Develop Bugs

relock verizon bootloader

OK so I am going to have to return my pixel xl for a factory refurbished due to hardware issues with the camera flash. How do I relock the bootloader before taking it back?

Fastboot flashing lock? Or oem lock?
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

oneandroidnut said:
Fastboot flashing lock? Or oem lock?
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Click to collapse
It's that simple? Just run the fast lock command?

shibbnasty said:
It's that simple? Just run the fast lock command?
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Click to collapse
I think lol it's been awhile since I locked a phone
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

oneandroidnut said:
I think lol it's been awhile since I locked a phone
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Click to collapse
I guess I should have mentioned as well it's a Verizon pixel xl and I had to use depixel8 to unlock it

shibbnasty said:
OK so I am going to have to return my pixel xl for a factory refurbished due to hardware issues with the camera flash. How do I relock the bootloader before taking it back?
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Click to collapse
You better be absolutely sure that your device is completely stock before relocking the bootloader. Once you are sure, boot into the bootloader and type, fastboot OEM lock

lyall29 said:
You better be absolutely sure that your device is completely stock before relocking the bootloader. Once you are sure, boot into the bootloader and type, fastboot OEM lock
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All I have done is unlock it. I have not flashed any kernels or mods or anything.

shibbnasty said:
All I have done is unlock it. I have not flashed any kernels or mods or anything.
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Click to collapse
Ok then. You should be fine. fastboot OEM lock will lock your bootloader and wipe your data at the same time.

lyall29 said:
Ok then. You should be fine. fastboot OEM lock will lock your bootloader and wipe your data at the same time.
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Thank you very much!

@shibbnasty. Actually, relocking the bootloader may not wipe data. I can't remember. Let me know if it does or not.

Yes it does.

Rank N00b here... just getting that out of the way.
Device: Verizon Pixel XL
Build: NDE63X
Bootloader: unlocked via dePixel8 (done after Nov update)
So the phone is stock and I'm not really keen on modding right now. I don't want to use a alpha build of TWRP and SuperSU seems to be in flux too. These aren't criticisms by the way; I realize this a very new handset and those kinds of tools take time to develop. Nothing happens overnight.
So, anyway, my phone is currently unlocked and I'm wondering if I'm not better off relocking it? As a stock unit, it should still get OTA's, right? Like I said, total n00b here...

@loaba,
There's absolutely no reason to relock your bootloader, unless you are annoyed by the Google bootloader unlock warning during boot, or if you are planning on returning it or selling it. Otherwise, leave it unlocked. Gives you much greater flexibility to recover if something goes wrong.

@cam30era,
Thanks for the reassurance.

loaba said:
@cam30era,
Thanks for the reassurance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also, Verizon may remove unlock ability via dePixel8 in their December update.
If that happens, you might have to wait awhile to get Unlock on a VZN Pixel again.

michaelbsheldon said:
Also, Verizon may remove unlock ability via dePixel8 in their December update.
If that happens, you might have to wait awhile to get Unlock on a VZN Pixel again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So if I want to maintain an unlocked device I need to act now... Guess I'll see which comes first - the possibly debilitating Dec update or a stable TWRP build (and a correspondingly stable custom ROM).

loaba said:
So if I want to maintain an unlocked device I need to act now... Guess I'll see which comes first - the possibly debilitating Dec update or a stable TWRP build (and a correspondingly stable custom ROM).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, do nothing and stay unlocked. You will still receive VZN OTA's and stay up to date as long as you do not install a custom recovery or kernel.
AND since you've remained unlocked, when the time comes that you do want a custom kernel or recovery, you can get them.
If it gets messed up somehow, you can do a clean RUU install as if nothing happened. If it's locked, you can't do that as easily.

michaelbsheldon said:
Yep, do nothing and stay unlocked. You will still receive VZN OTA's and stay up to date as long as you do not install a custom recovery or kernel.
AND since you've remained unlocked, when the time comes that you do want a custom kernel or recovery, you can get them.
If it gets messed up somehow, you can do a clean RUU install as if nothing happened. If it's locked, you can't do that as easily.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
About the OTA's - that was my big concern for now. Cool.
OP - thread derailed... sorry, man.

