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.
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
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".
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
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.
Related
I'm not a developer, just an enthusiast. Trying to understand if having an unlocked bootloader causes my device to be vulnerable to fastboot attacks? Or is my devices data still encrypted as long as i have a password? I know booting into my twrp recovery requires my password before decryption.. but can't they just fastboot boot a twrp image and gain access to my data somehow? or no? Can someone with knowledge explain?
If they have your phone in their hand yes it is a risk. They have access to all it's contents.
How hard is it to relock your bootloader? My bootloader is unlocked and my phone was rooted (i seem to have lost my root somehow maybe through an update). I am considering relocking my bootloader so that I can try Android Pay. Is this possible and is there a tutorial?
TolaSkamp said:
How hard is it to relock your bootloader? My bootloader is unlocked and my phone was rooted (i seem to have lost my root somehow maybe through an update). I am considering relocking my bootloader so that I can try Android Pay. Is this possible and is there a tutorial?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course there are tutorials, tons of them. One quick note, you should flash the latest factory image while you are unlocked to make sure everything is fully stock. No reason to save the data, just use flash-all, since relocking will wipe it all anyway. You could also just flash a kernel such as Elemental to access Android Pay.
bobby janow said:
Of course there are tutorials, tons of them. One quick note, you should flash the latest factory image while you are unlocked to make sure everything is fully stock. No reason to save the data, just use flash-all, since relocking will wipe it all anyway. You could also just flash a kernel such as Elemental to access Android Pay.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. I will probably just flash the Elemental kernel and leave the bootloader unlocked, thanks. I seem to have lost my root, would I need to be rooted. I really rather not have to wipe all my data.
TolaSkamp said:
Thanks for the reply. I will probably just flash the Elemental kernel and leave the bootloader unlocked, thanks. I seem to have lost my root, would I need to be rooted. I really rather not have to wipe all my data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No need to be rooted. Just boot to twrp and flash the kernel. AP with then work I believe. Try it out, I'm locked so I can't say for sure but on my 5x it works.
Doesn't Android Device Manager (or something there of) have some protection against lost/stolen phones. I recall reading that once you have your Google account sync'ed to the phone, you will need your Google account password to restart the phone even after a factory reset.
robchow said:
Doesn't Android Device Manager (or something there of) have some protection against lost/stolen phones. I recall reading that once you have your Google account sync'ed to the phone, you will need your Google account password to restart the phone even after a factory reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is easily bypassed. It will keep the honest people out, but with minimal effort someone could get past it.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Here is the Android feature I was referring to about needing Google account's password:
Factory Reset Protection (FRP)
https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/6172890?hl=en
Am I correct that this statement "If you have Developer options turned on, you can also turn off device protection from your device's Settings app Settings. Tap Developer options and then OEM Unlocking" relates to bootloader unlock? As such, if unlocked bootloader then this FRP isn't active? Can FRP be turned on with unlocked bootloader?
superchilpil said:
This is easily bypassed. It will keep the honest people out, but with minimal effort someone could get past it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you suggesting that FRP is easily bypassed?
It is stuck on a screen with the battery. I can get to bootloader mode but cannot get into recovery. Bootloader is locked... Please help
Basically I had the bootloader unlocked and it was rooted. I unrooted the phone and then I locked the bootloader and I am here now. Just wanted to make it go back to stock.
Is it a carrier model or a play store
https://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-xl/how-to/psa-read-ca-bootloader-t3494615
This.
chapelfreak said:
Is it a carrier model or a play store
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google store
ASimpleSock said:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-xl/how-to/psa-read-ca-bootloader-t3494615
This.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see the thread but it doesnt seem like theres a fix in it
tryfont said:
I see the thread but it doesnt seem like theres a fix in it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There probably isn't, if you've altered system and relock and toggle OEM unlocking off in dev. options you get bricked.
tryfont said:
It is stuck on a screen with the battery. I can get to bootloader mode but cannot get into recovery. Bootloader is locked... Please help
Basically I had the bootloader unlocked and it was rooted. I unrooted the phone and then I locked the bootloader and I am here now. Just wanted to make it go back to stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you try:
fastboot flashing unlock
Since you only relocked, you unlikely toggled "OEM unlock"?!
