Question "OEM unlocking" grayed out on Moto G Play 2021

[stoag]

I can confirm a three day time gate on the Moto G Play 2021 I got through T-Mobile Monday. The OEM Unlock has been greyed out since I first booted. Today, Thursday, after the 72 hour window, the toggle became accessable.

The toggle will happen each time you reset the phone. Be sure if you reset again to use mobile data for setup, rather than WiFi and you shouldn't have to wait at all.

At least, that has been my experience with MetroPCS Motorola phones.

 

[hoodred]

FYI
this is for all Motorola devices
All the Brand new phone OEM will gray out for a bout a week.
Its stated by LENOVO MOTOROLA on their forum.
It requires internet connection for a week before the gray out disappear

English Community-Lenovo Community

 

[[email protected]]

I bought a Moto g Play 2021 from Amazon with the Xfinity logo at launch.
I set the mobile accordingly and read the bootloader unlock code.
I went to the Motorola website and followed the instructions.
But in the end, the unlock code is not sent to me by email.
A blank page appears with an error message. (There has been an error with your request.)
Any solution?

 

[mxz55]

I'm experiencing the same problem with Motorola Edge 30 (dubai, XT2203-1) which is a device i bought yesterday for the sole purpose of installing a custom ROM on it, LineageOS. In my case, it has no sim lock and is bought separately in NL without any ties to a specific carrier or branding.

It's a little sad that Motorola almost got it right to be a development friendly brand, they just make it harder for someone to buy a device because they want to run a custom ROM, as from what I'm reading here people need to wait for quite a while, letting the device in standby with full internet access (which im now forced to do, without using it) for an unknown amount of days, with some people saying it doesn't ever seem to unlock.

Of course i completed the "Motorola unlock code request" procedure, i got the valid code but without OEM unlocking being toggled in Developer options, fastboot in bootloader doesn't let you use it in fastboot oem unlock "code". In this scenario, you will notice the following failures:

> fastboot oem unlock
(bootloader) usage: fastboot oem unlock < unlock code >
FAILED (remote: '')
fastboot: error: Command failed

Then your next instinct is to get the unlock code from Motorola, and use it in oem unlock:

fastboot oem unlock [YOUR UNLOCK CODE]
(bootloader) Check 'OEM unlocking' in Android Settings > Developer
(bootloader) Options
FAILED (remote: '')
fastboot: error: Command failed

At this point we know however, that said option in Developer options is greyed out due to the roadblocks that Motorola put on it.

I hope that in my case it will become toggle'able in 3 days, or.. that someone has another workaround to try. If it doesn't become toggle'able in a couple days, i might return the device for a refund because i expected a developer/custom ROM friendly device, not one that for any reason goes into a panic mode & locks this stuff on day 1. I'm just disappointed, even though i expect it to be a great device for custom ROMs like the LineageOS 20 im planning to get onto it as soon this issue passes by for me.

Did you try factory-resetting and running Setup with WiFi turned on AND connected to an access point? Internet connection does matter with Samsung and others but I'm not sure if it matters with Moto. But at the very least, make sure it's turned on AND select an access point and enter a password if needed.

Don't know what the Shizuku method is (and bad headache at present so no hunting for me atm) but the tried-and-true Samsung method is this (JUST A GUESS, maybe it will work on a Moto):

1. Make sure Developer Options is enabled.
2. In Settings, disable automatic Time and Date.
3. Manually set the date at least 8 days earlier.
4. Turn on Wifi and make sure it connects to Internet.
5. Go to Settings > manual updates (whatever it's called on your phone) and Check for Update. If there is one, ignore it, all you needed to do was touch the update server. Cancel/back out.
6. Check Dev Options to see if Unlock is enabled. If not, Reboot the phone and check again.

This method has worked on every Galaxy phone I've tried it on, plus at least one HTC, from Nougat to Pie.

I've tried all of that btw.. and also i attempted the date manipulation workaround, without results.

 

[mxz55]

Following my last post, i contacted Motorola support, doing everything in my power to get past Tier-1.. that worked, they escalated it, but then i got a reply back that they are unwilling to send the "all clear" signal (they had asked for my IMEI number) while others say they were able to expedite the wait. They say it's not supposed to happen and that the waiting period is 10 days from the initial device setup, for 'security reasons', which would clearly be that they wanna prevent shopkeepers from preloading devices with all sorts of bs before selling them. Consumers shouldn't be dealing with these restrictions, but they are. There should at least be a working process to get rid of it.

