Bootloader unlocking: Difference between revisions
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==Background== | ==Background== | ||
Unlocking the bootloader of a smartphone enables the user to install | Unlocking the bootloader of a smartphone enables the user to install [[wikipedia:List_of_custom_Android_distributions|alternative operating systems, colloquially known as "custom ROM"]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Aug 2025 |title=Android ROM |url=https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/android-rom |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241223222958/https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/android-rom |archive-date=23 Dec 2024 |website=PCMag}}</ref> | ||
'''Difference from Rooting''' | '''Difference from Rooting''' | ||
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===='''Updates after the manufacturer abandons the device'''==== | ===='''Updates after the manufacturer abandons the device'''==== | ||
Low-end devices usually receive only a few years or even months of security updates.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Android Update Matrix |url=https://www.androidupdatetracker.com/update-matrix |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=Android Update Tracker |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251206020040/https://www.androidupdatetracker.com/update-matrix |archive-date=6 Dec 2025}}</ref> Since most custom ROMs are built by the open-source community, installing one allows users to receive security updates for the Android system and default components, such as web browser engines and PDF readers, as long as custom ROMs are developed. Popular custom ROMs such as LineageOS and GrapheneOS have lasted over 10 years, and are open source, allowing anyone to maintain them and continue their development. <ref>{{Cite web |last=ciwrl |first= |date=2016-12-24 |title=A fork in the road |url=https://www.cyanogenmod.org/blog/a-fork-in-the-road |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225091051/https://www.cyanogenmod.org/blog/a-fork-in-the-road |archive-date=2016-12-25 |access-date=2026-02-26 |website=Cyanogen Mod}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 Feb 2026 |title=History |url=https://grapheneos.org/history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260225034058/https://grapheneos.org/history/ |archive-date=25 Feb 2026 |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=GrapheneOS}}</ref> | Low-end devices usually receive only a few years or even months of security updates.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Android Update Matrix |url=https://www.androidupdatetracker.com/update-matrix |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=Android Update Tracker |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251206020040/https://www.androidupdatetracker.com/update-matrix |archive-date=6 Dec 2025}}</ref> Since most custom ROMs are built by the open-source community, installing one allows users to receive security updates for the Android system and default components, such as web browser engines and PDF readers, as long as custom ROMs are developed. Popular custom ROMs such as [[wikipedia:LineageOS|LineageOS]] and [[GrapheneOS]] have lasted over 10 years, and are open source, allowing anyone to maintain them and continue their development. <ref>{{Cite web |last=ciwrl |first= |date=2016-12-24 |title=A fork in the road |url=https://www.cyanogenmod.org/blog/a-fork-in-the-road |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225091051/https://www.cyanogenmod.org/blog/a-fork-in-the-road |archive-date=2016-12-25 |access-date=2026-02-26 |website=Cyanogen Mod}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 Feb 2026 |title=History |url=https://grapheneos.org/history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260225034058/https://grapheneos.org/history/ |archive-date=25 Feb 2026 |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=GrapheneOS}}</ref> | ||
==='''Control'''=== | ==='''Control'''=== | ||