If it fails, I think you are SOL. Maybe someone with a proper solution will chime in. Otherwise, you have to RMA your device...
Good luck...
5.1 said:
Did you try:
fastboot flashing unlock
Since you only relocked, you unlikely toggled "OEM unlock"?!
If it fails, I think you are SOL. Maybe someone with a proper solution will chime in. Otherwise, you have to RMA your device...
Good luck...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It just says waiting for device and hangs there... I don't think it recognizes the phone
EDIT: IT WORKED!!!!!
It wouldnt recognize it and I ran fastboot continue and it just hanged there but I went into the bootloader mode and for like a quarter of a second it recognized it and forced it to boot
tryfont said:
It just says waiting for device and hangs there... I don't think it recognizes the phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Open device manager in windows. Plug your phone and see how is your phone recognized.?!
5.1 said:
Open device manager in windows. Plug your phone and see how is your phone recognized.?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im on mac but its good now I edited my comment above. Only question is how to I completely clean the OS so I can relock bootloader without running into the same problem
This is whats happening to me- https://goo.gl/photos/2kv9Xo3HM3Mqn8AQ9
tryfont said:
Im on mac but its good now I edited my comment above. Only question is how to I completely clean the OS so I can relock bootloader without running into the same problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey... Go into recovery and perform a factory reset.
Reboot bootloader and flash stock firmware. You could flash both slots to be sure your device is completely clean.
I wrote a how-to for someone having another issue. You.can follow this:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=71849370&postcount=28
When you are finished with flashing, reboot to be sure your system boot properly and your phone works as it should...
From here you can reboot into bootloader and issue:
fastboot flashing lock
If It was me I'd leave it unlocked though... Or at least OEM unlock enabled and ADB debugging ON. Since Google tend to release messed up OTA, you can always unlock the bootloader if needed.
But if you wish you can also disable the OEM unlock.
Good luck...
5.1 said:
Hey... Go into recovery and perform a factory reset.
Reboot bootloader and flash stock firmware. You could flash both slots to be sure your device is completely clean.
I wrote a how-to for someone having another issue. You.can follow this:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=71849370&postcount=28
When you are finished with flashing, reboot to be sure your system boot properly and your phone works as it should...
From here you can reboot into bootloader and issue:
fastboot flashing lock
If It was me I'd leave it unlocked though... Or at least OEM unlock enabled and ADB debugging ON. Since Google tend to release messed up OTA, you can always unlock the bootloader if needed.
But if you wish you can also disable the OEM unlock.
Good luck...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty inexperienced with this kind of stuff and so you might have to explain it a bit further than what that link says. I did fastboot reboot bootloader in terminal but it can't find my device. Also I couldnt get into recovery when it was bricked so I probably still can't
tryfont said:
I'm pretty inexperienced with this kind of stuff and so you might have to explain it a bit further than what that link says. I did fastboot reboot bootloader in terminal but it can't find my device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey...
You boot into bootloader when the Device is powered off
Just like in your video: with power + volume down
You can see infos regarding:
Bootloader
Radio
S/N
DRAM
Boot-slot=
Etc...
This is the bootloader :good:
From here, unzip the google image you have downloaded, open the folder and from here run the flash-all script. Let your device reboot. Power it down, boot into bootloader again with power + volume down. Change active slot as I described in the link I gave you previously. Run the same flash-all again... Done!
Just for safety, remove your Google account before you continue. You'll add it again later...
Good luck...
5.1 said:
Hey...
You boot into bootloader when the Device is powered off
Just like in your video: with power + volume down
You can see infos regarding:
Bootloader
Radio
S/N
DRAM
Boot-slot=
Etc...
This is the bootloader :good:
From here, unzip the google image you have downloaded, open the folder and from here run the flash-all script. Let your device reboot. Power it down, boot into bootloader again with power + volume down. Change active slot as I described in the link I gave you previously. Run the same flash-all again... Done!
Just for safety, remove your Google account before you continue. You'll add it again later...
Good luck...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright thank you so much its doing the flashing right now. I really appreciate you helping...I was worried I'd have to get a replacement through google. Have a great day lad
tryfont said:
Alright thank you so much its doing the flashing right now. I really appreciate you helping...I was worried I'd have to get a replacement through google. Have a great day lad
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey... Flash both slots... Just to be sure both are clean and nothing problematic remains on your device before locking your bootloader!
