Develop Bugs

How do i know if a phone is really unlocked?

I get invalid sim with every one i use on a phone (have tried 3 from 2 different providers), tried making better contact between the sim and the phone and also cleaning the sim and it makes no difference.
Is there any way i can check if this phone is properly unlocked? Don't wanna pay for an unlock and find out that wasn't the problem.

hacktek said:
I get invalid sim with every one i use on a phone (have tried 3 from 2 different providers), tried making better contact between the sim and the phone and also cleaning the sim and it makes no difference.
Is there any way i can check if this phone is properly unlocked? Don't wanna pay for an unlock and find out that wasn't the problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might have bought your device from some carrier, or operator, like T-mobile, At&T, Orange, Vodafone or something...
If So.. you also got a sim card from them...
To check if it is unlocked is extremely simple...
Turn your phone off, put another carrier´s sim card and then turn it on... If it asks for a code, it´s locked... If not, then it´s unlocked.
It will not tell you it´s an invalid sim card, unless:
1 - Your device is damaged
2 - The sim card you´re trying to use is for 3G networks
Remember...Excalibur is not 3G.
It´s simple like that...
Regards.

hacktek said:
I get invalid sim with every one i use on a phone (have tried 3 from 2 different providers), tried making better contact between the sim and the phone and also cleaning the sim and it makes no difference.
Is there any way i can check if this phone is properly unlocked? Don't wanna pay for an unlock and find out that wasn't the problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you buy it already unlocked? or did you get it unlocked? In either case you should have the SIM unlock code. If it is unlocked using any SIM from any provider other then T-Mo will work, if its not working its not unlocked.

hacktek said:
I get invalid sim with every one i use on a phone (have tried 3 from 2 different providers), tried making better contact between the sim and the phone and also cleaning the sim and it makes no difference.
Is there any way i can check if this phone is properly unlocked? Don't wanna pay for an unlock and find out that wasn't the problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty much what Bupahs said, and also you pretty much answered your question, you said tried different sims and it says invalid sims. Is not unlocked. Here's an idea, get your hands on a tmobile sim card, and try it, if you don't get an invalid sim error, then you know for sure that is not unlocked.

Bupahs said:
Did you buy it already unlocked? or did you get it unlocked? In either case you should have the SIM unlock code. If it is unlocked using any SIM from any provider other then T-Mo will work, if its not working its not unlocked.
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Click to collapse
I got it already unlocked, thing is i got 2 and one worked right off the bat, the other gives the invalid sim message. Getting 2 and having 1 work fine is mostly what leads me to believe the one with problems is not unlocked at all (or maybe it's not properly unlocked).
roloracer said:
Pretty much what Bupahs said, and also you pretty much answered your question, you said tried different sims and it says invalid sims. Is not unlocked. Here's an idea, get your hands on a tmobile sim card, and try it, if you don't get an invalid sim error, then you know for sure that is not unlocked.
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Click to collapse
I can't get a T-Mob sim since i'm overseas =/
What do you guys think of the unlock code services on ebay? Are they reliable? They are 1/4th of the price of imei-check.
Thanks

hacktek said:
I got it already unlocked, thing is i got 2 and one worked right off the bat, the other gives the invalid sim message. Getting 2 and having 1 work fine is mostly what leads me to believe the one with problems is not unlocked at all (or maybe it's not properly unlocked).
I can't get a T-Mob sim since i'm overseas =/
What do you guys think of the unlock code services on ebay? Are they reliable? They are 1/4th of the price of imei-check.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use jockey on here the thread is normally on first page of this forum, he's reliable, quick and an XDA user

EE UK Sim Unlock

Hey guys, the only Pixel phones currently sim unlocked are the UK EE models, has anyone figured a way out to unlock these yet without waiting until contract expires or paying EE

There has been a solution, same as for Verizon bootloader's I believe. Have a look in skipsofts tool thread, you will find the link there ?
Or you can go here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-xl/how-to/ee-uk-sim-unlock-t3490134

snowblind2142 said:
There has been a solution, same as for Verizon bootloader's I believe. Have a look in skipsofts tool thread, you will find the link there ��
Or you can go here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-xl/how-to/ee-uk-sim-unlock-t3490134
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not talking about bootloader unlock mate, I'm talking about sim unlock, currently this phone will only accept EE/BT SIM cards.

That's really odd, I got mine on EE and it takes my three sim no problem.

Kombat wombat said:
That's really odd, I got mine on EE and it takes my three sim no problem.
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Click to collapse
Just tried mine with an O2 sim and its says that its locked and I need to contact EE, also Google Pixel Sim Lock thats states they are the only network locking the phone right now.

nintendolinky said:
Just tried mine with an O2 sim and its says that its locked and I need to contact EE, also Google Pixel Sim Lock thats states they are the only network locking the phone right now.
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Click to collapse
Not sure why that is or why it works I haven't tried any other sims other then three. U should be able to unlock the same way you do there mobile hotspots using the imei number and a code.

