Bootloader unlocking: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:00, 29 December 2024

Revision as of 02:23, 11 January 2025

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Unlocking the bootloader usually voids any [[warranties]] and may make the device susceptible to [[data theft]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tamma |first=Rohit |title=Learning Android forensics: a hands-on guide to Android forensics, from setting up the forensic workstation to analyzing key forensic artifacts |author2=Donnie Tindall |date=2015 |isbn=978-1-78217-444-8 |___location=Birmingham, UK |oclc=910639389}}</ref> On Chromebooks, enabling developer mode makes the system less secure than a standard laptop running Linux.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porup |first=J. M. |date=2017-06-19 |title=How to install Linux on a Chromebook (and why you should) |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/06/how-to-install-linux-on-a-chromebook/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619130103/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/06/how-to-install-linux-on-a-chromebook/ |archive-date=2017-06-19 |access-date=2021-09-06 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |language=en-us}}</ref> Unlocking the bootloader may lead to data loss on Android and [[ChromeOS]] devices, as some data is impossible to back up without root permission. This will also lead to certain security apps not working, such as [[Samsung Knox]] for which the counter would be stuck at "0x1."

Sascha Segan from [[PCMag]] considered a locked bootloader a mistake on the Qualcomm Snapdragon Insiders phone, which is targeted at advanced users.<ref>{{Cite webIt |title=Qualcommis Smartphoneimpossible forto Snapdragonfigure Insidershow Reviewto |url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/qualcomm-smartphone-for-snapdragon-insidersget |url-status=livein |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816140636/https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/qualcomm-smartphone-for-snapdragon-insidersto |archive-date=2021-08-16the |access-date=2021-09-06boot |website=[[PCMag]]loader |language=en}}</ref>on Apple devices unless you Google it.

== Platforms ==

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Unlocking the bootloader is typically done during the process of [[rooting (Android)|obtaining ''root'' access]] and/or installing a [[Custom firmware#Android|custom ROM]].

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"

|+ Android bootloader unlocking as of 2024

|-

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| [[Nothing (company)|Nothing]]|| Easy || Command-line

|-

| [[Huawei]]|| rowspan="2" | Medium-Hard (Kirin SoCs, select Huawei phones)

Impossible, due to unlocking services being shut down (Other devices)

| Select Huawei phones using the Kirin SoC can have their bootloader unlocked via potatonv: https://www.xda-developers.com/huawei-honor-bootloader-unlock-potatonv/

Other devices: N/A

|-

| [[Oppo|OPPO]]|| Easy ([[MediaTek]]) or phones that bought in mainland China<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.oppo.cn/thread-397164526-1 | title=帖子详情 - Oppo社区 }}</ref><br>Medium (Snapdragon) Only any phones in support list are possible to unlock Snapdragon-powered OPPO phone,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://drive.proton.me/urls/33N5W4XGHW#tdsu-ADk9YyA | title=Proton Drive }}</ref> any phones that's not in support lists is still possible if using paid tool also known as UnlockTool, without paid tool. It would be impossible to unlock. Unlocking is possible on some mediatek SoCs via MTKClient. Note that about fastboot binaries were removed, or locked by RSA key|| Snapdragon: https://us.docs.wps.com/l/sIIS95rToAcW2x7AG?v=v2<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Oppo/comments/1bx3kbt/comment/l3qzue1/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button | title=Tutorial can be foun… | date=12 May 2024 }}</ref>

MediaTek: MTKClient, sometimes MTK bypass utility are required beforehand