Android

Xiaomi tightens bootloader unlocking restrictions on HyperOS

Xiaomi just introduced strict restrictions to unlocking the bootloader on its HyperOS-running phones, citing security and data protection. While MIUI devices offer some amount of flexibility in this ...
Android Police

Drastically reduced Xiaomi bootloader unlock policy raises questions over device ownership

Chris has reported for various tech and consumer goods outlets over the past decade, including Android Police and MakeUseOf since early 2022. Previously, he has contributed to outlets such as ...
Android Authority

ASUS refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools as promised

In the UK, a Zenfone buyer sued ASUS over the company’s broken promise to provide bootloader unlocking support for its phones. The buyer won, getting a full refund for the phone and their court fees, ...
Android Police

Asus swears its Zenfone bootloader unlock tool is not going anywhere

Rajesh started following the latest happenings in the world of Android around the release of the Nexus One and Samsung Galaxy S. After flashing custom ROMs and kernels on his beloved Galaxy S, he ...
Android

Qualcomm GBL Exploit Reportedly Enables Bootloader Unlocking on Flagships

A new Qualcomm GBL exploit is reportedly affecting Qualcomm SoCs, mainly the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. This enables bootloader unlocking on flagship phones that were previously difficult to ...
9to5google

Xiaomi makes it harder to unlock your bootloader, stops Android updates if you do

Xiaomi just launched its new “HyperOS” skin for Android devices, but in a bit of a twist of the knife to enthusiasts, the company is not only disabling the option to unlock the bootloader but is also ...
Android Authority

ASUS is apparently killing the ability to root Zenfones (Update: Maybe not?)

ASUS has apparently withdrawn the ability to unlock the bootloader on its phones. As per the company’s technical support team, Zenfone 10 and Zenfone 9 users won’t be able to root their phones. A ...
The Verge

Samsung’s One UI 8 might shut down bootloader unlocking on Galaxy phones

A toggle that would let Samsung owners install custom software has disappeared on phones shipping with the new OS, and One UI 8 beta builds for the Galaxy S25. A toggle that would let Samsung owners ...
Liliputing

Revolutionary: New tool for unlocking bootloader on most HTC Android phones

Unrevoked and AlphaRev, the development teams behind two popular Android hacking tools have teamed up to release a new tool called Revolutionary. It’s an S-OFF Tool that lets you flash a custom ...
GizChina

Google's Pixel 9: Unlocking Bootloader Disables Key AI Features

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.
GizChina

Samsung One UI 8 Will Block Bootloader Unlock - No More Custom Development

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 ...