Xiaomi has confirmed that it is blocking bootloader unlocking by default on HyperOS phones. The company says you’ll need to apply for permission to unlock your HyperOS device via its forum. MIUI and ...

Unlocking your phone’s bootloader is an essential step if you want to install alternative ROMs, beta versions of Android, different operating systems, or get root access for greater control. So it was ...

I've been writing about Android since 2011, with a focus on device reviews, Samsung and Google Pixel hardware, and the latest happenings in the ecosystem. In my entire writing career, I've reviewed ...

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 ...

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 ...

The last update to LG's bootloader unlock program added the unlocked US model of the LG G6 (US997). Since then, the LG V30 has been announced, and released in select markets. It still hasn't seen a ...

Most new Amazon Echo devices are powered by Amazon’s Linux-based Vega operating system. But older models shipped with a custom version of Android that’s been locked down to make them feel more like an ...

The main focus of Google’s new Pixel 9 series is on AI, with several new features taking advantage of the rapidly growing tech. However, if you unlock your bootloader, many of the Pixel 9’s new AI ...

In August 2019, OnePlus launched the Sprint OnePlus 7 Pro 5G for $840. The phone is a 5G variant of the OnePlus 7 Pro, which was released four months before in May. It has the same internal ...

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 ...

The newest in Samsung Galaxy foldable devices appears to have a few more locks on it than some past devices. As discovered this week by intrepid software engineers at XDA, a bootloader unlock of the ...