You cannot use Android pay on an unlocked phone. Unless there is a workaround.

Khanusma said:
You cannot use Android pay on an unlocked phone. Unless there is a workaround.
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Click to collapse
Most of the custom kernels fix that. Root is the hard one to hide.

Should we unlock the Bootloader if no root planned

If you have no plans to root the phone is there any reason to unlock the bootloader?

It would probably break Safety net and Android pay. BUT if you're unlocked, you have ability to flash factory images. That could be beneficial something goes really bad and your device won't boot up. You're also less secure with it unlocked.
Sent from my marlin using XDA Labs

You can always lock and unlock the bootloader when you want.

I would say you should at least have the option checked on in the Developer settings.
So just in case something happened and you can't fully boot the phone. you can still get into it and unlock the bootloader and do what you need to do.
This happened to a friend of mine where something happened and couldn't fully boot and couldn't unlock bootloader cause the option was never checked.

I don't believe the unlock option stays enabled after it boots up.

I would argue why WOULDN'T you unlock the bootloader? Regardless of rooting, an unlocked bootloader is a safety net for when things go south. Phone decides to bootloop tomorrow? No big deal, flash the latest images via fastboot and start from scratch.
Sure there's the counter argument of the phone being much less secure and vulnerable in the hands of a person who is tech savvy and stole/found your device. I'm not worried about my phone being stolen so I ALWAYS unlock my bootloader.

Pain-N-Panic said:
I would argue why WOULDN'T you unlock the bootloader? Regardless of rooting, an unlocked bootloader is a safety net for when things go south. Phone decides to bootloop tomorrow? No big deal, flash the latest images via fastboot and start from scratch.
Sure there's the counter argument of the phone being much less secure and vulnerable in the hands of a person who is tech savvy and stole/found your device. I'm not worried about my phone being stolen so I ALWAYS unlock my bootloader.
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Click to collapse
or just flash the full OTA image without an unlocked bootloader.

mngdew said:
You can always lock and unlock the bootloader when you want.
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Click to collapse
Does re-locking the bootloader wipe the phone?

foosion said:
Does re-locking the bootloader wipe the phone?
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Yes, it does. That's why you should unlock or lock the bootloader when flashing factory images.

mngdew said:
Yes, it does.
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Click to collapse
Thanks
mngdew said:
That's why you should unlock or lock the bootloader when flashing factory images.
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Click to collapse
I don't understand what you mean by this.
You have to unlock the bootloader to flash a factory image and you can eliminate the w flag so that flashing the factory image won't wipe the phone.

uicnren said:
or just flash the full OTA image without an unlocked bootloader.
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Click to collapse
Very true. If the phone goes into booploop due to a bad zip or whatever other reason you have a bricked device with no options to recover.

It's healthy for me to unlock my Bootloader ASAP on XDA!

Unlocking the bootloader was always the very first thing I did when I got a new phone. However, I use Android Pay all the time, and Google seems very determined to break AP for unlocked bootloaders with every new patch. Sure, someone usually finds a way to get it working again, but that sometimes takes time, and I simply use AP too much to deal with it. As long as AP won't work officially with an unlocked bootloader, mine stays locked unless I'm flashing an image, and even then, gets locked right after. Luckily, OTAs are posted by Google now, often at the same time as the Factory Images, so it hasn't really been an issue for me.

akenis said:
It would probably break Safety net and Android pay. BUT if you're unlocked, you have ability to flash factory images. That could be beneficial something goes really bad and your device won't boot up. You're also less secure with it unlocked.
Sent from my marlin using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you what actually is compromised when phone is unlocked?

uicnren said:
or just flash the full OTA image without an unlocked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How can you flash with a locked bootloader?

