yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] crypt0kiddie:
I heard exactly the opposite, a quick Google search told me that this is a common problem 4 people trying to finance through the Google play store. The bank that Google uses for financing has really high credit score requirements compared to carriers and other businesses.

I mean I get it, my credit semi-sucks but I can walk into any cell phone carrier and get full financing without a security deposit no problem, literally any carrier, just not Google.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] Holysmoke99:
Please advise me on how to get an unlocked 3a XL. I currently lease a Sprint 3a XL that is locked. I have a 30 day return policy. Can I pay off Sprint and have them unlock bootloader or should I return the phone and buy it from Google or Bestbuy?
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] crypt0kiddie:
So officially there's no official way to get the bootloader unlocked. T-Mobile's T-Force or whatever you want to call it indicated to me in live chat that once the device is paid off they will unlock the phone, both sim and bootloader. The person that I was talking to seemed quite knowledgeable about the question I was asking. I don't believe that they confused my unlocking question with a "Sim" carrier unlock to take the phone to another carrier. They understood that this was purely from custom software and development standpoints.

The girl that I spoke to said that T-Mobile's only real stance on the issue is that they don't want to unlock the phones and then have somebody jump ship and not pay for the phone.

Now of course there's no official policy on this so I can't confirm or deny this one way or the other. they could simply just be saying that so that I purchase the telephone and then make payments on it for the next two years and then they say oh sorry there's nothing we can do to help with.

The only real way to find out would be to pay one in full and then ask them to unlock it and see what they say.

Now I realize you're talking about Sprint so what is Sprint's policy about this? I was a Sprint customer years ago and at the time they were extremely anti-ROOT.

Best suggestion anyone can make you right now would be to return the phone to Sprint. Tell them why you're returning the phone to Sprint even though they probably won't care. Then go to Best Buy and purchase the Best Buy unlocked version or purchase it from the Google Play store.

Profit...

Well actually you may not profit because it's my understanding that when you return a phone to Sprint or T-Mobile they're going to charge you a fee to return the phone, I think it's around $50!
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] Holysmoke99:
I think I can return it to Sprint and pay a $40 restocking fee then do the slickdeal where I buy a used iphone 6 and trade it in to google for $250. The used iphone 6 is $80 shipped so I would still come out ahead.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] bobby janow:
Sprint cannot unlock your bootloader. The most they can do is allow the OEM switch to be active and that might come with a completed purchase. Ask them if you can pay it off and they can sim unlock the device. If they can then go into oem switch to see if it's active. I'm curious why you would have bought it from Sprint in the first place if you can pay it off all at once. Why not just get it from Google with $100 credit for the Store or from BB unlocked with a $100 gift certificate.

I just took a look at the Sprint site. You need to get a new line of service for the $100 off if I read it correctly. The carriers are scrambling to come up with some hook since the price of the 3a and XL are so reasonable and unlocked versions are the same price. Even Google Fi gives a $100 credit but you can use an existing line and only need to keep the unlocked phone activated for a month on Fi which is a no brainer. I just don't understand why anyone would buy a $399 device (less $100 rebate) from a carrier with limitations. A $999 phone is another story.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] seniorstew:
Ughh stop ranting about the carriers for locking the BL! By now, you should know what your getting into when financing or buying your phone from a carrier. Don't like it? Buy directly from Google or Best Buy.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] Holysmoke99:
I wasn't aware of the $100 Google offer or the Slickdeals until after I received the phone. I decided to lease it for $19 a month and try the 30-day trial to make sure I liked the phone. I love the phone but wasn't aware that Sprint could lock the bootloader. That's on me so now I am trying to rectify it. It's much easier for me to lease a phone interest free then pay it off at the end interest free than paying for the phone up front
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] Jeffro64:
With my 6T I was locked to T-Mobile and the OEM Unlock was greyed out. I was able to contact T-Force on Twitter to get sim unlocked within 48 hours of buying the phone, and it only took that long because they had to wait until they were able to see service in the system on my sim and IMEI on my 6T. After that they immediately unlocked my sim before I made my first payment so I was among the lucky ones that had no problem doing this. I believe it was a combination of I have been with them for 15 years and they know I'm not going anywhere and I told them that I work offshore and travel to other countries where I need a local sim. So that may have something to do with why it was very easy for me to get sim unlocked. I believe that T-Mo has no interest in locking down the bootloader on their phones (Except of coarse the ones that locked down by the evil venders) and are only worried about people getting the phone and jumping ship to another carrier...hense the sim lock until the phone is payed for before the OEM unlock is able to be used. And I think I read above that this has already been discovered on the Pixel 3a/3aXL from T-Mo.

