LG Bootloader incident: Difference between revisions
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{{StubNotice}} | {{StubNotice}} | ||
{{IncidentCargo | |||
|Company=LG | |Company=LG | ||
|StartDate=2021-12-31 | |StartDate=2021-12-31 | ||
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|Description=After exiting mobile, LG ends bootloader unlock services, preventing users from installing custom ROMs on their devices. | |Description=After exiting mobile, LG ends bootloader unlock services, preventing users from installing custom ROMs on their devices. | ||
}} | }} | ||
After leaving the smartphone market in 2021<ref>{{Cite web |title=LG to Close Mobile Phone Business Worldwide |url=https://www.lgnewsroom.com/2021/04/lg-to-close-mobile-phone-business-worldwide/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-30 |website=LG Newsroom}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ro |date=2021-12-06 |title=LG is shutting down its developer website, last chance to unlock your bootloader |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/lg_is_shutting_down_its_developer_website_last_chance_to_unlock_your_bootloader-news-52152.php |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-30 |website=GSMArena}}</ref>, LG removed the ability for users to unlock bootloader on their existing devices. This decision effectively prevents users from installing custom firmware or alternative operating systems on certain LG smartphones. | |||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
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In these regions, users needed to contact LG providing their device ID and IMEI number to obtain the necessary unlock file via email. This approach introduced an additional administrative step to the bootloader unlocking process, differentiating LG's method from other Android manufacturers' more direct unlocking procedures. | In these regions, users needed to contact LG providing their device ID and IMEI number to obtain the necessary unlock file via email. This approach introduced an additional administrative step to the bootloader unlocking process, differentiating LG's method from other Android manufacturers' more direct unlocking procedures. | ||
On 31 December 2021, LG closed its developer portal, effectively terminating all bootloader unlock requests. This action left consumers with LG devices permanently locked, restricting them to only official LG software updates and preventing any further system modifications or custom ROM installations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Termination of LG Mobile Developer website service |url=https://developer.lge.com/resource/mobile/RetrieveBootloader.dev |url-status=live |access-date=2025-30 | On 31 December 2021, LG closed its developer portal, effectively terminating all bootloader unlock requests. This action left consumers with LG devices permanently locked, restricting them to only official LG software updates and preventing any further system modifications or custom ROM installations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Termination of LG Mobile Developer website service |url=https://developer.lge.com/resource/mobile/RetrieveBootloader.dev |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-30 |website=LG Developer}}</ref> | ||
The closure of the developer portal marked a final limitation for LG smartphone owners, effectively freezing the software ecosystem of existing devices and removing any future possibilities for bootloader unlocking. | The closure of the developer portal marked a final limitation for LG smartphone owners, effectively freezing the software ecosystem of existing devices and removing any future possibilities for bootloader unlocking. | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category:LG]] | [[Category:LG]] | ||
[[Category:Anti-Consumer Practices]] | [[Category:Anti-Consumer Practices]] | ||
[[Category:Discontinued products]] | [[Category:Discontinued products]] | ||