Can The Verizon Google Pixel XL Actually Be Rooted?

[gil_happy]

Hello,

In different locations on the 'net', I read that the Verizon Google Pixel XL cannot be rooted because the bootloader is locked. Can someone clarify if this is true?

I just received a brand new Pixel XL from Verizon, but have not connected it to WiFi and have not yet activated my service and I want to know if I can root my Pixel XL with the following:

BL = 8996-012001-1611091517
Baseband = 8996-012511-1611190200
Console = DISABLED
Secure Boot = PRODUCTION
Device is LOCKED

Thanks in advance!

 

[Golfdriver97]

I'm reasonably sure it can. You have to manually unlock the bootloader. When you do that it wipes the device.

 

[gil_happy]

Thanks... I think I did read that unlocking the bootloader would erase the phone, but then I think I also read that you can only unlock the VZ Pixel XL bootloader when the device is only on certain kernels, etc meaning don't upgrade to the latest version, otherwise you might not be able to unlock it.

 

[gil_happy]

I removed the SIM (and didn't connect to WiFi), performed the very minimum set up so I could get into the settings > and confirmed my version is 7.1.1.

 

[Golfdriver97]

Have you been able to unlock the bootloader?

 

[gil_happy]

Ok, so it sounds like there is no current root solution on 7.1.1 - I think that is where my confusion was when researching this topic on the 'net'. Verizon has locked down the bootloader and there is currently no solution on 7.1.1 to unlock it.

 

[Golfdriver97]

Ok, so it sounds like there is no current root solution on 7.1.1 - I think that is where my confusion was when researching this topic on the 'net'. Verizon has locked down the bootloader and there is currently no solution on 7.1.1 to unlock it.

'Fastboot flashing unlock' doesn't work?

 

[danielson2047]

Not sure if you're still interested but it has finally been cracked! Super easy instructions:

1. Remove Google account and any kind of screen lock (fingerprint, PIN, pattern, etc.) from your device.
2. Eject sim card from your device.
3. Reset your device. In setup wizard, skip everything, don't connect to WiFi, don't add fingerprint or any kind of screen lock.
4. Go to Developer Options and enable USB debugging.
5. Connect your phone to PC.
6. Open CMD in adb directory and type Code: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.phone
7. Restart your device.
8. Connect to WiFi, open Chrome and go to google.com (or any website really).
9. Go to Developer Options and enable OEM unlocking.
10. Reboot into bootloader and via CMD run Code: fastboot oem unlock

 

[gil_happy]

Not sure if you're still interested but it has finally been cracked! Super easy instructions:

1. Remove Google account and any kind of screen lock (fingerprint, PIN, pattern, etc.) from your device.
2. Eject sim card from your device.
3. Reset your device. In setup wizard, skip everything, don't connect to WiFi, don't add fingerprint or any kind of screen lock.
4. Go to Developer Options and enable USB debugging.
5. Connect your phone to PC.
6. Open CMD in adb directory and type Code: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.phone
7. Restart your device.
8. Connect to WiFi, open Chrome and go to google.com (or any website really).
9. Go to Developer Options and enable OEM unlocking.
10. Reboot into bootloader and via CMD run Code: fastboot oem unlock

Thanks so much for this! No, I was not aware of this, but after a quick search, I see that it is all over the internet. The question is whether I will do it because unlocking the bootloader will wipe your device and I can't properly backup my text messages without losing all of the picture messages (basically I can back up my text messages using SMS Backup & Restore, but last time I checked, the pictures messages didn't back up). If it was rooted already I could use Titanium or My Backup Pro to save both the SMS and MMS messages and then restore.