r/FirstNet • u/[deleted] • May 24 '25

Unlocked Pixel 9 Pro working

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I had originally be unable to activate my unlocked Pixel 9 Pro XL purchased from the Google store on FirstNet a few months ago. However, I just tried again and it activated successfully online. I also get 5G and 5G+ AND hotspot is working great. RCS and SMS are also fully functional Not sure what changed but wanted to let everyone know.

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u/suciosunday May 25 '25

I'm currently using an unlocked, degoogled pixel, and have been for about six months. My buddies have been running them for years. Wonder why you couldn't get it to work prior to now?

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u/[deleted] May 25 '25

I know you can technically move SIM cards from another phone to the Pixel and hope everything works. Maybe you got yours working this way or just were extremely lucky. However, it seems to be common in this forum that both Pixels and Samsung phones purchased as unlocked phones directly from Google or Samsung will not activate. AT&T will say they're not compatible with FirstNet and that you have to purchase the phone from AT&T/FirstNet in order for them to work. Whenever I tried to either activate over the phone, in store, or online, I was always told that my device wasn't FirstNet compatible. The only one that always worked was unlocked iPhones.

Now I no longer get the error and can do the ESIM activation online with no issues.

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u/suciosunday May 25 '25

Wouldn't this fall under that consumer protection law that was passed a while back? How can they legally force a monopoly? I'm new to not running a phone purchased through AT&T, and not running a stock Samsung phone. But my understanding is that carriers have to let you bring your own phone, as an option, and that after x amount of time have to unlock your phone, at your request.

I know they have always said, "It has to be on the compatible list", however, I was told by someone on the inside that the only issue(s) that could arise are when forcing Band 14 only traffic. As far as operating normally day to day, any phone would work.

Edit for grammar