OEM Unlocking procedure on Verizon variant?

bksds

I've frustratingly encountered & learned that my Pixel 6a seems to have the OEM Unlocking functionality completely disabled (b/c Verizon) even though I fully own the device / was paid-in-full since day one.

Researching if even capable of being addressed & resolved by Verizon support has pretty much returned back a resounding NO so I haven't even bothered with reaching out to them at this point.

However, I have turned up some potentially useful steps / guides of pretty much Factory Resetting device w/ SIM removed & even a (dated) Command Line approach (found here: https://www.xda-developers.com/unlock-bootloader-verizon-google-pixel-xl/) that I'm hopeful for but don't know for sure if either would even work.

Does anyone have any known tried & true methods of a workaround for enabling OEM Unlocking on a Verizon variant Pixel 6a? (Note: have twice already attempted the GOS website's recommended step to update Pixel 6a OS to >= Jun. 2022 release then Factory Reset after with no luck.)

Drbeast

bksds

How are you unlocking the bootloader? If I recall correctly you have to go to "developer options", enable bootloader unlocking there first, and then reboot into bootloader mode. From there you use an adb shell on the PC to unlock the bootloader with (fastboot flashing unlock).

Sorry if you've done this already. Just want to confirm.

bksds

Drbeast
As far as I'm aware, OEM Unlocking is "Bootloader" Unlocking.

Basically, the OEM Unlocking toggle w/n Developer Options on my (Verizon-variant) Pixel 6a persists to remain "grayed out" even after applying the most recent System Update + Factory Reset afterwards as specifically noted to do via the GOS Web-based USB Install guide webpage.

Research has shown to be a widespread issue and I have uncovered possibly some workarounds as described in original post, but there hasn't been any definite "Yes, this works for the Verizon-variant Pixel 6a."

I just don't want to waste any further time trying to make it work if it simply just isn't going to.

unwat

bksds

I went through the same thing last year. I don't live in the US, not even on the same continent, and I somehow got a locked Verizon phone. Even contacting Verizon and lying to them about needing the bootloader unlocked led nowhere.

Google has locked these phones down very well. As far as I can tell, there hasn't been a way around the bootloader lock for many years now. Bootloader lock seems to be locked away in the Titan chip now, not like in the past when it was stored on the hard drive. Shows just how hella secure these phones are, which is cool, but still a huge bummer.

f13a-6c3a

As far as remember, for many years now, Verizon bootloaders on all phones, even after being paid off and owned outright, stay locked with no way of unlocking. They could tell you that their phones are unlocked but they mean different "unlocked" as in to be used on another carrier networks. Sorry, man, I think you're out of luck. To avoid this exact issue I purchase my Pixels from Google even though I'm on Verizon

bksds

f13a-6c3a
No more Verizon-variants for me! Must admit: I fell for the "our phones become unlocked; OH JK NOT FULLY" bit.

Can. Not. Wait. For consumer ownership laws to become stronger; what a joke some of this crap is.

bksds

unwat
Is bummer :( oh well, lesson learned.

nickolai

Hi, I've bought a used Pixel 6a in Georgia (the sovereign country). The phone is originally from Verizon and the OEM Unlocking toggle in Developer Options is "grayed out". Is there, as of now, a possibility to unlock my phone?

ErnestThornhill

nickolai It is widely known and has been discussed on here numerous times that Verizon disables the ability to unlock their device's OEM and bootloader and they claim to not be able to undo it. This is why it's stated on the GrapheneOS website that "devices sold in partnership with specific carriers may be locked by the carrier, which will prevent installing GrapheneOS. This is primarily an issue with US carriers and isn't common elsewhere in the world. To avoid this, either don't buy a carrier device, or make sure it can be unlocked. It's the same hardware/firmware/software either way but carriers dislike having devices able to bypass their paywall for tethering, etc., so they disable it for the devices they sell as part of contracts."

https://grapheneos.org/faq#device-support

other8026

nickolai I know of this happening to other people. It sounds like even if you're not in the United States and bought the phone outside of the US, Verizon still won't unlock the phone.

aluasn

ErnestThornhill

welp warning to anyone buying from ebay make sure it says:

factory unlocked or oem unlocked (even better try to confirm with the seller)

bought one that said "network unlocked" and "lock status unlocked" in the description and i thought that the latter part meant oem unlocked / bootloader unlocked :/

ErnestThornhill

aluasn More often than not, when a listing states that a device is "unlocked", it's referring to Carrier/Network.