Bootloader unlocking: Difference between revisions
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The bootloader is the core layer of a computerized device that connects the software to the physical hardware. In smartphones, the bootloader allows the mobile device to start up with an operating system such as iOS for iPhones and Android for most other smartphones. Bootloaders are generally established by the manufacturer and are shipped to retailers and consumers in a "locked" state, tying the hardware to a specific operating system chosen by the manufacturer. To unlock a bootloader is to disconnect the physical device from a particular operating system, allowing users more control over their purchased smartphones. This is especially relevant for users who wish to [[de-Google]] their android devices, the act of removing Google products and services for privacy, flexibility, and other concerns. | |||
== Background == | |||
History and technical details here... | |||
== | Unlocking the bootloader of a smartphone allows the user to install an alternative system on the device, also more popularly known as a 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> | ||
==Benefits of unlocked bootloaders== | |||
==='''1. Better Privacy'''=== | ==='''1. Better Privacy'''=== | ||
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==='''4. Customisation'''=== | ==='''4. Customisation'''=== | ||
Some applications cannot be removed easily with the default OS. A custom ROM can be used to only include the applications the user wants, potentially with customisation that isn't originally available by default.<!-- Source? --> | Some applications cannot be removed easily with the default OS. A custom ROM can be used to only include the applications the user wants, potentially with customisation that isn't originally available by default.<!-- Source? --> | ||
== Why most devices are locked == | |||
=== Security === | |||
Example Text | |||
=== DRM and ecosystem control === | |||
Example Text | |||
=== Locks from mobile carriers === | |||
Example Text | |||
==Availability== | |||
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 to prevent users from installing third party operating systems on iPhones and iPads.<!-- Source? --> | |||
==Alternative Android-based Operating Systems== | ==Alternative Android-based Operating Systems== | ||