AT&T Pixel 4a (5G) Locked Bootloader - Google Pixel 4a Questions & Answers

Unfortunately, I found out the hard way that AT&T disables unlocking the bootloader on this device. Is there any chance in the future of this being circumvented? Or is this a sort of "probably never" deal we're talking about here?

Related

Unlocked bootloader for Verizon version??

I'm sure this has been asked already but I'm curious what y'all think. I know that the OG Pixel came locked but a workaround was eventually found. Do you think it's possible/likely that will be the case for the Pixel 2?
Nope. If you want to unlock, buy it from Google.

Sprint Pixel 3XL

Anyone figured out a way to enable OEM Unlock yet?
I would check this thread. While it is Verizon variant, they say sprints unlocking methods and and Verizons are similar..
https://forum.xda-developers.com/pi...ock-bootloader-vzw-pixel-3-xl-t3856605/page96
Can Sprint unlock them?

[Guide] Sellers/Carriers with bootloader unlockable Pixel 4 XL phones

I've been thinking of making this list for people who will be buying a Pixel 4 XL in future. It might come in handy to decide where to buy your phone from.
Please post in the thread what your seller/carrier did and I will update the list.
Note: You can buy a bootloader unlockable Pixel 4 XL directly from the Google Store.
UK greyed out OEM
EE
UK unlockable bootloader
Vodafone
US greyed out OEM
Verizon? (conflicting reports)
AT&T
TMobile
US unlockable bootloader
Best Buy
StrangerWeather said:
I've been thinking of making this list for people who will be buying a Pixel 4 XL in future. It might come in handy to decide where to buy your phone from.
Please post in the thread what your seller/carrier did and I will update the list.
Note: You can buy an unblocked Pixel 4 XL directly from the Google Store.
UK blocked OEM
EE
UK unblocked OEM
US blocked OEM
Verizon? (conflicting reports)
AT&T
US unblocked OEM
Best Buy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TMobile variant is locked
StrangerWeather said:
I've been thinking of making this list for people who will be buying a Pixel 4 XL in future. It might come in handy to decide where to buy your phone from.
Please post in the thread what your seller/carrier did and I will update the list.
Note: You can buy an unblocked Pixel 4 XL directly from the Google Store.
UK blocked OEM
EE
UK unblocked OEM
US blocked OEM
Verizon? (conflicting reports)
AT&T
US unblocked OEM
Best Buy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UK Vodafone is unblocked.
To be more clear I think you need to refer to it as Bootloader Unlock as OEM has no relation to that at all.
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer btw
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
superchilpil said:
To be more clear I think you need to refer to it as Bootloader Unlock as OEM has no relation to that at all.
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer btw
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, not too sure. It's not that the phones come with an unlocked bootloader, you still have to unlock it. But they are either OEM unlockable or not... Any other suggestions to make it clearer?
StrangerWeather said:
Hmm, not too sure. It's not that the phones come with an unlocked bootloader, you still have to unlock it. But they are either OEM unlockable or not... Any other suggestions to make it clearer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well yeah none of them come with an unlocked bootloader. But your wording wasn't wrong to begin with, I just felt that referring to as bootloader unlockable is a more friendly way to put it especially for the noobs out there.
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
Where did you hear about AT&T not being unlockable?
mew1033 said:
Where did you hear about AT&T not being unlockable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-4-xl/how-to/att-pixel-4-xl-locked-bootloader-t3989095
Bit of thread bump, but thanks!
Been searching everywhere to find out if Vodafone UK is un-lockable. Has anyone bought one recently to confirm they're still OK?
The Tmo variant can be unlocked after the sim lock is removed. I think it goes without saying for most that Fi and Google offer unlcockable versions but as this is for new guys it might be worth noting.
StrangerWeather said:
I've been thinking of making this list for people who will be buying a Pixel 4 XL in future. It might come in handy to decide where to buy your phone from.
Please post in the thread what your seller/carrier did and I will update the list.
Note: You can buy a bootloader unlockable Pixel 4 XL directly from the Google Store.
UK greyed out OEM
EE
UK unlockable bootloader
Vodafone
US greyed out OEM
Verizon? (conflicting reports)
AT&T
TMobile
US unlockable bootloader
Best Buy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U.S. Cellular is unlocked for Pixel 4, would assume xl as well
Except for the Verizon model, all of the other US variants can be bootloader (OEM) unlocked when they are SIM card unlocked. However the SIM card being unlocked is a requirement to having the bootloader unlocked. If you purchase a device through a US service provider, it will generally have the SIM card locked down and you must request a SIM card unlock from your service provider. The "unlocked" version sold by Google (and Best Buy) comes with the SIM card unlocked already. Therefore it can immediately have it's bootloader unlocked.
Verizon variants will never be able to be bootloader unlocked - even if you are able to get Verizon to unlock the SIM card. (People who are successful in bootloader unlocking a Verizon model are the exception to the rule and simply got lucky - normally due to a MEID snafu).
This is the same across the entire Google Pixel line.
StrangerWeather said:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-4-xl/how-to/att-pixel-4-xl-locked-bootloader-t3989095
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm gonna remove that thread because the bootloader can be unlocked if you carrier unlock your device. Confirmed on my friend's Pixel 4 from AT&T.
StrangerWeather said:
I've been thinking of making this list for people who will be buying a Pixel 4 XL in future. It might come in handy to decide where to buy your phone from.
Please post in the thread what your seller/carrier did and I will update the list.
Note: You can buy a bootloader unlockable Pixel 4 XL directly from the Google Store.
UK greyed out OEM
EE
UK unlockable bootloader
Vodafone
US greyed out OEM
Verizon? (conflicting reports)
AT&T
TMobile
US unlockable bootloader
Best Buy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think Verizon is locked if you buy it from them. I bought mine through the Google store with Verizon as a "3rd party" and I got an unlockable XL
I think basically whatever the carrier, they are locked until they are fully paid, is that right? In that case, I might just close the thread as it's not very useful.
Does anyone know if the Spectrum Variant of the Google Pixel 4 xl Has an unlockable bootloader?
I called t mobile today told them I'm a developer and they gave me a permanent unlock for my phone for the OEM so I can't complain but call them, whoever's your provider and tell them you're a developer and you're trying to access the Android 11 operating system and because it's a Google phone they bound to unlock your phone. And my phone ain't fully paid off from T-Mobile so I'm good I'm happy with the results and right now I'm using Android 11 and this bad boy for preview is beautiful
Hello everyone
Any news on Pixel 4XL EE UK to unlock the bootloader after 6 months of use???
I'm on a Verizon variant which I purchased directly from Verizon. Initially I was unable to unlock my bootloader same as everyone else. However, I was recently in developmer options and noticed OEM unlocking was no longer greyed out (I was running Android 11 with Octobers update). I Didn't believe my eyes for a second and immediately toggled it on and got to work. Within a few minutes I was unlocked and rooted. Not sure if they messed up on the 11 update or if it was a mistake from one of the updates. I hadn't checked for a while previous to my discovery so I can't pin down the exact trigger.
Once you either fully payoff the device or get permission through your carrier then the carrier sends it over to Google's server which generates your unlock code then is sent to pixel 4xl as a update which will then unlock your sim. Once your sim unlocked it will allow you to highlight unlock bootloader. This is for tmobile,att, and sprint. Verizon variants however is an exception. You can get sim unlock, but will not highlight the unlock bootloader. Once in a while somebody gets lucky, but does not happen alot. Even tho it is a Google phone the carrier can still make the choice for the bootloader.