It could brick installing an OTA or whatever. Better restart 100% clean. :good:
Cheers...
Just flash the flash-all, relock and call it a day. Then you'll be fully stock and locked. I would however recommend rebooting once before locking to make sure its all good.
tryfont said:
It is stuck on a screen with the battery. I can get to bootloader mode but cannot get into recovery. Bootloader is locked... Please help
Basically I had the bootloader unlocked and it was rooted. I unrooted the phone and then I locked the bootloader and I am here now. Just wanted to make it go back to stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey man I have the same problem you can try calling Google support they can send you a replacement if you still have a warranty
my warranty has expired so I'm on my own
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.
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does re-locking the bootloader wipe the phone?
foosion said:
Does re-locking the bootloader wipe the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it does. That's why you should unlock or lock the bootloader when flashing factory images.
mngdew said:
Yes, it does.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks
mngdew said:
That's why you should unlock or lock the bootloader when flashing factory images.
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
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
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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.
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How can you flash with a locked bootloader?
painfree said:
Thank you what actually is compromised when phone is unlocked?
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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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When you unlock the bootloader, phone is wiped automatically.
I am on the official Android 10 firmware and would like to downgrade back to Pie. Is this possible without unlocking the bootloader? The T-Mobile unlock app apparently don't work on 10 yet so I need to get back to Pie to unlock then I can go back to 10.
Yes, I think you can. You can sideload an OTA image without unlocking the bootloader. Even though it says OTA, it is a full factory image. The files and directions are both available at that link. If possible, I would certainly do a full factory reset of your phone as soon as it booted however. You never want to back into an older version of Android without doing a full factory reset.
sic0048 said:
Yes, I think you can. You can sideload an OTA image without unlocking the bootloader. Even though it says OTA, it is a full factory image. The files and directions are both available at that link. If possible, I would certainly do a full factory reset of your phone as soon as it booted however. You never want to back into an older version of Android without doing a full factory reset.
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Ok, I just tried that and part way through installation it aborted. "E:Failed to verify package compatibility" along with some other errors...
To revert to pie you have to use the full image and the platform tools available over at Goog but for this you need to unlock the bootloader. If you want to stay on a locked bootloader you then lock it after you're up on stock pie again. Keep in mind you'll want to do the works before you move any data back to the phone and that unlocking the bootloader will wipe the phone so you'll need to back up everything before you unlock.There are specific instructions for all of that and the images and tools at https://developers.google.com/android/images
Don't be afraid of unlocking the bootloader, it can be unlocked and locked again at your whim over and over. Doesn't hurt anything other than you get a wipe in the process.
krabman said:
To revert to pie you have to use the full image and the platform tools available over at Goog but for this you need to unlock the bootloader. If you want to stay on a locked bootloader you then lock it after you're up on stock pie again. Keep in mind you'll want to do the works before you move any data back to the phone and that unlocking the bootloader will wipe the phone so you'll need to back up everything before you unlock.There are specific instructions for all of that and the images and tools at https://developers.google.com/android/images
Don't be afraid of unlocking the bootloader, it can be unlocked and locked again at your whim over and over. Doesn't hurt anything other than you get a wipe in the process.
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I cant unlock the boot loader because the phone is SIM locked to T-Mobile. This is the whole reason I want to go back to Pie so the unlock app will work. This sucks
You can get it sim unlocked by phone if you meet their unlock requirements, or at least you used to be able to do so, I did it that way there myself a few years ago. If that's not the case anymore then... yeah, you're in a pretty sucky spot.
krabman said:
You can get it sim unlocked by phone if you meet their unlock requirements, or at least you used to be able to do so, I did it that way there myself a few years ago. If that's not the case anymore then... yeah, you're in a pretty sucky spot.
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I do meet their unlock requirements..They have a ticket open with engineering for over a week but I’ve found out from other means that the unlock app isn’t compatible with Android 10.
Do you mean there’s another way to SIM unlock then the app? If so please enlighten me.
"You can get it sim unlocked by phone..." You call them on the good old fashioned telephone and tell them you want to remove the sim lock. Customer service can do it without the app, to my knowledge this was possible as recently as the 6T; Tmo guys were calling up and getting it done in essentially the same scenario you're in.
