yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] TonikJDK:
I agree now, with that explanation. I thought it came from a Pixel. They would have ruined your theory. Again, great work here.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] phil9871:
..

Bought Verizon pixel 3 XL. When the verizon super unlock happened, where they unlocked all pixel devices for awhile. Mine was one to be unlocked and it wasn't greyed out to unlock oem. Now I leave Verizon and switch to Google Fi. Once I left it became greyed out once again. And has been sence. It's a unlocked phone. Started on Verizon, been on Google Fi and now simply mobile.

I bought a Google Pixel 3 XL....From Verizon. As the originator of the phone and my carrier ..But ...appently some of you don't know this..But Verizon mass unlocked all pixel 3 XL's.

Source: https://www-theverge-com.cdn.amppro...n-google-pixel-3-unlocked-carriers-activation

Only after leaving the carrier Verizon and going to Google Fi, did the Unlock OEM become greyed out again. Never figured out why.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] bobby janow:
What are you talking about? Nothing you said makes sense.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] shaifullah.ahad:
My pixel 3 xl oem unlocking greyed out, I am from Bangladesh purchased pixel 3 xl second hand, how do I know whether my pixel 3 xl is "Verizon" or not?

---------- Post added at 11:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:46 AM ----------

My pixel 3 xl oem unlocking greyed out, I am from Bangladesh purchased pixel 3 xl second hand, how do I know whether my pixel 3 xl is "Verizon" or not?
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] wangdaning:
Usually, first two numbers in the IMEI are enough.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] shaifullah.ahad:
What will be first two numbers if it is Verizon
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] mgp53:
95 I believe.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] 5.1:
Hello,

According to the previous posts, Verizon IMEI start with: 35

Cheers...

Sébastien.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] shaifullah.ahad:
yes my Pixel 3 xl imei start with 35, so my pixel 3 xl is permanently bootloader locked?
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] bobby janow:
Yep.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] mgp53:
(slapping forehead)...
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] Dolo2499:
As i see i am really late for the "party" guys, but got my pixel 3 XL (used) with imei 35...(verizon) so i got no luck? or there is still a chance that it will get unlocked?
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] FernBch:
Unless unlock is figured out you are perma-locked......

Pixel 3 XL, Yep, Crashed It.....

..... Again.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] Dolo2499:
I cant understand why they do this, screw verizon wireless, what a shame... Now my phone is limited, what do you think will be there anyways to unlock in the close future? Is anyone working on that except me?
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] Dolo2499:
So anyone can try this?
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] elliwigy:
try what
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] bobby janow:
Post was edited since he didn't know about IMEI spoofing.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] wangdaning:
I really think this whole thing is going nowhere. At least here on this forum. The tricks needed will be very dirty and you are talking about getting past a check Verizon paid good money to put in place (it will be patched and closed immediately, or almost that fast). I am sure Verizon is now screaming they need taxpayer money, but they will never care. It is, and I say this in all honesty, like the Huawei bootloader unlock issue.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] 8hammer84:
Good advice, doubt ill take it haha
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] Mizta_Rshn:
Hey Guys , just purchased used Pixel 3 XL . I'm from Malaysia . My IMEI starts with "35" . On chrome address bar its shows "client=mobile-gws-wiz-hp" .

Anyways to turn on greyed out OEM unlocking in Dev options?

My main purpose is to "clean flash without backup" my device every month after google release security updates . Is there any way to clean flash with unlocking bootloader ?
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] shockbumbum:
hello shady, i need to go back to 10. VRZ IMEI 35 ..... contact mail: shockbumbum@yahoo.com

chào đồng râm, mình đang cần xuống lại 10. VRZ IMEI 35.....

contact mail: shockbumbum@yahoo.com
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] L0ND0NB0Y:
Well, mine is ms-android-charter-us-revc

What the hell is that??
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] thex2:
21 pages of posts and this was all I needed. I couldn't get it to allow me to select it until connecting to my wifi. Summary of what I read: if you have an IMEI that starts with 35, you have a Verizon phone and your bootloader will not unlock, so return your phone or get another phone that's made by Google. My IMEI starts with 99. I could not enable OEM Unlocking until I connected the phone to wifi. GL guys
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] lapinski:
I would like to point out that if you have an IMEI that starts with 35, you may still unlock the phone. I bought a new Pixel 3a XL phone from a physical store last week (late April 2023), its IMEI starts with 35, the "OEM unlocking" option was initially grayed out. But after I updated the phone including upgrading the OS from Android 10 to Android 12, the OEM unlocking option was enabled. After flashing the bootloader to downgrade the phone to Android 9, I successfully installed Ubuntu Touch 20.04 to the phone.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] AnierinB:
I got my device from the Verizon store and have this string when I search in chrome.

client=ms-android-google
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] MArtyChubbs:
Well that blows the theory...
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] bobby janow:
Can you toggle the oem switch in developer options?
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] AnierinB:
No I can't.

