Skipsoft unable to unlock my bootloader? Trying to root

GunnermanBill

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Nov 2, 2017
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Hey, trying to use skipsoft to unlock my bootloader, install twrp, etc. I select the unlock bootloader option, it reboots to fastboot, notes that the bootloader is locked, but then says bootloader already unlocked no data will be wiped rebooting to android. What can I try to get around this? Thanks
 

v12xke

Senior Member
Dec 5, 2010
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Hey, trying to use skipsoft to unlock my bootloader, install twrp, etc. I select the unlock bootloader option, it reboots to fastboot, notes that the bootloader is locked, but then says bootloader already unlocked no data will be wiped rebooting to android. What can I try to get around this? Thanks
Which phone variant do you have? What is the status of the "Allow OEM Unlocking toggle" under Developer Settings? That has to be toggled on first. It should be clearly "on" and not greyed out. If you have the 2XL, you can run the IMEI through this link to verify the variant you have. Under Buyer Name It should say "Google_Open_64GB" or similar.
 

GunnermanBill

Member
Nov 2, 2017
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Which phone variant do you have? What is the status of the "Allow OEM Unlocking toggle" under Developer Settings? That has to be toggled on first. It should be clearly "on" and not greyed out. If you have the 2XL, you can run the IMEI through this link to verify the variant you have. Under Buyer Name It should say "Google_Open_64GB" or similar.
variant is GOOGLE_VRZ_128G

Allow Oem Unlocking Toggle is greyed out for some reason.
 

v12xke

Senior Member
Dec 5, 2010
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variant is GOOGLE_VRZ_128G

Allow Oem Unlocking Toggle is greyed out for some reason.
Well unfortunately there is your reason. Your bootloader cannot be unlocked because your variant is Verizon. Verizon's are bootloader locked and this cannot be overcome. As such you will not be able to flash a custom recovery, flash full Google factory images, or root the phone.
 

GunnermanBill

Member
Nov 2, 2017
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Well unfortunately there is your reason. Your bootloader cannot be unlocked because your variant is Verizon. Verizon's are bootloader locked and this cannot be overcome. As such you will not be able to flash a custom recovery, flash full Google factory images, or root the phone.
Well that's new as far as google phones go
 

v12xke

Senior Member
Dec 5, 2010
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Well that's new as far as google phones go
Sorry to say but it's not new for Verizon variants of Pixel or Nexus (or almost any other phone Verizon sells with very few exceptions). Verizon refuses to allow their users to unlock their own bootloader- including Google phones. Your Verizon phone is bootloader-locked and there is nothing you can do about it. Verizon phones are sometimes sold at deep discounts with the hook of a multi-year service agreement. Have you ever heard the term "The Red Devil" used for Verizon? It's not new either. Sorry to bring you the bad news, but it is true. There are many threads here on XDA which will confirm this. Best of luck.
 

GunnermanBill

Member
Nov 2, 2017
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Sorry to say but it's not new for Verizon variants of Pixel or Nexus (or almost any other phone Verizon sells with very few exceptions). Verizon refuses to allow their users to unlock their own bootloader- including Google phones. Your Verizon phone is bootloader-locked and there is nothing you can do about it. Verizon phones are sometimes sold at deep discounts with the hook of a multi-year service agreement. Have you ever heard the term "The Red Devil" used for Verizon? It's not new either. Sorry to bring you the bad news, but it is true. There are many threads here on XDA which will confirm this. Best of luck.
It's no big deal, my gf took the upgrade to Pie and hates it and I was just gonna root mine before it started prompting me. Someone will get it unlocked in a year or something like always. As far as I can tell the pixel line is the first that Verizon did this with, we had Galaxy Nexus' a long time ago and those weren't locked.
 

xunholyx

Recognized Contributor
Dec 3, 2012
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It's no big deal, my gf took the upgrade to Pie and hates it and I was just gonna root mine before it started prompting me. Someone will get it unlocked in a year or something like always. As far as I can tell the pixel line is the first that Verizon did this with, we had Galaxy Nexus' a long time ago and those weren't locked.
Verizon users have been hoping for an unlock method since the 2XL's release.
Look at this thread for more information on that.
 

kickenwing13

Senior Member
Nov 27, 2010
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I'm also trying to relock, just used your link. I'm on the google version running android p. I unlocked a long time ago, but never ended up doing anything with it. I have an RMA coming and the option is grayed out and wugs is failing ... .. Thought about trying to downgrade to O and trying my luck on "android o"
 
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v12xke

Senior Member
Dec 5, 2010
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The Woodlands, TX
I'm also trying to relock, just used your link. I'm on the google version running android p. I unlocked a long time ago, but never ended up doing anything with it. I have an RMA coming and the option is grayed out and wugs is failing ... .. Thought about trying to downgrade to O and trying my luck on "android o"
You may not have unlocked critical. There are two separate commands. Anyway, since your RMA is on the way just wait until it arrives, update it to Pie and then do a data transfer for all your settings/data. Once your new phone is set up, just do a FDR before sending it back. You do NOT need to relock the phone. They do not care. Just FDR to wipe your personal data off the phone. Lastly, you want to de-register or remove that old phone from your Google account before sending it back. Best of luck.
 

kickenwing13

Senior Member
Nov 27, 2010
454
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28
You may not have unlocked critical. There are two separate commands. Anyway, since your RMA is on the way just wait until it arrives, update it to Pie and then do a data transfer for all your settings/data. Once your new phone is set up, just do a FDR before sending it back. You do NOT need to relock the phone. They do not care. Just FDR to wipe your personal data off the phone. Lastly, you want to de-register or remove that old phone from your Google account before sending it back. Best of luck.
Thank you so much dude. I know you're right . I used the toolkit and nothing after unlocking ever worked and I'm assuming it's because of that .... I've been telling myself I need to learn it the old fashioned way but have never been able to properly install adb and all that stuff..
 

v12xke

Senior Member
Dec 5, 2010
1,983
650
133
The Woodlands, TX
Thank you so much dude. I know you're right . I used the toolkit and nothing after unlocking ever worked and I'm assuming it's because of that .... I've been telling myself I need to learn it the old fashioned way but have never been able to properly install adb and all that stuff..
I would encourage you to just "install" adb/fastboot. It is literally opening a zip file and extracting everything into a new folder. Then adding that folder to your path statement (Windows) means you can use the command from anywhere. For example I created a folder c:\adb and just dumped the files in there. I see you already have opened the flash-all.bat script and are poking around ... so in the beginning you can just cut and paste those commands if you want to do things manually -or- just run the script. You can always get the latest standalone binaries direct from Google. Ditch the toolkits and you will be glad you did. It is just not that hard, and you will know how to get yourself out of a jam later. :good:
 

kickenwing13

Senior Member
Nov 27, 2010
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I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was cake. Thanks for the awesome directions. I just opened up through cmd insead of your second step, but dude! clutch . I relocked it.. took 2 seconds once my buddy helped me tpye my first command. But thank you again! Now debating getting more into it. This is the first phone i haven't installed a custom ROM on because the unlock and root stuff absolutely failed...