Can I check bootloader unlocking possibility by IMEI prior purchase?

Frank_Bur

Hi,

In my country there's no official sales of Pixel phones, only from stores that import it from other countries directly. These stores are small and there's no way to check the OEM unlocking option prior buying the phone. I found one store where the seller can provide me with IMEI to check, but he's not willing to open the phone and check.

My question is: is there a way you guys can suggest/know that will check Pixel device for OEM bootloader unlocking possibility by IMEI number via some website before buying?

P.S. I can buy only Pixel 6 pro at the moment, as it's the only one available

Nuttso

The one selling to you simply has to know if it is unlocked. His distributor can provide this details to him

Frank_Bur

I wish. But they don't. I talked to every store that selling it in my entire country.

Nuttso

They must tell you if you could use any sim card from any provider you choose. It's highly unlikely to be a locked device when not tied to Verizon or similar

Frank_Bur

These devices are able to accept any sim of any carrier in my country, however, the OEM option isn't available, you can't turn it on. It stays grayed out. That's the whole issue with this.

unwat

I'd be very cautious when doing it this way. I bought an "unlocked" phone where I live and I got a Verizon locked phone. I'm not even on the same continent as Verizon. If the OEM unlock option stays greyed out it's either because it's locked or it needs to be updated.

Edit: also what Toophei8 said below. I forgot it needs access to the internet!

Frank_Bur

unwat Can you share the country? If not, region? I'm from Israel.

Toophei8
I didn't know the network(update) can be the cause of this... omfg.

So it can be either grayed out and locked or grayed out and not updated, correct?
So, if it is grayed out and locked, I wouldn't be able to use other carriers except the one that it is locked on, right? Because if the latest true, it's 100% just an update issue, as I can use any carrier in my country(Israel) without any problem.

Toophei8

@Frank_Bur: if it's grayed out, you have to connect to Internet, to make it accessible. Whether via SIM or via WLAN does not matter.

unwat

Frank_Bur Can you share the country?

I'm in Asia. I've read about other people who've been in the same situation both in Asia and in Europe.

Frank_Bur

unwat I see. With that phone you talked about previously(Verizon locked one), did you have an ability to use any(like each and every) carrier sim of your country?

unwat

Frank_Bur
Yes. I don't think any American service provider does the carrier/SIM lock anymore unless they sell the phone to a new customer

And I'm sorry, I didn't actually read the whole thread and just read the OP. I feel like it's very awkward to do this, but I did find some way to check IMEI against a database. I don't know if this method is actually reliable and safe or not. I just tried it with my old locked Pixel 5 and it worked. Hopefully this helps you.

from reddit

Plug [IMEI] in here: https://www.imei.info/
Click on Google Pixel SN & Warranty
You should see the network under the network description.

The record for my old phone:
phone data

See, next to "sales model" it says US VZ, so it's a Verizon locked phone.

abcZ

The "updated" requirement applies ONLY to 6A, not 6 or 6Pro.

Frank_Bur

@unwat Damn... I visited that website before and also checked that, but didn't know about the letters and the meaning that can be behind it. Here what I have:

https://i.ibb.co/GJ0CXP4/Untitled.png

So it should give me the OEM, right?

unwat

I'd guess so. Mine says "Pixel 6 Stormy Black 256GB (Unlocked)"

The part that says "pristine" apparently means the phone was refurbished and is in pristine condition according to this reddit post.

Frank_Bur

unwat

unwat I'd guess so. Mine says "Pixel 6 Stormy Black 256GB (Unlocked)"

That's nice to hear.

unwat The part that says "pristine" apparently means the phone was refurbished and is in pristine condition according to this reddit post.

Not as far as I can tell. Check this: https://www.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/rsikl4/comment/ik9xrxy/

unwat

Frank_Bur Not as far as I can tell.

oh, that's good