I just tried to unlock my bootloader with fastboot but it says the bootloader is already unlocked. It's a brand new phone. It is carrier unlocked, is that the same thing as an unlocked bootloader?
Carrier unlocked typically means that the phone is not locked to one specific mobile network. This means you can use a SIM from the network of your choice, pop it in and use it (excluding Verizon).
Bootloader unlock state shows the state of the bootloader (the software that begins just as you're booting your phone). If your bootloader is unlocked, you can flash factory images and custom ROMs.
Yeah but how can my brand new phone already have a factory unlocked bootloader? Do some Nexus 5 phones ship that way?
xdadevelopersrocks said:
Yeah but how can my brand new phone already have a factory unlocked bootloader? Do some Nexus 5 phones ship that way?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They not ship that way. Your phone is not brand new.
Is there anyway to unlock the Bootloader of the snapdragon galaxy s7
There is no way to unlock the bootloader at the moment.
audit13 said:
There is no way to unlock the bootloader at the moment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you think there will be a way soon?
I highly doubt the bootloader for any USA phone will be unlocked soon. Just need to look at the s4, s5, s6, note 3, etc. which still have a locked bootloader after all these years.
Unless US carrier decide to feel charitable, it's not going to happen. They're the ones twisting Samsung's arm in the US market.
I'm thinking about buying a Google Pixel 3 XL on Amazon, it's renewed. It is factory unlocked and I was wondering if it means it can be OEM unlocked. Does factory unlocked mean it doesn't come with a carrier?
Factory Unlocked means it's unlocked for all carriers.
xXx yYy said:
Factory Unlocked means it's unlocked for all carriers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, so that means no blocking of OEM unlock?
xXx yYy said:
Factory Unlocked means it's unlocked for all carriers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because I heard Verizon blocks OEM unlocking.
Factory Unlocked ( read: device without network/SIM lock ) and OEM Unlock ( read: device's bootloader is unlocked ) are completely different things, they don't relate.
Whether the phone in question can get OEM unlocked or not I don't know: I don't own such a device.
xXx yYy said:
Factory Unlocked ( read: device without network/SIM lock ) and OEM Unlock ( read: device's bootloader is unlocked ) are completely different things, they don't relate.
Whether the phone in question can get OEM unlocked or not I don't know: I don't own such a device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So factory unlocked doesn't have a carrier and can choose any or not have any?
xXx yYy said:
Factory Unlocked ( read: device without network/SIM lock ) and OEM Unlock ( read: device's bootloader is unlocked ) are completely different things, they don't relate.
Whether the phone in question can get OEM unlocked or not I don't know: I don't own such a device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Pixels on Verizon can't be bootloader unlocked, I want to make sure I don't get Verizon. Factory Unlocked mean you don't have any, right?
ATBG said:
Google Pixels on Verizon can't be bootloader unlocked, I want to make sure I don't get Verizon. Factory Unlocked meand you don't have any, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Factory unlocked means it is SIM/Carrier unlocked so that the device can be used on any carrier network. This has nothing to do with OEM unlocking.
OEM unlock only applies to unlocking the bootloader so that the software on the device can be modified or install custom software.
Verizon blocks OEM unlock on all of its devices, you can't unlock the bootloader on Verizon devices, this means you can't use Magisk, TWRP, custom ROMs and you can't modify the software on the device.
Do you understand the difference now? If you want to be able to root a device or install TWRP and custom ROMs, do not buy a Verizon device because you will not be able to do these things on a Verizon device. Don't waste your money on a Verizon device.
Droidriven said:
Factory unlocked means it is SIM/Carrier unlocked so that the device can be used on any carrier network. This has nothing to do with OEM unlocking.
OEM unlock only applies to unlocking the bootloader so that the software on the device can be modified or install custom software.
Verizon blocks OEM unlock on all of its devices, you can't unlock the bootloader on Verizon devices, this means you can't use Magisk, TWRP, custom ROMs and you cant modify the software on the device.
Do you understand the difference now? If you want to be able to root a device or install TWRP and custom ROMs, do not buy a Verizon device because you will not be able to these things on a Verizon device. Don't waste your money on a Verizon device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, so factory unlocked means no Verizon?
Droidriven said:
Factory unlocked means it is SIM/Carrier unlocked so that the device can be used on any carrier network. This has nothing to do with OEM unlocking.
OEM unlock only applies to unlocking the bootloader so that the software on the device can be modified or install custom software.
Verizon blocks OEM unlock on all of its devices, you can't unlock the bootloader on Verizon devices, this means you can't use Magisk, TWRP, custom ROMs and you cant modify the software on the device.
Do you understand the difference now? If you want to be able to root a device or install TWRP and custom ROMs, do not buy a Verizon device because you will not be able to these things on a Verizon device. Don't waste your money on a Verizon device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand.
ATBG said:
Okay, so factory unlocked means no Verizon?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, Verizon may offer factory unlocked devices, but, that only means the device can be used on non-Verizon networks, it does not mean that it can be rooted, customized, modified or use custom software.
All devices have a bootloader, whether they are factory unlocked or not, the bootloader has nothing to do with "factory unlocked" and whether the bootloader is unlocked or not has nothing to do with "factory unlocked" and has nothing to do with whether or not a device has a bootloader. We are talking about two different kinds of "unlock" and they each have nothing to do with the other, they are each, their own specific purposes. "Factory unlocked" applies to the network(s) a device can be used on, "OEM unlock" applies to what software is allowed to be used on the device itself. You are confusing the two of them and associating them to each other in a way that is not correct, separate the two ideas in your head and understand each of them alone, without the other.