Now that being said....The only reason I will never buy a phone from T-mo again is the fact that they still haven't changed a bit on updates! OnePlus has sent out multiple updates to the non-carrier 6T but mine has not received even one... I'm still on the original out of the box firmware with not even one security update. Up until now I've been fine with it but now it looks like I will have to do the International conversion just so I can get updates for my phone. And that's the point I wanted to bring to everyone's attention that is considering buying a carrier branded phone especially from T-Mobile. Whether you are unlocking and rooting or not...You simply don't get updates like you should from the carriers and I won't make that mistake again. Just an FYI for those wanting to buy the carrier phones.

EDIT: Was just browsing here in the 3a forums and came across this thread and wanted to point out this info just incase it would be helpful for someone trying to decide on carrier branded or unlocked.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] crypt0kiddie:
Nobody really cares about the SIM unlock. If I go to T-Mobile and buy a phone and get a contract with them I don't care if it stays on T-Mobile service, I want the bootloader unlocked so that I can run custom roms, custom kernel etc.

If the bootloader is unlocked then the updates are irrelevant. You can flash whatever the hell ROM you want on the thing.

I'm still rocking a Google Nexus 6 on the newest version of Android Pie, both AT&T and Google quit supporting this phone couple years ago. I never ran ROMS from AT&T or even Google, I always ran AOSP.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] Jeffro64:
I touched on all of that...My point was to say that after the sim unlock was completed that the OEM unlock will no longer be greyed out which is one of the questions in this thread a lot of people were wondering about and as I pointed out was already verified above my post. Everyone knows if the bootloader is unlocked that updates are irrelevant, which I also brought up saying that was my next step. But the main point of my post was to steer others towards a truly unlocked phone instead of dealing with the carriers in the first place. BTW...Still have all 3 of my Nexus 6 phones and still play around with them on occasion. Still one of the best! Thought I had seen you around here before.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] krabman:
Agreed, don't want to deal with carrier crap buy unlocked and skip the hassle. Fi is 100 off plus 20 for new joins and none of he BS. Bootloader, unlocked. Tethering= it's your data, burn it however you want. Going overseas, hell's to the yeah, your data is still fully working. Or just buy it from Goog or another source and throw a SIM in it. Vote with your wallet.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] Holysmoke99:
The only reason I tolerate Sprint is because they give me free unlimited cell service. After free expires I am gone and will pay off the phone and unlock bootloader.

Google fi is $80.00 plus taxes and fees a month. No thanks.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] doubledragon5:
I was just about to go and switch my galaxy a6 I purchased last night, and get a Pixel 3a XL because my other phone won't work, and needed one quick for work.. Now that I know the bootloader is locked, I might as well keep what I got for a while. Then purchase a better phone later.. Or by then go back and buy a old phone that you can still play with... Even with all the higher specs in these new phones. If the BL can't be unlocked, all those features me crap to me.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] Holysmoke99:
there is a value to hard inquiries and $400 is too small a loan for a hard inquiry imo.