painfree said:
Thank you what actually is compromised when phone is unlocked?
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Click to collapse
Data?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ho...unlocking-your-android-phones-bootloader/amp/
Sent from my marlin using XDA Labs

painfree said:
If you have no plans to root the phone is there any reason to unlock the bootloader?
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Click to collapse
If you ever contemplate going onto the Verizon network, when you first boot up after placing VZN sim into the phone,
the ability to ever unlock again is eliminated. You could relock it, but it will have the Unlock option in Developer
Option greyed out forever after that. I would unlock it maybe because of Verizon thing, but also to be able to flash factory a image in case I ever mess up the phone.

michaelbsheldon said:
If you ever contemplate going onto the Verizon network, when you first boot up after placing VZN sim into the phone,
the ability to ever unlock again is eliminated. You could relock it, but it will have the Unlock option in Developer
Option greyed out forever after that. I would unlock it maybe because of Verizon thing, but also to be able to flash factory a image in case I ever mess up the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as you have the Google version it should never grey out on you at least that's how it was with the first pixels. I have Verizon I've never had it grey out.

jt3 said:
Unlocking the bootloader was always the very first thing I did when I got a new phone. However, I use Android Pay all the time, and Google seems very determined to break AP for unlocked bootloaders with every new patch. Sure, someone usually finds a way to get it working again, but that sometimes takes time, and I simply use AP too much to deal with it. As long as AP won't work officially with an unlocked bootloader, mine stays locked unless I'm flashing an image, and even then, gets locked right after. Luckily, OTAs are posted by Google now, often at the same time as the Factory Images, so it hasn't really been an issue for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. Android Pay is pretty convenient and I always told myself I didn't need it compared to unlock+root. Wish Google would allow AP with unlocked bootloader but I can understand why they don't from a security standpoint.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

foosion said:
Thanks
I don't understand what you mean by this.
You have to unlock the bootloader to flash a factory image and you can eliminate the w flag so that flashing the factory image won't wipe the phone.
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Click to collapse
When you unlock the bootloader, phone is wiped automatically.

How to Relock the Bootloader For Return

I bought my Pixel 2 XL from Google and I know they have a 15 day return policy but I don't know if unlocking the bootloader voids that. Can I re-lock the bootloader? Has anybody else returned their phone to Google?

enginuity2 said:
I bought my Pixel 2 XL from Google and I know they have a 15 day return policy but I don't know if unlocking the bootloader voids that. Can I re-lock the bootloader? Has anybody else returned their phone to Google?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fastboot flashing lock.

toknitup420 said:
Fastboot flashing lock.
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does this work? anyone tried?

mgear356 said:
does this work? anyone tried?
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Click to collapse
LOL of course it works, the command is directly from Google.

That easy! Here are the instructions from Google:
https://developers.google.com/android/images
Tells you the commands to unlock, flash stock rom and re-lock the bootloader...
This ain't no iPhone, son! Lol
You are allowed to do this stuff. All of the software to lock and unlock are provided by Google...
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app

slaydog said:
That easy! Here are the instructions from Google:
https://developers.google.com/android/images
Tells you the commands to unlock, flash stock rom and re-lock the bootloader...
This ain't no iPhone, son! Lol
You are allowed to do this stuff. All of the software to lock and unlock are provided by Google...
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers mate.. Was worried as my last phone was 6p.
My first pixel lol..

If I'm rooted can I just relock the bootloader and it will wipe the system or do I need to flash stock from google's website then relock if I want to return it?

vibrantliker said:
If I'm rooted can I just relock the bootloader and it will wipe the system or do I need to flash stock from google's website then relock if I want to return it?
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Why you returning the phone in the first place?

Jiggs82 said:
Why you returning the phone in the first place?
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Returning it to Google and re buying elsewhere for at least $200 less.

vibrantliker said:
If I'm rooted can I just relock the bootloader and it will wipe the system or do I need to flash stock from google's website then relock if I want to return it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when you lock or unlock, it wipes the phone.

uicnren said:
when you lock or unlock, it wipes the phone.
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Click to collapse
Just that I read in a couple of places when re locking some have had a "no os installed" result.

enginuity2 said:
I bought my Pixel 2 XL from Google and I know they have a 15 day return policy but I don't know if unlocking the bootloader voids that. Can I re-lock the bootloader? Has anybody else returned their phone to Google?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need to lock bootloader to return..I returned multiple devices without locking

vibrantliker said:
Just that I read in a couple of places when re locking some have had a "no os installed" result.
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Click to collapse
simply flash both partitions first then.