If you want a device that you can root and modify or use TWRP and custom ROMs on it, DO NOT BUY A VERIZON DEVICE. None of these can be done on Verizon devices unless you go all the way back to using devices such as a Verizon Galaxy S3 or S4 or older devices. Everything that Verizon has sold since the Galaxy S5 era has been bootloader locked to prevent root and custom software modifications.
Droidriven said:
No, Verizon may offer factory unlocked devices, but, that only means the device can be used on non-Verizon networks, it does not mean that it can be rooted, customized, modified or use custom software.
If you want a device that you can root and modify or use TWRP and custom ROMs on it, DO NOT BUY A VERIZON DEVICE. None of these can be done on Verizon devices unless you go all the way back devices such as a Verizon Galaxy S3 or S4 or older devices. Everything that Verizon has sold since the Galaxy S5 era has been bootloader locked to prevent root and custom software modifications.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do I make sure it's not Verizon?
ATBG said:
How do I make sure it's not Verizon?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By not buying a device that is branded by Verizon, sold by Verizon or has a Verizon model number. Do a search using the model number, if it is a Verizon model number, your search results will show that it is Verizon. All or most of the US versions of Pixel devices for the different US carriers(i.e. Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc...) are bootloader locked, buy directly from Google or by an international version of pixel with an international model number.
Droidriven said:
By not buying a device that is branded by Verizon, sold by Verizon or has a Verizon model number. Do a search using the model number, if it is a Verizon model number, your search results will show that it is Verizon. All or most of the US versions of Pixel devices for the different US carriers(i.e. Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc...) are bootloader locked, buy directly from Google or by an international version of pixel with an international model number.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What about OnePlus devices? I found a OnePlus 7 Pro, I kinda want to use OnePlus instead. Does Verizon lock OnePlus too?
ATBG said:
What about OnePlus devices? I found a OnePlus 7 Pro, I kinda want to use OnePlus instead. Does Verizon lock OnePlus too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are you trying to do? What kind of "unlocked" are you looking for?
Do you want a device that is SIM/Carrier unlocked (also known as "factory unlocked") so that it can be used on a different network than it was "made" for?
Or do you want a device that has an unlocked bootloader or has a bootloader that can be unlocked by using the "OEM unlock" in order to root the device, install TWRP and custom ROMs or otherwise modify the stock software?
If you want a device that can be used on any network, you're looking for any kind of "factory unlocked" device. Many different carrier branded devices can be factory unlocked but I know that Verizon does not like allowing this on their devices.
If you're looking for something that can be customized and can use custom software, you are locking for a device that has an unlocked bootloader or at least a bootloader that can be unlocked via the "OEM unlock" setting or via fastboot commands, then, you do not want any kind of Verizon device, as in, NONE OF THEM. Stop asking about Verizon devices because I'm sure a Verizon device will not allow whatever it is you're wanting to do. Stop considering Verizon branded devices/model numbers. Stay away from Verizon devices, you'll only be wasting your money on a device that you will not be able to do anything with except use the device on their network using only the software that they install/allow.
Please stop beating your head against the wall, it isn't going to give or miraculously change into the answer that you "want" it to be.
Droidriven said:
What are you trying to do? What kind of "unlocked" are you looking for?
Do you want a device that is SIM/Carrier unlocked (also known as "factory unlocked") so that it can be used on a different network than it was "made" for?
Or do you want a device that has an unlocked bootloader or has a bootloader that can be unlocked by using the "OEM unlock" in order to root the device, install TWRP and custom ROMs or otherwise modify the stock software?
If you want a device that can be used on any network, you're looking for any kind of "factory unlocked" device. Many different carrier branded devices can be factory unlocked but I know that Verizon does not like allowing this on their devices.
If you're looking for something that can be customized and can use custom software, you are locking for a device that has an unlocked bootloader or at least a bootloader that can be unlocked via the "OEM unlock" setting or via fastboot commands, then, you do not want any kind of Verizon device, as in, NONE OF THEM. Stop asking about Verizon devices because I'm sure a Verizon device will not allow whatever it is you're wanting to do. Stop considering Verizon branded devices/model numbers. Stay away from Verizon devices, you'll only be wasting your money on a device that you will not be able to do anything with except use the device on their network using only the software that they install/allow.
Please stop beating your head against the wall, it isn't going to give or miraculously change into the answer that you "want" it to be.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, I understand now. I choose OnePlus now instead of Google since I want a fully de-Googled experience.
ATBG said:
Okay, I understand now. I choose OnePlus now instead of Google since I want a fully de-Googled experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as it isn't a Verizon model of OnePlus.
Droidriven said:
As long as it isn't a Verizon model of OnePlus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I chose the Google Pixel 3a XL and it said it was international. That's good, right?
ATBG said:
I chose the Google Pixel 3a XL and it said it was international. That's good, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
Droidriven said:
Yes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for helping me, man.
New here.
I just switched from a Pixel 5.
Rooting was easy there, but I'm struggling with this phone.
So I bought an Unlock S22 Ultra from Swappa, Snapdragon version SMS908U.
My OEM Unlock option will not show up.
Am I screwed as far as rooting?
Also if not, can I just manually flash stock firmware to get the option back?
There is no OEM unlock option on US S908U/U1, and you cannot unlock the bootloader.
You can unlock the bootloader only on the European Exynos model, so if that's what you need, you should sell this phone and buy the Exynos one.
Gotcha! Thanks for the answer!