I wonder if anyone bringing a BB or google 3a to Sprint has had the bootloader toogle switch greyed out after esim activation.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] bobby janow:
What do you mean free unlimited cell service? Phone calls, data? There is no such thing as free unlimited either. I guess it depends on how much data you use / month. You'd have to use over 10GB / month for Fi to be $80. I have 4 lines and only used 8GB last month combined. For you to get a Sprint deal didn't you have to BYOD and open a new line of service and keep it for 18 months? The 2 GB unlimited plan with Sprint is $40 / month which is exactly the Fi cost. The fact that they even sim lock and bl lock disable is enough to make me never want to buy a Sprint plan. Fi is unlocked from the get-go and you only need to keep it for a month for the $100 off. Then you can do whatever you want.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] Holysmoke99:
You have to use 6 GB a month and you pay $80.00 a month for fi.

Sprint had one year free plans including unlimited data. I use over 20 gigs a month for free.

---------- Post added at 07:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:01 PM ----------

6 GB a month and you pay $80.00 a month for fi. $20 for the talk and text and $10 for each GB. They stop billing you after 6 GB so $80.

Sprint had one year free plans including unlimited data. I use over 20 gigs a month for free. I used my old Nexus 6 as the BYOD and then upgraded to this phone a few days ago.

I'll just let them lock the bootloader in exchange for free service then when the free is up I'll leave them and pay off phone.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] bobby janow:
One year free plan? You use 20 GB a month and pay nothing. I find that impossible to believe. And why wouldn't you just buy the device from Google unlocked if you're paying nothing for cell / data service. Something just doens't seem right or I'm missing the point. Nonetheless, I'm glad you're happy with Sprint. For most everyone else Fi seems like a pretty good deal if you want the $100 off or Google Store with a $100 credit.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] alphahere:
Did anyone see this post on a possible way to activate bootloader unlock option for carrier phones? It would cool if someone could try this to see if it works. See post for details.

It was in the 3A forums:

https://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=79520688&postcount=10
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] krabman:
Sprint is awesome... As long as you're on Fi! :)
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] PhoenixPath:
So...confirmation is had.

I talked to TForce late last week to try and get carrier-sim-lock removed. They said they'd see what they could do, but the devices weren't fully in their systems yet.

Just tried unlocking the carrier lock again this morning (through the unlock app), and it worked.

I enabled OEM unlocking, rebooted to fastboot and just successfully unlocked my T-Mobile Pixel 3a XL. This specific device was purchased for an account that has been in good standing with T-Mobile for over a decade. The device was purchased on EIP using an S8+ for the $400 credit. No other payments were made/have been made to this point.

So this is confirmation that once the SIM-Lock has been removed, the T-Mobile Pixel 3a XL devices can be OEM unlocked.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] Holysmoke99:
I am telling the truth. One year free BYOD has unlimited data. I had it for one year ported out then ported back in for a 2nd year. It's all detailed on slickdeals. It is dead now. I also got several $15 a month unlimited lines under the 2 week promotion they did called Kickstarter.

Free cell service doesn't make me rich, I have 4 kids, one in college and every penny counts, that's why I didn't pay $500 up front for an XL.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] bobby janow:
I did see the Kickstarter deal but thought it was $25 / month. But my question is are you not paying a monthly fee? I get you have unlimited data, lots of carriers offer that now, but they all come with a monthly fee of at least something. They just gave you 2 years of free data / cell service with no strings attached? I've never seen anything like that or even remotely like that. Has anyone reading this availed yourselves of this deal? I have 3 unlimited lines with Verizon (don't judge lol) at $20 / month which isn't bad or far off from $15. I can certainly see not paying $500, or $400 with discounts applied, at once. You could have zero percent financed with Fi though. ;)
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] Holysmoke99:
https://slickdeals.net/f/10235008-s...-text-data-free-w-eligible-device-sim-req?v=1

That is where I found the deal. After my first free year expired, I ported out and then back in for a 2nd year. The only trick was using a family members SSN in my case my wifes.