Just wipe it and ship it. Google will only inspect it for physical abuse and water damage. The don't care if it's unlocked. It Google, the sell us unlocked phones. I too have sent them back unlocked as have many others.

I just flashed the latest factory image then did a factory reset before I was going to re lock the bootloader. Now the oem unlock option on my phone is greyed out and adb/fastboot fives me errors trying to fastboot oem lock or fastboot flashing lock.

vibrantliker said:
I just flashed the latest factory image then did a factory reset before I was going to re lock the bootloader. Now the oem unlock option on my phone is greyed out and adb/fastboot fives me errors trying to fastboot oem lock or fastboot flashing lock.
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Click to collapse
The slider will stay gray until the fastboot commands relock it. What are the errors you are getting. Exact wording please.
Really, just ship it as is.

TonikJDK said:
The slider will stay gray until the fastboot commands relock it. What are the errors you are getting. Exact wording please.
Really, just ship it as is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll try again tomorrow and get back.
You said earlier they just check for physical damage. Don't they turn on the phone?
They shouldn't care when the locked boot loader screen shows at boot?

vibrantliker said:
I'll try again tomorrow and get back.
You said earlier they just check for physical damage. Don't they turn on the phone?
They shouldn't care when the locked boot loader screen shows at boot?
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Click to collapse
I sent one back with the bootloader unlocked they don't care. I'd make damn sure it's completely stock before you relock it maybe Flash the factory image to both slots just to be sure.

mac796 said:
I sent one back with the bootloader unlocked they don't care. I'd make damn sure it's completely stock before you relock it maybe Flash the factory image to both slots just to be sure.
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Click to collapse
It is completely stock, but what does that mean
"Flash the image to both slots"?

vibrantliker said:
It is completely stock, but what does that mean
"Flash the image to both slots"?
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Click to collapse
Go to Google's factory image page download January's image and do the flash all to slot a. Then change to slot B.
Fastboot --set-active=b then flash all to slot B. Probably Overkill but you'll for sure be stock. Then issue you're relock command to both critical and the regular bootloader one. For one you need to make sure your fastboot is current if it's not up to date you're probably going to have problems.
Edit. I would just send it back the way it is

WARNING - Don't bootloader LOCK your phone.

a) There is no logical reason to bootloader lock a phone. You will gain nothing.
b) If you lock it there is a high probability you won't ever be able to bootloader unlock it again - no more mods - ever.
EDIT: Perhaps if you flash the "correct stock" meaning one like/identical to the one that you originally had on your phone when you unlocked it the first time, it will work...
Think about this, please, before you flash things!!!

Do you refer to lock and unlock the bootloader? I locked and unlocked it much times and I've never had problems (obviously considering the bootloader version).

gercdgcat said:
Do you refer to lock and unlock the bootloader? I locked and unlocked it much times and I've never had problems (obviously considering the bootloader version).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for replying - could you perhaps write a guide as to exactly how you unlock your bl after using fastboot lock?
I have seen a few folks who appear stuck at that point and I and they would be happy campers if they could get around that!!!
Thanks!
EDIT: I added a comment about "correct stock" to the first post... This may be key to the folks that are having trouble...

You might look at thread
https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-z-play/help/please-help-urgently-t3814260
But I guess I would have to call anyone who successfully locks and unlocks again their bootloader as darn lucky. Some, (many?) can't.
In the end I still have to ask "why the heck are you locking your phone" - what could you possibly gain? It's totally unnecessary. it can be a very expensive little line of code.

