Reboot to Bootloader - what is Android. How to unlock the Bootloader on an Android device

Typically, Android users who consider themselves experienced often perform bootloader unlocking themselves. They do this in order to accomplish.

It is known that Google developers made their platform not only open, but also very logical; it is for this reason that the company ships its main product with blocked bootloaders. Since changes in such processes may pose a certain threat to the security of the platform.

Of course, taking advantage of the power user's benefits opens up many possibilities, but owners should be aware of the expected risks, so they should make any decisions to change by understanding and respecting the operating principles of Android

The manufacturer of an Android device locks the bootloader not to have sole control of the OS, but to ensure user security. For example, Google smartphones in the Nexus series are positioned as a development for technically savvy users, but they also come with a locked bootloader. All these devices receive an operating system that is installed on them in at the moment, so, the owner cannot import a custom product, the bootloader will not work with “foreign” firmware.

Are there options to unlock the bootloader? Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 users have official way unlocking these devices. Although there is one inconvenience with this, during Android unlock does not leave any old data on the device.

You will need to activate the function in the settings, then download “Fastboot” and unzip the file, load the Android smartphone into desired mode. Then you will need to connect your smartphone to the PC and press the “SHIFT” button and the right mouse button at the same time, then you will need to select “open command window here” from the menu, activate two options “fastboot devices”, as well as “fastboot oem unlock”. After this, the lock icon should show that the bootloader is already unlocked. Let us remind you that each model of Android device has its own .

After unlocking Android, the main problem will appear - the PIN code and password will not protect access to the Android device, since unlocking the bootloader will make the device vulnerable, and you can easily bypass the password request process. So, if the device is stolen, the unlocked bootloader will allow you to reboot it and load other firmware to restore the user environment. By restoring using the command, a third party user will be able to obtain quick access to data in a mobile device without using passwords.

Android developers assure that there is no need to worry about possible problems with the bootloader, in their opinion, unlocking the bootloader is mainly done by only a few users, but only by experienced ones, and they do it for their own purposes. Not all attackers can use this hacking method. When devices are stolen, they simply erase all data. It is important to remember that the developer has a good reason for blocking the bootloader - the protection of personal, corporate and government data.

Unlocking the bootloader of an Android device is the first step to root access and flashing the ROM. And, contrary to popular belief, it is actually supported by many phones. What do you need to do to officially unlock the bootloader on your phone?

Not every phone will allow you to do this

All phones in the world are divided into two types: those that will allow you to unlock the bootloader, and those that will not.

Whether you can unlock the bootloader depends on the phone manufacturer, model, and even carrier. All Nexus phones are inherently unlockable, and many Motorola and HTC phones can unlock the bootloader using a similar method to the Nexus.

However, there are phones, as well as some operators, that do not allow you to officially unlock the bootloader, which means you will have to wait until the developers check the security vulnerability. If you have such a phone, this guide, unfortunately, will not help you.

The easiest way to find out which of these categories your phone falls into is to find information about it on XDA Developers. If you have HTC or Motorola, you can also look into unlocking it on the HTC or Motorola website. If it doesn't support unlocking, you'll have to use unofficial unlocking or rooting methods - these can usually be found on the XDA Developers forums.

If your phone supports more official unlocking methods, read on.

Step 0: Back up everything valuable

Before we get started, it's important to know that this process will erase all data. So if you have photos or other files that are valuable to you, save them to your computer. In addition, if you want to save application settings, use the settings export functions to save them into backup files, and transfer these files to your computer as well.

And here's another tip from me personally: If I'm dead set on rooting a phone, I'll unlock the bootloader as soon as possible after purchasing it. Then you won’t have to waste time on settings only to erase everything and set it up again a few days later. So if you like to dig deep Android settings and intend to root your phone, it’s better to unlock it right away, before fiddling with the settings.

When you have done everything necessary backups, we can continue

Step 1: installAndroid SDK and phone drivers

You will need two things: Android Debug Bridge, a command line tool for your computer that allows you to link your computer to your phone, and USB drivers for your phone. Even if you have installed them before, install the latest versions.

