint. He didn't believe me. I pushed him to try it anyway, so he put in one of the numbers in the "About Phone" section of my Nexus' settings and it came up as invalid. He said two things could be the issue:

- The number on the phone could be incomplete (the original box might have an additional couple numbers that are necessary)
- I asked about root and he was like "oh no you can't root, that messes everything up"

He'd already lost all credibility saying my GSM phone couldn't work on Sprint, so I'm not buying the root shenanigans. Is it possible that rooting would change one of the ID numbers on your phone and make it incompatible with Sprint using whatever method of verification they use? I think it was the IMEI number they used, but not positive. I thought that was a product number that would never change, root or no root.
Nope, rooting won't mess with any of the numbers they need. I'd just make sure you are on a stock-based ROM for activation and you should be good to go.

Also make sure you're giving them the correct number, and the number on the back is 1 digit too long for sprints system, so omit the last one. This is because Sprint uses a MEID or ESN identification number to activate your phone. To get the MEID number, remove the last digit of the IMEI number provided on the back.

They sell Nexus 5's in their store, how does this guy not know :rolleyes: You may have better luck activating it yourself online.

Question: Where did you buy your device from? As of a few months ago people were having issues activating devices bought from T-mobile/ATT.

https://community.sprint.com/baw/thread/150262

The issue stems from Sprint not having the IMEI from those phones in their system. If you read through the first page of that link, their support is downright wrong multiple times throughout the thread, and they don't seem to get that its the same device no matter where its from.
 
I bought my N5 through Google Play on release day. Thanks for the info - should be helpful when I go back in there and teach this guy how my phone works.

Now just trying to decide if I unroot until after activation. I'm on Cataclysm currently. Installed it 4 months ago, haven't looked back.
 
I bought my N5 through Google Play on release day. Thanks for the info - should be helpful when I go back in there and teach this guy how my phone works.

Now just trying to decide if I unroot until after activation. I'm on Cataclysm currently. Installed it 4 months ago, haven't looked back.

You should be fine on cataclysm. I'm thinking your problems are due to him not leaving the last digit off of the number :)
 
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