Two days ago I factory reset my device and tried tinkering with everything I could to in someway, enable oem unlocking. I removed my Google account, sim, and reset the device. Later used wifi to try and see what string a Google search would bring up and it was in fact the Google one.

Last night I noticed it was still displaying that information in the URL so I figured I'd perform a factory reset through recovery mode and attempt to see if theres any correlation between these strings and the phones variant. I did the same as before only this time it's displaying the Verizon string all of a sudden.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] KhaymanOIF09:
I got my 3 xl on Tuesday evening, got home tried everything to get the oem unlock ungreyed out with no luck. Did the search thing in chrome and it said Verizon and I ordered an unlocked one since I have att why would I order a Verizon one anyway. Did the chat help thing on the phone Wednesday morning and got an rma for it, hopefully the new one will be what I ordered. Not sure if anyone tried the rma route or not to get the right one with any success so we will see.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] mostyle:
Wieeerd.

Just got my FINAL 3 XL off Swappa and it can be OEM toggled AND reports client as Google.

I'm gonna hurry and unlock the bootloader before it changes its mind. :P
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] Reclaimer122:
I've been having bluetooth issues with my original 3 XL so I started a return and ordered another one rather than RMA. This new one has OEM Unlock grayed out and the client text from Chrome says ms-android-verizon despite ordering an unlocked one. :(
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] GunToYoMouth123:
Straight from Google.. and it's greyed out for me too. Try rebooting. Nothing.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] GunToYoMouth123:
Looking for wipe cache, and it's not in my recovery ? Am I missing something here. Attempting everything I can to unlock bootloader, but the OEM unlocked stays greyed out
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] androidchyk24:
has anyone has updated luck ? didnt think it would b this hard to flash an emoji pack lol
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] Reclaimer122:
I'm thinking somebody screwed up and boxed a bunch of Verizon phones with the unlocked ones by accident.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] GunToYoMouth123:
It would be crazy to think that, but then again, it's crazy that this is even happening without any logical explanation. So that can be a good reason lol.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] TonikJDK:
There isn't a cache partition anymore.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] MArtyChubbs:
Someone blundered... Has anyone reported to G-G-Google that they think its a Verizon Locked phone? Wonder what they say... If they say your silly, bust out the search string followed by Ahhha! Whadda say now Mr. G-G-Google? Huh?
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] Paz9:
:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] KhaymanOIF09:
I got a hold of Google and got mine rma'd should get the new one beginning of next week hopefully. They didn't give me any issues I told them the oem unlock was greed out, and that the string in chrome said Verizon. Hopefully the new one is right but I'm not holding my breath at this point lol
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] GunToYoMouth123:
Don't they ask you for the phone back before or after you get the new one?
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] masri1987:
i just got an RMA with verizon in the search string. How wonderful.

I hate google why did i do this to myself???

And OEM unlock is greyed out obviously..
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] bsg411:
Is google seriously giving out locked bootloader phones from the Google store?
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] KhaymanOIF09:
Yea they have two options, either you send the phone back and they will send you a new one, or you give them a credit card to put a 1,000 dollar hold on it and they will send you a new phone. Then you send the other one back and they release the hold. Obviously I went with the sending the phone back as I don't have the money for another phone until they release the funds.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] Sajji:
Me too!

I have the same problem. Purchased on Google store - and....it's locked!

First time ever...this is my 7th Google device! I got over the bucket notch, but this is unacceptable!

Tech support asked "why do you want to unlock the bootloader?" Seriously Google?!?! Normal humans do not buy Nexus/Pixel devices...

Sigh....
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] mostyle:
Expect your RMA to be locked as well... Sorry.

Feel your pain...

Advance RMA but you have to insure the return by giving them a CC#.

LOL! First time I've been proud to be called abnormal... :laugh:

I'm starting to wonder to wonder if the bad batch that people are referencing is at, say, one shipping sight? If the issue was worldwide (or even countrywide) wouldn't there be more people complaining?
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] masri1987:
Yes and what a major fudge up on their part..

And they probably won't do anything to make up for it
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] masri1987:
8 phone calls later, and 6 of those calls i was told that "the bootloader can be locked" and they're basically saying that despite the bootloader screen showing the bootloader version to be a VZ one that it's a user error as to why i can't unlock it.

2 of those phone calls they wanted me to return my RMA first before they ship out another.

Needless to say I rejected that option too.

This is pretty ****

Thinking of calling up my bank and letting them know of the situation.

going to return to them the RMA tomorrow and keep my original i guess.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] mostyle:
What a find mind numbingly sad is the level of support. As I stated earlier I've been using development mode devices for probably near a decade and to have a support person ask me 'why would you want to do that' or tell me something like 'it is my fault that i can't do it' is some of top worst support moments I've ever had.