• Open the page Android downloads SDK and scroll down to the “SDK Tools Only” section. Download the ZIP archive for your platform and extract to where you want to save the ADB files.
• Launch SDK Manager and deselect everything except “Android SDK Platform-tools”. If you have a Nexus phone, you can also check “Google USB Driver” to download drivers from Google.
• After installation is complete, close SDK Manager.
• Install USB drivers for your phone. They can be found on the phone manufacturer's website (for example, Motorola or HTC). If you have a Nexus, you can install the Google drivers that you downloaded in step 2.
• If your computer tells you it needs to restart, restart it.

Turn on your phone and connect it to your computer with a USB cable. Open the Platform-tools folder in Android folder SDK and, holding Shift, right-click on empty space. Select "Open Command Window" and enter the following command:

If shown serial number, your device is recognized and you can continue the procedure. If not, make sure you followed the above steps exactly.

Step 2: Enable software debuggingUSB

Next, you need to enable some functions on your phone. Open the application drawer, click settings and then “About phone”. Scroll down and tap Build Number seven times. You will see a message stating that you have become a developer.

Return to home page settings, and you will see a new item - “For Developers”. Open it and activate “OEM Unlock” if this option is there (if it’s not, it’s okay - it’s only needed on some phones).

After that, connect your phone to your computer. A pop-up window should appear on your phone: “Allow USB debugging?” Check "Always allow on this PC" and click OK.

Step 3: get the unlock key (for phones other thanNexus)

If you have a Nexus, you can skip this step. Owners of other devices may have some additional steps to complete.

Go to your phone manufacturer's bootloader unlock page, select your device (if necessary) and log in or create an account.

The next steps vary somewhat depending on what kind of phone you have, but the manufacturer's website should have instructions on what to do next. In general, you need to do the following: First, turn off the phone and turn it on in mode fast loading(Fastboot). On different phones this is done a little differently, but on most modern devices just hold down the “power” and “volume down” buttons for 10 seconds. Release the buttons and the phone will boot into Fastboot mode (HTC owners will need to first select "Fastboot" with the Volume Down button and press the Power button to confirm the selection). You can probably find more information about this process by searching Google, which is what you should do before proceeding.

Connect your phone to your computer with a USB cable. The phone will show that the device is connected. On your computer, open the Platform-tools folder in the Android SDK folder and, while holding Shift, right-click on an empty space. Select "Open Command Window" and use the command window that opens to obtain the unlock key according to your phone manufacturer's instructions (for example, for Motorola phones, this is the command fastboot oem get_unlock_data, for HTC - fastboot oem get_identifier_token).

The command window will output the token as a very long string of characters. Select it, copy and paste it into the appropriate box on the manufacturer’s website (no spaces, this is important!) and submit your application. If your device can be unlocked, you will receive an email with a key or file that you will use in the next step.

If your device cannot be unlocked, you will receive a message letting you know. If you want to gain root access or flash a ROM, use unofficial methods - you can find descriptions of them on resources like XDA Developers.

Step 4: unlock the phone

Now everything is ready to unlock. If the phone is still in Fastboot mode, run the command below. If not, turn off the phone and hold down the “power” and “volume down” buttons for 10 seconds. Release and the phone will boot into Fastboot mode (HTC owners will need to first select "Fastboot" using the Volume Down button and press the Power button to confirm the selection). On your computer, open the Platform-tools folder in the Android SDK folder and, while holding Shift, right-click on an empty space. Select "Open Command Window."

To unlock your device, you need to enter one simple command. For most Nexuses the command will be as follows:

fastboot oem unlock

If you have a newer Nexus, such as a 5X or 6P, the command will be slightly different:

fastboot flashing unlock

If you don't have a Nexus, your device manufacturer will tell you which command to enter. For example, for Motorola devices, you need to enter fastboot oem unlock UNIQUE_KEY, using the unique key from the letter you received. For HTC devices, enter fastboot oem unlocktoken Unlock_code.bin using the Unlock_code.bin file you received from HTC.

