Pixel 3 somehow got carrier locked to Verizon? - Google Pixel 3 Questions & Answers

Hi all, so my brother bought a new Pixel 3 directly from Google online awhile back. When he bought it, he chose Verizon as the carrier instead of 'unlocked'. The phone came with a Verizon SIM card in it, but since he was using an iPhone on Verizon already that he was migrating from, he just took the active SIM card out of the iPhone and put it into the Pixel. It worked flawlessly, but now he just moved to the UK and wants to use a UK carrier while he's there. He bought a couple of different SIM cards from networks like EE and O2 but when swapping his Verizon SIM card with one of the UK SIM cards Android shows a notification that the SIM card "isn't supported" and to ask Verizon to unlock the phone.
After spending hours on the phone with Verizon, they're swearing that the phone isn't locked by them when looking at the IMEI and SIM card number. Google also is saying that the Pixel doesn't come locked to any carrier even if you choose a specific carrier when buying it. Choosing a carrier just means that the phone will come with a SIM card pre-installed for the chosen carrier.
Now my brother is stuck at a point where his phone thinks it's carrier locked, Verizon says it isn't, and Google says they don't lock phones to carriers and to talk to Verizon. Anyone ever had this happen to them or have any suggestions?

He needs to put the Verizon SIM for a little while and it will unlock. It's part of some anti theft thing they are doing. He is going to have to ship to the states so you can turn it in.
---------- Post added at 03:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:07 AM ----------
https://www.verizon.com/about/consumer-safety/device-unlocking-policy

Has he tried to use the esim with the UK carrier? I dont know if they have esim's or not but it might be worth a try.
Sent from my SM-T830 using Tapatalk

Related

Was the article that the S7 will lock to the first Sim inserted true?

http://www.sammobile.com/2016/02/25...-will-carrier-lock-to-the-first-inserted-sim/
I know some t-mobile customers already have devices in hand (or will be getting it within a few days). Has anyone checked if the above article is true? Would be awesome to know for all US who aren't on T-mo or any major carrier (I'm on Cricket, No preorders, and no edge listed so far.)
Would be awesome to preorder the ATT version from a place like target, get those preorder bonuses (target has $100 GC + standard 5% off for target card members, so its probably the cheapest place to get it), and then use it on Cricket.
Note: This is primarily meant for US carriers and devices. not other countries, which has different laws and networks.
Yes I'm also wondering how this will work. When I spoke to sales team at CPW they said it would be completely unlocked but knew nothing about the so called locking feature which may happen to us. Uk
Good question, I'm surprised no one has posted the answer yet considering how many people are getting them.
I'm on cricket as well, and planning to get the tmobile s7 due to the unlocked bootloader (at&t is bootloader locked)... It would be nice not to have to pay some company to remotely Sim unlock it
I would like to know too. Thank you!
I'd also like to know whether the phone will download carrier software specific everytime a different SIM is inserted
Im buying mine from samsung direct so id be annoyed if they have the sim region lock in place. im sure they are selling it unlocked and this sim lock is carrier requested.
sonhy said:
Im buying mine from samsung direct so id be annoyed if they have the sim region lock in place. im sure they are selling it unlocked and this sim lock is carrier requested.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you in canada? If so there is a sim lock when you put in your sim, but you're given an unlock code with the phone if you get it from a samsung store.
no not canada, well thats good to hear about unlock code, as said im pretty sure the sim lock is only for carrier bought gs7 phones.
Work for a carrier: it will lock upon first sim. If you put in a sim after initial Set up it wipes and reboots. Unlock codes are available like any other phone
CPW never lock their android phones. This feature is for carriers to lock if they want and helps Sammy to sell phones to multiple suppliers using the same SKU code rather than different variants. Anyone buying sim free won't have to worry about this and I'm 99℅ sure shops like cpw won't use this. Buying from an operator however is a different story
Sent from my XT1580 using Tapatalk
Seems like this SIM lock applies to carrier phones only and not Global/International aka Unlocked.
My guess is they do this so Samsung can provide everyone with the same standard S7 model to save hassle on carrier specific phones that are locked from the factory so the carrier can pick up any S7 and provide the sim that then locks to that network.
False.. i have 2 phones.. i just got my S7 and i have an iPhone as well ... just switched the sims and works fine...
bradbutter said:
False.. i have 2 phones.. i just got my S7 and i have an iPhone as well ... just switched the sims and works fine...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool thanks for reporting.
bradbutter said:
False.. i have 2 phones.. i just got my S7 and i have an iPhone as well ... just switched the sims and works fine...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont understand what you are saying...if you stuck a tmobile sim from your iphone and stuck it in your tmobile s7, its still possibly carrier locked to tmobile.
we want to know if you stick a cricket or at&t in your tmobile s7 first, will it lock to those carriers even though your on tmobile or will it require a remote unlock
I'd be curious to know that if id DOES lock, would a ODIN/reflash of stock reset it?
I would love it buying a AT&T version would work on Verizon or T-Mobile.
All this of course with the phone having access to all bands set on initial carrier SIM card boot up.
Is it possible to just flash a different version's os? Example, could i just flash the t-mo fw onto an att phone?
el7145 said:
I dont understand what you are saying...if you stuck a tmobile sim from your iphone and stuck it in your tmobile s7, its still possibly carrier locked to tmobile.
we want to know if you stick a cricket or at&t in your tmobile s7 first, will it lock to those carriers even though your on tmobile or will it require a remote unlock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh well yeah in that case I'm not sure because I know my phone should be locked to T-Mobile from the start unless I pay it off in full. I highly doubt if I would have put a non T-Mobile Sim in it first that it would of even got service. You would have to ask someone with an unlocked device if another sim works because most devices from carriers are locked from the start.
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
bradbutter said:
Oh well yeah in that case I'm not sure because I know my phone should be locked to T-Mobile from the start unless I pay it off in full. I highly doubt if I would have put a non T-Mobile Sim in it first that it would of even got service. You would have to ask someone with an unlocked device if another sim works because most devices from carriers are locked from the start.
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best answer here. I'm not sure what the confusion is here. A phone from T Mobile IS locked to T Mobile unless one removes the carrier lock. Its always been this way (sans int. phones). The carrier unlock app is in the S7 as well and by law all US carriers must provide the unlock if requested by a customer.
So if the OP buys an S7 outright then they can request and will receive the unlock for the phone. Otherwise its business as usual.

