• General

  • GOS Phone Unusable After Forgetting eSIM PIN due to Google eSIM management.

  • Dde0u

    • Post #23
    • Edited

    Watermelon Perhaps the SIM PIN feature was implemented long time ago where the Android developers thought the user could easily eject the SIM, but didn't consider the case of eSIMs?

    I expect so.

    Watermelon Why not just make the SIM PIN entry screen less obnoxious, if it's (hopefully) possible?

    I suspect it's a mixture of:

    • It is messy code that is delicate to change because of security implications
    • Most users don't set SIM PINs
    • Many users with a SIM PIN know the PUK
    • ...plus maybe other factors.

        A factory reset solves the issue? I think by default isn't deleting eSIMs
        Maybe the duress password will solve, due to it removes the eSIMs

          Pieter Update: that doesnt bypass it... I'm fucked. Should I go to a tech support store or do I just buy a new phone at this point? It's in perfect state except for this major bug.

              Pieter Is obtaining the PUK from the carrier not an option?

                  Pieter if you have enabled bootloader unlock from developer options you may install stock or any custom ROM then delete the eSIM then flash grapheneos again

                      de0u I reread the thread and indeed the situation is not the same, my apologies. Here's a brief description: My phone rebooted this morning and it asked me to enter my pin code for my esim, which I did, but it said it was wrong. I double-checked to see if the pin code was right or not and at it supposedly was. I entered it one too many times and so it asked me to enter my PUK-code. I did that too and it says its right and asks me to enter a new pincode for my esim and confirm it after but it keeps popping back to the 'enter PUK-code' screen with the number of attempts getting lower and lower.

                      • de0u replied to this.

                          cdflasdkesalkjfkdfkjsdajfd I'm not sure if I have bootloader unlock enabled on my phone, I can't navigate to anything besides the simcard screen. Is there anyway I could enable it through the safe boot screen?

                              • Dde0u

                                • Post #31

                                Pieter I think your best option is probably waiting to hear back from Google before trying things and running your unlock count down closer to zero. It may be that flashing a new beta release would fix the problem, or that flashing a non-beta release would. But I suspect this forum is not likely to provide a solution to this eSIM issue.

                                  6 days later

                                  Pieter Normally you would be able to disable the eSIM on the stock os. So there is a defect in the android 16 beta?

                                    Pieter Hopefully you have a backup of your data. It seems like you have to wipe the device because the phone won't get any updates while locked. Maybe there is an option to wipe eSIM data from recovery or fastboot but I don't know anything about that. If nothing helps and you still don't have access to your phone after 7 days, you should just wipe it via fastboot.

                                        domnru the phone won't get any updates while locked

                                        It's still possible to sideload OTA updates. If a GrapheneOS update fixes this (e.g. by making the SIM PIN entry screen less obnoxious) it could be sideloaded from recovery mode and fix the issue cleanly without having to wipe or change anything.

                                          a month later

                                          domnru wiping still didnt get rid of the eSIM unlock screen sadly, I'll look into removing the eSIM info

                                              Pieter I have a new phone now but I'm desperately trying to recover my Pixel 6 just for the camera :,)

                                                4 days later

                                                Pieter You should have a button to skip entering the esim unlock pin/puk and use the device without mobile connectivity.

                                                This way you can factory reset from settings and remove all esims as well.

                                                  14 days later

                                                  Okay so I didnt bother to check if there was an old simcard in the simcard slot, prior to the e-sim.... 😭😭😭 It fixed the whole issue. Guess I have 2 phones now

                                                  5 days later

                                                  Would a factory reset through Android Recovery rather than Settings app wipe esim?