What is Bootloader?
Unlocking the bootloader is essential to customize any Smartphones. If you want to install a custom ROM or just Root your Smartphone then you need to unlock your device bootloader first.
Advantages of Unlock Bootloader
Possibility of installing a Custom ROM, Root and TWRP; You can install Incompatible apps by Rooting your phone; Underclock/Overclock your Phone CPU.
Disadvantages of Unlock Bootloader
Your Device warranty will get void depending where you bought it; Device performance may be affected, positively or in a negatively way; After unlocking the bootloader, all your data and files are Erased;
Unlock Bootloader Step-by-Step:
1 - Settings app > About phone > Software info > Tap on the Build number 7 times until it says you’re now a developer. Go back to the Settings page, tap on System, and near the bottom of the list, you should see Developer options. Tap on it. > Enable OEM unlocking and USB debugging. 2 - Connect the phone into your PC. Make sure you have the Latest version of ADB and Fastboot (33.0.02) binaries installed. Open up a terminal window/Command Prompt instance and enter the following command: adb devices. You'll see a prompt on your phone to enable USB Debugging for your PC. Grant it permission. 3 -Now, reboot to the bootloader menu. You can either do this by holding the POWER and VOLUME- buttons while booting up, or by entering the following ADB command: adb reboot bootloader. Once you’re on the bootloader menu, you’ll now have to switch to using fastboot command to communicate with your device. To unlock the Nothing Phone 1’s bootloader, enter the following command: fastboot flashing unlock. In case you need to flash low-level firmware partitions like the bootloader images, you will have to execute another command afterwards: fastboot flashing unlock_critical. You should now see text on screen warning you about the potential risks of unlocking the bootloader. On the screen next to the power and volume buttons, you should see some text. Press the volume up key until it says “unlock the bootloader.” Once it says this, press the POWER button. The phone will unlock the bootloader and reboot back to the bootloader menu. This time, the bootloader will show a red warning icon and “unlocked” text. 4 - Now, reboot your phone back to the Android OS. You can do this by sending the following fastboot command: fastboot reboot You’ll see a warning message that your phone’s bootloader is unlocked on every boot, but don’t worry about that as it doesn’t affect your day-to-day use.
by Sib64