A system update doesn’t change a carrier lock, in either direction. Android 17 has been rolling out to Pixel phones since June 2026, and Samsung began its Android 17-based One UI 9 rollout on September 16, 2026 with the Galaxy S26 series, expanding to more Galaxy phones in phases. A phone that was locked before the update is locked after it; an unlocked one stays unlocked. The lock is a record held by the carrier, and only the carrier that set it can lift it. What the update does change is worth knowing, especially one new feature that matters if you buy used phones.
What’s rolling out
- Android 17: Google’s June 16, 2026 announcement says it’s rolling out to Pixel devices first, with other eligible Android phones following throughout 2026.
- One UI 9: Samsung’s newsroom says the rollout began on September 16, 2026 with the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra, after a beta that started in May, and reaches more Galaxy phones in phases depending on market and carrier.
- Headline features in Android 17: Bubbles that turn apps into floating windows, Screen Reactions that record you and your screen together, a split layout for games on foldables, temporary precise-location permissions, and memory limits that help battery and performance.
Why an update can’t unlock a phone
Carrier locks aren’t a setting in Android. The carrier records the lock against the phone’s IMEI and the phone’s software enforces it; a new Android version ships with the same enforcement. That is why Apple says only a phone’s carrier can unlock it, and why T-Mobile says it can’t provide an unlock for a phone sold by another carrier. If an update changed locks, no carrier would ship it. The flip side is reassuring: updating a phone you already unlocked won’t lock it again.
How to check your lock after updating
- 1Samsung GalaxyPhones released after September 1, 2025, the S26 series included, show it under Settings → Connections → More connection settings → Network lock status. Older Galaxy phones: Settings → About phone → Software information, where the service provider software version names the carrier.
- 2Google PixelPixels sold by the Google Store are unlocked; Google says a Pixel bought from a carrier may be locked to it and that the carrier is the one to ask. A quick test is a SIM from another carrier, or an IMEI check.
- 3Any phoneDial *#06# for the IMEI and run our IMEI check: it reports the carrier and lock status on record, no account needed.
Mark as lost: the feature used-phone buyers should know
Android 17 strengthens theft protection. Google’s announcement describes an improved Mark as lost that locks a missing phone with the owner’s biometrics, so a thief with the passcode still can’t get in or turn off tracking, plus fewer PIN guesses and longer waits after failed attempts. For a buyer that means a phone marked lost by its owner stays locked to that owner, and no carrier unlock touches it, the same way Apple’s Activation Lock works. Before paying for a used Android phone, check that it starts cleanly to the home screen and isn’t asking for a previous owner’s Google account. Our guide to checking a used phone’s IMEI before you buy covers the rest of the check.
If your updated phone is still locked
Ask the carrier first: AT&T unlocks a phone bought more than 60 days ago and paid off, and T-Mobile wants 40 days of use and the phone paid off. If you don’t qualify yet, or the phone came secondhand, our carriers page lists the unlocks we offer by carrier and brand, each with its live price and delivery estimate. Our guide to unlocking a Samsung Galaxy walks through the Galaxy side.