Kickstarter was $15 for about 2 weeks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0oMM7TOzM0

If you have unlimited data with Verizon for $20 then you win. Sprint sucks.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] bobby janow:
Crazy. I bet not many got that deal. Did you have to pay off your previous carrier to break the contract? I'll bet they never offer that again. I wonder how many got that deal?
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] xFierce:
I was able to contact tmobile and was granted an unlock request. I got the email this morning and when I try to use the tmobile device unlock app it keeps saying "permanent unlock failed" any ideas as to what I'm doing wrong? I've paid the device in full already.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] alphahere:
With another phone I had to call T-Mobile to get this straightened out.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] FusionNeo:
For T-Mobile, as long as the device is SIM unlocked they will allow you to unlock the bootloader. I requested an unlock because of working internationally, and they granted me it. I just received the phone and activated it less than a few hours ago and the device is being financed on T-Mobile. So it doesn't matter HOW you get them to unlock it (such as paying in full, military exceptions, other exceptions.) Once the phone is carrier unlocked, the bootloader is unlocked with it.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] bobby janow:
The bootloader is unlockable, it's not unlocked. Please be clear.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] PhoenixPath:
Reboot. Try the unlock app again. They also may have done the unlock without requiring you go through the app (or the app is just buggy as heck).

Check developer options and see if the OEM Unlock is still greyed out.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] nashi20002003:
nvm
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] spaceman860:
I contacted TMobile customer service and they didn't want to unlock before the 40 days of getting the device. Contacted them via Twitter and got it unlocked.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] thicklizard:
Which rep did you talk to on Twitter? I've contacted them twice on twitter no joy
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] googlephoneFKLenAsh:
Contact again. The first rep asked me to payoff the EIP. I waited one hour and got a second rep who unlocked my devices immediately.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] xxBrun0xx:
I have a dumb question: can you use Android pay with bootloader unlocked? I'd love to give Q beta 3 a shot, but I use Android pay daily and have work email that relies on passing safetynet
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] alphahere:
Yes

There is a thread on how to get to work. Sorry don't have a link.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] PGHammer:
VZW = Beastlier than Beast Buy?

I'd be surprised if VZW did NOT support VoW as they have a deal with Xfinity to supply bandwidth for Xfinity Mobile. T-Mobile has an identical deal with Tracfone, and I have had VoW since I changed tower providers - and I have an ex-VZW S7. (My issues with VoWifi are router-related; not carrier-related.) However, why is VZW selling an eSIM-locked 3a - even to their own customers? Beast Buy is actually closer physically to me than VZW is - and the price is identical otherwise - they could still lose the sale to Beast Buy by being that dense.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] kangta05:
I have sim unlocked for my T-Mobile 3a xl rebooted multiple times and oem unlock is still greyed out after 2 days
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] seniorstew:
Did you use the app to unlock it?
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] kangta05:
Yes.

So a buddy of mine who knows a bit more about android suggested I reset my phone to factory without the sim.

So i removed the sim, reset and ran through the unlock and nothing.

Reset again with the sim in the phone and now the option is available and now my bootloader is unlocked
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] jsanta11:
Spoke with t-force thru Twitter, got mines unlocked. Fun starts soon ???
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] Omegapsy:
Not to sound stupid, but who/where on twitter are you all reaching out to have your devices unlocked for T-Mobile?
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] jsanta11:
Hope it helps, he was hella cool and friendly
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] mikef2501:
I've never contacted T-Mobile support through Twitter, but I'd like to try asking them to SIM unlock my phone today, for the purpose of enabling the OEM Unlock toggle. How did you guys contact them for this? Did you just DM [MENTION=259357]Tmobile[/MENTION]Help?