Kombat wombat said:
Not sure why that is or why it works I haven't tried any other sims other then three. U should be able to unlock the same way you do there mobile hotspots using the imei number and a code.
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Click to collapse
That would be all well and good but this phone was bought on eBay and the seller won't respond to messages regarding sim unlocking :/

Kombat wombat said:
Not sure why that is or why it works I haven't tried any other sims other then three. U should be able to unlock the same way you do there mobile hotspots using the imei number and a code.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you unlocked your bootloader?

nintendolinky said:
Have you unlocked your bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bootloader is unlocked.

Kombat wombat said:
Bootloader is unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did your three SIM work before you unlocked. What's weird is it doesn't even ask for an unlock code, just to contact EE

nintendolinky said:
Not talking about bootloader unlock mate, I'm talking about sim unlock, currently this phone will only accept EE/BT SIM cards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My bad, miss read
@ your local phone so maybe?

normally to get the unlock code you have to request on the back of your contract, likely if you bought the phone second hand the seller didn't unlock it because EE makes you wait 6 months and has a £9 fee while still in contract.
so chances are there is no easy way to unlock the device (unlocking bootloader and rooting doesn't remove the sim lock they are both very different things) without paying EE or another firm who claim to be able to get the unlock codes but as far as that goes it's how much you are willing to trust such firms.
so in short if it is your phone and you are with EE, you need to have been a customer with EE 6 months (not sure if you can short cut this by getting it as an upgrade) have your bill in good standing and pay a £9 fee, then they will give you the unlock code. if you got the phone second hand I would imagine you're pretty stuck.

any updates regarding ee simlock unlock?

Hi .I got the same problem .got phone from ee and only ee sim working .all other sim cards its just says no sim card inside and after a while its says sim not supported or simthings ..n also not asking for any unlock code aswell .

Deleted - misunderstood.

carajp said:
You can buy unlocked from Carphone Warehouse - they're all unlocked. I'm pretty sure EE sells a sim free version too.
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Click to collapse
I know, but mine is locked, sim locked bought from eBay so can go the EE route.

You can also use a Virgin sim card in the EE ones, I've just tried, and will use it temporarily until we have a Sim unlock.

any more on this?

EE
Called EE They refuse even to talk about unlocking b4 6 months
doesnt matter if u r on contract or PAYG
Any other suggestions?
have to unlock as going a broad soon

ac-milan said:
Called EE They refuse even to talk about unlocking b4 6 months
doesnt matter if u r on contract or PAYG
Any other suggestions?
have to unlock as going a broad soon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried the online unlocking form by EE, doubt it will work.
Have to wait up to 10 days.

How to unlock Pixel XL EE?

Anyone manage to unlock EE Pixel XL?
I urgently need mine unlocked anyone know of any reliable websites?
thanks

riz157 said:
Anyone manage to unlock EE Pixel XL?
I urgently need mine unlocked anyone know of any reliable websites?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sadly doesn't appear to be any way to circumvent EE.
They changed the way they unlock the Pixel and it now unlocks in a similar fashion to the iPhone (Apple remotely unlock it / de-flag the sim lock) and so EE have to request Google to do so.
It seems only EE are the doing it this way, so chances of finding a third party who can circumvent it is going to be remote sadly.
Have you requested the unlock from EE ?
If you do find a solution - please share as many of us are in the same boat.

I've submitted online form see if that works. I doubt it EE are bunch of so and so's.

Yes EE will do it, but it'll cost you £8.99 and you likely won't get any notification it's been done, you'll just have to try another sim in it in about 10 days or so

@FSOP Are you speaking from experience ?
i.e. Have you had a pixel successfully unlocked by them ?
I ask because I submitted my unlock request directly with customer services 12 days ago (and checked end of last week they had done it) and I still have no unlock. Customer services also told me that there was actually no £8.99 fee anymore for devices bought PAYG - it was free.
I've just tried another sim and still get the 'sim not supported, contact EE to see if they can unlock your device' message in notifications.
I was told it was 10 working days (so two weeks in reality) and I haven't had any message or text to say it can't be done either, but does seem to be taking it time ....

What the hell is EE? Another carrier somewhere outside the US?

