yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] elliwigy:
most the time when ppl get the device the oem switch is greyed out and says to connect to the internet or contact carrier.. i was unlocked with the switch on.. i found a cmd that (in the logs) hashed my sn, imei n other info with the device ID, set the oem switch off, greyed it out and had the connect to intrnet message as well as it appeared to be communicating as i showed in the screenshots..

i couldnt get the switch back until i reflashed the full stock firmware n a wipe then the switch was off but back to normal as it was available and i could again toggle it..

i had someone test it on a locked device but selinux blocked it since i believe we need a uid of at min system (uid 1000).. i was able to test myself n get logs because im unlocked and rooted..

just showing some progress as we go deeper into the rabbit hole.. i dont want to post the pic of it hashing my info bcuz well, it has my sn, imei n other info lol.. but the log i posted with all the vzw trigger stuff was also part of the result

basically this could be a way to set the oem switch to how it was when u first got ur device or maybe even allow unlock after its ran and device reset but no way to test that yet on a locked device due to selinux
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] thompatry:
Nope. Just slack and Google chat. PM if you want to get something going just for devs. Please contact me asap. I don't want to get this thread to far off topic since it is a bounty thread.

Your screenshots proved that the device phones home. So that is the first step. PERFECT!!! This means there is nothing special with the Verizon phones. No special factory image. Nothing to do with the Sim. Then it sets the bootloader unlock bit allowing to unlock or not base off your IMEI. It even says, hey this is a Verizon imei. We can start working backwards from there.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] thompatry:
What app are you using to look at this? Logcat? Catlog?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Sass86oh:
It's not any of that the devices imei are designated to either the Google unlock version or the Verizon version take your Verizon IMEI and go to IMEI pro.com and punch it in and it will report back as being a Verizon Google pixel 2 so that means that the specific ones designated for Verizon are most likely loaded with a version of Android 8 that just blocks out the ability to enable OEM unlocking

---------- Post added at 12:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:07 AM ----------

I honestly got Furious of waiting for an exploit to come out so I just bought the unlocked version from the Google store I used to financing option I was accepted immediately so that might be a choice for some people looking for a way to get this device to be able to have root I posted my Verizon version on Craigslist and I've already got a couple people I figure I'll sell it for 600 bucks and cut my losses
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] elliwigy:
matlog.. im rooted so able to test some this stuff
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] elliwigy:
the devices are identical.. but yes, once the device connects to the internet it checks the imei and if its a vzw device then it disables the switch..

ur comment is like saying to go take a vzw s8 imei and put it in a search itll show vzw lol.. but we know the hardware and mostly firmware is all universal on the S8

think about it lol.. y would google or vzw go out of there way to modify vzw firmwares and in the end have them look and run exactly the same? theyve surely come up with a clever way to do this on the fly
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Sass86oh:
Theyre not the same firmware, that's what I mean. With the pixel 1 both versions ran Identical firmware and the oem option was blocked if the phone booted with a Verizon sim. This time they are using two different firmwares. They are 99.9% identical, but the ones loaded on Verizon designated devices are different than the ones loaded on the Google version. Verizon is not blocking the bootloader on these devices. Its Google that is not allowing the unlock option on Verizon models because of the contract they entered into with Verizon. Verizon has absolutely nothing to do with the locked bootloader other than the stipulation that the devices they've agreed to sell in Verizon stores are equipped with a firmware that doesn't allow the user to change the oem unlocking option. The bootlpoaders are not equipped with any extra layer of security when compared with the Google based devices, they just don't allow the oem switch to be manipulated. If someone can figure out how to load the firmware for the Google based devices then I'm sure they would work fine. Google even has otas for regular pixel 2 devices and Verizon based devices on their dev website.

---------- Post added at 03:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:02 AM ----------

Someone even tested the two devices in a post in this forum where they found that Google versions booted with OP1 firmware and the Verizon version booted with OP3
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] elliwigy:
when i say the same i mean u can take the same exact ota from google and flash it on either the vzw or google versions..

if u read some of my earlier posts i do agree that the firmwares are not 100% identical.. i mean they cant be technically seeing as how ones unlockable and the other isnt.. theres a number of partitions that arent flashed in a full firmware flash such as the misc partition.. so its likely there is some minor differences in some of these partitions..

