Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Bootloader unlocking

2025-08-19T10:48:09Z

2A02:810D:548D:E500:88C4:E77E:A2C2:B6E9: Link to our list of phone manufacturers that do not allow bootloader unlocking

Unlocking the bootloader of a smartphone allows the user to install an alternative system on the device, also known as a custom ROM.<ref>https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/android-rom</ref>

Beyond customisation, there are several reasons why a user would want to install an alternative operating system on their phone:

*'''Superior Privacy:''' Most custom ROMs do not contain any of the components that send data to the manufacturer, Google, and their partner companies. In some cases, they even contain components that prevent individual apps from doing so, such as [https://doc.e.foundation/support-topics/advanced_privacy_main.html /e/'s Advanced Privacy].
*'''Expanding Device Lifespan:''' Most custom ROMs are free of bloatware and can thus be used extend the longevity of phones that have become unusable due to the default system growing larger with each manufacturer update. Especially on low-end phones, these updates usually end up exhausting the built-in storage after sometimes as little as two years. This renders the devices slow and unstable and leaves no room for user data. Custom ROMs are typically much smaller than the manufacturer software. Consequently, many old phones can run even faster with a custom ROM than they were when new, thus often more than doubling their useful lifespan.
*'''Security Updates after device is abandoned by manufacturer:''' Low-end devices usually receive only a few years or even months of security updates. Since most custom ROMs are built by the open source community, installing one of these custom ROMs allows users to receive security updates for the Android system and default components like web browser engines and PDF readers much longer than with the manufacturer's OS.

Unlocking the bootloader is only [[Phones that do not allow bootloader unlock|possible on some, but not all Android devices]]. Apple has measures in place that prevent users from installing third party operating systems on iPhones and iPads.

==Features==
On a default Android system there is the deep integration with Google Play Services. This is a system process that requires access to files, contacts, storage, call logs, SMS messages, location, camera and microphone so that basic system apps are able to function.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aragon |first=Jonah |date=21 Jul 2024 |title=Android |url=https://www.privacyguides.org/en/android/#install-a-custom-distribution |url-status=live |access-date=17 Aug 2025 |website=Privacy Guides}}</ref> Alternative systems avoid this process entirely, or use privacy preserving workaround.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 May 2025 |title=MicroG |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicroG |url-status=live |access-date=18 Aug 2025 |website=Wikipedia |publisher=Wikipedia contributors}}</ref>

==Alternative Android-based Operating Systems==
These include, but are not limited to:

*[https://grapheneos.org/ GrapheneOS]
*[https://iode.tech/iodeos/ IodéOS]
*[https://e.foundation/e-os/ /e/OS]
*[https://lineageos.org/ LineageOS]
*[https://calyxos.org/ CalyxOS]

*[https://source.android.com/ AOSP (Android Open Source Project)] , also known as "stock" Android.<ref>https://eylenburg.github.io/android_comparison.htm</ref>

==References==
<references />

Bootloader unlocking

2025-08-19T10:45:24Z

2A02:810D:548D:E500:88C4:E77E:A2C2:B6E9: Grammar

Unlocking the bootloader of a smartphone allows the user to install an alternative system on the device, also known as a custom ROM.<ref>https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/android-rom</ref>

Beyond customisation, there are several reasons why a user would want to install an alternative operating system on their phone:

*'''Superior Privacy:''' Most custom ROMs do not contain any of the components that send data to the manufacturer, Google, and their partner companies. In some cases, they even contain components that prevent individual apps from doing so, such as [https://doc.e.foundation/support-topics/advanced_privacy_main.html /e/'s Advanced Privacy].
*'''Expanding Device Lifespan:''' Most custom ROMs are free of bloatware and can thus be used extend the longevity of phones that have become unusable due to the default system growing larger with each manufacturer update. Especially on low-end phones, these updates usually end up exhausting the built-in storage after sometimes as little as two years. This renders the devices slow and unstable and leaves no room for user data. Custom ROMs are typically much smaller than the manufacturer software. Consequently, many old phones can run even faster with a custom ROM than they were when new, thus often more than doubling their useful lifespan.
*'''Security Updates after device is abandoned by manufacturer:''' Low-end devices usually receive only a few years or even months of security updates. Since most custom ROMs are built by the open source community, installing one of these custom ROMs allows users to receive security updates for the Android system and default components like web browser engines and PDF readers much longer than with the manufacturer's OS.

Unlocking the bootloader is only possible on some, but not all Android devices. Apple has measures in place that prevent users from installing third party operating systems on iPhones and iPads.

==Features==
On a default Android system there is the deep integration with Google Play Services. This is a system process that requires access to files, contacts, storage, call logs, SMS messages, location, camera and microphone so that basic system apps are able to function.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aragon |first=Jonah |date=21 Jul 2024 |title=Android |url=https://www.privacyguides.org/en/android/#install-a-custom-distribution |url-status=live |access-date=17 Aug 2025 |website=Privacy Guides}}</ref> Alternative systems avoid this process entirely, or use privacy preserving workaround.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 May 2025 |title=MicroG |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicroG |url-status=live |access-date=18 Aug 2025 |website=Wikipedia |publisher=Wikipedia contributors}}</ref>

==Alternative Android-based Operating Systems==
These include, but are not limited to:

*[https://grapheneos.org/ GrapheneOS]
*[https://iode.tech/iodeos/ IodéOS]
*[https://e.foundation/e-os/ /e/OS]
*[https://lineageos.org/ LineageOS]
*[https://calyxos.org/ CalyxOS]

*[https://source.android.com/ AOSP (Android Open Source Project)] , also known as "stock" Android.<ref>https://eylenburg.github.io/android_comparison.htm</ref>

==References==
<references />

List of phones that do not allow bootloader unlock

2025-08-19T10:44:31Z

2A02:810D:548D:E500:88C4:E77E:A2C2:B6E9: /* How it works */ Added link to the already existing Bootloader Unlocking article.

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Could use expansion}}

A bootloader is a program that runs when the phone turns on and loads the operating system. <ref>{{Cite web |title=GNU Grub website |url=https://www.gnu.org/software/grub/index.html}}</ref> Most phones lock the bootloader by default, which means that a new bootloader or operating system can't be installed on the phone. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Lock and unlock the bootloader |url=https://source.android.com/docs/core/architecture/bootloader/locking_unlocking |website=Android Open Source project}}</ref>

==How it works==
Some manufacturers do not allow unlocking the bootloader even if the phone is not under a contract. Some manufacturers allow to unlock the bootloader on some regions, or require a payment or an online connection to unlock the phone. Some manufacturers may void the warranty or block certain features permanently if the bootloader is unlocked

For more information, see the article on [[Bootloader unlocking|Bootloader Unlocking]].

==Why it is a problem==
If the bootloader cannot be unlocked the operating system can't be modified in any way which is not allowed by the manufacturer.

==Examples<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Bootloader wall of shame |url=https://github.com/melontini/bootloader-unlock-wall-of-shame |website=GitHub}}</ref>==

*Huawei
*HMD Global/Nokia
*Vivo/IQOO
*ZTE
*Meizu
*Asus
*Alcatel
*Apple
*Energizer
*Cat
*Sharp
*Doogee
*TCL
*Coolpad
*Realme (on some regions)
*OPPO (outside China)
*Xiaomi (China only)
*Samsung
*HTC
*Motorola (on some devices)
*Google Pixel (Verizon)

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Common terms]]