OEM Unlocking: The Ultimate Guide for Android Devices

Updated on by Admin

Table of Contents

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have these basic requirements sorted:

  • Enable USB Debugging: You’ll need this to connect your phone to your computer.
  • Compatibility: Not every device allows OEM unlocking. Some phones from carriers like Verizon have restrictions that might make the process tricky. Google Pixel phones bought directly from Google, however, should have this feature available.

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Enabling OEM Unlocking through Developer Options

The first thing you need to do is activate OEM unlocking from your phone’s settings. It’s pretty simple, but you have to unlock Developer Options to access this feature.

Turn on Developer Mode
To get access to OEM unlocking, you need to enable Developer Mode first. Here’s how:

  1. Go to Settings on your phone.
  2. Scroll down and select About Phone.
  3. Look for Build Number and tap it seven times. Once you’ve done this, you’ll see a message that says, “You are now a developer!”

This opens up more options, including the one we need.

Enable OEM Unlocking
Now that Developer Mode is on, let’s find the setting to enable OEM unlocking.

  1. Go back to Settings and tap System or Additional Settings.
  2. Open Developer Options.
  3. Scroll down and find OEM Unlocking. Turn it on.

If this option is grayed out, your phone might be carrier-locked, which we’ll discuss next.

Unlocking Bootloader via Fastboot Commands

Once you enable OEM unlocking, the next step is to unlock the bootloader. This is essential if you want to make major changes like installing custom ROMs.

Enable USB Debugging
First, make sure USB Debugging is enabled in Developer Options. This allows your computer to communicate with your phone:

  1. Go to Settings > Developer Options.
  2. Scroll down to USB Debugging and switch it on.

Install ADB and Fastboot Tools
Next, you need to install the tools that allow your computer to send commands to your phone. You can download them from here:

Connect Your Phone to the Computer
Plug your phone into your computer using a USB cable. Now, open a command prompt or terminal on your computer and type:

adb devices

If your phone shows up on the list, you’re good to go.

Reboot into Fastboot Mode
To move forward, you need to put your phone in Fastboot mode. Do this by typing the following command:

adb reboot bootloader

Once your phone is in Fastboot mode, you’re almost there.

Unlock the Bootloader
Now, here’s the final step to unlock your bootloader:

fastboot oem unlock

A confirmation message will appear on your phone’s screen. Approve it, but keep in mind that this will erase all the data on your phone, so make sure you’ve backed up anything important.

Reboot Your Phone
Once the process is complete, type this command to reboot your phone:

fastboot reboot

Your phone will restart, and the bootloader will be unlocked.

Unlocking OEM in Carrier-Locked Devices

Sometimes, OEM unlocking might be blocked, especially on phones tied to specific carriers like AT&T or Verizon. If you’re facing this issue, don’t worry—there are a few things you can try.

Check if Your Phone is Carrier-Locked
If the OEM Unlock option is grayed out, your phone might be locked to a specific carrier. Carrier locks often prevent OEM unlocking, especially on phones bought from service providers.

Factory Reset and Update
In some cases, updating your phone to the latest software version or performing a factory reset can fix the issue:

  1. Connect to Wi-Fi and check for system updates in Settings.
  2. If OEM Unlock is still blocked, you might need to factory reset your phone to remove any restrictions.

Consider an Unlocked Model
If you’ve tried everything and the option is still unavailable, it might be worth purchasing an unlocked phone directly from the manufacturer or from Google. Unlocked phones typically don’t have these restrictions, making OEM unlocking much easier.

And there you have it—a straightforward guide to enabling OEM unlocking on your Android phone. Once you’ve gone through the steps, you’ll have more control over your device and what you can do with it. If you’ve been wanting to make big changes or install a custom ROM, this is where it all begins.

Is it a little nerve-wracking? Sure, but with the right tools and a bit of patience, you’ll be glad you took the plunge.

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