Bootloader unlocking: Difference between revisions
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Unlocking the bootloader of a smartphone allows the user to install an alternative system on the device, also 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> | 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> | ||
==Availability== | ==Availability== | ||
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==='''1. Better Privacy'''=== | ==='''1. Better Privacy'''=== | ||
Most custom ROMs do not contain any of the components that send data to the manufacturer, Google, and their partner companies.<ref name=":0" /> In some cases, they even contain components that prevent individual apps from doing so, such as | Most custom ROMs do not contain any of the components that send data to the manufacturer, Google, and their partner companies.<ref name=":0" /> In some cases, they even contain components that prevent individual apps from doing so, such as: | ||
====Workaround | * [https://doc.e.foundation/support-topics/advanced_privacy_main.html /e/'s Advanced Privacy] | ||
On a default Android system there is a 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 | * [https://calyxos.org/docs/tech/datura-details/ CalyxOS's Datura Firewall] | ||
* [https://github.com/iodeOS/ota iodéOS's blocker] | |||
====Workaround Google Play Services==== | |||
On a default Android system there is a 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. And without this process running, basic system apps will not 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 a privacy preserving workaround such as: | |||
* [https://grapheneos.org/features#sandboxed-google-play GrapheneOS's Sandboxed Google Play] | |||
* [https://github.com/microg/GmsCore/wiki MicroG]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=Arielle |date=7 Jun 2019 |title=The Open Source Project That Keeps Google's Hands Off Your Android Data |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-open-source-project-that-keeps-googles-hands-off-your-android-data/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250630130025/https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-open-source-project-that-keeps-googles-hands-off-your-android-data/ |archive-date=30 Jun 2025 |access-date=19 Aug 2025 |website=Vice}}</ref> | |||
==='''2. Expanding Device Lifespan'''=== | ==='''2. 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=By how much do custom roms really extend Phone lifespans? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidQuestions/comments/gdq2rc/comment/fpj11ay/ |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03 |title= |url=https://community.e.foundation/t/xiaomi-redmi-8a-olivelite-with-dual-sim/29192/12 |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=/e/OS Community}}</ref><!-- | 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=By how much do custom roms really extend Phone lifespans? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidQuestions/comments/gdq2rc/comment/fpj11ay/ |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03 |title= |url=https://community.e.foundation/t/xiaomi-redmi-8a-olivelite-with-dual-sim/29192/12 |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=/e/OS Community}}</ref><!-- Please provide better sources than forums and reddits. You can read the citation guide on this wiki for more tips --> | ||
==='''3. Updates after device is abandoned by manufacturer'''=== | ==='''3. Updates after device is abandoned by manufacturer'''=== | ||
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}}</ref> 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.<!-- Source? --> | 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}}</ref> 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.<!-- Source? --> | ||
Revision as of 23:11, 24 August 2025
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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.[1]
Availability
Unlocking the bootloader is only 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.
Features
1. Better Privacy
Most custom ROMs do not contain any of the components that send data to the manufacturer, Google, and their partner companies.[2] In some cases, they even contain components that prevent individual apps from doing so, such as:
Workaround Google Play Services
On a default Android system there is a 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. And without this process running, basic system apps will not function.[3] Alternative systems avoid this process entirely, or use a privacy preserving workaround such as:
2. 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.[5][6]
3. Updates after device is abandoned by manufacturer
Low-end devices usually receive only a few years or even months of security updates.[7] 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.
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.
Alternative Android-based Operating Systems
These include, but are not limited to:
- AOSP (Android Open Source Project) , also known as "stock" Android.[8][2]
References
- ↑ "Android ROM". PCMag. 19 Aug 2025. Archived from the original on 23 Dec 2024.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Patel, Pratham (20 Feb 2024). "5 De-Googled Android-based Operating Systems to Free Your Smartphone from Google and other Big Tech". It's FOSS. Archived from the original on 7 Jul 2025. Retrieved 19 Aug 2025.
- ↑ Aragon, Jonah (21 Jul 2024). "Android". Privacy Guides. Retrieved 17 Aug 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Gordon, Arielle (7 Jun 2019). "The Open Source Project That Keeps Google's Hands Off Your Android Data". Vice. Archived from the original on 30 Jun 2025. Retrieved 19 Aug 2025.
- ↑ "By how much do custom roms really extend Phone lifespans?". Reddit. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
- ↑ /e/OS Community. 2023-03 https://community.e.foundation/t/xiaomi-redmi-8a-olivelite-with-dual-sim/29192/12. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ "Android Update Matrix". Android Update Tracker. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
- ↑ https://eylenburg.github.io/android_comparison.htm