I lock my phone all the time, multiple times per day even! It's really easy to unlock: I simply put my finger on the sensor and voila!
Maybe you mean the bootloader? That would be a helpful little detail to add to the title of your post.

pkadavid said:
I lock my phone all the time, multiple times per day even! It's really easy to unlock: I simply put my finger on the sensor and voila!
Maybe you mean the bootloader? That would be a helpful little detail to add to the title of your post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL - right! Thanks!!!

bump

I've locked mine as I upgraded to a Pixel 2 XL and gave my Z Play to my father, so I don't really care if I can't unlock it again, but I'm sure that wouldn't be an issue anyway.

IncendiaryPyro said:
I've locked mine as I upgraded to a Pixel 2 XL and gave my Z Play to my father, so I don't really care if I can't unlock it again, but I'm sure that wouldn't be an issue anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How's the 2xl?

hithere

KrisM22 said:
a) There is no logical reason to bootloader lock a phone. You will gain nothing.
b) If you lock it there is a high probability you won't ever be able to bootloader unlock it again - no more mods - ever.
EDIT: Perhaps if you flash the "correct stock" meaning one like/identical to the one that you originally had on your phone when you unlocked it the first time, it will work...
Think about this, please, before you flash things!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I prefer stock without modifications but sometimes when i have time to try news modifications or roms i used to unlocked the phone and after this relock again, the process that i use is very simple, i just unlock with the same code that Motorola gaves to unlock bootloader, i don't have sure but if you request unlock codes to many times can be a problem but i use the same code and works good.
Basically: relock as are specifcified in another topic in this device forum( using the last stock version that you used)
And after this unlock with code again
Obs.: Is not recommended to unlock/relock to many times.
Obs2.: I only did this three times and i don't know if has a limit

bumpsi

It is my opinion also that relocking is a bad idea. But if someone likes to do it, eg to get Google Pay working without Magisk, why do you want to warn him?
Relock only is possible in combination with flashing a complete correctly firmware. If something is wrong with the firmware you flash, relocking won't succeed. Your device won't be locked if it does not fully succeed or the firmware is not correctly signed. The unlock code is supposed to stay valid, you should be able to unlock your device as many times as you want using the same code.
a) is fine, but does not consider Android SafetyNet
b) is just wrong, and this already was written in a comment.
Please do not bump wrong warnings.

How to Lock Bootloader

Hello, I purchased a Pixel 3 XL off craigslist and it is working fine, but the bootloader is unlocked therefore I am receiving a warning when restarting the phone and Google Pay does not work. How can I re-lock the bootloader? Do I need to flash the latest standard google image? The build number is: "crosshatch-userdebug 9 PQ1A.181105.013 5027108 dev-keys". When in bootloader the bootloader version is: b1c1-0.1-5004167. Obviously a n00b here, please be gentle. Thank you for any help.

Do you have a computer? If so what OS do you use?
Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

superchilpil said:
Do you have a computer? If so what OS do you use?
Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do have a computer, a Windows 10 Pro

Are you planning on rooting? If so, you can use Magisk Hide (after using Magisk to root of course) to get Google Pay to work. I would be hesitant to re-lock the BL unless you are certain that it is completely stock otherwise. Re-locking a modified phone can brick the device. Better to just learn how to root, etc and keep it unlocked. You have come to the right place to learn.

sliding_billy said:
Are you planning on rooting? If so, you can use Magisk Hide (after using Magisk to root of course) to get Google Pay to work. I would be hesitant to re-lock the BL unless you are certain that it is completely stock otherwise. Re-locking a modified phone can brick the device. Better to just learn how to root, etc and keep it unlocked. You have come to the right place to learn.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I don't plan on rooting. But I am afraid of bricking the phone since I don't know what has been done to it. Is there a way to determine what was done to unlock the bootloader? Otherwise I will follow your recommendation of using Magisk Hide. I would prefer to keep the phone stock. Thanks.

eec007 said:
No, I don't plan on rooting. But I am afraid of bricking the phone since I don't know what has been done to it. Is there a way to determine what was done to unlock the bootloader? Otherwise I will follow your recommendation of using Magisk Hide. I would prefer to keep the phone stock. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you live in Denver I'll trade you my Verizon one for yours. It has a locked bootloader.

