yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] elliwigy:
nothing happened lmaoo.. started achat for ppl to brainstorm and test ideas then ppl started complaining.. nothing has even been tested and no ideas tossed out yet even before ppl killed the chat, im not even gonna bother really until i have ample free time now

you CLEARLY do not know anything about the telegram group.. the guy that wasbanned didnt share ANYTHING useful to even try and is NOT even in the telegram group at all nor did he create it.. so u have a clear misunderstanding right from the start

would u rather have me delete the group and have nothing happen on xda like it was before? its not as easy to communicate on xda when there issomething to test.. but now i see why devs stay away from xda and just work alone in secret.. i have an unlicked p2xl and was just going to help to get more users unlocked but at this point i dont think ill be wasting my time if ppl want to cobtinuously complain about something as small as a chat preference when they themselves have nothing to cobtribute except complain they cant see everything thats being said even though theyve been told repeatedly that NOTHING has even been discussed or tested..
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bobby janow:
Since you really don't know what I was thinking I'll tell you. And then we can leave it at that. When this was first discussed someone here mentioned the Pixel XL OG and that this person could unlock the bootloader if he was paid offline. Then it became well ok he said he'd do it for donations, and then it turned out it didn't work for the 2 XL. (long story short) Now it seemed to me that you were in contact with him and you were close to unlocking. You solicited for others to join in a Telegram group and naturally it was assumed that this guy and you were working closely and needed a few others to maybe help by donating their devices for testing. Right so far? Then it became everyone PMing you (and not only you, I received PMs for the link) and the thread basically died.

So if you look back we had some lively discussion and tossed around thoughts and ideas. That came to an abrupt halt when everyone joined the group. My preference for chat has nothing at all to do with this discussion. I'm in a Telegram group with a themer and we have a ball there. But that's for a specific app and not conducive to an XDA thread. Now how you spend you time is entirely up to you, I've not been critical of it. I merely asked if anything was happening, you said no and that was it for me. But then people jumped all over me for various reasons, thinking I was asking for an ETA, chasing devs away, all kinds of mean and nasty things that were incorrect. I'm pretty thick skinned and that doesn't bother me as much as you not understanding where I was coming from. I believe that the comments against my posts might has swayed what you thought I was thinking. But I'll leave that up to you since I don't know what you were thinking either.

As for closing the chat, I wouldn't do that yet unless you are totally giving up on this. I also would make it private again, but once again up to you. I was just curious what was happening with unlocking and you said nothing yet. Done. I'm not sure how this spiraled out of control but such is the nature of XDA and online chats in general. I don't believe anyone here wants you to stop trying, I know I don't.

So my suggestion is this. Take it with a grain of salt if you wish. Keep the Telegram group for testers and keep this thread alive for thoughts and ideas as it was before. A lot of people can't risk their devices but have good ideas and insights. I hope I clarified my thoughts and posts to you. There was no intention of denigrating what you were trying to do although some thought that. I don't really care what they thought just so as I make it clear to everyone else, you included.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] elliwigy:
i know exactly what you were thinking as you are very clear in your posts.. you just seem to only read what you want.. i wont delete the chat but probably wont help much now at this point.. good luck on your endeavors
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bobby janow:
So because of my posts you won't help much? I just expressed my thoughts and you took it as reading what I want? Thanks for that understanding. Good luck to you too. I hope you find what you are searching for.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] twiz0r:
well i just stopped by for the lolz.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Scott:
OK, enough back and forth bickering already. I check this thread to look for any progress and I have to go through 3 pages of people bickering about this and that.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bobby janow:
Very poignant. I'm sorry this has devolved into that but perhaps we can get back on track soon. As for now there is no bl unlock nor will there be any time in the near future. Well there is always a Google device but I digress. How many bounty threads have there been with no result? But hey.. you never know.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] thompatry:
I have been digging into this in my spare time to find a way in. Here are my thoughts.

We are 99% sure that on first boot of the phone from Verizon, it does a check in an online database (Verizon or Google probably hosts it) to see if the IMEI is Verizon sold phone. If it is, it changes the some bit at the bootloader level saying, "No. You cannot unlock." If is not a Verizon sold phone, it moves on past this stage and let's do whatever.

So now my question is, what server is it talking to? Is it always communicating that server or is it a one time thing at boot? Easiest way figure this out is to is set up a wireless router that is not connected to the internet and do a WireShark packet capture on your phone. If we get a log capture, we can break down what data is being transferred and if data is readable. Even if the data unreadable (encrypted), we can block the servers it communicates with for futures owners of the phone. If we can read the data, maybe we can work backwards and reverse the process.