i am only going based off my own research.. but to each their own.. im focusing on how to unlock vzw variants, not what the .1% difference is.. u basically gotta dissassemble all the relevant partitions and binaries/libs and reverse it to see how it works then move forward from there
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] elliwigy:
to add, i said the devices are identical and they are lol.. doesnt mean the firmware is 100% identical
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bobby janow:
How did Google activate the switch on a factory reset without changing the firmware or anything else? Get to that imei database, wherever it may be, and you probably will have the answer.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Sass86oh:
That's where all the confusion is for me at least I mean why go through trouble and having a system that requires IMEI checking in order to activate certain features inside the phone which would basically create a process that would be far more difficult than just designating a certain range of IMEI numbers as being Verizon specific devices and loading them with a firmware version that only differs from the Google variant with respect to the ability to toggle OEM unlocking. When the phones were first released there were two different designated firmwares for both phones and on the Verizon version you couldn't Flash the ota with adb sideload unless it was the version that was marked for Verizon Pixels, I tried and it failed. Then a few updates into the devices release it seemed as though they stopped releasing a Verizon specific firmware and moved to a universal one. I couldn't find and updates after November I believe which were marked as Verizon variants. So honestly I don't know what the hell they're doing, but I do know that the phones can have their bootloader's unlocked because of what happened with the Verizon Pixel 2, there's just no way to toggle OEM unlocking. Temp root would absolutely allow for unlocking because you'd be able write a script that could execute the process.

---------- Post added at 02:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:00 PM ----------

I am 100% certain that Google could lift the restriction on any or all Verizion variants whenever they want but they just won't because of the contract the signed. You know I understand that Google moved away from the whole Nexus model in order to push phones to people that could actually compete with the iPhone and Samsung devices in the eyes of the average consumer. For years they didn't care about holding legitimate weight in the cell phone market and only made Nexus devices for Developers really. What sucks is that people didn't understand that even though Flagship Nexus devices were half the price of every other Flagship on the market that they were using premium Hardware and we're not inferior in any way other than the average consumers perception that because the device was so much cheaper that it must mean that it was not as good as other Android phones that were 800 $900. I just really don't understand why they would take the absolute best part of their vision of what an Android phone is in allow Verizon to dictate any aspect of it simply because selling pixel devices in Verizon stores would make the devices far more accessible to the average consumer then they would be if you just sold them from the Google Play Store. They could have reached that same exclusivity agreement with a company like T-Mobile and wouldn't have had to sacrifice any part of the device. Matter fact they probably would've sold far more devices to T-Mobile customers than they ever would've with Verizon. It's literally like selling a Lamborghini that can't go over 65 mph... Not to mention the fact that they already have a contract with T-Mobile with project fi. It's the most peculiar business strategy Google has ever ventured into.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] crazykas:
How did you clean flashed stock via fastboot? because fastboot is not letting flash images since device has a locked bootloader
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] lucky_strike33:
His second sentence mentions he is unlocked.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] 93fuelslut:
Are you saying that if I bought a pixel 2 xl from Google and got the Google unlocked version, it will be locked as soon as I activate a Verizon Sim card?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] lucky_strike33:
You have the google version, you good to go. No worries about activating it on the verizon network.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] elliwigy:
easy, mine is unlocked lol its a google variant
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bajasur:
Which developer are you referring to that is close?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Xoner30577:
Well I was I the same boat no bl unlock for me so when my mic started acting up i RMAd my device through warranty and the pixel 2xl I got was oem unlockable so try rmaing device and maybe you will be Lucky as me and my wife were I am rooted now about to flash elemental x kernel running kirisakura now.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bobby janow:
No don't do that. It's fraud if you just RMA for no reason. Buy a Google device if you want to unlock your bl
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Xoner30577:
Well just so you know I committed no fraud my microphone was acting up in and out random times my wife's charger port wouldnt connect to 3.5mm jack adapter no audio would only work one way for charging also so if you experience anything wrong with your device THEN rma device through warranty and maybe they will send you Google versions instead of Verizon there is virtually no difference other than bloat ware and no oem unlocking
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bobby janow:
I know you didn't. Just saying not to if it's not legit.

Edit.. there is no bloat that you can't get rid of. That's old school bs
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Xoner30577:
Definitely
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] VulguM:
Count me up with $50 if someone manages to root/unlock.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Sass86oh:
Alright guys I jumped ship and sold my Verizon version and bought the Google version. I did have to sacrifice the 128gb version for a 64gb one but it was well worth it. Whatever I can do to help out let me know. Maybe we can reverse engineer the bl so if you need anything specific tell me what and I'll post it.