eec007 said:
No, I don't plan on rooting. But I am afraid of bricking the phone since I don't know what has been done to it. Is there a way to determine what was done to unlock the bootloader? Otherwise I will follow your recommendation of using Magisk Hide. I would prefer to keep the phone stock. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The two obvious things you can check are that you have stock recovery and that the phone is not rooted. Manually power on to bootloader (hold volume down and press power then use the volume keys to select recovery and press power. you should get a no command android screen if in stock recovery. assuming you don't have a Magisk icon, you are probably not rooted but you can confirm by installing and running a root app like root checker. likely, the previous owner did nothing but unlock the BL given how recently it came out, but if someone where really creative they could have done work in the other partition. there are no exploites, so doing it normally (running fastboot flashing unlock from a prompt) is pretty much all that would have been done other than enabling developer options and OEM unlocking in settings.
Personally, I think you have a good chance to learn your device, root (you need to be rooted for Magisk hide) and keep the bootloader unlocked. Besides rooting, being able to install a full factory image instead of an OTA is so much better in my opinion. The amount of work it would take to be 100% confident that the only thing done was the BL unlock would take as much work as at least getting a working knowledge of rooting and reinstalling the OS.
P.S. Keeping a phone "stock and rooted" has advantages. That is how I run my 3 XL and how I ran my OG XL. No custom OS. Not even a kernel.

coolhandz said:
If you live in Denver I'll trade you my Verizon one for yours. It has a locked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol, what I don't get is that I thought the google edition could have the bootloader unlocked in the developer options. So why go to this hassle of unlocking the bootloader from fastboot? FYI, in the Developer options the OEM unlocking is greyed out and says "Bootloader is already unlocked".

sliding_billy said:
The two obvious things you can check are that you have stock recovery and that the phone is not rooted. Manually power on to bootloader (hold volume down and press power then use the volume keys to select recovery and press power. you should get a no command android screen if in stock recovery. assuming you don't have a Magisk icon, you are probably not rooted but you can confirm by installing and running a root app like root checker. likely, the previous owner did nothing but unlock the BL given how recently it came out, but if someone where really creative they could have done work in the other partition. there are no exploites, so doing it normally (running fastboot flashing unlock from a prompt) is pretty much all that would have been done other than enabling developer options and OEM unlocking in settings.
Personally, I think you have a good chance to learn your device, root (you need to be rooted for Magisk hide) and keep the bootloader unlocked. Besides rooting, being able to install a full factory image instead of an OTA is so much better in my opinion. The amount of work it would take to be 100% confident that the only thing done was the BL unlock would take as much work as at least getting a working knowledge of rooting and reinstalling the OS.
P.S. Keeping a phone "stock and rooted" has advantages. That is how I run my 3 XL and how I ran my OG XL. No custom OS. Not even a kernel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! Root Checker says that "root access is not properly installed on this device". The recovery mode screen just has a warning about the bootloader is unlocked and a link to a google help page. I figure that I can always unlock the bootloader again if I need to later, but for now I just want everything to work (bank and pay app) and not worry about updating anything myself. I think I may try fastboot to lock the bootloader for now. Thanks for all the help.

Hope it all works out for you. I assume you did a factory reset on the device since you got it used. Re-locking will do another factory reset.

sliding_billy said:
Hope it all works out for you. I assume you did a factory reset on the device since you got it used. Re-locking will do another factory reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, so I locked using "fastboot flashing lock" but then it doesn't start, saying that there is no operating system or something like that. I freaked out and was able to unlock again using "fastboot flashing unlock". Now all is wiped. I guess I need to flash the oem rom first, then lock. I'll have to do this all later tonight. Just glad that I didn't brick it yet.