Unlocked note 8 AT&T but no gsm sim works

Hi everyone
I’m kinda puzzled with this note 8 and need some advice. Recently got a note 8 from AT&T and since I was traveling I had it unlocked to use by a third party company ( since att doesn’t unlock until Device payment is complete)
I got the code, unlocked the phone successfully. Before I left USA I put a working T-Mobile sim to test if connectivity, no luck, it doesn’t work, I tried a Verizon sim, nothing works....
Note... this T-Mobile sim and Verizon sim if I put it on a different device it will work...
any reason why this is happening
jmathew86 said:
Hi everyone
I’m kinda puzzled with this note 8 and need some advice. Recently got a note 8 from AT&T and since I was traveling I had it unlocked to use by a third party company ( since att doesn’t unlock until Device payment is complete)
I got the code, unlocked the phone successfully. Before I left USA I put a working T-Mobile sim to test if connectivity, no luck, it doesn’t work, I tried a Verizon sim, nothing works....
Note... this T-Mobile sim and Verizon sim if I put it on a different device it will work...
any reason why this is happening
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone is not unlocked. Seems like an error happened when you got the unlock code. I'd try again.
Did you use this device on the att network? I mean, do you have it activated?
If you unlocked it by codes and the message after inserting the code is something like "unlock successfull" then your device must accept other GSM SIM cards.
Also, I would recommend you place a 5 min call with your device, with the att sim card and then insert again the tmob card.
What is the message when you insert the tmobile card in this device?
I did the same thing by using a Tmobile SIM during the unlocking process, and it worked on TMobile right after I unlocked it. It sounded like you did not unlock it using a different network SIM but using some other method. I am not sure if that mattered or not.
I then traveled to Asia, and I bought and used a local SIM card with zero issues. The 4G LTE was faster in that country than AT&T... LOL

For anyone buying the Essential Phone outright to use on Sprint, beware.

