Unlocking if you own the device? (T-Mobile) - OnePlus 8T Questions & Answers

I purchased the device directly from oneplus website. Paid in full.
I went to the T-Mobile store near me and I put the phone on the network and activated it, then switched back to my daily. Mainly because I want to root/rom and play with it for a few days before I make it my daily.
When I got home, I realized that OEM unlock is still grayed out. Even though the device is fully paid for. I also tried to SIM unlock to no avail.
If I switch back to the 8T tomorrow, can an in-store T-mobile rep OEM unlock it for me while I'm there?

they can only sim unlock it. if you want bootloader unlock (oem unlock) there is a guide here or you can get the unlock code with adb and send it to one plus then they send you an unlock token to use. take about a week.

Related

Downgrade to Pie options?

I just recently a few days upgraded my phone from an older Samsung to a Pixel 3 XL., and I am on sprint.
And while still getting used to the Pixel vs Samsung, today I let the phone take the update to Android 10, and not really feeling the love and want to go back to Pie if I can. Already miss having the back button moved to the right side and a few other things.
I did buy the phone used, online, and is not under any lease etc. I do own it.
But unfortunately, I believe because it was probably a Sprint phone originally, OEM Unlock under the developer options is greyed out. I think this means I am currently SOL until there is a way to unlock it?
Thanks,
PT
ptmuldoon said:
I just recently a few days upgraded my phone from an older Samsung to a Pixel 3 XL., and I am on sprint.
And while still getting used to the Pixel vs Samsung, today I let the phone take the update to Android 10, and not really feeling the love and want to go back to Pie if I can. Already miss having the back button moved to the right side and a few other things.
I did buy the phone used, online, and is not under any lease etc. I do own it.
But unfortunately, I believe because it was probably a Sprint phone originally, OEM Unlock under the developer options is greyed out. I think this means I am currently SOL until there is a way to unlock it?
Thanks,
PT
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Contact Sprint, give them the IMEI number, they will look up the phone to verify that there is no balance on it and then they will send you an unlock code. Or at least I know AT&T used to do that bank when I had Samsung phones. AT&T had a link you could go to and do it, but I'm not sure about Sprint.
FilthyFord said:
Contact Sprint, give them the IMEI number, they will look up the phone to verify that there is no balance on it and then they will send you an unlock code. Or at least I know AT&T used to do that bank when I had Samsung phones. AT&T had a link you could go to and do it, but I'm not sure about Sprint.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually called them last night There tech support guy although rather nice seemed to not understand what I wanted. And after he got help was telling me I need to call google for it, which makes no sense to me.
In reading today here, it mentions Sprint will unlock a phone after 50 days on their network. But I think this is just referring to a Sim/Carrier unlock and not the OEM unlock ability?
https://www.sprint.com/en/legal/unlocking-your-sprint-device.html
EDIT......
How very strange, and perhaps my phone call last night got elevated. I just received a notification on my phone that is has been carrier unlocked and can not enable OEM Unlock. So I hope tonight to reinstall Pie.
ptmuldoon,
So effectively, are you saying that your previously Sprint (sim) locked phone is now (sim) unlocked, BUT that the OEM Unlock option is STILL greyed out?
Based on my reading, I've seen some folks mention that once the phone is (sim) unlocked, you should be able to OEM unlock the bootloader as well. And maybe that isn't necessarily saying that the OEM unlock option will become available, but that you can fastboot unlock bootloader. I'm not sure, but just confirming with you since you seem to be in that situation. Have you not been able to unlock the bootloader?
Thanks,

