If you want to transfer the phone from one carrier (think: T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon) to another, you will need to unlock the phone — or rather, it means that you need to have a SIM-unlocked phone to be able to use it with other network providers.
Here’s all you need to know about locked and unlocked SIM cards for Google Pixels, how to know your phone’s current SIM lock status, and what each status means to unlock a Pixel phone.
Phones bought from Google Store
If you bought a Pixel right from Google, you don’t have to do anything. You should already be able to use your phone on any network provider because these phones come factory unlocked by default.
And when you think about it, it makes sense: Because Google doesn’t have its own network, it needs to provide phones that can be used on all or most networks right out of the box.
Phones purchased elsewhere
If you purchased a Google Pixel not through the Google Store, but through a service provider or even another vendor, it is likely that you have a phone blocked with a SIM card. Again, the phone may remain locked from the SIM card for up to two years, as determined by your service provider.
So, basically, you’re at the mercy of the carrier and you’ll probably have to wait for it to get unlocked (the period starts when you bought or rented the phone). Often, carriers also require you to pay the phone’s full cost before you can unlock it.
However, you should call the carrier to find out what options you have and their policy to unlock the Google Pixel.
If you are unable to wait to get your phone unlocked from your carrier for free, luckily, some paid options claim they can unlock your device right away. When scouring the internet, we found a handful of such websites. Be sure to check review websites such as Trustpilot before you make any final decisions.
Typically the trustworthy websites that sell unlock services often have customer support lines to answer any question you may have. They also tend to deliver codes quickly. If you have noticed many customers complaining that the codes are delayed for days, weeks, or even months, it is probably best to stay away from these services. After going through some reviews on Trustpilot and Google, we made a shortlist of recommended vendors for unlocking Google Pixel Phones.
Recommended unlocking services
So if you’re planning to buy the latest Google Pixel phone consider the value of buying it factory unlocked directly from Google versus having to pay to get it unlocked afterward.
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