Additionally, the fact that I constantly got the feeling that even though we were both speaking English there was a clear break down in undertaking between the receiving party of my call.. In one instance I was even forwarded to Project Fi support even though my call and its contained discussion had nothing to do with Project Fi. Combine this with the borderline condescending nature with which they spoke and the apparent inability to escalate my call to a higher tier party made for some of the worst support I've ever had. Can't remember the last time I felt genuinely helpless to get my issue resolved.

Today's return for refund ship out was a very very relieving moment.

Thankfully I found a seller on Swappa that was selling a mint condition device and was willing to provide screenshots of the enabled toggle. Sure, I didn't get to use the financing (44/month no interest) but rather had to pay full price but in the end I got what I wanted.

While I'm genuinely sorry the others in this thread are going through the same thing it is a relief to know I'm not the only one.. Google support has me doubting myself.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] zetsumeikuro:
I am coming up on RMA #4 now first two were for earpiece buzzing and excessive clicking in the earpiece during calls. Could also hear the buzzing if you put your ear up to the top speaker even when the screen was off etc and not playing any audio poor shielding RIP. So RMA #3 still has the issue but barely I'd say it's like 85%-90% of the time it wasn't there so I was thrilled. Got ready to pack up phone #2 to send it back to FedEx but good thing I didn't cause guess what? OEM was grayed out and I couldn't unlock RMA #3! (insert middle finger from Google). But yeah this felt like a double slap to the face it's like oh hey the problem is mostly gone on this device but you can't bootloader unlock it! Spent 40-45 minutes on the phone with Google, the rep tried to see if they could unlock it but of course what ended up happening was another RMA was issued. In chrome it said VZW of course but the IMEI is that of a Google device. Verizon rep told me IMEI for Verizon devices generally start with 35 whereas Google devices start with 99. So I wonder if the workers at the factory flashed Verizon firmware on there and that is what is causing this debacle? My current device 2nd RMA has pretty bad buzzing but hey at least I can unlock it LOL. I don't know why I do this to myself anymore with Google and their terrible launches. Maybe I have masochistic tendencies and just don't realize it.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] GunToYoMouth123:
I still have mine, in hopes that maybe later or an update will fix this. Unfortunately this is my only phone and getting a RMA isn't an option because I cannot be without a phone and I do not have $1000 to spend just like that. It took me awhile to save up for this and i use it for work. This is very unfortunate. Main reason I purchased from Google was to be able to root. I'm super disappointed.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] mostyle:
What day here is exactly why I'm disgusted with Google here. They bend you over and offer to help to resolve the issue.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] GunToYoMouth123:
You reflashed a stock image and it fixed it for you?
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] kevinga:
Grayed out here too...

The Google rep had to consult a higher tier person to help. He also came back to me and asked the question "What would you need the bootloader unlock feature for?" Not a very good question to ask on a faulty device not to mention a faulty $1000 device!

RMA device is on the way with CC hold, and the Google rep said he would make sure that my replacement would be checked before it is shipped. For some reason I don't have much faith in that statement.

This problem is going to be etched in for all future resale purchases of this phone. Proof that the bootloader can be unlocked will have to be shown in addition to simply stating that the phone was purchased as an "Unlocked Google phone".

Can Google send a fix for this as an OTA flash? I assume not.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] bobby janow:
The answer to your first question by the second tier person is simply, I'm a developer and that's all you need to say.

They cannot show proof that the bootloader can be unlocked unless they turn on the device enable developer options and show that the oem switch is active. They will never do that so forget it. Stating that the phone is an unlocked Google phone only means that you can put it on any network, not that the bl is unlocked. You cannot purchase a bl unlocked anything.

Google can't send it as an OTA but they can make a change in their back end servers so that on a factory reset the oem switch will become active. Whether they will do that is quite another story, however. They did it once about a year ago when the Pixel 2 XL from Google was not bl unlockable. People went ballistic and a few days later the fix was in. Factory reset and it was bl unlockable, so it's entirely possible for them to do that.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] MArtyChubbs:
Yes, but my bootloader was locked so maybe all I did was do a factory reset. I even remember less about it now than I did a week ago. Eventually I unlocked it and I'm very happy

From the examples on this thread it seems there's enough for a case to be created. I don't think Google puts a lot of effort into their first-tier support and they rather just swap out another phone and really try to fix it

Does anyone know how they lock the bootloader permanently for Verizon phones is it based off of the IMEI or what? I wonder if a reference point on a Verizon pixel and a Google pixel can be distinguished to tell whether they're actually shipping out phones meant for Verizon customer
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] GunToYoMouth123:
Can you share a link where you got the file to flash ?

