mortalic

Bought a Refurbished pixel10 pro, unlocked but it isn't.

https://lemmy.world/post/43604145

Bought a Refurbished pixel10 pro, unlocked but it isn't. - Lemmy.World

Finally decided to give GrapheneOS a try as I’ve got a fp6 with /e/os and love it. Found an eBay listing for one in very good condition, and right in the subject it says unlocked. Got it yesterday, excited to try it. Start following the install instructions, only to see OEM unlock grayed out. One article says, it must be connected to the internet, so I connect it to wifi. Still grayed out. Another article says install all the updates and reboot. Two hours later, still grayed out. I’ve measaged the seller asking for a refund, but I don’t know. Anyone else have an idea? bootloader [https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/acdc8a23-bbaf-4d9d-90b4-cdcc02b14ee7.jpeg]

Feb 26 at 3:31pmWeb
Show threadbloubzFeb 26
Good for you and congratulations on willing to use GOS, and getting a refurbished Pixel. I don’t know how to solve this issue but I hope you’ll find an answer and someone is willing to help. You may also try the forum or Matrix spaces about GOS
Show threadKairosFeb 26
The mobile phone industry is trash. “Unlocked” usually means “proprietary software on the phone lets you use any carrier” not “boot any OS”.
Show threadSwedneckFeb 27
which is fucking insane that people just accept as normal, the day europe stops enforcing the freedom to use whatever operator i want is the day i start only using my phone via wifi.
Show threadRaoulDookFeb 26
Usually have to look for sellers’ listings that specify “bootloader unlocked” rather than just “unlocked” because the latter can mean cell carrier unlocked and not bootloader unlockable.
Show threadOnomatopoeiaFeb 26

Send it back. You’ll never factory unlock it.

Shop carefully, look for “Factory Unlocked” for “OEM Unlocked”.

Seller who know what this means won’t mind you asking for verification. Smart ones will show a screenshot off the OEM Unlock screen.

I’ve bought numerous phones from eBay from sellers who know the difference, and I only buy from sellers who accept returns.

Show threadmortalicFeb 27
Yeah, you’re right I did the eBay return and it seemed to just give me a shipping label. Take it to the post office tomorrow.
Show threadfuckwit_mcbumcrumbleFeb 26

99.9% of the time when someone says the phone is “unlocked” they mean carrier unlocked. Unlocked bootloader is only something a small number of people care about. Ask the seller if this is a factory unlocked phone or if they just unlocked it themselves.

Also never buy anything “refurbished” thats not straight from the OEM. If some 3rd party refurbishes a phone they just wipe it down and call it a day and you’re paying a premium for it. You’re better off saving your money and buying used from joe schmoe. Joe schmoe is probably less scummy anyways.

Show threadmortalicFeb 27
How do you find Bootloader unlocked phones? It seems there are just dozens of “unlocked” but not any bootloader unlocked listings
Show threadfuckwit_mcbumcrumbleFeb 27

There’s no reason to find one that’s already unlocked. Just find one that you know is unlockable. Any non carrier model pixel 10 should be unlock able. You just need to figure out what exact model number or whatever is the non carrier version and specifically get that.

I found someone online who say they had to put a SIM card in their phone before the OEM unlocking option was enabled. Maybe try that if you haven’t already? Idk about the pixel 10, but on my 9a I don’t think I had to jump through any hoops to enable it.

Show threadmortalicFeb 27
I read that too about the sum card, but it looks like the pixel 10 doesn’t have a physical sim
Show threadUnpledgedCatnapTipperFeb 26
If it’s a Verizon model, you’re out of luck as they lock their bootloader completely with no means to unlock it. Some of those imei checker tools will list if it’s from a specific carrier so you can confirm.
Show threadUnpledgedCatnapTipperFeb 26
I checked via the serial number in your screenshot and it is a verizon phone.
Show threadmortalicFeb 27
Fuck
Show threadcm0002Feb 26

So like @[email protected] found out it’s a Verizon sold phone and Verizon are absolute fuckwads about letting you unlock the BL.

When the seller said “Unlocked” they meant carrier unlocked as in it will accept any non-Verizon SIM card

Now, generally, for every other US carrier that does also mean you have the ability to unlock the BL because per Google policy when the phone is carrier unlocked then you will be able to BL unlock…

…except when that carrier is Verizon

Not sure how successful you’ll be on getting a refund, because technically they didn’t mistake anything the commonly accepted definition for “Unlocked” in this context is carrier unlocked. Which you would have been fine with, again, had that carrier not been Verizon.

Fuck Verizon.