Not to solicit, but if I had a new VZW Pixel 2 or 2 XL (never turned on), I could easily dig into this but my phone is already activated and locked out.

Just my two cents.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] baknblack:
I'd lay money someone is working on it now. That's a lot of money!!! Heck, I'll join in on the fun and I don't even own one but hopefully it will work on the OG pixel as well.

$50.00
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] btonetbone:
Count me in for $25.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Mike02z:
jcase and beaups worked with HTC based devices. The Pixel XL was built by HTC. The Pixel 2 XL is built by LG so even if jcase was not retired, I don't think he'd be working on the 2 XL.

I used to buy from VZW too based on some of their trade-in deals. I purchased from Google this time and it was a nightmare dealing with their trade-in program. I hope someone is able to get root on the VZW 2 XL's. The VZW Note 8's got root in the first 2 weeks so don't give up!
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] humdrum2009:
Up my donation to$100

What the hell.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
I think your money will be safe. Unfortunately of course :rolleyes:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] abuttino:
Who have you called upon to unlock it? I see a bunch of people wanting it, but nobody has asked the people that unlock it?

Y'all need to figure out who might do it.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] igloohed73:
Gotta agree here. I would've never dreamed of having a phone that wasn't rooted not too long ago, but there's not much I can't do now that I want to, especially since there's quite a few apps that work for me after granting permissions through ADB.

That's not to say I wouldn't root my Verizon P2XL if there were a way, lol.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] baknblack:
The only thing I really miss is viper
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] igloohed73:
Yeah that's a big one for a lot of people.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] x201s:
I just want the freedom to run a custom ROM/recovery without being at the mercy of Googles OTAs. But your right about unlocked bootloaders being a thing of the past.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Mike02z:
Temp root won't give you what you want. You need to have the bootloader unlocked. I think the odds of this happening on a VZW sold phone are slim to none. I have not read of any Dev's even working on this. In all honesty, if you want an unlockable bootloader, you need to buy direct from Google. The problem in my mind is Dev's won't spend time working on this since there is already an easy way to get the Pixel 2 with an unlockable bootloader.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] JerichoAbles:
So, um I plugged in my vzw version in just now and... USB Debugging is apparently on? Perhaps this is a mishap. But, I was also able to give an app permissions which needed USB Debugging... Maybe it's already unlocked for me? I have 8.1 installed.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Mike02z:
Enabling debugging has nothing to do with unlocking the bootloader. The VZW version can still have USB debugging on with a locked bootloader.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] JerichoAbles:
I just remembered our problem is the OEM unlocking
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] pstrang:
I'll add $50 to the bounty.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] abuttino:
Where did you get the nav bar tweaks? Is that GravityBox?

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] JerichoAbles:
Look up Custom Navigation Bar on Google Play.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] pstrang:
I have no experience with Adguard, but the Play Store says it's only useful in Yandex and Samsung Internet browsers. Who uses those? What about Android, Chrome, or Firefox? Regardless that's at the application level. A rooted device will allow AdAway or similar variants to block at the OS-level. All applications!

Is there anything close to that without root?

Thanks.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] mac796:
I know it says that but it works on everything. I used it when the XL2 first came out when we didn't have root yet and I was really impressed with it
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] b00ster23:
Would you think a factory reset would yield the same results...or brand new?

If a factory reset would do it (or a factory sideload), I would be willing to use my VZW Pix1. Which brings another question. Would you surmise this process would be the same across all of the Pixel family? I would think it would have to be.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] thompatry:
I am not sure if it is the same across all Pixel generations, but I am fairly confident to say the process follows this on Pixel 2 series. It would make software development super easy for Verizon and Google. That is how Verizon is able to get monthly security updates out the door so fast after Google because they do not really do any modifications to the factory image. I have my Pixel 1 XL (unlocked) I can test with too so I can compare something against. But I would like to see the packet capture from a Pixel 2 XL (first boot) unlocked or locked to look and see where it is trying to communicate with. Just to say it again, it would be a wireless router isolated from the Internet and the sim card removed.

