How to Unlock Bootloader of Android Devices

Android devices, thanks to its open-source nature, are always known for the plethora of customizations that it supports. Well, we aren’t just talking about themes and icon packs. You could altogether install a new ROM of even a newer Android version than what your device currently has. Apart from that, installing a custom recovery like TWRP, rooting your devices, trying out tons of Magisk and Xposed modules are some of the other personalization tips at your disposal. But to try out any of the above-mentioned functionalities, your device has to meet one very important requirement. Your Android device must have an unlocked bootloader.

Nearly all the major OEMs ships their device with a locked bootloader. The idea on their part is simple. That is to stop users from tweaking or modifying the system. In order words, only let the user use the OS that they ship onto their device. But they still leave a slight window open, for those who really want to try the above modifications on their device. And if you are one of them, then you have come to the right place.  In this guide, we will be listing the steps to unlock the bootloader of any Android device. But before that, there are some key points to keep in mind. On that note, also check out the 6 most popular universal root tools for android.

Warning

• Unlocking the bootloader will wipe all the data on your Android device. Therefore, please make a complete backup of your entire Android device.
• Moreover, unlocking the bootloader does have some associated risks as well. Some OEMs also place some restrictions on an unlocked bootloader device. Do check once before you carry out these steps.
• Some manufacturers like Huawei no longer support official unlocking of the bootloader. So this guide might not work with these OEMs.
• Carrying out the below mentioned-steps is a risky procedure and might make your device unusable. Technastic or any of its members won’t be held responsible in case anything happens to your device. You have been warned beforehand.

Requirements prior to Unlocking Bootloader

1. First of all, you will have to download, install and set up the SDK Platform-tools on your PC. Once you have set it up, you can execute the ADB and fastboot commands to debug or modify your Android device.
2. To unlock the bootloader of your Android device, you will also have to enable USB Debugging. To do so, follow the below instructions:
   • Head over to Settings and tap on About Phone.
   • Scroll to Build Number and tap on it 5-7 times. You will see a toast message indication Developer Options has been enabled.
   • Head back to Settings and go to System. Tap on Advanced and you’ll see the Developer Options.
     
   • Go to that section and enable the toggle next to USB Debugging.
     
     
3. Finally, some manufacturers also require some additional steps to be carried out. Head over to their respective sites and complete the prerequisites before moving on to the next section:
   • Motorola
   • Nokia
   • Sony
   • HTC
4. In order that your Android device can communicate with your computer, you need to install the latest USB drivers.

Steps to Unlock Bootloader of Android devices

1. Connect your device to PC via USB cable.
2. As soon as you do so, you’ll see an Authorize USB Debugging pop-up on your device. Allow it and proceed ahead.
3. Now head over to the platform-tools folder inside the Android SDK folder. Type cmd in the address bar. This will open the Command Prompt. The command to unlock your Android device’s bootloader will be entered in this CMD window itself.
4. Enter the below command in CMD to boot your device to fastboot/bootloader mode:

   adb reboot bootloader

   

5. Now, if you are having any of the Pixel devices, enter the below code to unlock bootloader:

   fastboot flashing unlock

6. For all the other Android devices, the following command needs to be entered to unlock its bootloader:

   fastboot oem unlock

7. In this instance, you might also see a confirmation message on your screen. Use the Volume keys and navigate to Yes, Unlock Bootloader or any other such option that speaks in the affirmative. Hit the Power button to confirm your decision.
8. Your device will now be unlocked within seconds after which it will also be formatted. Finally, enter the below command to reboot your device if it doesn’t do so automatically:

   fastboot reboot

Now your Android device will boot up with an unlocked bootloader. The first boot might take up some more time than a normal boot. This is completely normal. Furthermore, you might also be required to set up your device from scratch. On that note, we conclude this guide. You can later relock the bootloader and restore it to stock using Fastboot commands.

If you still have any doubts left, drop in your queries in the comments section below.