Do NOT activate the phone directly after getting it from Best Buy/ Essential, as it'll lock your device to Sprint. They won't be able to unlock it in Sprint, or by using Sprint tech support either. I went to a Sprint store, and was told they cannot unlock in-store. I was then told to contact their support number, and was transferred 8 times to the highest level of tech support, which ended in them telling me there was absolutely no way to unlock it. So, I was forced to take it back to Best Buy, and have to wait till Wednesday for it to arrive. Apparently Sprint sims will lock to your phone if it's taken to them directly and activated, so I'd suggest putting in a VZW sim and then activating the phone on Sprint. Don't make the same mistake I made.
TheF|ipSide said:
Do NOT activate the phone directly after getting it from Best Buy/ Essential, as it'll lock your device to Sprint. They won't be able to unlock it in Sprint, or by using Sprint tech support either. I went to a Sprint store, and was told they cannot unlock in-store. I was then told to contact their support number, and was transferred 8 times to the highest level of tech support, which ended in them telling me there was absolutely no way to unlock it. So, I was forced to take it back to Best Buy, and have to wait till Wednesday for it to arrive. Apparently Sprint sims will lock to your phone if it's taken to them directly and activated, so I'd suggest putting in a VZW sim and then activating the phone on Sprint. Don't make the same mistake I made.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not true. It works when I put my FreedomPop Sim in
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Jonathanlc2005 said:
Not true. It works when I put my FreedomPop Sim in
Sent from my PH-1 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FreedomPop uses Sprint network. So, before saying not true, it'd be better for someone who tried other network other than Sprint network including MVNO to confirm.
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PowerPC said:
FreedomPop uses Sprint network. So, before saying not true, it'd be better for someone who tried other network other than Sprint network including MVNO to confirm.
Sent from my PH-1 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once again... Not true. It also uses TMobile and I connected to hspa+ fine
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Jonathanlc2005 said:
Once again... Not true. It also uses TMobile and I connected to hspa+ fine
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol you want screenshots of Sprint causing my phone to become locked? I can throw up pictures of my receipts of buying a UNLOCKED Essential phone, and then it becoming magically locked when my Sprint sim was inserted in it. It also rejected AT&T AND T-Mobile sims. Why would I fabricate a story of my phone becoming locked? The Sprint store reps told me this is something that happens a lot, along with Best buy employees telling me they had this happen before. Only reason I posted this was to make sure this happened to no one else. The only way this just happened to just me is if Essential accidentally shipped a locked Sprint phone out that was packaged like an unlocked phone, and I was just unfortunate enough to receive it. Or maybe I just imagined spending an hour and a half speaking to Sprint reps trying to unlock my phone and the about phone section and activation status on my phone are just bogus.....
Some more details that might be useful for buyers:
1. In store pickup seems to make the phone lock to Sprint, even if the first time you turn it on its with a different SIM inside.
2. People have reported Essential phone being unlocked if you choose delivery instead and use another SIM on first turn on of the device.
What kind of analogy is this.. putting VZW sim then activate to Sprint.
Picked-up mine and its unlock. No mumbo jumbo
To be clear, OP is saying (I think) if you first turn on phone with sprint sim and activate it, it will lock to Sprints SIM.
If you first activate it with a different sim, you will have no problems with any sim, including sprint.
Has anyone bought an unlocked phone and first activated it with a Sprint Sim?
My question is.. Why would you buy the Sprint variant outright? Why not buy the unlocked modem from best buy, amazon or essential? Its cheaper too.. Then put your sprint sim.
tlxxxsracer said:
My question is.. Why would you buy the Sprint variant outright? Why not buy the unlocked modem from best buy, amazon or essential? Its cheaper too.. Then put your sprint sim.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't. I bought an unlocked one from Best buy and took it directly to Sprint to get it activated. When they did, it carrier locked my device, and I was only receiving Sprint updates... Either Essential shipped me a locked Sprint phone, or Sprint locked it when I activated my phone that I owned, which is illegal.
It's easy to see what variant in Fastboot. It will show Variant - Sprint if it is flashed with Sprint software. Are you sure Best Buy didn't just accidentally grab a Sprint model by accident?
When you get your new one power up by holding down Volume Down to get to Fastboot and check the Variant tag.
Sent from my PH-1 using Tapatalk
Isn't the bootloader unlocked so you can just flash a new rom? Did the Sprint SIM lock the bootloader?
bobloadmire said:
Isn't the bootloader unlocked so you can just flash a new rom? Did the Sprint SIM lock the bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same question
I can flash LOS but I still remain carrier locked. In fastboot it shows I am using the Open-US variant, but my device is locked to Sprint. So frustrated right now.
What if the variant just says Sprint?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
jesus359 said:
What if the variant just says Sprint?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Minesays that and I'm locked. No issue. I'll have them unlock it after 50 days... I'm on free year plan.
You bought the Sprint one not the unlocked one. They sell SPRINT at best buy
---------- Post added at 05:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:37 AM ----------
TheF|ipSide said:
I didn't. I bought an unlocked one from Best buy and took it directly to Sprint to get it activated. When they did, it carrier locked my device, and I was only receiving Sprint updates... Either Essential shipped me a locked Sprint phone, or Sprint locked it when I activated my phone that I owned, which is illegal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're wrong. I work for Sprint and activating it doesn't lock it to Sprint. I have Sprint also and bought the unlocked version online and I can use my vzw sim just fine
seshaz said:
You bought the Sprint one not the unlocked one. They sell SPRINT at best buy
---------- Post added at 05:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:37 AM ----------
You're wrong. I work for Sprint and activating it doesn't lock it to Sprint. I have Sprint also and bought the unlocked version online and I can use my vzw sim just fine
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought unlocked at Best Buy. Variant is Open US in bootloader. I don't use on sprint, so I wouldn't know if it locks. Best buy does sell unlocked.
in Fastboot mode check the variant and it should say "OPENUS"
seshaz said:
You bought the Sprint one not the unlocked one. They sell SPRINT at best buy
---------- Post added at 05:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:37 AM ----------
You're wrong. I work for Sprint and activating it doesn't lock it to Sprint. I have Sprint also and bought the unlocked version online and I can use my vzw sim just fine
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then why does it say I have the OPENUS version in the bootloader, and why does my receipt say I paid for an unlocked essential phone? Before making allegations, inform yourself.

