How To Unlock The Bootloader Of An Android Phone Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

7

Time Required

                          2 - 10 minutes            

Sections

2

• How to unlock developer options on an Android Phone
• 2 steps
• How to unlock the bootloader of an Android Phone
• 5 steps

Flags

1

Member-Contributed Guide

An awesome member of our community made this guide. It is not managed by iFixit staff.

• BackAndroid Phone

• Full Screen

• Options

• History

• Save to Favorites

• Download PDF

• Edit

• Translate

• Get Shareable Link

• Embed This Guide

• Notify Me of Changes

• Stop Notifications

Introduction

Some bootloaders are not locked at all, some can be unlocked using a standard fastboot command, others need an unlock code from the manufacturer. There are also phones that do not include an unlocking method at all and can only be unlocked through a software exploit. These locked down devices will typically stem from a carrier deal.

In this guilde I´ll only be covering the unlocking of bootloaders with the standard fastboot command.

• Unlocking the bootloader will reset your phone, so make sure you have all your data backed up!This might void your warranty with some manufacturers.An unlocked bootloader will trip the Play Integrity API (formerly SafetyNet Attestation API) which can cause some services like GPay to stop working.This will make your device vulnerable against hackers with physical access to your device, so don´t do this to a device you intend to carry state/company secrets on.

• Wikipedia: Bootloader unlockingOfficial Android website: Locking/Unlocking the BootloaderXDA developers

What you need

Step 1

              Finding the Build Number               

• First, we need to find the Build Number.
• Usually you can find it under About Phone > Build Number or System > About Phone > Build Number, but since it varies from device to device using the search function is usually the easiest way.

First, we need to find the Build Number.

Usually you can find it under About Phone > Build Number or System > About Phone > Build Number, but since it varies from device to device using the search function is usually the easiest way.

1024

Step 2

              Unlocking developer options               

• Now you just need to tap the Build number repeatedly, until you get a confirmation message saying “You are now a developer!”. I already enabled developer options on my device, so I don´t need to do it again.
• You might be prompted to enter your lock screen password, if you have one set up.

Now you just need to tap the Build number repeatedly, until you get a confirmation message saying “You are now a developer!”. I already enabled developer options on my device, so I don´t need to do it again.

You might be prompted to enter your lock screen password, if you have one set up.

Step 3

              Allowing OEM unlocking               

• In the developer options, find the OEM unlocking option and enable it.
• You might be prompted to enter your lock screen password, if you have one set up.

In the developer options, find the OEM unlocking option and enable it.

Step 4

              Enable USB debugging               

• In the developer options, find the USB debugging option and enable it.

In the developer options, find the USB debugging option and enable it.

Step 5

              Connect your phone to your computer               

• Plug your phone into your computer via the USB-C to USB-A Cable.
• Pull down the notification shade and select Charging this device via USB.
• Select the option File transfer/Android Auto.
• On some older devices this option might be called MTP instead.

Plug your phone into your computer via the USB-C to USB-A Cable.

Pull down the notification shade and select Charging this device via USB.

Select the option File transfer/Android Auto.

On some older devices this option might be called MTP instead.

Step 6

              Allowing your computer to run ADB commands on your device               

• Open the terminal application on your computer with the SDK Platform Tools installed and enter adb devices
• This should trigger a popup on your device. Make sure to have the checkmark ticked and click Accept.
• I´m using MS PowerShell. That´s why I need to open my terminal window in the platform-tools-folder and enter .\ as a prefix to my commands. In Linux you do not need to do this.
• You can run the command again to check if it worked. It should now say device instead of unauthorized.

Open the terminal application on your computer with the SDK Platform Tools installed and enter adb devices

This should trigger a popup on your device. Make sure to have the checkmark ticked and click Accept.

I´m using MS PowerShell. That´s why I need to open my terminal window in the platform-tools-folder and enter .\ as a prefix to my commands. In Linux you do not need to do this.

You can run the command again to check if it worked. It should now say device instead of unauthorized.

Step 7

              Unlocking the bootloader               

• Enter the command adb reboot bootloader
• Wait a couple seconds until your device rebooted into the bootloader, then enter the command fastboot flashing unlock
• Some devices might use the command fastboot oem unlock instead.
• You should now see a prompt similar to the one shown in the picture. Use the volume rocker to choose the Unlock the bootloader-option and confirm by pressing the power button.

Enter the command adb reboot bootloader

Wait a couple seconds until your device rebooted into the bootloader, then enter the command fastboot flashing unlock

Some devices might use the command fastboot oem unlock instead.

You should now see a prompt similar to the one shown in the picture. Use the volume rocker to choose the Unlock the bootloader-option and confirm by pressing the power button.

To relock your bootloader just run the command fastboot flashing lock

Only lock your bootloader while running stock firmware, or else your device will be bricked!

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      One other person completed this guide.                                             

Author

                                      with 1 other contributor 

                    Sebastian Dorr                     

Member since: 08/19/2018

1,060 Reputation

                                      7 Guides authored                  



                       Badges:
                       21







                                                        +18 more badges