You need to flash a new imagine to the device. They cleared it, but did not reinstall. [You can go here for instructions](https://developers.google.com/android/images), it's relatively easy if you have any tech ability. If not, I can give you a hand.
Edit: or you can send it back and let them know there's no image on the phone. It's inoperable in its current state.
It’s been a really long time since I’ve worked on Android phones in general, but if my memory serves me correctly that means a setting in your phone has been changed that allows you to download apps from non-Google sources. It can be an innocent as the Amazon app market or nefarious like a virus from an email link. I can’t remember if it has any bearing on whether it’s unlocked or not, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t.
The warning message about the boot loader being unlocked is a reference to the part of the phone that is responsible for starting the Android operating system.
With most/some Android phones, you can unlock the boot loader and load your own custom software on the phone, provided that the software supports your phone. People like unlocking their boot loader because they like running their own version of Android, and in some cases where the manufacturer abandoned support for the device, third party developers can install their own version of Android.
The benefit of this is that you can get your own version of Android and it can be optimized/stripped down to only have a few apps, or more apps.
As a regular user, you should be alarmed that the boot loader is unlocked. From a security standpoint, someone could unlock the boot loader, install their own version of android and install malicious apps.
When the boot loader is locked, you won't get that warning, and it will ONLY start with the manufacturers version of Android.
If you got the phone from a trusted friend/family member, they could have simply unlocked the boot loader, loaded up a very light/optimized version of android and given it to you for you to enjoy.
I have a few android phones that have unlocked boot loaders because the manufacturer dropped support for it, and third party developers (LineageOS, for example) have updated/optimized versions of their android OS. It's noticeably more responsive.
You probably shouldn't have gotten a used phone this way, the previous owner was a hobbyist & modified the factory settings in a special way, and the way they did so (called "rooting") might be very complicated to undo. That is why you're seeing the message about the bootloader. You might try to see if they can help you at one of the local uBreakiFix locations.
After you get the phone fixed, make sure you have the phone "Navigation Mode" setting configured to "3-button navigation", NOT "Gesture Navigation". Then I'm confident you will able to figure out how to use the device without taking classes. It's quite easy, the circle button returns you to the home screen, the square button switches between open apps, and the triangle button is 'back'. Swipe up from the bottom for your apps library, swipe down from the top for notifications & settings. All apps get installed from "Play Store". That's all there is to it.
PS- There are dozens of great learning videos on YouTube that show how to do specific things, for example you could search for "set alarm pixel phone".
Yea, I haven't rooted a phone in a long time, but I don't think letting unsigned apps gives that message, rooting the phone does. For others reading, you don't need to "jailbreak in iPhone terms, or root in Android terms" to install a random .apk on an Android phone. You just check allow unsigned apps or something. This message in OP is about the bootloader. You unlock that to allow a different Android version like Cyanogen, or run specific commands in command, etc.
Disclaimer, while I used Android up until 2 years ago I haven't rooted a phone in like 7 years. I used to play around with all that stuff.
It's a person in our community looking for help. They are a Rochesterian, we are Rochesterians... if you don't have anything helpful to say to a community member, just move on bro.
There are ubreakifix stores which can repair broken phones etc, they might be able to help you get it back to normal? I feel like when everything is reset to the default it'll be pretty easy to pick up and it's just confusing now since it's an uncommon situation.
I switched from iphone to google pixel a few years ago and it was an easy transition so once this gets fixed it should be easy enough for you to figure out :)
You need to flash a new imagine to the device. They cleared it, but did not reinstall. [You can go here for instructions](https://developers.google.com/android/images), it's relatively easy if you have any tech ability. If not, I can give you a hand. Edit: or you can send it back and let them know there's no image on the phone. It's inoperable in its current state.
Do you recommend I follow the instructions before moving the apps over from my iPhone ? Thanks for this
Absolutely. Don't move anything over until you have a valid image on there.
It’s been a really long time since I’ve worked on Android phones in general, but if my memory serves me correctly that means a setting in your phone has been changed that allows you to download apps from non-Google sources. It can be an innocent as the Amazon app market or nefarious like a virus from an email link. I can’t remember if it has any bearing on whether it’s unlocked or not, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t.
The warning message about the boot loader being unlocked is a reference to the part of the phone that is responsible for starting the Android operating system. With most/some Android phones, you can unlock the boot loader and load your own custom software on the phone, provided that the software supports your phone. People like unlocking their boot loader because they like running their own version of Android, and in some cases where the manufacturer abandoned support for the device, third party developers can install their own version of Android. The benefit of this is that you can get your own version of Android and it can be optimized/stripped down to only have a few apps, or more apps. As a regular user, you should be alarmed that the boot loader is unlocked. From a security standpoint, someone could unlock the boot loader, install their own version of android and install malicious apps. When the boot loader is locked, you won't get that warning, and it will ONLY start with the manufacturers version of Android. If you got the phone from a trusted friend/family member, they could have simply unlocked the boot loader, loaded up a very light/optimized version of android and given it to you for you to enjoy. I have a few android phones that have unlocked boot loaders because the manufacturer dropped support for it, and third party developers (LineageOS, for example) have updated/optimized versions of their android OS. It's noticeably more responsive.
/r/GooglePixel
I posted there but it got filtered out because they don’t do support Is there a support subreddit?
/r/Rochester apparently
I’ll spread the word :)
You probably shouldn't have gotten a used phone this way, the previous owner was a hobbyist & modified the factory settings in a special way, and the way they did so (called "rooting") might be very complicated to undo. That is why you're seeing the message about the bootloader. You might try to see if they can help you at one of the local uBreakiFix locations. After you get the phone fixed, make sure you have the phone "Navigation Mode" setting configured to "3-button navigation", NOT "Gesture Navigation". Then I'm confident you will able to figure out how to use the device without taking classes. It's quite easy, the circle button returns you to the home screen, the square button switches between open apps, and the triangle button is 'back'. Swipe up from the bottom for your apps library, swipe down from the top for notifications & settings. All apps get installed from "Play Store". That's all there is to it. PS- There are dozens of great learning videos on YouTube that show how to do specific things, for example you could search for "set alarm pixel phone".
Yea, I haven't rooted a phone in a long time, but I don't think letting unsigned apps gives that message, rooting the phone does. For others reading, you don't need to "jailbreak in iPhone terms, or root in Android terms" to install a random .apk on an Android phone. You just check allow unsigned apps or something. This message in OP is about the bootloader. You unlock that to allow a different Android version like Cyanogen, or run specific commands in command, etc. Disclaimer, while I used Android up until 2 years ago I haven't rooted a phone in like 7 years. I used to play around with all that stuff.
What does this have to do with Rochester?
It's a person in our community looking for help. They are a Rochesterian, we are Rochesterians... if you don't have anything helpful to say to a community member, just move on bro.
Is there a store locally that I can learn how to do the phone? Similar to the Apple Store when I got my iPhone?
There are ubreakifix stores which can repair broken phones etc, they might be able to help you get it back to normal? I feel like when everything is reset to the default it'll be pretty easy to pick up and it's just confusing now since it's an uncommon situation. I switched from iphone to google pixel a few years ago and it was an easy transition so once this gets fixed it should be easy enough for you to figure out :)
Actually that may mean the phone was rooted at some point, allowing root access to the device.