To install custom ROMs, root your device, or flash a different recovery, you must first unlock your Android device's bootloader. When you turn on your device, the bootloader runs and controls which partitions are loaded. Most Android devices have a locked bootloader by default, which means you can't modify the system or boot partitions. Unlocking the bootloader gives you more control over your device and allows you to flash new images.
However, there are some risks associated with unlocking the bootloader. You may void your warranty, lose your data, or brick your device if you don’t follow the steps carefully. Before you can proceed, you must enable some developer options and install some tools on your computer. In this blog post, I will walk you through the process of unlocking an Android device's bootloader using the Fastboot tool.
Step 1: Enable OEM Unlocking and USB Debugging
Before you can unlock your device's bootloader, you must enable two developer options: OEM unlocking and USB debugging. These options allow you to communicate with your device and authorize the bootloader unlock command.
To enable these options, follow these steps:
Open your device's Settings app.
Select About phone.
Near the bottom of the screen, you will see the Build number. Tap it seven times to enable the developer options. You may be prompted to enter your password to continue.
Go back and choose System in the Settings app.
Find and select the Developer options. Developer options are likely in the Advanced section. Tap the down arrow to open those options.
Find the OEM unlocking option, and toggle the switch on.
Scroll down and locate USB debugging. Toggle the switch on.
Step 2: Install Android Tools
Enabling OEM unlocking only makes it possible to unlock the device. To unlock it, you'll need two Google Android developer tools: ADB and Fastboot. These are widely available and simple to use.
To install these tools, follow these steps:
Download the latest Android tools ZIP for Windows or Linux from here.
Unpack the ZIP file into a convenient folder. This is the folder you will run the tools out of, so it should be fairly easy to access.
For Windows users, right-click the folder containing the extracted files. When the menu pops up, select Open command window here or Open PowerShell window here.
For Linux users, open a terminal window and navigate to the folder containing the extracted files.
Step 3: Unlock With Fastboot
You are now ready to use the Fastboot tool to unlock your phone's bootloader.
Follow these steps to unlock your phone's bootloader with Fastboot:
Plug your phone into your computer with its USB cable.
In the terminal (or Command Prompt), run the following command to connect your phone.
adb devices
You will see a message requesting access on your phone. Check the box to always allow the connection, and confirm.
Run the following command to reboot your phone into the bootloader.
adb reboot bootloader
Your phone will restart and show a screen with an Android logo and some text.
Run the following command to unlock your bootloader.
fastboot flashing unlock
or
fastboot oem unlock
depending on your device model.
You will see a warning message on your phone’s screen asking you to confirm to unlock. Use the volume keys and the power button to select Yes or No. This will erase all your data and reset your device to factory settings.
After the bootloader unlock is complete, reboot your device with the following command.
fastboot reboot
Your phone will restart and show a welcome screen. You have successfully unlocked your bootloader!
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