So my final POV is, Motorola almost got it right when it comes to being a ROM/developer friendly brand, they just lack here. If you're gonna buy a Moto to use a custom ROM, buy used (or don't perform a factory reset, if what i read up here about the lock being put in place from resetting is true..), or be ready for the bootloader lock waiting period before you can get started. I'd almost send back my device on principle grounds, Motorola should know they aren't very service oriented towards advanced users, and they foiled the plans i had.

The situation discussed in this topic clearly applies to all Motorola phones, even after the Moto G from 2021. I still wonder if someone will find a bypass to show the finger to this "security measure" that is bugging us.

// Late Edit (i was too lazy for this feedback till now):

Unlock happened within 24 hours of this post. So, in total it took 3 days for the process to complete on its own. Now we know that the OEM lock on Moto Edge 30 is just 72 hours..

I immediately proceeded to install LineageOS 20 for Edge 30 and have been happily using it since.

 

[dcluvsme]

I bought a Moto G Play 2021 unlocked from best buy yesterday. I can't enable "OEM unlocking" in Developer Settings. It is grayed out.

I factory reset a few times.

The phone CID is listed as a phone that can be unlocked on the Motorola site. I got the unlocking key from the Motorola site through a process that sends an email out with the key. Then I run <fastboot oem unlock "key">, but I get

(bootloader) Check 'OEM unlocking' in Android Settings > Developer
(bootloader) Options
FAILED (remote: '')
fastboot: error: Command failed

I don't think any fastboot command will work as long as the "OEM unlocking" is grayed out and disabled in settings.

Called Motorola. They offer no help.

I'm new to custom ROMs and having a hard time. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks

Same problem here. Just be patient, "OEM unlocking" will unlock in about 6 or 7 days. Mine unlocked this morning.
It seems Moto wants to be sure the device is not stolen or whatever???? Hence the ' connect to internet" message.
Good luck.

 

[dcluvsme]

Just give it time. Mine took 6 days to unlock. Just connect to internet, and be patient.
"wherever you go, there you are"

 

[mxz55]

It seems Moto wants to be sure the device is not stolen or whatever????

It's to do at least something for disrupting store owners that intend to pre-install all sort of ROMs/sponsored bloatware on devices (or even malicious stuff) before a customer walks in and buys it. I think they target some smaller indian/turkish telecom shops in western countries, they're already used to tinkering with software on request.

Just be patient, "OEM unlocking" will unlock in about 6 or 7 days

Btw, my Motorola Edge 30 got unlocked in 72 hours, i edited my previous post. I agree patience is the only way to go, and the duration for automatic unlock seems to be different per device

 

[quiote]

Not that unusual.
Sometimes there's a time delay, and required connection to WiFi or LTE.
Also sometimes a factory reset will ungray the OEM unlock toggle.
I suggest a factory reset, then connect to wifi if it's still grayed out, it may take a few days to change.
Also you can check the CID code list in my Bootloader unlock thread.

[Guide] Using Fastboot.exe with Motorola devices

Guide: Using Fastboot.exe with Motorola Devices If your device has its own section please post in that section. You can ping me with @sd_shadow MediaTek or Qualcomm Chip? Do I have a MediaTek Device? see post #26 Info: If you have a MediaTek...

forum.xda-developers.com

several resets didn't fix my oem lock problem and I bought the unlocked version of the phone. I did, however, just learn that there's a custom ROM on this phone that I did not install. Thank you for responding to op with a link, sd_shadow. I'm going to check it out, too.

 

[sd_shadow]

several resets didn't fix my oem lock problem and I bought the unlocked version of the phone. I did, however, just learn that there's a custom ROM on this phone that I did not install. Thank you for responding to op with a link, sd_shadow. I'm going to check it out, too.

Try LMSA, it's easy to use and it will find the newest firmware for the device.

Rescue and Smart Assistant (LMSA)(Motorola/Lenovo Only)

Rescue and Smart Assistant LMSA: Lenovo's Motorola Smart Assistant (PC) For Lenovo and Motorola Devices Only Rescue and Smart Assistant (LMSA) is an official tool installs on PC. Can help to manage smart device (include all Lenovo android phone...

forum.xda-developers.com

 

[quiote]

Try LMSA, it's easy to use and it will find the newest firmware for the device.

Rescue and Smart Assistant (LMSA)(Motorola/Lenovo Only)

Rescue and Smart Assistant LMSA: Lenovo's Motorola Smart Assistant (PC) For Lenovo and Motorola Devices Only Rescue and Smart Assistant (LMSA) is an official tool installs on PC. Can help to manage smart device (include all Lenovo android phone...

forum.xda-developers.com

thank you. I'll try it!