Week ago I flashed the android 14 dev, don't liked it and yesterday flashed A13 (TQ1A.230205.002) with Android Flash Tool. Today I saw that I can't add my credit card to the Google Pay. I checked in settings and found out that my bootloader unlocked but the button is unavailable.
What can I do?
If your phone was rooted, then do a factory reset. Download and install the Google Platform tools, or if adb and fastboot drivers are installed system-wide, that's fine.
Connect phone to PC in fastboot mode
Enter the first command "fastboot devices"
Then type, "fastboot flashing unlock"
Confirm on your device to lock the bootloader
That's it. If you want a detailed guide, here are the instructions on how to unlock/relock the bootloader on a Pixel phone.
wrkadung said:
If your phone was rooted, then do a factory reset. Download and install the Google Platform tools, or if adb and fastboot drivers are installed system-wide, that's fine.
Connect phone to PC in fastboot mode
Enter the first command "fastboot devices"
Then type, "fastboot flashing unlock"
Confirm on your device to lock the bootloader
That's it. If you want a detailed guide, here are the instructions on how to unlock/relock the bootloader on a Pixel phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Locking with adb will erase all my data?
max_134 said:
Locking with adb will erase all my data?
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Click to collapse
Yes, of course! Unlocking and relocking will erase and factory reset your phone, I use Google One to take backups.
Alternatively, you can also use the Android flash tool, and it will automatically do it for you. You just have to follow the on-screen instructions, and it will ask for your confirmation to lock the bootloader, and you also get the option to wipe data (never tried unchecking the wipe data option).
Here is the video tutorial, if you need it.
EDIT: apologies for covering much of what has already been discussed by @wrkadung, got ninja'd a bit there...
I wouldn't risk locking the bootloader via platform-tools....so many instances from all the way back from the original Pixel has had countless members hard-brick their Pixel's relocking the bootloader.
The safest way to go about it is to use the Android Flash Tool to flash both slots and relock bootloader; most hard bricks happen when it's not flashed to both slots and/or the improper factory image is used...
But the OEM unlocking being greyed out is sometimes SOP after unlocking the bootloader. It's not really anything to be concerned about. If Wallet isn't working properly, it is doubtful it is simply having the unlocked bootloader; Wallet usually doesn't work when rooted than it is the fact of an unlocked bootloader. You should try Force Stop-ing and Clear Data Wallet first. Then even "uninstall updates" and/or revert to an older version before locking the bootloader. ESPECIALLY if you don't wish to wipe the device by relocking the bootloader...
max_134 said:
Week ago I flashed the android 14 dev, don't liked it and yesterday flashed A13 (TQ1A.230205.002) with Android Flash Tool. Today I saw that I can't add my credit card to the Google Pay. I checked in settings and found out that my bootloader unlocked but the button is unavailable.
What can I do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google pay will work with an unlocked bootloader.
simplepinoi177 said:
EDIT: apologies for covering much of what has already been discussed by @wrkadung, got ninja'd a bit there...
I wouldn't risk locking the bootloader via platform-tools....so many instances from all the way back from the original Pixel has had countless members hard-brick their Pixel's relocking the bootloader.
The safest way to go about it is to use the Android Flash Tool to flash both slots and relock bootloader; most hard bricks happen when it's not flashed to both slots and/or the improper factory image is used...
But the OEM unlocking being greyed out is sometimes SOP after unlocking the bootloader. It's not really anything to be concerned about. If Wallet isn't working properly, it is doubtful it is simply having the unlocked bootloader; Wallet usually doesn't work when rooted than it is the fact of an unlocked bootloader. You should try Force Stop-ing and Clear Data Wallet first. Then even "uninstall updates" and/or revert to an older version before locking the bootloader. ESPECIALLY if you don't wish to wipe the device by relocking the bootloader...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, definitely, a stock factory image is required. Most people directly lock the bootloader on a rooted phone using adb & fastboot commands, which results in bricking the phone.
On stock firmware, it is working perfectly. Right now I am working on a video tutorial for Pixel 7 and it worked fine without any issues, it was just bootloader unlocked device (not rooted).