If you would like and feel comfortable with it, can you do a packet capture via WireShark on a disconnected from the internet router and post a download link here. I want the capture from the initial start from a fresh device.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bobby janow:
So I have a Pixel also. OG. And it had a problem with GPS and was replaced. Why did I get one that had the OEM switch active? I don't unlock so it's still sitting there but wtf? It just has to be IMEI. As I said pages and pages ago, when Google had a problem they fixed it internally and after a reset it was unlockeable. What would a packet capture show? The call home address? It's still the database that might be the issue. ?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] thompatry:
If Google replaced it, the bootloader switch should have been off. So that is strange. You could have gotten a Google phone instead of a Verizon phone.

The packet capture would show the call to "home" and if the data is unencrypted, we could see what is being sent to and from this so call home.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] b00ster23:
Something also to consider. If this is an easy 1-time phone home, wouldn't it stand to reason the unlock ADB command would function out of the box? I've not heard how and where the non-VZW pix has access for an unlock...is it directly upon first boot into recovery mode?

If so, I would have to assume there's more than an imei check. If it's out if the box locked, vs Google, then there's another piece.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bobby janow:
This was Verizon strictly. It's now my wife's phone but I can get into it when she's not looking. Lol. What should I do? Total stock never unlocked. But the switch is active.

Btw.. booted with sim in it. The switch was just active. Still is after many monthlies. Never had it on any other network.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] djkinetic:
There was a bug with Google store pixels not being able to be unlocked till a factory reset was done.. VZW specific ones don't have this issue from all the reading I've done. I haven't reset mine since I got it.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] thompatry:
I am not sure. It would not surprise if it was a one time phone home but again I am not sure. The non Verizon ones can lock and unlock as much as they want whenever they want.

There is just something that happens on the first initial boot of phone out of the box. We have already had a couple users confirm that without a sim and wifi, they can unlock their phone. So it is that why I am led to believe that it is checking an imei in the first boot code.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bobby janow:
Yes I remember that although it seems years ago.. they must have messed up their database? But fixed it and a reset needed to pull the new policies. ??

---------- Post added at 09:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:16 PM ----------

I'm not sure about that. Just because I never booted the replacement without a sim. It was unlockeable from the get go. Verizon sim from the original device that was totally locked.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] thompatry:
I just need a new Verizon Pixel 2 XL to test with. I don't have the money or else I would go just buy it.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Sass86oh:
I got this part covered guys. Tomorrow Im getting another device in the mail, brand new and never setup yet Ill do exactly what you've stated and post the findings by the end of the day.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] thompatry:
Does everything make sense on what needs to happen? If not please ask or PM me.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bajasur:
I'm fairly certain that even if you got a new Verizon pixel, it would have been previously turned on and tested prior to be shipped.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] thompatry:
Yes I would agree but it is almost like it had a factory mode enabled at that time.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Sass86oh:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=14r0KXsNuliKxAJpCdSyY6HgVU13Fp4oy

Those are the packets, source ip is 10.0.1.111

---------- Post added at 01:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:16 PM ----------

https://drive.google.com/open?id=14r0KXsNuliKxAJpCdSyY6HgVU13Fp4oy
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] thompatry:
Thanks. I will dig into it this evening.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Scott:
Not that it means anything... But I have long theorized the same as you do.

Looks like you got your packet capture. I was going to start reviewing the data but it appears that the file is password protected?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Sass86oh:
Sorry
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Sass86oh:
Source IP for Pixel was 10.0.1.111
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Scott:
Thanks, now I am getting ready to go home so I will look tonight... After I build my new Ryzen system.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Sass86oh:
heres a simple text with all the ip hits for the device
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] elliwigy:
that doesnt explain the many users who got their devices brand new unopened no sim inserted from vzw but thetoggle still remained greyed out...

according to my logcat while toggling the switch and the prop values the oem unlock bit that the switch changes is stored on the misc partition... the misc partitionand a few other partitions are not included in the full factory firmwares available by google.. so its possible they set the oem unlock bit to not allowed in these partitions befores hipping the device so it cannot be changed without aform of root?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bobby janow:
How did Google fix the OEM switch so that on a factory reset it became active? All done remotely. How does the EE version do the same thing? It has nothing to do with a sim, or something done at the factory. How did they define which phones to activate the switch on?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] mrjaydee82:
It is definitely being blocked remotely...but we have had some success and getting closer.. it's only a matter of time until it's done and it's gonna be done. You will hear most likely good news by early next week :P ...be patient it's happening. Even Google themselves have reached out trying to figure out how all this is possible. :angel::cowboy:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bobby janow:
It seems to me that Google knows exactly how this is possible. They did it themselves on the OEM switch reset. Someone there knows but whether or not they will divulge the process is unclear I presume. One last point, which of course has been documented multiple times, I received a replacement Pixel OG from Verizon and the switch was and still is active. Through factory reset and account change. First registered to me and then transferred to another Verizon account and all monthly updates done. Good luck to you in solving this. One question which has been bugging me since the beginning. Do you believe it's IMEI or something else?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] elliwigy:
i havent heard or seen anyone b able to unlock a vzw p2xl just by doing a factory reset.. how common is this and if it is a thing how can only a very small number of ppl were able to do it? how do we confirm they didnt have google devices to begin with?