---------- Post added at 05:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:20 PM ----------

Something worth mentioning, both versions were shipped directly from Google's facility in Carol Stream Illinois. The Verizon Version is shipped in an unsealed box which has the plastic insert placed loosely around the phone compared with the Google version which comes in a box that is sealed on both ends of the box by two adhesive strips. Also the plastic is attached to the actual device via an adhesive strip. Instead of sitting loosely around the device like the Verizon models. I think Google is still using the method by which the bl is locked upon first boot with a Verizon sim, but they are booting the devices with those Sims upon shipping as opposed to what was going on where original Pixel users we're claiming that an unlock was possible as long as they removed the Verizon sim that's included before first boot.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] 93fuelslut:
So even though you call Google and order an unlocked BL, it will be locked once you put your Verizon Sim and activate it? Correct me if I'm wrong
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] TonikJDK:
No it will not lock your Google phone. I don't understand why that crap keeps getting posted, but it's a big part of why I don't engage in the VZ discussions anymore.

Sent from my unlocked Google 2 with a Verizon SIM in it that I ordered with an OG XL that was a Google unlocked phone with a VZ SIM in it.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bobby janow:
Wrong.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] PresidentMcCain:
Any brave volunteers could give this one a try: https://xdaforums.com/pixel-2-xl/how-to/exp-verizon-pixel-pixel-2-xl-potential-t3750795
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] 93fuelslut:
I believe you, but what's the culprit? He stated it was the Verizon Sim that would lock it.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bobby janow:
No one knows for sure what it is. They know for sure what it isn't. The sim.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] 93fuelslut:
So people are ordering unlocked pixles from Google, and getting locked one's?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] elliwigy:
whenever and however the bit is set it writes the bit to misc partition.. the misc partition isnt touched when u do wipes or updates so if ur locked once its set to 0 (oem unlock not allowed) its stuck that way until temp root or some other trickery to allow the switch to be toggled.. on vzw variants its not allowed.. google variants it is
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] elliwigy:
no.... if they are locked im sure google would resolve it
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Sass86oh:
No I dont think the google version will lock because its shipped with opd1 whereas Verizon is shipped with opd3. I believe that if the phones shipped with opd3 are booted with a Verizon sim then the BL will not be unlockable. But if you can get an opd3 version which hasn't been booted from the factory before shipping then maybe it's possible to unlock. The Google variant is always BL unlocked no matter what. Its weird that original Pixel 2 images were designated as Verizon or Google versions but alll images after November are identical across both variants.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] simplepinoi177:
I believe that there it's actually 4 versions of the pixel 2 on Google's ordering website...2 would be XL's, and 2 (one of each) is a Verizon variant. Apparently, buying from Verizon isn't the only way to buy a Verizon Pixel 2. You might ask why would anyone buy a Verizon variant from Google...almost all cases would be because it was a buyer's simple mistake...the other reason,I believe, is that originally these phones were never to have a locked bootloader...but, of course, Verizon is a bag of d:eek:cks forced the change -- but Google already implemented selling Verizon (now locked) and simply decided to continue/keep it that way (I imagine enough work went into including the additional option...). I can't see why else Google would be selling Verizon specific and not just let Verizon sell theirs.

P.S. I acknowledge that Google gave exclusive rights to Verizon, but that's not what I'm talking about...
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] elliwigy:
i mean if someone purchases with intent of getting an unlocked BL they should be sure the version they are purchasing is in fact unlockable
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] elliwigy:
i dont really think it matters.. imo focus shouldnt be on sim this sim that reset this reset that imei server checks etc etc.. it should be a matter of how can we get temp root or exploit the bl to unlock it..

i see a lot of theories floating around but no one is ever really providing any facts/data to back up their claims

not saying u but in general lol.. we have to come to a moment where we can prove this or that or have viable solutions or at least possible tests or we wont get anywhere lol.. i posted screens earlier in this thread fpr multiple things including the "checks" when toggling the switch and doing oem provisioning on my unlocked variant, also posted where the oem unlock bit is set and what partition and also that i figured how to boot the p2xl into edl on latest firmware etc etc but ppl still want to focus on sim cards n stuff done at factories that we have no control over lol

rant over
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] nelsonTituaAa:
Tried this with no luck... Thanks either way... and everyone is seriously getting off topic. This is a bounty for temp root or unlocking BL.. who cares what they received from who.. lets get back to this!
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bobby janow:
What rock do these guys crawl out from? Or is it the same guy just creating new identities every few days? Always pointing to this guy who is banned on XDA.

