The T-Mobile-branded OnePlus 7 Pro has its limitations, such as fewer color choices, delayed software updates and more. These are good enough reasons for users to request a SIM/network unlock from T-Mobile, but the process to do this is complicated. However, some bright minds have come up with a relatively simple process to convert the T-Mobile OnePlus 7 Pro to the global variant.
What’s the new process?
Currently the process to convert the T-Mobile OnePlus 7 Pro to the global variant is to request a SIM/network unlock from T-Mobile, unlock the bootloader and then manually flash the global firmware. However, this is a lengthy process which involves several steps.
Some users have now designed an easier way to cross-flash the unlocked firmware on the T-Mobile OnePlus 6T. The process for this includes low-level flashing via Qualcomm Emergency Download Mode (EDL). This process does not require you to unlock the SIM and bootloader.
However, OnePlus 7 Pro users found that the OnePlus 6T process can’t be duplicated on the OnePlus 7 Pro. First, no one has the EDL flashing package for the T-Mobile variant, and second, verification routines in the flasher are stricter this time.
However, these limitations were not enough to stop the eager, talented minds who used reverse engineering to overcome them. Now users who want to convert the T-Mobile OnePlus 7 Pro to the global variant will need to patch the OPS file before using it with the MSMDownloadTool, according to tech site PiunikaWeb.
The OPS file is a special format inside the EDL flashing package. To make things easier, developers also designed Windows-based hex patchers.
How to convert
To start the process, you need to download the relevant OPS patch (Global OPS, EU OPS and China OPS). After this, download the corresponding patcher and run it as administrator to apply the patcher to the OPS file. Now connect the T-Mobile OnePlus 7 Pro in Qualcomm 9008 mode and flash it.
Remember to uncheck the option “Sha256 check” inside the MSM Download Tool. If you feel even this process is lengthy for you, then a pre-patched global firmware is also available from this link. However, you will still have to do the SIM unlock part, and it is recommended that you do that before the conversion.
After you are done with the conversion, you can instantly unlock the new bootloader with the command “fastboot oem unlock.” To learn more about the process or get an answer to any issues you are facing, visit this thread.
“These instructions will convert your TMOBILE Oneplus 7 PRO to the International version of the phone. This lets you unlock the bootloader, root, twrp etc.. Sim unlock is still being worked on,” the creator of the thread says.
The creator of the thread credits someone else for the idea for the patched .OPS. Moreover, the creator says this genius doesn’t even own the OnePlus 7 Pro.
“First of all this is not my work I only tested theirs. Credit to @themustached for finding that a patched .ops was the solution. This guy doesn’t even have the d*mn phone yet and did this for us so show some love,” the thread says.
Why convert the T-Mobile OnePlus 7 Pro to the global variant?
The limitations of the T-Mobile OnePlus 7 Pro variant are more than enough to encourage some to opt for the conversion. These limitations are:
Limited choice – The unlocked variant of the latest OnePlus smartphone is available in three variants: 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, and 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. However, for T-Mobile customers, the only available option is the 8 GB/256 GB variant.
Aside from the storage limitation, T-Mobile users can also only choose from Mirror Grey and Nebula Blue, while the unlocked models have one more choice of color (Almond).
No dual SIM – Unlocked OnePlus models come with dual SIMs, but the T-Mobile variant supports only one SIM. However, this limitation is only software-based, and one can easily make their T-Mobile variant support dual SIM.
Delayed software updates – This limitation is not just specific to T-Mobile, but to all carrier-branded phones.
No beta testing – The unlocked OnePlus 7 Pro variant is eligible for OxygenOS and Android Q beta testing. However, the T-Mobile variant does not support either of them.