Verizon Pixel 3a OEM unlock

Hi everyone,
I recently just get my new google pixel 3a from amazon,
but it seems like they send me the Verizon version of it.
The version of the phone is android 10 and I am trying to unlocked OEM under developer options in order to root my device,
but it's likely seems like there is no way that I can unlock the OEM...?
So I was wondering if anyone know the way of unlocking it or maybe there is a way that I can root without Unlocking the OEM.
Thank you!!
Skylar514 said:
Hi everyone,
I recently just get my new google pixel 3a from amazon,
but it seems like they send me the Verizon version of it.
The version of the phone is android 10 and I am trying to unlocked OEM under developer options in order to root my device,
but it's likely seems like there is no way that I can unlock the OEM...?
So I was wondering if anyone know the way of unlocking it or maybe there is a way that I can root without Unlocking the OEM.
Thank you!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Verizon is notorious for locking down their equipment!!! I would recommend seeing if you can return it and get the unlocked variant!
Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk
Just a heads up if anyone happens to find this after grabbing the $200 3a from Verizon: they claim they will unlock your phone after 60 days, something on their site I confirmed with a rep. I'll update January 24 if it does or doesn't happen as I plan to root then (for me, a $200 discount was worth a two month delay).
iamxaq said:
Just a heads up if anyone happens to find this after grabbing the $200 3a from Verizon: they claim they will unlock your phone after 60 days, something on their site I confirmed with a rep. I'll update January 24 if it does or doesn't happen as I plan to root then (for me, a $200 discount was worth a two month delay).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just so you are aware, the rep is talking about the SIM card lock. This is different than the bootloader unlock which is required to root your phone.
A SIM card unlock allows you to use the phone with other service providers. Most providers will lock the phone as long as you owe money on the phone. If you bought it outright or have paid the phone off, then the provider will generally SIM unlock the phone. Verizon won't even SIM card unlock the phone until it has been active for 60 days. They say this is to prevent pre-sale theft of their phones, but the policy is certainly more strict than any other provider. However do not misinterpret this to mean that Verizon will SIM unlock all phones after 60 days. If you owe money on the phone, they are not obligated to SIM card unlock it. It is possible sometimes to get the provider to SIM unlock the phone while you still owe money on the phone, but that can be hit and miss.
A bootloader unlock is needed to root the phone. Verizon is the one USA service provider that locks the bootloader of all their devices by policy. Even if a Verizon phone is SIM card unlocked, there is no guarantee that you will be able to bootloader unlock the phone or root it. Generally speaking, you should consider every Verizon phone to be bootloader locked and considering it "winning the lottery" if you are actually able to bootloader unlock it. There are times when Verizon messes up the IMEI numbers and allow phones to be unlocked, but that this just luck if it happens.
I've owned Verizon phones before that were bootloader locked and I will never buy another one. But that is my personal preference. If you have no interest in rooting your phone, then the bootloader isn't that important of an issue. But if you do want to root the phone (and it sound like you do), I would recommend that you see about returning the phone during the return period and purchasing the "Unlocked" version (the "NON-Verizon version).
Sic is correct. Verizon will only SIM unlock the phones. That was the main reason I left them back when I had to use rumrunner on my M7. Once it died and I had to get another phone, I left Verizon and never looked back. When they asked why I was leaving, I told them I might return if they ever let us unlock our bootloaders. The employee knew there was no saving me at that point.
If you want to have an unlocked bootloader, the best bet would be to have a non-carrier branded phone.

Device unlock and bootloader unlock on T-Mobile OP8

The instructions on support.oneplus.com for unlocking the bootloader is to first make sure to do a device/sim unlock. T-Mobile's policy is to not do a permanent device unlock until the device has been on their network for at least 40 days and is fully paid off. I'm getting my OP8's on a deal which takes 24 months to pay off, so that will take a while.
My question is this: is device unlocking required for bootloader unlocking? More specifically, if I unlock my bootloader while the device is still SIM locked, will it still work?
https://support.oneplus.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/588/~/how-to-unlock-bootloader-for-oneplus-smart-phone
https://www.t-mobile.com/responsibility/consumer-info/policies/sim-unlock-policy
As far as I know, you can't unlock the bootloader without being sim unlocked. This guy made it so I could unlock mine, but he's stopped the service for now. Just look out for it opening again.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/on...ee-t-mobile-op8-sim-unlocking-t4106005/page29
I continuously called and chatted with support on Twitter for a couple weeks. Told them I'm traveling soon and also reminded them that OP phones are built under the premise of being a developer-friendly device.
It only makes sense to unlock bootloader.
I'm a long-time customer (15+ years on Sprint) and I've never missed a single payment.
I got unlocked while still paying lease. Persistence and kindness will pay off with the right tech.

