Verizon Pixel 3 is locked by SIM, will not work on other operators

For most of the decade, Verizon's smartphones were not locked by the SIM card. This means that a Verizon phone can work on virtually any other network, even if you have purchased it directly from the operator. Now, however, the carrier is changing these rules, which means that the Verizon Pixel 3 is locked on the Big Red.

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First of all, why is it so important? For most customers, this will not be the case. By purchasing a Pixel 3 directly from Verizon, you are probably a Verizon customer who intends to use the phone for the foreseeable future.

However, Best Buy sold the Verizon Pixel 3 at its retail price, sometimes even without the buyer having a Verizon account. For users who had missed advance shipping via the Google Store or who preferred to buy their device in-store and / or with a Best Buy credit card, this virtual store was the perfect place to buy a Pixel device in the past. a few years.

This time, however, some of these users discover that their device is actually locked by SIM on Verizon. When starting and inserting a SIM card from AT & T or T-Mobile, technical support by the phone, a message appears stating that "the SIM card does not have a SIM card. is not supported "(see image below, via Android Central).

As I said earlier, this will not really be a problem for the vast majority of Pixel buyers. However, it sets up two alarm signals for the future, especially when it comes to reselling these phones. Verizon Pixel 3 devices will need to be unlocked to support other networks, which may end up with some devices. interesting situations on the road. If you ever find yourself buying a Pixel 3 and you intend to use it on an operator who is not Verizon, you will probably want to make sure it was purchased on the Google Store.

Regarding the unlocking of Verizon Pixel 3 for other networks, well, there is a glaring lack of information about this. Verizon has not published any information regarding this process which, once again, has not been in place for nearly a decade. The old page has not even been updated yet.

Some users say that leaving a Verizon SIM card enabled in the device for 24 hours could unlock it automatically or at least make it eligible for unlocking. When more information becomes available, we will update this article and provide you with a complete guide to unlocking the Verizon Pixel 3.

Update: As noted by Android fontIt seems that some Verizon Pixel 3 owners note that the device is being unlocked automatically. Inserting an active Verizon SIM card into the phone will automatically remove the SIM card lock after a while. As shown in the screen shot below, a notification appears on the device stating that it has been unlocked and can be used on any network.

At the very least, this whole debacle is very clear: if you plan to buy a Google Pixel 3 or a Pixel 3 XL, buy it on the Google Store. They even got interest-free financing.

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