the best way to start is to just dig in and start producing actual data.. theres a lot of ideas being tossed around but nobody seems to actually be testing anything lol
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bobby janow:
It wasn't a VZW Pixel 2 XL but a Google one. Somehow they messed up and people receiving a Google device had the OEM switch grayed out just like in the VZW ones. Naturally, people complained and about a week or 2 later they told those people to factory reset. Once they did the switch was active. No software update, nothing other than reset. How did they do that? And if they could do it then so could Verizon if they so choose although I've not seen any instances of that being done either.

If we can assume that it's the IMEI that pulls the oem switch policy (I'll call it a policy for no other reason than I don't know what else to call it) then is there any way to block that from being reported to VZW and thus making the switch active? I think that the switch is active by default once it connects to the internet but when it sees it as a Verizon device.. bam SOL. Total assumption though, I really have no hard evidence on that. Does it need to connect to the internet on the Google devices? I mean without a sim or wifi is the switch active on a Google device on first boot?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] :
Yes on all the ones I had from Google.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] djkinetic:
Yet this dev that's supposedly doing all this hasnt bothered to reach out to anyone even when we messaged him about sending as simple as log file to see if we can help. Idk seems pretty shady to me like he's holding a solution hostage to make a few bucks down the road.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] mrjaydee82:
Ignore duplicate post
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bobby janow:
I'm so mad that I didn't pay attention when I received the replacement Pixel. I just threw my old sim in and booted it up, it connected to wifi right away and the unlock switch was active. This was a replacement from Verizon although now I question if it were an original VZW refurb or a Google replacement. Too late now I suppose.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] mrjaydee82:
Because many keep hitting him up...we have plenty working on it..be patient good news will be coming
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] thompatry:
I am working on it. Patience is key. I have a life outside of Android developing. I got to make the Fiance happy and work 60 hour weeks. Trust me. I didn't go anywhere. I want an unlocked phone just as much as the next person.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] djkinetic:
wasnt talkin about you, there was another member here who got temp banned that was working on unlocking the bl based on remote IMEI if i recall. Logs were asked for and were never sent.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] thompatry:
Ahh okay. I just didn't want you guys to think I disappeared.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bobby janow:
I actually think he made an appearance here with a new account a day or so ago. Yelled at me for something because I said he was a lone wolf out for the money. Mod edit and he seems to be gone again. I knew who you were talking about. [MENTION=8274122]tompat[/MENTION]ry is on the up and up.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bajasur:
I'm guessing the serial numbers or IMEI are locked in a remote database. Has to be something from the birth of the device
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] bobby janow:
I've never seen an argument against that.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] elliwigy:
i think i found away to set it back.. im unlocked but i found something and it set it back to greyed out and off with the words to connect to internet or contact your carrier.. clean flashed stock with a wipe and it was back to normal and let me toggle it again..

i also found out how to boot into edl.. i have some unsigned msm8998 firehose programmers and some other QC files but dunno if itd work or not if signed with googles test keys as i nvr messed with signing stuff..

so consider this an "update" as to wats goin on in the telegram group.. just wish more were open to joining it as its MUCH easier and efficient to communicate in real time
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] elliwigy:
some screens.. also found some interesting vzw triggers in my endeavors...
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] thompatry:
Can you explain your first paragraph little more? I am not quite understanding.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] elliwigy:
u guys got aHO or telegram? i could probably help.. im on a unlocked p2xl.. just tryna help my fellow vzw family get unlocked
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] elliwigy:
i actually found some cmds that communicate with the oemlock hal that specifically hashes SN, IMEI and other information and then seemed to phone home or do something lol.. only issue is, u need to be system or uid 1000 to execute it so locked users that tried were unsuccsessful and logs showed selinux killing it