EDIT: I've been informed the 6 month rule doesn't apply to PAYG, but they don't sell the Pixel on PAYG so it's irrelevant, basically there's no way to get the Pixel unlocked by EE until it's 6 months old it seems.
No but I'm in a position to be well aware of the process, I've double checked and it's slightly different for the Pixels.
Contract unlocks still cost £8.99, and PAYG are free, however EE still won't unlock it until it's 6 months old, so if someone on CS has told you otherwise, then you've been misinformed I'm afraid.

Yes it's in the UK.

Ok, I know this may sound crazy but I got my pixel xl from EE. I unboxed it and skipped quickly through the setup and popped in an O2 sim. I didn't connect to the internet. The sim registered and worked. I thought great, I can use this for work and personal. I tried a call and it worked.
I then added my EE sim and set up the phone, restored my Google stuff and start using it. This morning I went to pop in my 02 sim and it's now locked to EE. I'm starting to think I imagined using the 02 sim! Has anyone else, or could anyone else try this out. If you get the phone from EE don't set it up, skip connecting to the internet, and see if it will accept another companies sim?

Any news on this? Is it possible to do it on a unlocking phone shop?

i filled out the online form, 5 days and i recieved a message the carrier unlock was unlocked.
this has sim unlocked my pixel xl and also the OEM toggle now works so i can unlock bootloader too

Unlocked Bootloader - Still wont accept new sim

Hi guys!
I was one of the unfortunate people to buy a locked EE Google Pixel, I have unlocked the bootloader using dePixel, but when inserting my sim from another network it is still showing the SIM as un-compatible. I am wondering if anyone can help me out with this? Thanks!

An unlocked bootloader is different than unlocking a sim-locked phone. The first link below suggests your service provider sells sim-locked phones, so like you're describing, I would not expect the phone to work with another service's SIM. I'm not familiar with your service provider, so I would refer to something like the second link.
https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/7107188?hl=en
http://ee.co.uk/help/getting-started/joining-ee/unlocking-your-device
There are at least a couple threads on the subject.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-xl/help/google-pixel-xl-sim-lock-ee-uk-t3501733
http://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-xl/how-to/ee-uk-sim-unlock-t3490134

SIM Unlock - Pixel 2 XL?

I've got a Pixel 2 XL and I want to use it on a different network.
Is there any way to unlock the SIM on it without requesting it from the network provider?

Aren't all PIxel's SIM-unlocked?

danlat1415 said:
I've got a Pixel 2 XL and I want to use it on a different network.
Is there any way to unlock the SIM on it without requesting it from the network provider?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rajeshr said:
Aren't all PIxel's SIM-unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This ^

I think they're all unlocked unless you get a Verizon version. Even then, I believe the Verizon version is unlocked, but a locked down boot loader, with a a few radios optimized for their network.

No, not all Pixels are unlocked.
In the UK, the provider EE (T-Mobile) I've found out that the Pixels are locked to EE for 2 years, when Google release and auto-unlock.
You can request EE unlock the phone, but only after 6 months of payments.
This is not the usual sim-lock, where you would type a code in, this appears to be server enforced rather than phone.
T-Mobile have many linked networks, when normally a locked phone would work on any linked network as long as it was same carrier. not in this case.
It will only work on EE.
Caution to anyone in the UK buying...

danlat1415 said:
I've got a Pixel 2 XL and I want to use it on a different network. Is there any way to unlock the SIM on it without requesting it from the network provider?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In general, you don't unlock the SIM card itself, the device needs to be carrier unlocked. As far as I know, all Pixels come carrier unlocked already. All you do is put a SIM in it from a different carrier. Have you already tried this? What carrier are you on now? Your location and carrier are not listed in your profile.... why not fill those in?

I'm in the UK. I'm currently on EE, but also have O2 and ID networks.
When I put a sim card in the phone that isn't EE, the phone loads fine, but then I get a message at the top that says;
"SIM card isn't supported - Ask EE UK whether this device can be unlocked. Tap here for contact details."
When I tap it, it takes me to EE's website.
This seems to be software related as I've not seen a phone do that before for a network lock.
I've just found this on EE's website;
New from October 2016 - Google SIM Lock
Some Android devices bought under a monthly contract directly from EE now feature Google SIM Lock which locks the device to the EE network for the length of the contract from the day of activation. This will only allow the device to work on the EE network.
If another network’s SIM is inserted into the device, it will display the message 'SIM card isn’t supported, ask EE if this device can be unlocked. Tap for contact details.'
I need to see if this can be unlocked.

