If you are the owner of an Android device and are looking for a method on how to unlock the bootloader then, you are at the right place. In this post, we will guide you on how to unlock the bootloader of an Android smartphone via the Fastboot method. All Android devices come with a locked bootloader. Moreover, if you are new to rooting, then you must understand that first, you need to unlock the bootloader of the device and then install a custom recovery like TWRP to root the device.
Also, rooting allows the user to go ahead and install restricted apps, mod apps, install custom OS like Lineage OS, etc on the device. Note that the unlocking of the bootloader will void the warranty of your device. So, it is better to allow the warranty period to get over and then unlock it. However, if you do not want to wait then, you can follow this guide on how to unlock the bootloader via the Fastboot method on Android. So without any further ado, let us get straight into the article itself:
How to Unlock Bootloader via Fastboot Method on Android
Before we begin the unlocking of the bootloader, let us take a deep look at what is a bootloader and what advantages or disadvantages you get, once you unlock it;
What is Bootloader?
A bootloader is a program that is the first thing that boots up in your device whenever you turn ON your device. It commands the device to run the appropriate programs in order to run smoothly and provide better performance. Moreover, the bootloader is stored away from the reach of the user and is stored at a stable memory so that the user could not hamper the files. However, there are methods and ways via which you can safely unlock the bootloader of the device and go ahead with flashing a custom recovery to root your device. But, you should make sure to follow a reliable guide and follow the steps correctly in order to avoid any permanent damage to your phone.
Advantages
- You can install any custom ROM like Lineage OS, Resurrection ROM, etc.
- You can also root your device.
- Install a custom recovery like TWRP.
Disadvantages
- After unlocking the bootloader, it voids the warranty of your device.
- You will no longer receive the official OTA updates.
- You can brick your device if you do not follow the steps carefully.
Warning
Steps To Unlock Bootloader via Fastboot Method on Android
- Firstly, you need to download the ADB and Fastboot tool from here.
- Extract the contents and install ADB and Fastboot tool on your PC.
- Then you need to enable the Developer Options on your Android device.
- Go to Settings>>About Phone>>tap on the Build Number 7 times till you see a toast message “You are now a developer”.
- Under the Developer Options, you need to enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking option as well.
- To do that again head to the Settings>>Developer Options>>enable USB Debugging as well as the OEM Unlock toggle.
- Connect your smartphone to your PC via a USB cable and let all the drivers install on your PC.
- Open the CMD or command prompt by pressing the Shift + Right-click combination on the same folder where you have extracted the contents of the ADB and Fastboot Tools.
- Type in the below commands in the CMD and press Enter;
adb reboot bootloader - Once your smartphone is in bootloader mode, you need to enter the following command:
fastboot flashing unlock - Notably, if this command does not work you can try to use the below command:
fastboot oem unlock - You will get a confirmation on your Android device’s screen, Navigate to yes and hit the Power button to unlock the bootloader of your device.
- Once the bootloader is unlocked, your smartphone will automatically reboot into bootloader mode.
- And in the bootloader mode use the below command:
fastboot reboot - Your Android device will now reboot and during this, all data will be erased.
- That’s It!
So, there you have it from my side in this post. I hope you guys liked this post and were able to unlock the bootloader of your Android smartphone. Moreover, you can go ahead and flash any custom recovery like TWRP to root your device and open the world of customizations. Let us know in the comments if you successfully unlocked the bootloader using the above method or not. Until the next post…Cheers!
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