Finally decided to give GrapheneOS a try as I’ve got a fp6 with /e/os and love it.
Found an eBay listing for one in very good condition, and right in the subject it says unlocked. Got it yesterday, excited to try it. Start following the install instructions, only to see OEM unlock grayed out. One article says, it must be connected to the internet, so I connect it to wifi. Still grayed out. Another article says install all the updates and reboot. Two hours later, still grayed out. I’ve measaged the seller asking for a refund, but I don’t know. Anyone else have an idea?
The mobile phone industry is trash. “Unlocked” usually means “proprietary software on the phone lets you use any carrier” not “boot any OS”.
which is fucking insane that people just accept as normal, the day europe stops enforcing the freedom to use whatever operator i want is the day i start only using my phone via wifi.
Usually have to look for sellers’ listings that specify “bootloader unlocked” rather than just “unlocked” because the latter can mean cell carrier unlocked and not bootloader unlockable.
So like @UnpledgedCatnapTipper@piefed.blahaj.zone found out it’s a Verizon sold phone and Verizon are absolute fuckwads about letting you unlock the BL.
When the seller said “Unlocked” they meant carrier unlocked as in it will accept any non-Verizon SIM card
Now, generally, for every other US carrier that does also mean you have the ability to unlock the BL because per Google policy when the phone is carrier unlocked then you will be able to BL unlock…
…except when that carrier is Verizon
Not sure how successful you’ll be on getting a refund, because technically they didn’t mistake anything the commonly accepted definition for “Unlocked” in this context is carrier unlocked. Which you would have been fine with, again, had that carrier not been Verizon.
Fuck Verizon.
If it’s a Verizon model, you’re out of luck as they lock their bootloader completely with no means to unlock it. Some of those imei checker tools will list if it’s from a specific carrier so you can confirm.
I checked via the serial number in your screenshot and it is a verizon phone.
Fuck
Unlocking the bootloader on a Pixel is relatively simple but you do need to boot the phone and get past initial setup.
You don’t need to attach your Google account even. You can skip all of that.
You just need to get into the Developer Settings section and enable “OEM unlocking”
Once that’s done you can proceed with your unlocked bootloader normally through ADB/fastboot
Like I said, OEM unlocking is grayed out. Everything I tried didn’t work.
Gotcha. didn’t realize you meant the developer settings options was greyed out since your pic was just off the bootloader.
There are two possibilities here:
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it needs to check in over the internet to enable OEM unlocking. Boot into the OS, connect to Wi-Fi, then do a factory reset from within the OS. Go through setup a second time then and it might enable OEM unlocking.
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The device was not purchased fully and may have been on a payment plan. You can try contacting the various carriers and providing the IMEI to them and ask if the device appears in their inventory as still needing to be paid off. You might be able to convince them to unlock it for you.
Here is a reddit thread with some information that might help. Read all the comments. Several people have been able to get around this with different approaches (trying sim cards from other carriers, telling the carrier you’re an android developer, etc): https://www.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/sc2w1r/fyi_if_your_oem_unlock_is_greyed_out_after/
Good luck! You might just have to return it but it’s worth a try.
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No, it looks like from how the dev sett. OEM unlock option is grayed out that OP has a bootloader locked Pixel, likely unlocked just meant carrier unlocked.
Send it back. You’ll never factory unlock it.
Shop carefully, look for “Factory Unlocked” or “OEM Unlocked”.
Sellers who know what this means won’t mind you asking for verification. Smart ones will show a screenshot off the OEM Unlock screen.
I’ve bought numerous phones from eBay from sellers who know the difference, and I only buy from sellers who accept returns.
Yeah, you’re right I did the eBay return and it seemed to just give me a shipping label. Take it to the post office tomorrow.
99.9% of the time when someone says the phone is “unlocked” they mean carrier unlocked. Unlocked bootloader is only something a small number of people care about. Ask the seller if this is a factory unlocked phone or if they just unlocked it themselves.
Also never buy anything “refurbished” thats not straight from the OEM. If some 3rd party refurbishes a phone they just wipe it down and call it a day and you’re paying a premium for it. You’re better off saving your money and buying used from joe schmoe. Joe schmoe is probably less scummy anyways.
How do you find Bootloader unlocked phones? It seems there are just dozens of “unlocked” but not any bootloader unlocked listings
There’s no reason to find one that’s already unlocked. Just find one that you know is unlockable. Any non carrier model pixel 10 should be unlock able. You just need to figure out what exact model number or whatever is the non carrier version and specifically get that.
I found someone online who say they had to put a SIM card in their phone before the OEM unlocking option was enabled. Maybe try that if you haven’t already? Idk about the pixel 10, but on my 9a I don’t think I had to jump through any hoops to enable it.
I read that too about the sim card, but it looks like the pixel 10 doesn’t have a physical sim
Good for you and congratulations on willing to use GOS, and getting a refurbished Pixel. I don’t know how to solve this issue but I hope you’ll find an answer and someone is willing to help. You may also try the forum or Matrix spaces about GOS