After running the command, the phone may ask if you really want to unlock. Confirm using the Volume button.

Once finished, use the OSD menu to reboot your phone (or run fastboot reboot from your computer). If everything is done correctly, you will see a message at the beginning of the boot saying that the bootloader is unlocked and Android should boot in a few seconds. It's important to let Android boot before doing anything else, such as flashing a custom recovery.

Congratulations, you have unlocked your phone! At first glance, you won't see any significant differences, but unlocking the bootloader opens up the possibility of root access and flashing custom recovery.

Articles and Lifehacks

Any complex technology has a kernel and a bootloader. To launch an operating system (OS) on complex equipment, you first need to activate the bootloader, and only then load the OS through it. This bootloader is called Bootloader. Let's look below at what a bootloader is on Android.

What is Bootloader for?

A bootloader is a separate program pre-installed by the manufacturer, usually password-protected by the manufacturer to make changes or replace the bootloader with a custom one.

The downloader accesses the files operating system and downloads them, making the smartphone the way you are used to and want to see it.
Next, loading occurs as usual: the bootloader launches the system kernel, the system boots, and you work directly in the OS shell.

Unlike a computer bootloader, a smartphone or tablet can only work with one OS at a time. Comparison: you can install both ubuntu and windows on your computer, and then choose in the boot which system you need right now.

Is it possible to change the bootloader, modify it, and most importantly, why and who needs it?

Bootloader and Android: the meaning of customization

The bootloader is changed, for example, to CyanogenMod. What does this give the user? First of all, this is the ability to install customized OS builds, install third party programs for recovery. The built-in bootloader will only work with the OS installed by the manufacturer. But it happens that the built-in operating system is crude, you don’t like the slow functionality, there is no access to part of the built-in hardware, and the like.

How to access and change the bootloader? Without a computer, a USB cable, and special programs, nothing will work. Each brand, and sometimes each model, has its own way of changing it and flashing it to a custom Android.

When deciding to flash and change the bootloader yourself, check that your Android gadget is fully charged and the cable is not broken. And under no circumstances disconnect the device from the computer until the change process is completed. You can make a preliminary backup, then the likelihood of returning to normal will be much higher.

And as a summary. What is Bootloader on Android OS? This special program, which starts the device and makes the hardware work with the operating system.

This article provides step by step instructions which will even help inexperienced user successfully unlock bootloader And install custom recovery Cyanogen Mod.

Your data is subject to deletion. If you need to save important information– we recommend making a backup. You perform all your actions at your own peril and risk. Please note that the author is not responsible for the “bricking” of the user’s smartphone.

Getting ready for installation

1. Download and install drivers. You can do this by following our link below.

2. Unpack the archive anywhere on your hard drive.
3. Turn off the phone.
4. Start the phone in fastboot mode, for which you should press “volume -”, and while holding it, press “Power”.
5. The PC will display a message indicating that a new device has been found.
6. Go to the device manager (path: Control Panel – System – Device Manager).
7. Find unknown device, which is usually indicated by a yellow triangle with an exclamation point.
8. Double click on it.
9. In the window that appears, click: Update driver – Search for a driver on this PC – Select drivers from the list installed drivers– Install from disk – Select the folder where the drivers were unpacked – Check the “Search in subfolders” checkbox to complete the driver installation.
10. The device is completely ready for further manipulations.
11. Download ADB and Fastboot according to the operating system bit size: for x32/86 or x64. Unpack the archive into a folder of your choice. The path must not contain Russian letters (Cyrillic) and numbers. For example, I unpack a folder in d:\ADB.

12. Download custom Recovery: CWM and throw *. img file in the same folder as ADB.

Bootloader unlock

First you need to unlock Bootloader on your smartphone. To do this, you need to connect your smartphone to your PC and put it in fastboot mode. To switch to this mode, you need to turn off the phone and during shutdown, press and hold two buttons: “Volume -” and “Power”. In Fastboot mode, a green robot with an open stomach will appear on the smartphone display.

