CodexAG Yeah, I usually just ask the seller to follow my instructions to enable their developer options and check OEM themselves before buying.

    I picked up an "unlocked" Pixel 8a at Best Buy an hour ago. Same problem. I ran system updates. Factory reset. Still can't toggle OEM Unlocking.

    • de0u replied to this.

      • [deleted]

      • Post #16
      • Edited

      Having the exact same problem. Got mine at Best Buy and can't unlock it.

      These models are identical to the ones from Google directly. I've read reports on Reddit and XDA of people purchasing directly from Google also not being able to unlock.

      Factory reset multiple times, connected to the internet overnight, tried the "checkin" dialer command. Nothing works.

      Very frustrating.

        @de0u and @tnk479 did you try ''Method 1'' in my post earlier?

        First thing I try is to go to Google's Stock ROM installer and plug the Pixel into a laptop using a Chrome based browser (Chromium, Brave work).
        Check for an update but don't install anything. Just check if you see anything relating to ''Verizon or T-Mobile''. This indicates that it is originally from one of these carriers and OEM unlock will not be available no matter what you try.

        I have had experience with phones from both Google directly and 3rd party sellers who say 'Factory Unlock' and yet when first running a check with the installer from Google, I see the dreaded Verizon/T-Mobile update.
        If you see this, the phone is no good for unlocking the bootloader no matter what the seller says.

          Cws6dNKPNL3j

          When I do that and I select the 14.0.0 release the following options are presented:

          • AT&T, T-Mobile
          • Verizon, gStore, CA, USC
          • KDDI
          • EMEA, APAC, JP
          • Default

          Is that the set of options you are referring to? From where does this phone originate?

            @tnk479 Making unsubstantiated claims like the one we've removed will result in your thread being locked and unlisted.

              GrapheneOS

              Sorry, what? I looked at your Twitter feed. I did not see anything about Pixel 8a and OEM Unlocking...if I am incorrect in that then I apologize. Your deletion and warning is seriously unwarranted. I am a GrapheneOS fan.

                  GrapheneOS Ahhh, I get it now. I should have said "Pixel 8a" and not Pixel??? Either way, if you're adamant that there's a fix, I am definitely loving that. Can't wait.

                    GrapheneOS And actually, not only am I a fan, I have donated a monthly amount through Github for quite some time now.

                      tnk479 Unlocking the Pixel 8a, installing GrapheneOS and locking it again works fine. Nothing is over for the Pixel 8a. You having issues with may be caused by your network or they may not have actually been unlocked devices. Best Buy and Amazon may have ended up with devices which aren't unlocked somehow. A significant logistics failure doesn't indicate any issue with the device model itself.

                          tnk479 I picked up an "unlocked" Pixel 8a at Best Buy an hour ago. Same problem. I ran system updates. Factory reset. Still can't toggle OEM Unlocking.

                          I would return it, go to a different Best Buy, and get a different one.

                              [deleted] Having the exact same problem. Got mine at Best Buy and can't unlock it.

                              These models are identical to the ones from Google directly. I've read reports on Reddit and XDA of people purchasing directly from Google also not being able to unlock.

                              Factory reset multiple times, connected to the internet overnight, tried the "checkin" dialer command. Nothing works.

                              Very frustrating.

                              Maybe print out one or two of the reports in case you get pushback, but I would return the device and try another (ideally from a different Best Buy store if you have multiple available somewhat nearby).

                                de0u I will try that. Please understand that there is a 45$ restock fee at Best Buy. So, I am hoping not to have to do this too many more times. To recap, I have ordered one on Amazon and returned it. I am now returning the 2nd one to Best Buy.

                                    GrapheneOS If there is no way to determine which "unlocked" phones are actually useable, then I would suggest you/we/GrapheneOS indeed has a problem. Maybe this is just semantics to you but in the real world this is going to cause confusion with a lot of people. I would highly suggest putting something out on Twitter to let people know.

                                      GrapheneOS Also, to clarify, I did not insert the SIM card. I connected the device to non-metered wifi. I also tested by inserting a SIM card and that made no difference.

                                        tnk479 Please understand that there is a 45$ restock fee at Best Buy.

                                        Maybe try bringing Reddit/XDA printouts with you to support the claim that what you were sold is not the device you purchased. I think Best Buy does sell carrier-locked Pixels, so it is possible there was a mix-up in terms of labelling.

                                        tnk479 To recap, I have ordered one on Amazon and returned it. I am now returning the 2nd one to Best Buy.

                                        Is the Google Store an option? One advantage of going that route is that they have some end-user support, though only for devices purchased directly from them.

                                              de0u I'm open to purchasing from whatever store has an actual unlocked version. My problem is that I cannot tell the difference between them. They all claim to be, "unlocked". Is there something on the UPC or packaging I can use to discern true unlock versions?

                                                  tnk479 I am not at all an authority on decoding Google Pixel packaging.

                                                  My personal history is one 3a ordered from Amazon (unlocked easily), one 6a ordered from Amazon (could not unlock, thus returned), and one 6a ordered from Google (unlocked easily). Both of the 6a's had the same SKU (GA03715-US). The early 6a's were unusually hard to unlock. I think I correctly went through all of the recommended rituals to unlock the 6a I got from Amazon, but who knows?

                                                  What I do know is that Google's end-user support flatly refused to provide input on unlocking a device purchased from anywhere but the Google store, and that 100% of the purchases I have made from the Google store (i.e., one purchase out of one purchase) unlocked easily. Meanwhile, there are many reports of people buying "unlocked" devices from Best Buy and easily unlocking them.

                                                    A Pixel from the Google Store is guaranteed to be able to be unlocked. A non-carrier Pixel from elsewhere should also be fine unless the retailer is doing something wrong such as mixing inventory between carrier and non-carrier Pixels. There mostly aren't separate SKUs for carrier Pixels but rather it's a dynamic thing determined based on how they decided to sell it. That's why it needs internet access to check whether it's a carrier Pixel or not. They started out with a Verizon partnership where they had regular Pixels and Verizon Pixels but moved away from that to simply having Pixels which can be sold locked by a carrier via an entry in their server-side database. Recently, a few people have had issues with this. If they claim it's unlocked but it isn't, then it's false advertising and there should be no issue getting money back. It should also put it on their radar that something is wrong if they're competent but unfortunately that's a lot to ask...