Are we sure it's the IMEI database that triggers the bit? But if what you say, that a factory reset doesn't touch that partition, then how did Google reset that bit remotely on a factory reset? I know that temp root would allow accessing that partition but even without temp root Google did it from their secret location. How?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] elliwigy:
not trying to be rude but is there any actual data, logs, anything that is proof that even happened or just take someones word for it type deal?

ive heard a lot of stories (not from u per say, in general) of various things but the only thing that was remotely verified was doing an rma and have a good chance at getting an unlocked variant back lol other than that besides some ppl givin theories ive not seen any data/proof of anything?? unless im missing some threads?? at the end of the day we need to try this stuff and get logs and anything else we can get and start reversing this stuff..

to answer your question without knowing for sure maybe they change something on their servers/databases and its triggered on the device only after a reset when it "phones home".. if says allow unlock then write the bit, if says no its vzw then leave it greyed out.. there is ways to test this theory... someone who is unlocked can check logs after a fresh install or run adb logcat somehow on a fresh install.. maybe use a debug kernel that has adb enabled from the start etc etc
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Az Biker:
If this user was selling unlock/root services via Xda, if he ignored multiple warnings to stop = ban. Not sure why anyone would defend such a greedy, selfish person.

And IF it were fairly easy to find a workaround for the VZW 2 XL, why wouldn't someone claim the bounty here? (pretty hefty sum)

There's a lot of folks who say this and that (especially when it comes to root and unlocked bootloader), but one device getting unlocked / root is no guarantee that a similar device will also, so it's just unsubstantiated word of mouth which really isn't much hope at all.

Since this IS the Pixel 2 XL thread and not the Pixel thread, this conversation needs to just end. It's full of immature, ridiculous comments and responses, serves no other purpose than chest beating.

So let's ALL drop it and move on.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] :
Thread has been cleaned and malicious accounts have been removed.

:good:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bobby janow:
I have a Verizon device so I was not one of those that this happened to. But this is how I remember it. A few days after the first shipments some users who bought Google devices from Google and not the VZW model from Google went into dev options and the oem switch was grayed out. It said the same thing as the VZW models. Well naturally there was an outcry from those users and it went on for about 2 weeks. Some returned the phone but some did not. Then, now here is where I'm unclear, in either the Google forums or G+ or even here Google relayed information to those with oem grayed out. They said there was a problem but now it's fixed. In order to get the switch active all you had to do was factory reset the device. A lot of people did that and confirmed after reset the switch became active. Nothing else, other than reset, was done. I can probably go back and find it, just not right now. I believe it was confirmed on XDA and/or Android police and perhaps G+ too.

So to your last paragraph, I agree. How else can they have done that if not for phoning home and changing the switch? Now of course that is assuming what I read back in October is correct. There must be someone reading this thread that it happened to. I'll do a search too and see what I can find.

edit: This is what I was talking about. https://www.androidauthority.com/pixel-2-disabled-bootloader-unlock-fix-816793/

And this: https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/68897739#comment119
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] thompatry:
I am on my way home now from a long two week business trip. As soon as I get home, you can expect me to dig into this.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Georgiafan1969:
https://www.xda-developers.com/google-pixel-2-users-reporting-inability-unlock-bootloader/
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Scott:
That's for the Pixel 2, not the 2 XL. And that was for devices that should be unlocked but couldn't.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bobby janow:
But isn't the process the same? Google unlocked it remotely.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Skeetch79:
I have been a happy Nexus 6P owner for three years now. I decided to upgrade the device on one of my Verizon lines from 6P bought directly from Huawei to Pixel 2 XL bought from Verizon. I read so many reviews and am sold on the move to a Pixel 2 XL but did not think to look into the bootloader issue. I passed on the 2 XL and without think i accepted the updates to bring me to the latest build. I then thought to look into bootloader unlock, which of course brought me to look into these threads. Being a chemist and always striving for a solution or answer, I became fixated on finding a solution to unlock this Verizon bound device. So I formulated the below.

Just a thought for the Verizon Pixel 2 XL on the latest OTA, would it be possible to:

-Remove the sim card

-Reboot into stock recovery

-Factory reset

-Flash the Google OTA image matching the latest Verizon OTA from above

-Insert SIM from provider other than Verizon (i.e. T-Mobile)

-Reboot device

-Enable Developer options

-Reboot into Fastboot

-Fastboot flashing unlock

I have seen that you can flash an OTA image while locked.

Though, this seems to easy in a sense to have the ability of replacing the Verizon build with the Google build.

Crazy thinking, I know. Can't work. Might fail flashing, brick device or downright not work. Just throwing it out there.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] elliwigy:
try it n report back.. i think can only flash ota in adb sideload tho olin stock recovery