bought carrier locked pixel 7 and cannot unlock OEM

unobomber

Hi to everyone!

I have just bought pixel 7 smartphone to install graphene OS but realized that if it's carrier locked it's impossible to unlock OEM and for this reason I cannot install anything via bootloader.

Is there any way to install OS without unlocking OEM or probably there is a way to unlock OEM and bootloader? Did anyone faced the same problem? I have been trying to find a solution for almost a week now but didn't find anything =(

Please give me a hint =)

Thanks in advance!

de0u

unobomber I have been trying to find a solution for almost a week now but didn't find anything =(

If you have a return window, I'd suggest you return the device, then get an OEM-unlockable device from another source. Especially if it's a Verizon device!

akc3n

unobomber a way to unlock OEM and bootloader?

This requires internet access from the Stock OS with Google Play services as part of Factory Reset Protection (FRP) for anti-theft protection. Are you sure you followed the instructions correctly?

On device model variants (SKUs) which support being sold as locked devices by carriers, enabling OEM unlocking requires internet access so that the stock OS can check if the device was sold as locked by a carrier.

Alternatively, you can verify and confirm this by following these steps:
https://akc3n.page/gists/#alternative-method-via-cli

unobomber is it even possible to get to know what carrier is my phone connected to

adb shell getprop | grep carrier or look for ro.carrier when running getprogp without piping grep (non-linux).

If that doesn't work, pipe grep apn or look for ril.attach.apn running getprop.

Search on https://android.googlesource.com/device/sample/+/main/etc/apns-full-conf.xml using CTRL+F on desktop or if on mobile, use Find in page from the Vanadium menu to locate the carrier associated with said apn.

raccoondad

unobomber No hint, not possible, trade in your phone for a new one (that isn't carrier locked)

spring-onion

Hello!

OEM unlocking is a hard requirement, there's no way around it. Either you ask your carrier to unlock it and hope they pull through with it, or you return it and buy unlocked. I remember someone convinced T-Mobile they were a developer and needed an unlocked device for their work but these success stories are more the exception than the norm, particularly in the US where this problem is most prevalent.

unobomber

Guys is it even possible to get to know what carrier is my phone connected to? because I have bought it from a service like ebay in my country and have no idea to which company I should try to make a request to unlock it.

unobomber

akc3n
thanks for your advice but for some reason these commands don't work for me..

akc3n adb shell getprop | grep carrier look for ro.carrier iirc

If that doesn't work, grep apn look for ril.attach.apn.

Here's a screenshot
am I doin' something wrong? =)

probably I just didn't enter this command correctly

unobomber

akc3n

I see that you are a very profound expert but I am a newbe =)
Could you please share a link where I can see the commands in exact order I have to enter them or probably you could write them for me in a more detailed manner?

thanks in advance !

unobomber

Good news... the seller have just messaged me that he well return money. Hope that he isn't lying.

unobomber

But the problem is not solved yet. Why a moderator has added this tag? I am still waiting that somebody will probably add some kind of instructions which you can write via adb and unlock everything like it can be done with pixel 6

de0u

unobomber I am still waiting that somebody will probably add some kind of instructions which you can write via adb and unlock everything like it can be done with pixel 6

If the device won't allow OEM unlocking it is fairly likely that it's permanent and no sequence of commands will change that. The directions provided are for confirming the situation is hopeless, not for changing the situation. Can you try this specific check? https://akc3n.page/gists/#alternative-method-via-cli

rd8888

de0u thanks.
to summarize, if after allowing connection to the internet the "OEM unlocking" feature is still grayed out, the phone is locked and therefore GrapheneOS cannot be installed. is that correct?
but i can put my TMobile SIM in it, and make a phone call. so what does that mean? i happened to buy a TMobile locked phone from backmarket as Unlocked?

de0u

rd8888 if after allowing connection to the internet the "OEM unlocking" feature is still grayed out, the phone is locked and therefore GrapheneOS cannot be installed. is that correct?

Can you try this specific check? https://akc3n.page/gists/#alternative-method-via-cli

rd8888 but i can put my TMobile SIM in it, and make a phone call. so what does that mean? i happened to buy a TMobile locked phone from backmarket as Unlocked?

A phone can be carrier-unlocked but not OEM-unlockable.

GrapheneOS

de0u That guide is outdated. Devices are locked vs. unlocked dynamically via a database the phone checks to see if it's a locked device. That allows any Pixel to be sold as a locked device by a carrier and then the carrier can choose to unlock it for someone later such as when the contract is finished or a certain amount has been covered.

de0u

GrapheneOS Thanks for the clarification!