Verizon Pixel 5

Wil there be a way to unlock the bootloader on Verizon Pixel 5 anytime soon? I screwed up & trusted Verizon & purchased the Pixel 5 from them. They have the only locked version of the Pixel 5.
Unlocking Pixel 5 for Verizon
Glad I found this so Verizon hasn't changed I was just thinking maybe get that model for mm wave support but I want to be able to unlock the bootloader.
forum.xda-developers.com
At&t pixel 5 is carrier-locked
LOL, you just now discovered that carrier locked phones can't be rooted? It's amazing the number of people who still don't know that carrier incentivized devices are locked and the exploit ship has long ago sailed away into the sunset.
forum.xda-developers.com
Ordered a Pixel 5 from the google store for Verizon unlockable bootloader?
If you bought the VZW version, it will be locked, and is not unlockable.
forum.xda-developers.com

Question Only Carriers holding the mmwave 5G Version of the Pixel 6a? Can it be unlocked?

Hello all,
I read online that Verizon and AT&T would be carrying the 5G mmwave version of the Pixel 6a only. Anyone know if it is possible to purchase this phone outright from a carrier with bootloader unlocked? I have no interest in getting one of these phones without OEM unlocking enabled, but I don't want to miss out on features either. Thank you.
From a carrier no, you can't get an unlocked phone. You most likely will have to buy it from the google store. Saying that, if you load the Android 13 load for the pixel 6a, c-band 5G and mmWave 5g should be available for it I believe. Unless they switched the samsung modem chip to a different one from the 6/6 pro to the 6a.
BalooRJ said:
Hello all,
I read online that Verizon and AT&T would be carrying the 5G mmwave version of the Pixel 6a only. Anyone know if it is possible to purchase this phone outright from a carrier with bootloader unlocked? I have no interest in getting one of these phones without OEM unlocking enabled, but I don't want to miss out on features either. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't buy any phone with a bootloader unlocked. I presume you mean bootloader unlockable, i.e. OEM switch active and not grayed out. Forget Verizon completely but I'm not sure about ATT. Verizon charges $100 more for a technology that is dubious at best at this point and ATT is about $20 more. If you consider it a feature that you will use you'll have to buy the device from one or the other. Personally I don't care about mmWave and I have Verizon as a carrier. There is no way I'd give up being able to unlock the bootloader even though I don't unlock it any longer. But I want the option and I've been know to flip the switch before I install an update or some other beta just so I can roll back albeit with a full device wipe.
You can buy an unlocked version from Google without 5G mmWave or from BB for about the same price. Check with ATT see if the device is carrier unlocked and bootloader unlockable or wait for someone to buy one from ATT and come here to see if there is a bypass for the OEM switch. As I said take Verizon off your radar there is no way.
edit: Verizon is $499 only $50 more and it seems like the ATT version is the same $449 price. I'm still not sure is the ATT version is unlockable though and if it for certain has the mmWave tech in it. Perhaps someone with more knowledge of ATT could chime in.

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