Testing Unlocked Sprint Note 5 with at&t sim

I'm heading to Europe in a month and plan on using a European sim as I don't want to deal with Sprints free slow internet and $25 a week is more than I want to spend. Sprint is telling me my phone is unlocked (and I was under that impression years ago) but I want to be absolutely sure before I leave due to issues I've heard people have with Sprint phones. When I do the UICC unlock (with the Sprint sim still in), the phone tells me it can only be used with Sprint and to contact them. I called Sprint and they told me it is saying that because the Sprint sim is in the phone and the phone will work when another sim is added. I want to test my phone with my friend's at&t sim card. I really don't know squat about sim cards considering I've been a Sprint user my entire life. Therefore, I'm wondering:
1. Can I just turn off my phone, put the at&t sim in, reboot, and see if things work to test that the phone is truly unlocked?
2. After I'm done testing, can I put the at&t sim back in my friend's phone, and my Sprint sim back in mine, and have things go back to normal, or will this somehow screw things up with his phone or mine?

T-Mobile converted to international dual sim single imei question

As the title states, I have a T-Mobile OP 7 pro thats been converted to international. I already have the dual sim tray in it and have used it with a verizon sim in slot one and google fi in slot two. Only verizon required the imei to be attached to the sim. Google fi was pop it in and go.
Both lines worked perfectly with that set up.
I'm about to be using a verizon sim and a red pocket sim on att network in it. Thats going to require me to report the imei to redpocket to activate the sim sim same as verizon.
Will only haveing the one imei reported to both carriers be an issue? and is there a way to retrieve the second imei from the phone?+
I tried searching the forums and couldn't really find an answer.
As long as your 2 sims are on different networks for example one on AT&T and one on T-mobile you should be ok. The only time you might run into an issue is if you are using an mvno's sim that uses the same network as your primary. I'm doing that right now (also on a t-mobile op7 converted to international with dual sim tray) with T-mobile as my 2ndary and soon to be gone sim and Ultra Mobile as my Primary (which also uses t-mobile's network)......T-Mobile has been reported multiple times not to pay attention to this. Other networks may not be so forgiving. To answer your last questions...there IS no second imei to retrieve. The device was intended to be a single sim device so no 2nd one was allocated. The fact it works with the same imei in both is luck more than anything else.
famewolf said:
As long as your 2 sims are on different networks for example one on AT&T and one on T-mobile you should be ok. The only time you might run into an issue is if you are using an mvno's sim that uses the same network as your primary. I'm doing that right now (also on a t-mobile op7 converted to international with dual sim tray) with T-mobile as my 2ndary and soon to be gone sim and Ultra Mobile as my Primary (which also uses t-mobile's network)......T-Mobile has been reported multiple times not to pay attention to this. Other networks may not be so forgiving. To answer your last questions...there IS no second imei to retrieve. The device was intended to be a single sim device so no 2nd one was allocated. The fact it works with the same imei in both is luck more than anything else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply, the second part is what I really wasn't sure of if the phone just hid the second IMEI or if it actually didn't have one.
I should be good then. I got the AT&T Redpocket sim and main will be Verizon.
blooddragon78 said:
Thanks for the reply, the second part is what I really wasn't sure of if the phone just hid the second IMEI or if it actually didn't have one.
I should be good then. I got the AT&T Redpocket sim and main will be Verizon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't quote me on this, but from days with the 6T, I'm pretty sure it's just not reported in the software correctly but on the network side there are actually two different IMEID.
You should be able to (at least on Verizon) to log in and see the IMEID that is attached to a SIM.
Try the VZW sim in slot 1 and check online for the imei. Log out and switch the sim to slot 2 and check again. Hopefully you should see a different imei. Please let us know what you find out.
Sent from my SM-T830 using Tapatalk
blooddragon78 said:
As the title states, I have a T-Mobile OP 7 pro thats been converted to international. I already have the dual sim tray in it and have used it with a verizon sim in slot one and google fi in slot two. Only verizon required the imei to be attached to the sim. Google fi was pop it in and go.
Both lines worked perfectly with that set up.
I'm about to be using a verizon sim and a red pocket sim on att network in it. Thats going to require me to report the imei to redpocket to activate the sim sim same as verizon.