And to my knowledge the IMEI from Verizon starts with "3" and unlocked from Google start with a "9"

And it seems like they really rather swap out the phones. Which is very unfortunate.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] Paz9:
has anyone attempted to fastboot format /data in fastboot?

atleast we can rule out if the /data partition is referencing something.

unless there is an IMEI check at runtime that determines whether or not OEM unlocking is greyed out

i wonder if we can spoof this?
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] KhaymanOIF09:
Well we will find out if that is true in a day or two, my replacement just shipped out today but it's su day so it will be picked up Monday. The imei starts with 9 but so did the one I sent back in.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] MArtyChubbs:
Download and unzip the factory image and run the flash all... What happens?
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] zopostyle:
Says failed, can't flash due to booloader locked.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] GunToYoMouth123:
Yup.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] kevinga:
Got my RMA device today. All good and the way it should be!
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] KhaymanOIF09:
Same here, just got my phone from FedEx first thing I did was pop my sim in it and check the oem unlock. I was able to flip it this time and did the fastboot unlock and everything worked fine. Maybe they figured it out who knows but it looks like rma's might be getting the actual unlocked phone finally so maybe the original phones will be worked out also so people don't have to go through this to get what they paid for.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] hypnotiqphil:
So i have the same issue as you all have. Grayed out toggle slider for the oem unlock. I received the phone yesterday. I tried to update, factory reset, once with the wifi only all the way through, once with only the sim, all the way through without logging into my account, did the same with them both in, sim and wifi without logging in and with me logging in, same issue. I spoke with google, and they said that it is an issue they are reviewing, and will not give me an RMA for it. I am going to give a day and chat with them again tomorrow to request an RMA. This is pretty ridiculous.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] cswithxda:
Genius find.

I have my replacement and original device (non XL) side by side. The replacement can't be unlocked, and the string shows ms-android-verizon, while the original device can be unlocked and shows ms-android-google. Even if there were some reports of discrepancies in this thread, I believe this explains why I cannot get the replacement to damn unlock after more than 10 resets and countless restarts :crying:

Google gotta be kidding me this year. Set a personal record and gone through 3 RMAs already and this 4th one is the only one with acceptable screen without any pink tint (karma for the non-XL population), yet it also became the only device that cannot be unlocked. I'm speechless.

At this point I don't know what to do. Don't wanna go for another exchange because the screen is so good compared to the previous three craps. Looks like my only hope lies in the hand of Google to issue a hotfix like they did earlier this year for the Pixel 2.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] kevinga:
Good grief. Sounds like you got a hold of the wrong guy at Google support. They should RMA because the device is defective. It can't perform a function that is is supposed to be able to do. It will be interesting to see what Google does over the next few days about this problem. We will probably never know how many devices are like this because most people that order this Google phone have never even seen "Developer Options" before and will never realize they have a issue until they try to sell it and the buyer wants them to screenshot proof. :)

I received my RMA replacement phone this week and fortunately all seems to be fine.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] hypnotiqphil:
So I tried the Google search trick and I got the Google version in the address bar. Interesting. I also have grey oem unlock
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] mostyle:
I'd really be curious what's different about your device... Someone else in the thread said the encountered the same thing but after a factory reset it showed Verizon.

Though I haven't been able to isolate exactly how this client string ties to the bootloader issue I'm fairly confident they are intertwined.

[MENTION=4792878]hypnotiqphil[/MENTION] If they won't RMA tell them you want a refund. That's shenanigans that they won't RMA it. However, buyers remorse will let you return it.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] hypnotiqphil:
The only thing is I just purchased this phone on Monday and so did my brother and his phone has the same issue as mine. We both got white Pixel 3XL 64gb.

I might end up telling them I want a refund. Maybe that will get them to give me an RMA. We'll see. I don't want all that hassle if a ota fix can remedy this issue.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] mostyle:
Well, if you are okay using the device as-is should an OTA patch never happen then hang on to it. The EXACT same thing occurred on the 2XL and was resolved by an OTA. The point here is if you hedge your bets and lose you'll be stuck.

All about what you're okay with long-term... I wish you the best of luck.

My current gripe if finding out that Black Friday offers $200 off.. LOL

I'm starting to think the universe just never intended me to be happy with this device... :eek:
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] Xaikar:
This is my chat log with Google. I also purchased an Unlocked device and the OEM Unlock is greyed out

Edit: Opened a 2nd chat they were able to start and RMA in the first 2 minutes
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] Xaikar:
'

Don't even wait a day I waited 30 minutes 2nd person helped me star the process in 5 minutes. Crazy how untrained or unwilling to help some of them are.
[Google Pixel 3 XL Questions & Answers] masri1987:
I returned my OEM locked RMA to them, they got it on monday. Stuck with my original device which was defective upon arrival with dust in the camera lense

Very disappointed in google