eec007 said:
Thank you! Root Checker says that "root access is not properly installed on this device". The recovery mode screen just has a warning about the bootloader is unlocked and a link to a google help page. I figure that I can always unlock the bootloader again if I need to later, but for now I just want everything to work (bank and pay app) and not worry about updating anything myself. I think I may try fastboot to lock the bootloader for now. Thanks for all the help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't rooted or bl unlocked in some time now so if I make a mistake someone please correct me. After buying it from a 3rd party I'd wipe the device entirely. Download the correct image and install the latest platform tools for Windows (here) https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools and make sure you can connect with adb devices and fastboot devices commands. Then extract the latest full image from here https://developers.google.com/android/images to your platform-tools directory and run the flashall.bat command if you wish to wipe the entire device and get rid of anything the previous owner might have "inadvertently" installed. (this is what I would do but not necessarily what you should do if you want to keep the current apps and system intact) This will reset your device and then you can lock the bootloader with no worry and you'll have a stock system.
I agree that since you can unlock it at any time and you don't need it now then relock it. But there are those here that disagree with me and fight with Magisk and OTAs constantly. But they are not noobs and know what they're doing. If you want to learn there is a wealth of information here so it's your call. Just my 2 cents. But please check my steps before you do anything that might cause issues.
edit: darn, sorry I just saw above that you already tried to lock it. I hope what I said to do will get you out of the predicament.

bobby janow said:
I haven't rooted or bl unlocked in some time now so if I make a mistake someone please correct me. After buying it from a 3rd party I'd wipe the device entirely. Download the correct image and install the latest platform tools for Windows (here) https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools and make sure you can connect with adb devices and fastboot devices commands. Then extract the latest full image from here https://developers.google.com/android/images to your platform-tools directory and run the flashall.bat command if you wish to wipe the entire device and get rid of anything the previous owner might have "inadvertently" installed. (this is what I would do but not necessarily what you should do if you want to keep the current apps and system intact) This will reset your device and then you can lock the bootloader with no worry and you'll have a stock system.
I agree that since you can unlock it at any time and you don't need it now then relock it. But there are those here that disagree with me and fight with Magisk and OTAs constantly. But they are not noobs and know what they're doing. If you want to learn there is a wealth of information here so it's your call. Just my 2 cents. But please check my steps before you do anything that might cause issues.
edit: darn, sorry I just saw above that you already tried to lock it. I hope what I said to do will get you out of the predicament.
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Click to collapse
Your steps are basically what I will try tonight. Currently the phone is working again, so there was no harm done yet (just the restore of all apps and such). But I'm going to flash the oem image tonight and start all over again.

eec007 said:
Your steps are basically what I will try tonight. Currently the phone is working again, so there was no harm done yet (just the restore of all apps and such). But I'm going to flash the oem image tonight and start all over again.
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Click to collapse
One thing I would do before I relocked the bl would be to do the full login procedure, email everything other than apps. Then make sure you're on the Nov update in about phone, I'm sure you will be, and then fastboot relock the bl with the proper command. It will wipe the device again but it's a small price to pay for about 10 minutes of work. Then once it reboots and there is no more error message you'll be fully stock. Enable dev options again and make sure the oem switch is active allowing bl unlock. Then you're done. I've gotten to the point on my 5X where I even flip the oem switch so it can't be bl unlocked until I go in and flip it back. Dangerous if you're flashing stuff but not so much if you're just taking OTAs. That's of course your call entirely. Good luck.

eec007 said:
lol, what I don't get is that I thought the google edition could have the bootloader unlocked in the developer options. So why go to this hassle of unlocking the bootloader from fastboot? FYI, in the Developer options the OEM unlocking is greyed out and says "Bootloader is already unlocked".
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Click to collapse
That will stay grayed out until you relock the bootloader. That slider "allows" unlocking. Then you boot into fastboot and unlock it.
So you would reverse the process, hit fastboot and relock the bootloader. Then you can toggle the slider back to not allow unlocking.
Relocking the bootloader will wipe your phone.
You should not do this until you first flash the full factory image to make sure the phone is 100 percent stock. And if it were my phone I would wait for the next OTA update after flashing it back to stock to make sure it goes ok. Then lock it.
And then I would wait awhile before hitting the slider.
You are playing with fire here, if you mess it up and lock it and hit the slider you will not be able to fix it. And no offense, but since you have not done this all before on this phone chances are good you will mess it up.
So, flash to stock and leave it unlocked.
Then wait for the next OTA.
Then lock it.
Then wait a bit more before you hit the slider.
And remember, since you are not the original buyer you will not be able to warranty it.

