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Pixel OEM Unlocking Support

Hello,

I am in the process of doing some development work with my Google Pixel 3XL and am getting hung up at some stages due to the "OEM unlocking" feature being disabled. My understanding is that this is because the phone has been purchased from Verizon.

I am disappointed that after spending a sizable chunk of money on this phone, its capacity as a productivity tool is severely handicapped simply because of where it was purchased. Would a member from the Verizon team please direct me to the policy or agreement which enforces the prohibition of OEM unlocking?

Thank you!

Comments

Verizon_Support

Hello rabbitman, we want to make sure you get your money's worth. Exactly what are you trying to do?

Verizon Wireless does not make any alterations to the boot loader, nor do we restrict any developer options on devices. It is not recommended to make any changes to the boot loader as it may cause devices to behave abnormally.

UbaldoJ_VZW

lyonster89

If Verizon Wireless does not make any alterations to the boot loader or restrict any developer options on devices, why does Google sell the phones with the bootloader unlocked and without any developer options disabled, but when you buy that same! exact! phone! from Verizon those options are locked? I have written communications with the Google company that states they do not lock the bootloader or lock any developer options before selling them to other retailers.

Verizon_Support

lyonster89, we don't have a direct answer for that but also don't provide support for this and have no process to unlock the bootloader. You can decide to root the phone if you choose to take that risk.

AlanS_VZW

CGCY

Hello Alan

Does anyone have a straight answer fro Verizon on this? Yes or No.

I understand that Verizon wants to protect their networks, but if I owned the phone 100%, it should be my decision of the software on it.

It makes not senses, if I can use an unlocked Pixel on your network, why does the boot-loader security is needed on the Verizon one?

you mentioned "root your phone". anything i read about it, there is no way to unlock the verizon boot-loader.

Thanks

[Deleted User]

As a reminder, discussions of rooting phones is prohibited via the Community Terms of Use. You can review our ToU here.

Thanks for your contribution, and for your help in keeping the community a friendly, productive environment for all members.

KH-Michael

lance.adams6@gmail.com

Verizon has no legitimate reason to keep our phones bootloader locked after paying off.

There is no official policy, they simply refuse to do it.

AT&T, TMobile, and all other carriers with the OEM Bootloader Lock allow for unlocking once the phone is paid off or a time limit threshold is met.

That is reasonable.

Verizon is about to see this escalated to a new level and are only lucky no one has caught that they're misbehaving here.

Zero security threats here, since they allow those unlocked phones on their service too.

Verizon_Support

Hello, being on top of your equipment is crucial, especially if you are looking to unlock it. Please tell us more, what exactly is going on? What precisely are you looking to do?

lyonster89

It is no mystery (read the past comments on this thread) that you will not unlock the bootloader of the phone. That is the goal.

To continue asking "what is going on" and "what are you looking to do" is not helping the customers reach that goal of unlocking the bootloader of the Pixel phone. Work with your Verizon technical team to create a solution! If the technical team is unable to come up with a solution, get the Verizon Contracts team to work with Google to get this problem resolved!

Reply to this thread when you have some real answers!

asdf40

KH-Michael,

No problem I'll go to Google Fi. Thanks for the years of service and intentionally removing a feature I bought the phone expecting to utilize as advertised and supported by Google.

Doggo

Go Project Fi if you want to see emergency calls only where signal strength would be. Theres a good reason why I left Fi years ago to switch back to Verizon.

For everyone complaining about bootloaders: You knew what you were getting into when you purchased a carrier phone. The phones not being locked was for switching carriers, nothing more. No one forced you to getting your phone from Verizon. Harassing Verizon staff about isn't going to solve anything -- escalating to tech will do nothing.

The only reason to consider a carrier phone is if there was a really good promo. My girlfriend's first gen Pixel was $10 a month from a Holiday promo. Fast forward to 2020 and the new phone I got her is an unlocked Pixel 4a straight from Google.

Buy unlocked if you care about tinkering or lack of bloatware. Otherwise, don't complain if you bought from Verizon.

Verizon_Support

We would be sad if you left the family, Asdf40. No one likes a phone that does not work. I would love to see what options you have. Can you tell me more about what is going on with your device? -AmberF_VZW

asdf40

Thanks Amber,

I've had great service with Verizon in past and hate to leave as well. The problem is the Pixel series of phones is advertised and sold by Google as bootloader unlockable. Verizon removes this capability of the phone, if I had purchased the same exact phone from Google I would have a feature complete product as advertised.

If the OEM Unlock toggle was available I would be able to ask Google when having issues with unlocking the bootloader. As previously shared there are many instances of Google Support helping people get their phones bootloader unlocked for development purposes. Since Verizon blocks the first step of the process I have to come here.

If we could resolve this issue (bootloader unlock my Google Pixel 2 XL as supported by Google) I'd buy a new phone through you the same day let alone remain on the service. Unfortunately this seems unlikely.

Thanks again.

Turboevox

What an absolute lie. I too have verifiably legal and authorized communication from Google explicitly outlining that Verizon Locks the bootloader by modifying the stock operating system when they buy them from Google. I went very far looking for an answer to the same question and was able to reach management at Google. They said they had no way of even ota flashing my device, but that YOUR company was able to unlock it. Furthermore I would assert that it can't be legal and it's for sure not ethical to sell a product that you've modified from a different manufacturer without marking it as so, especially when. It's such a limiting modification

VerizonIsMean

We can't obtain root permissions without being able to go through OEM Unlocking. Your replies are belittling to your customers, don't talk to us as if we were fools. We know how GOOGLE sells the devices vs how the VERIZON branded ones come. We know the problem, and we know that per contractual agreement in the Google/Verizon partnership Verizon had the Android developers disable any ability to unlock the bootloader under the guise of protecting the network from abuses.

We choose Verizon because it is the best, and in return we get treated like this.

d0x360

Not true!

Here's a couple of MANY examples of verizon blocking root.

Samsung phones... They are using the snapdragon version in the USA because of VZW just so it can't be rooted.

The pixel and pixel xl bought from google, paid in full. If you insert a verizon sim it will update, lock the bootloader forever and gray out the option. If you root before inserting a verizon sim then you can root all day.

Verizon used to block root because "tethering" but now that's a regular feature.

Now they claim it's for security except a rooted phone can be made more secure than one that isn't AND if you're rooting then you probably are a power user and know what you're doing.

[Deleted User]

Due to the age of this thread, it will be locked in order to keep discussions current. If you have the same or a similar question/issue we invite you to start a new thread on the topic.

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