Will only haveing the one imei reported to both carriers be an issue? and is there a way to retrieve the second imei from the phone?+
I tried searching the forums and couldn't really find an answer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@blooddragon78 couple questions for you, as I also have OP7P that I bought from t-mo and switched to international:
- Were you able to use the sim tray that came with the phone? Or did you buy an aftermarket tray? I've heard mixed messages about the tray from t-mo having physical space for 2 sim cards.
- Did you have to unlock your phone to make use of the dual SIM functionality? Or in other words, are you still making device payments to t-mo?
flick0416 said:
@blooddragon78 couple questions for you, as I also have OP7P that I bought from t-mo and switched to international:
- Were you able to use the sim tray that came with the phone? Or did you buy an aftermarket tray? I've heard mixed messages about the tray from t-mo having physical space for 2 sim cards.
- Did you have to unlock your phone to make use of the dual SIM functionality? Or in other words, are you still making device payments to t-mo?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I purchased a dual Sim tray from Amazon. The Sim tray from T-mobile will not fit 2 Sim cards. I'm a t-mobile tech expert so I do know for sure aside from owning one and doing it. For dual Sim to work the device does need to be unlocked as it only has one imei. If you didn't unlock before the conversion you will need to convert back to get the unlock app to be able to unlock.
There were a couple of threads on xda to get unlocked in the system but you still have to run the app. Not sure if they are active still.
If you need some help dm me.
Help with Op 7 Pro Sprint Unlocked version
Hello, I sent you a private message @blooddragon78, but Imma post here as well to see if anyone else can help me out, I'll greatly appreciate it. I came across this thread on being able to convert a T-mobile OP 7 Pro to the international version and enabling dual sim functionality. I was hoping to do the same as well, but I havent made the purchase yet in case it's not doable. Im currently looking at this OP7 Pro (Sprint version) that was factory unlocked and sold on Amazon (it's the OP 7 Pro sold at USD 499 by the Farmug Store) (if will be great if you guys can check and see the product to know what I mean exactly).
My question is what is the difference and meaning between "factory unlock/ phone unlocked" vs "sim unlocked" vs "unlocked bootloader?" I know this phone is unlocked for use on different carriers (and I live in Malaysia even), but how do I convert the phone to the international version so that I can receive updates from OnePlus directly (and not through the carrier)?
And how do I enable the dual sim functionality? Do I need to unlock the bootloader? Am I able to do that myself? Because I got confused as some people say unlocking the sim can only be done by the carrier, but Im not sure what is the difference of that with unlocking the bootloader.
In addition, say if Im able to convert it to the international version and get updates from OnePlus directly, dual sim functionality is enabled and such. Will updating the OS of the phone automatically (not doing it manually) lock the network/ brick the phone?
xHayashi said:
Hello, I sent you a private message @blooddragon78, but Imma post here as well to see if anyone else can help me out, I'll greatly appreciate it. I came across this thread on being able to convert a T-mobile OP 7 Pro to the international version and enabling dual sim functionality. I was hoping to do the same as well, but I havent made the purchase yet in case it's not doable. Im currently looking at this OP7 Pro (Sprint version) that was factory unlocked and sold on Amazon (it's the OP 7 Pro sold at USD 499 by the Farmug Store) (if will be great if you guys can check and see the product to know what I mean exactly).
My question is what is the difference and meaning between "factory unlock/ phone unlocked" vs "sim unlocked" vs "unlocked bootloader?" I know this phone is unlocked for use on different carriers (and I live in Malaysia even), but how do I convert the phone to the international version so that I can receive updates from OnePlus directly (and not through the carrier)?
And how do I enable the dual sim functionality? Do I need to unlock the bootloader? Am I able to do that myself? Because I got confused as some people say unlocking the sim can only be done by the carrier, but Im not sure what is the difference of that with unlocking the bootloader.
In addition, say if Im able to convert it to the international version and get updates from OnePlus directly, dual sim functionality is enabled and such. Will updating the OS of the phone automatically (not doing it manually) lock the network/ brick the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't k ow about dual sim.but converting International will allow Ota updates. If it's sim unlocked it should stay. Mine is still sim locked to t-mobile and I'm on internatti fimware

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