Bootloader - Droid Life

Android 13 Updates Bootloader on Pixel 6 and 6a, Stops Rollback to Android 12

Kellen August 15, 2022 6

As a bit of heads-up here, we wanted to let you know about a change that Google made to the bootloader in Android 13 for the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and Pixel 6a. In short, you won't be able to flash back to Android 12 once you are on Android 13. On the factory...

Google is Sending Pixel 3 and 3 XL Units to People That Can’t be Bootloader Unlocked

Kellen November 21, 2018

When you choose to buy a Google Pixel phone directly from the Google Store, like the Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL, some of you do so knowing that there are extra benefits. The biggest reason you do so is because you want the "unlocked" version, which is basically the...

ZTE Will Unlock the Axon 7 Bootloader

Kellen August 10, 2016 36

Elite h4x0rs, ZTE and its new Axon 7 might just be the company and phone for you. After apparently hearing you voice deep desires for an unlockable bootloader, the company says that it will make that an available option for those "with a high level of...

Official Bootloader Unlock Comes to Verizon Moto X (2nd Gen), Could Open Way to Marshmallow

Kellen January 11, 2016 53

Motorola will not update the Moto X (2nd gen) on AT&T or Verizon to Marshmallow. Since Motorola has gone completely silent on this decision, we don't really know where to place the blame. My guess is that there are a couple of reasons. One, Motorola doesn'...

Unlocking the Moto X Pure Edition Bootloader Voids the Warranty

Kellen September 23, 2015 95

Tinkers who own or planned to own the Moto X Pure Edition, be careful in taking the steps towards unlocking the phone's bootloader. According to Motorola, doing so will void the phone's warranty because the phone "is not a developer edition." We were looking...

How to: Unlock the Nexus 6 Bootloader (Nexus 9 Too)

Kellen November 21, 2014 53

I get that the timing of this post seems super silly, especially after the conversations we had yesterday, including one where I said I don't buy Nexus phones to flash all the things, but you know what? Many of you did buy a Nexus 6 or Nexus 9 to do just that,...

Thursday Poll: Rooted or Non-Rooted?

Kellen November 20, 2014 326

Throughout the day, thanks to topics like the Nexus 6 having encryption that can't be turned off without taking matters into your own hands, we have seen the emergence of a healthy discussion around the topic of tinkering. When we say "tinkering," we are...

FYI: Android 5.0 Introduces “Enable OEM Unlock” Option in Developer Options

Kellen November 4, 2014 68

If you buy one of the new Nexus devices - the Nexus 9 or Nexus 6 - and plan to unlock its bootloader upon first boot, so that you can get to tinkering, understand that you may have to enable the "OEM unlock" command that would typically be used to accomplish...