For reference, been a T-Mobile customer in good standing for about 6 years. Just acquired a Pixel 3a from a T-Mobile store on monthly payments, and it is SIM-locked and the bootloader is not unlockable. I would try the factory-reset-without-SIM-inserted method, but I'm on call this weekend and probably shouldn't have my phone out of commission like that :/
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] xRogerxC:
What is this Factory reset method that you speak of?
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] mikef2501:
I've read in a few of the threads here in the last few days that people have been able to make the phone bootloader unlockable by removing the SIM and performing a factory wipe, clearing everything (is wiping the cache even a thing at this version of Android?). They then have to set up the phone and give it internet access via WiFi, do a reset, then sometimes the OEM unlockable toggle is available. It still doesn't sound like a sure bet to me, but I've seen a few people mention they have had success with it. Anyone else want to chime in with stories of success/failure with a method like this?

Thanks,

Mike
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] bigmatt503:
Another thing to keep in mind is that it's actually a credit card for future Google store purchases. I bounced back in six weeks from the hard pull and actually picked up a few points for the new account. This is on myfico.com not credit karma
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] luigi90210:
I can confirm my bootloader is unlocked. Got the best buy unlocked model.

---------- Post added at 04:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:35 PM ----------

This is not true, my friend picked up a pixel 3 xl from T-Mobile and it's simlocked and the bootloader lock is linked to the simlock status.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] Veiran:
Two months late, but for anybody who's curious: I am a former T-Mobile customer (currently with Verizon) and was able to successfully unlock the SIM and the bootloader itself is unlockable now (the toggle is no longer greyed out). They ask for your login info for your account and the IMEI of the phone itself. If the phone and account meet the requirements (be in good standing, etc) then they'll direct you to download the T-Mobile Device Unlock app. At that point, it's a simple matter of selecting Permanent Unlock and going through it.

EDIT: Just to clarify, the phone is both SIM and bootloader unlocked so that I am using it on Verizon Wireless.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] doubledragon5:
Mine came from Sprint, bootloader locked. Even with the new phone, and a regular sim still bootloader locked. This was even before I installed the actual sim card.
[Google Pixel 3a XL Questions & Answers] oneprimedroid:
boot loader

I just got a new Pixel 3a XL from t-mobile a couple of days ago and the first thing I did was unlock the boot loader and flash android 10. I had/have no problems with it.

I just followed android source web portal on using adb and fast boot for boot unlock and firmware upgrade..

I would like to ask those who say they are bootlocked if there phone has the SIM card number printed on the box?

mine did so that seems to indicate that the phone came from google with sim installed .

if it doesn't then maybe T-mobile installed the sim before shipping and in turn locked it?

Anyway, Its been awhile since I had a android phone, since the dohnut, gingerbread days and of course Cyanogenmod what a

bummer that news was...

Just starting to get back into dev and building. I do how ever miss my old Nexus 6.
[General Questions and Answers] Nevea:
Hello,

I am looking for an app that starts recording audio immediately when opened. I would then map this to my Bixby button to start recording when necessary.

Does anyone know of such an app like this? Does one exist?

Thanks.
[Vivo Nex Guides, News, & Discussion] cho9736:
guys, vivo nex can get the android Q beta rom now !!!

https://dev.vivo.com.cn/documentCenter/doc/210?&lan=en

it's only for chinese version
[Vivo Nex Guides, News, & Discussion] roxboxxx:
Well then.....looks like we now have confirmation as to who vivo cares about.

Sent from my long forgotten about red headed step child of a vivo nex international edition
[Vivo Nex Guides, News, & Discussion] t7gc7:
So who we will be the first to test it ?
[Vivo Nex Guides, News, & Discussion] srb100:
https://developer.android.com/preview/devices/
[Vivo Nex Guides, News, & Discussion] t7gc7:
I'ts the beta 3, i'm right ? Pretty much everything should be working ?

Warning: Updating the firmware would erase the device storage So the device storage is formated ? We need to backup everything before update ? I didn't do that with Pie beta ...
[Vivo Nex Guides, News, & Discussion] Xumit:
Damn! I was so excited for a minute! I wish I had a Chinese Nex. I would've flashed the new Q beta in a heartbeat.

Also chinese nex owners, please install this and share your experience. A video would be amazing.