Please help. Upgrade/Flash to ATT Moto Z2 Force, and restore google backup

[mmmmmoto1]

I just bought the Moto Z2 Force today (ATT version yuck). Basically I need to be able to restore data from google's automatic backup since I have apps and data there that cannot be reproduced (my launcher was discontinued etc). Since the ATT version cannot upgrade past android 7.1.1 it cannot restore from my old phone which was at a newer version of android.

Is there a way to kill two birds with one stone here? I don't want ATT on my phone but my main priority is to restore from google backup. What ROMs allow google restore? Is there a stock unlocked (not carrier version) of android for the Z2 Force that I can flash? This would be optimal for me since I like the android experience.

Would Lineage or Resurrections Remix work? (I have never used those so Idk how close to android they are. As long as I can backup I'd be happy to try).

Any help is appreciated, thank you!

 

[mmmmmoto1]

further questions...

I see this post:

https://forum.xda-developers.com/z2-force/development/att-ocxs27-1094717-xml-zip-grabbed-t3905967

which sounds like it forces an update on the att phone. If I follow these steps I'll be able to at least restore from my old phone? But then is there a way to unlock / remove att bloatware after that?



EDIT: update. I'm using the LMSA to flash a newer version as found in this thread:

https://forum.xda-developers.com/general/general/update-moto-lenovo-moto-smart-assistant-t3951714

hopefully this will let me restore. But I still need to unlock the phone and remove bloatware.