Does model G020E mean the hardware is Verizon and cannot be bootloader unlocked?

The model is G020E, but does not have any Verizon branding on it; everything just says Google. I was told it was a Sprint phone, but I don't know if that means Sprint sold it, or if it was just moved to Sprint network at some point. Either way, the only branding (physical and software) is Google.
When I go into Developer Options, OEM unlocking is greyed out and says "Connect to the internet or contact your carrier." (Connecting to the internet doesn't change anything.)
From what I've read, there's no way to unlock the bootloader on the Verizon version. Does it sound like this phone is in that group?
Also, I've read some people saying that Verizon will unlock the phone after it's been activated for a couple months. It seems like they are talking about SIM unlocking, but I've also seen claims that people got the bootloader unlocked by just waiting the 60 or so days. Anyone have any experience with that?
Thanks
lemminman said:
The model is G020E, but does not have any Verizon branding on it; everything just says Google. I was told it was a Sprint phone, but I don't know if that means Sprint sold it, or if it was just moved to Sprint network at some point. Either way, the only branding (physical and software) is Google.
When I go into Developer Options, OEM unlocking is greyed out and says "Connect to the internet or contact your carrier." (Connecting to the internet doesn't change anything.)
From what I've read, there's no way to unlock the bootloader on the Verizon version. Does it sound like this phone is in that group?
Also, I've read some people saying that Verizon will unlock the phone after it's been activated for a couple months. It seems like they are talking about SIM unlocking, but I've also seen claims that people got the bootloader unlocked by just waiting the 60 or so days. Anyone have any experience with that?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I Googled the model and it said it's an unlocked model. But once you boot it with that Verizon SIM card in it, Verizon will lock you out of OEM unlocking. Remove your SIM card and factory reset. Go through the setup, then try the OEM unlocking again (remember after you flip that switch, you still need to go through fastboot to actually unlock). Then factory reset again, this time with your SIM card installed.
That 60 days thing is definitely SIM unlocking. It will be a cold day in hell before Verizon consciously allows the bootloader to be unlocked.

Cannot SIM Unlock Brand New Never Activated GM1915

I just bought an open box OnePlus 7 Pro on eBay. It has never been activated. I use Ting, who resells T-Mobile. My SIM card works and I can make/take calls. I have cellular data. I cannot unlock the SIM/Network. Called T-Mobile. Spent an hour yelling at them. The IMEI is beyond 'clean'. They have no record of the IMEI because the phone never had an active contract with them. Bottom line is I can't unlock the bootloader because I can't SIM unlock the device.
I tried the TMO to International conversion via EDL boot mode, but it still has Enable OEM Unlock greyed out because the device is network locked.
Is there ANY way I can network unlock a GM1915 (TMO branded) without T-Mobile? The one thing that came up in my discussion with the (hogtied) T-Mobile rep is provisioning the device with a full T-Mobile service plan at (at least) $75 for the first month which would cover the (less than) 90 seconds I need to unlock the SIM. Even that option wasn't something he seemed confident about and I wasn't about to try it on a whim. They (call center people) just have no way of inserting the record into the database queried by the unlock server.
Suggestions?
**UPDATE: I used a beta of Andriod Q from the OnePlus site and have the bootloader unlocked now, but still can't carrier unlock the network.
Someone just posted a guide on how to convert it to internation, this might be what you are looking for.

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