eec007 said:
Hello, I purchased a Pixel 3 XL off craigslist and it is working fine, but the bootloader is unlocked therefore I am receiving a warning when restarting the phone and Google Pay does not work. How can I re-lock the bootloader? Do I need to flash the latest standard google image? The build number is: "crosshatch-userdebug 9 PQ1A.181105.013 5027108 dev-keys". When in bootloader the bootloader version is: b1c1-0.1-5004167. Obviously a n00b here, please be gentle. Thank you for any help.
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Click to collapse
They're right to mention that relocking a modified device can result in a brick.
Your best bet is to go to https://developers.google.com/android/images#taimen
Follow the directions to the "T", then relock it if you are really really sure that the unlock screen bothers you.
Would suggest to do this anyway, no matter future unlock status.

TonikJDK said:
That will stay grayed out until you relock the bootloader. That slider "allows" unlocking. Then you boot into fastboot and unlock it.
So you would reverse the process, hit fastboot and relock the bootloader. Then you can toggle the slider back to not allow unlocking.
Relocking the bootloader will wipe your phone.
You should not do this until you first flash the full factory image to make sure the phone is 100 percent stock. And if it were my phone I would wait for the next OTA update after flashing it back to stock to make sure it goes ok. Then lock it.
And then I would wait awhile before hitting the slider.
You are playing with fire here, if you mess it up and lock it and hit the slider you will not be able to fix it. And no offense, but since you have not done this all before on this phone chances are good you will mess it up.
So, flash to stock and leave it unlocked.
Then wait for the next OTA.
Then lock it.
Then wait a bit more before you hit the slider.
And remember, since you are not the original buyer you will not be able to warranty it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with most of your post other than waiting for the next OTA before you lock the bootloader. Why would he need to do that? If he's stock, and he'll see that immediately, then relock it. He doesn't want root or Magisk but only wants banking and Pay. With the slider allowing bl unlock he's in no danger whatsoever. Lock and relock whenever he wants. OTA will not disallow the slider once it's set.

TonikJDK said:
That will stay grayed out until you relock the bootloader. That slider "allows" unlocking. Then you boot into fastboot and unlock it.
So you would reverse the process, hit fastboot and relock the bootloader. Then you can toggle the slider back to not allow unlocking.
Relocking the bootloader will wipe your phone.
You should not do this until you first flash the full factory image to make sure the phone is 100 percent stock. And if it were my phone I would wait for the next OTA update after flashing it back to stock to make sure it goes ok. Then lock it.
And then I would wait awhile before hitting the slider.
You are playing with fire here, if you mess it up and lock it and hit the slider you will not be able to fix it. And no offense, but since you have not done this all before on this phone chances are good you will mess it up.
So, flash to stock and leave it unlocked.
Then wait for the next OTA.
Then lock it.
Then wait a bit more before you hit the slider.
And remember, since you are not the original buyer you will not be able to warranty it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for explaining this. I had thought that the Developer Option slider was to unlock the bootloader, but your explanation clarifies it, the slider is to allow the bootloader to be unlocked...

Ok, so I tried to flash the factory image using adb flash-all and it keeps getting the error:
Sending sparse 'vendor_a' 2/2 (193888 KB) FAILED (Error reading sparse file)
Now the phone is not working at all and says that "device is corrupt" and will not boot past the white google screen. I can try again using adb, but it is the same error each time. I tried to download the image again and same sparse error. I can also fastboot in TWRP, but not sure what to do in there. What am I doing wrong? I guess I should've rooted and used Magisk like others have said.

turns out changing to a different cable resolved my sparse error and I was then successfully able to apply the factory image and lock the device. Thanks everyone for the help.