Google is willing to ship you a new Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro if your phone arrives with this mistake،
Some Pixel 8 series buyers on
Reddit complain that their device was shipped to them with an unlocked bootloader, which would be ideal if you want to install custom firmware on your device or want root access to play with it. Most Android phones come with a locked bootloader by default; Unlocking the bootloader usually voids the phone’s warranty and also makes the device’s personal data more likely to be stolen by attackers.
Although the number of units shipping with an unlocked bootloader is believed to be low, it happens to both
Pixel 8 and Pixel 8
Pro units. A Reddit user said he spoke with
Google and they told him to return the device and exchange it for a replacement phone. The message, written by a subscriber with the username
kc_caseysaid: “I received my
Pixel 8 Pro Today. As soon as I turned it on it gave me the bootloader unlocked warning.
I continued with the setup but contacted Google. Google recommends that I return the device and request a replacement.”
There was a time, more than a decade ago, when finding out your phone came with an unlocked bootloader would have been like finding a valuable 1955 Lincoln dual-die cent on the sidewalk, but we imagine the number of people who flash The number of custom ROMs on their phone has declined sharply these days. And since most phone users keep personal data on their devices, security concerns seem to outweigh the ability to further personalize their device.
Tap the link in this story to get in touch with Google if your Pixel 8 series phone came with an unlocked bootloader
Another Reddit Subscriptionr, asbo_2000typed: “I received my new Pixel 8 yesterday from Google Fi and I got the same bootloader warning message as soon as I turned it on.
A younger version of myself would have loved to show the factory image, but that’s too much work/risk for a brand new phone. I contacted Fi customer service and they are replacing it. I also ordered one for my wife, hers had no problems. I’m curious how many escaped quality control. This is the first time I’ve encountered this issue with a Nexus/Pixel phone.”
Pixel 8 Series users who received a phone with an unlocked bootloader receive the following message when first booting their new phone: “The bootloader is unlocked and the integrity of the software cannot be guaranteed. All Data stored on the device may be accessible to attackers. Do not store any sensitive data on the device.”
Even if it is possible to lock the bootloader, Google is doing the right thing by offering to replace the affected units. When it comes to something like your ATM card PIN, your Social Security number, and the password to your banking and financial apps, there’s no room for the word “maybe as in “Maybe I was able to lock the bootloader on my Pixel 8“.
If you need to contact Google about an unlocked bootloader on your new
Pixel 8 Or
Pixel 8 Pro,
click on this link and follow the instructions to receive a call from Google Support.