It seems to only be UK EE network that does this.
It's called Google SIM Lock
It managed by Google
They apparently did it with the original Pixel as well.
Does anyone know how I can get round this or use a service to do it?
EE won't agree it until after 6 months.

danlat1415 said:
It seems to only be UK EE network that does this. It's called Google SIM Lock. It managed by Google. They apparently did it with the original Pixel as well.Does anyone know how I can get round this or use a service to do it? EE won't agree it until after 6 months.
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Click to collapse
in sha allah, danlat! :laugh: Maybe you should be moaning with this lot over HERE. You knew full well what you were signing up to. Had you already entered your location *and* carrier into your profile, this would have taken a lot less time to suss out. Go ahead and whinge away... over there. Do your 6 months time and afterwards pay your £8.99 to unlock it. NEVER buy a carrier locked phone, ever.

v12xke said:
in sha allah, danlat! :laugh: Maybe you should be moaning with this lot over HERE. You knew full well what you were signing up to. Had you already entered your location *and* carrier into your profile, this would have taken a lot less time to suss out. Go ahead and whinge away... over there. Do your 6 months time and afterwards pay your £8.99 to unlock it. NEVER buy a carrier locked phone, ever.
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Click to collapse
Rude.
.

I have a Google pixel XL 2 & I was with Verizon, how would I unlock my phone

queen Jess said:
I have a Google pixel XL 2 & I was with Verizon, how would I unlock my phone
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Click to collapse
If it's a true Google P2XL, and not the Verizon variant, you can follow the instructions in this guide if you want to unlock your bootloader and possibly root.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-2-xl/how-to/guide-unlock-flash-root-pixel-2-xl-t3702418

queen Jess said:
I have a Google pixel XL 2 & I was with Verizon, how would I unlock my phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is sim unlocked already, I'm using it with tmo right now. The bootloader is a different story.....

Hi, I have purchased Google Pixel 2 XL from eBay but it came with EE SIM Lock, my concern is this device can be bootloader locked? (still on android 8.1 Orei). I have seen there is a way to unlock the SIM Lock so that's not an issue

NingaR said:
Hi, I have purchased Google Pixel 2 XL from eBay but it came with EE SIM Lock, my concern is this device can be bootloader locked? (still on android 8.1 Orei). I have seen there is a way to unlock the SIM Lock so that's not an issue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know the answer to your question but it won't be hard to find out. Enable developer options and look for the toggle to allow OEM unlocking. If it is greyed out or stuck in the off position, then you will not be able to unlock using fastboot. There are several guides on how to unlock and they all start with this step.

Badger50 said:
If it's a true Google P2XL, and not the Verizon variant, you can follow the instructions in this guide if you want to unlock your bootloader and possibly root.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-2-xl/how-to/guide-unlock-flash-root-pixel-2-xl-t3702418
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry! I bought a Pixel 2 XL with EE UK SIM Lock, I called EE UK and agreed to unlock it(waiting for the unlock) and paid the £8.99, my concern is, will it be able to unlock the bootloader after the SIM Lock is lifted?
---------- Post added at 12:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:23 PM ----------
v12xke said:
I don't know the answer to your question but it won't be hard to find out. Enable developer options and look for the toggle to allow OEM unlocking. If it is greyed out or stuck in the off position, then you will not be able to unlock using fastboot. There are several guides on how to unlock and they all start with this step.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks, I'll wait for Google to unlock it and see for myself

NingaR said:
sorry! I bought a Pixel 2 XL with EE UK SIM Lock, I called EE UK and agreed to unlock it(waiting for the unlock) and paid the £8.99, my concern is, will it be able to unlock the bootloader after the SIM Lock is lifted?
---------- Post added at 12:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:23 PM ----------
thanks, I'll wait for Google to unlock it and see for myself
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have seen quite a few reports from EE phones that once they unlock the SIM you are also able to unlock the bootloader. So I am hopeful.

Google U locked the Device after 24hrs, and I was able to unlock the bootloader, seems like you can't with carrier lock but once its lifted the bootloader can be unlocked.
Thank you all.

Hey guys - I am looking at an ebay PIxel phone that is locked to EE ... the seller says that the phone is blacklisted in the UK ?
Does this mean that I could operate it in another country a.k.a unlock it myself?
Or I rather steer away from such phone as it's unlockable per se .. .?

wbgenetic said:
Hey guys - I am looking at an ebay PIxel phone that is locked to EE ... the seller says that the phone is blacklisted in the UK ?
Does this mean that I could operate it in another country a.k.a unlock it myself?
Or I rather steer away from such phone as it's unlockable per se .. .?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to my knowledge in order for Google to unlock the device it needs nor to be blacklisted, why not ask the seller to call EE UK and have them ask Google to unlock the device? EE UK first needs to check if the device meets all the criteria to be unlocked.
I bought a Pixel 2 XL from AliExpress(advertised as unlocked) but was locked to EE UK the seller asked me to call EE UK and give them the IMEI Number and they unlocked the device for £8.99 in just 24hrs, so better be cautious as you won't be able to use the device if it's not locked.