Chris Thomas was a reporter at Android Police from 2022 until 2025. People generally want the ability to use purchased devices how they see fit. Xiaomi, on the other hand, wants to maintain ...

Years ago, unlocking the bootloader on Android phones was more common. While far fewer people do it now, there is still a niche that likes to test advanced software modifications and more. That said, ...

OnePlus is placing new restrictions on bootloader unlocking. It requires filling out an application form and limits the number of requests to one every 30 days. Thankfully, these limitations only ...

Samsung appears to be disabling bootloader unlocking in One UI 8 on more devices than before. Previously, only US models lacked the OEM Unlock toggle, but the restriction now seems to be spreading to ...

Samsung’s One UI 8 update reportedly removes the option to unlock the bootloader on many Galaxy devices. This change impacts advanced users who customize their phones with custom ROMs or root access.

Xiaomi has introduced significant changes to its Bootloader (BL) unlocking policy, effective from January 1, 2025. These updates mark a significant shift in the company’s approach to device ...

Google’s new Pixel 9 series has caught a lot of attention, especially for its advanced artificial intelligence (AI) features. However, there's a detail that might disappoint some tech enthusiasts.

Early testers noticed that the "OEM Unlocking" option, which allows users to unlock the bootloader, is missing on both the Galaxy S25 Ultra One UI 8 beta build. It is also absent on the pre-installed ...

For years, Android users have knocked iOS for being a "walled garden," with the iPhone locking users into Apple's ecosystem and limiting how far they can stray outside of the company's guidelines.