Next, you have to launch the command line: start – in the “run” line write “cmd” (without quotes) – “cmd.exe” should appear at the top - right-click “cmd.exe” - Run with administrator rights.

After that, we go to the folder in which ADB is located (in my case it is located on the path d:\ADB): first I enter “d” (no need to enter quotes) and press Enter - I enter “cd ADB” and press Enter again. The command line window now looks like this:

To unlock Bootloader you need to enter the following command:

fastboot oem unlock

We accept the unlocking by pressing the “Volume +” button and confirm the action by pressing the “power” button.

So, Bootloader is unlocked. Now we reboot into the system. The smartphone will make the necessary changes, boot, and then carry out initial setup from Google (I'm missing a lot, since the phone will still be updated). Next – launch fastboot and install custom Recovery.

Now install custom Recovery. For this purpose, you need to enter command line team

fastboot flash recovery ***

What is a bootloader, how to unlock it, and why do I need it?

Every phone running Android OS has a bootloader that instructs the operating system kernel to boot normally. Each device has its own bootloader version. The bootloader is usually locked at Android devices, because manufacturers want you to stick Android versions, specifically designed for their equipment.

If you want to install a modified version of OS ( Custom ROM), you need to unlock the bootloader. Speaking in the language of an ordinary person: unlocking the bootloader will allow you to install modified firmware, with a variety of “goodies” on your Android phone.

Let's start with the world famous brand HTC. In 90% of cases, this method works, the remaining 10% will be allocated to software problems, fakes by Chinese craftsmen, as well as models that lack the visual part of the bootloader; in general, of course, it is there, but hidden from view.

First step , registration http://htcdev.com/ . Download ADB drivers from our website, HTC program Sync from the official website http://www.htc.com/ua it will contain everything necessary drivers to your device. You may also need Java http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk8-downloads-2133151.html

Step two , create a folder in the root of drive C and give it the name Android. Unpack into this folder: adb.exe, AdbWinApi.dll, fastboot.exe. HTC Sync You can remove it, or you can disable it in the system so that it does not interfere when connecting the device to the computer.

Step three , put the phone into bootloader mode. Option one, if the phone has removable battery, remove the battery, insert it, hold down the volume rocker (-) and power. Hold until the phone reboots into the above-mentioned bootloader state. This is what he looks like.

Option two , for more advanced users, the phone is turned on, the permission for the “usb debugging is allowed” function is set, we work through the command line Start -> Run and enter the program name cmd.exe. A window will appear

After entering the command CD C:\Android, press Enter, we get the answer C:\Android>. Next we enter adb command devices, the answer should be:

List of devices attached HC413MW00787 device

The command is entered to check the connection with the PC, if the serial number is determined, then everything is ok, and we continue further. If not, then check “usb debugging is allowed” and whether the ADB drivers are installed. The following command puts the phone into the mode we need: adb reboot-bootloader press enter,

Now we turn our attention to the phone, it should be like in the first image.

Let's move on to unlocking, everything happens using the console, the necessary commands on the site https://www.htcdev.com/ and also yours email which was used during registration.

The phone is connected and is in bootloader mode. We go to the site and follow these steps:

If your model is not in the list, select what is circled, otherwise we are looking for ours. For example, I always select this item regardless of whether it works. After we press the green button to continue, we get this:

Place two checkmarks and click on the Proceed to Unlock Instructions button.

This window contains instructions for preparation, it is in English, we skip it. Scroll down the page and move on to the fifth step. The following is the continuation of the instructions. Scroll to the very bottom:

We will paste the information received for unlocking into this empty window.

To do this, go back to the console and enter the command fastboot oem get_identifier_token and press enter

At the output we get:

What is circled in red must be selected, copied and pasted into that empty window in the image above. Click on the Submit button. How to copy and paste? By right-clicking, we get a menu in which we select mark and select the area we need. Press Enter. In the console, enter is used to copy the required values.