[Google Pixel 3 Questions & Answers] D2_:
Hi All,

Apologies, this is my first post, I cracked something trivial, but didn't find the steps or the same situation anywhere, so posting my version of events. This guide is based on the following situation

Bought a Google Pixel 3 XL - CARRIER LOCKED phone off ebay (Locked to EE)

- Running Android 10 - working fine - pre wiped

- EE SIM installed

- Wifi Connected

- Based in the UK

- I need to root this phone to perform security testing

So, for me, because the phone is locked to EE, when I did tried to enable OEM unlocking in dev options, I got the dreaded OEM unlocking unavailable on carrier locked devices.....:

Details:

Enable DEVELOPER MODE

SETTINGS > ABOUT PHONE > Hit “Build Number“ 7 times > Enter your pin/pattern

Go To Enable OEM Unlocking

SETTINGS > SYETEM > ADVANCED > DEVELOPER OPTIONS > OEM UNLOCKING option

However,

You end up with “OEM unlocking unavailable on carrier locked devices” and the option greyed out and disabled (Silent sobbing in the corner by my wallet)​

​

(See attached my mocked up screen shot of this)​

​

OEM unlocking is step 2 of

every

rooting tutorial I’ve seen (the 1st being DEV OPTIONS!) (Silent sobbing in the corner by me!)​

Reading many forums, all hope was lost, lots about Verizon phones, and specific IMIE numbers called out for versions to watch out for, blah blah until a passing comment about getting the Carrier (EE) to unlock.​

EE do this for FREE if YOU bought the phone from THEM….or they charge £8.99 for 2nd hand phone unlocks

1) So, call EE on 150 (UK)

2) Give them the IMIE number of the phone

SETTINGS > ABOUT PHONE > IMEI number​

3) They fill out a form and send to their back office “unlock team”

4a) Short Story

– I called back and was advised to update my phone...the end​

4b) Long Story

- I was told this would take 24 hrs, and they would send me an email with instructions…this never arrived, so I called back, only to be told there was a back log and it would take 1-10 days!! 5 days later, no email, no codes, no love! so I called back begging for an escalation, I was told there was a note on the account saying it was done! and the phone just needed an update….(no code, no email, no call, if I was waiting at a restaurant for you EE, I'd of left!)​

5) Next update Android to the very latest version

SETTINGS > SYSTEM > ADVANCED > SYSTEM UPDATES​

​

6) Wait the age for it to install and “optimize” the apps

7) I checked for more updates, found “A security patch”, went through the process again….7 more times! (took me a couple hours!)….I repeated this process until there were no more updates to collect (back to step 5 you go!)

8) Check:

SETTINGS > SYETEM > ADVANCED > DEVELOPER OPTIONS > OEM UNLOCKING option = still locked for me at this point.​

9) Perform a FACTORY RESET

SETTINGS > SYSTEM > RESET OPTIONS > DELETE ALL DATA (FACTORY RESET)​

​

10) Let it Reboot

11) Re-set up

Enable DEVELOPER MODE...again

​

SETTINGS > ABOUT PHONE > Hit “Build Number“ 7 times > Enter your pin/pattern​

​

Go To Enable OEM Unlocking...again

​

SETTINGS > SYETEM > ADVANCED > DEVELOPER OPTIONS > OEM UNLOCKING option​

BOOM! OEM unlocked! (for me at least)

Long oand short of it - get EE to unlock and confirm > update the cr@p out of the phone > perform factory reset

I hope these saves time for someone out there

D2