How to unlock Android Bootloader using ADB & Fastboot

This is a generic method and isn't guaranteed to work on every device.

Drop a comment below if you have questions or reach out to us on the following platforms:

Credits
Spanish & Portuguese translation by Juan Rios

Video Transcript

00:10
In this video tutorial, I'm going to explain how to unlock the bootloader for an Android device

00:16
using your ADB and fastboot

00:18
You need to unlock the bootloader in order to be able to write images via Fastboot or via the bootloader

00:25
Before you can unlock the bootloader, you need to have enabled

00:30
USB debugging and OEM unlocking so you go under Settings

00:35
And you scroll down to About and

00:39
Then scroll down to Build Number. Keep tapping till you see You are now a developer, just keep tapping build number

00:46
All right. I already did that?

00:50
Once you've done that, you go back and should have developer options enabled here

00:55
You should see that here. So you select developer options.

00:59
Now you scroll down here and you enable USB debugging. I already have that enabled.

01:05
You might get a prompt asking you to always allow. Just tick and allow.

01:11
Then you also enable OEM Unlocking.

01:15
Its very important you enable this in order to unlock the bootloader?

01:19
Now, once you have USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking enabled

01:23
make sure you've setup ADB on your PC and then we can return to unlocking the bootloader

01:32
Now, in ADB, you need to test ADB connection by typing adb devices

01:44
and you have a detection. You are going to boot the device into bootloader or fastboot by typing adb reboot-bootloader

01:53
and you tap enter so that's going to boot the device into

02:02
Fastboot and you should see

02:05
a black screen with fastboot written somewhere on the screen. In fastboot, test connection by typing

02:13
fastboot devices

02:16
Now, you want to unlock by typing fastboot. (don't forget that the command might vary)

02:23
fastboot oem unlock

02:25
For some devices, its fastboot flashing unlock , fastboot oem unlock-go or something like that

02:32
but just try this command first and research other commands if this one fails fastboot oem unlock.

02:38
Tap Enter. Now in the screen, you're going to get a prompt asking you to press the volume up

02:43
if you want to unlock or volume down if you want to cancel so I'm going to tap the

02:49
volume

02:51
increase

02:52
button, and then

02:54
wait while the

02:56
bootloader gets unlocked

03:07
So I see unlock pass returning to fastboot . For me to confirm that my bootloader has been unlocked, I type

03:17
fastboot gervar unlocked

03:23
And I see unlocked: Yes, so my bootloader has been unlocked. That's how to unlock the bootloader of an Android device

03:30
using your ADB and fastboot

[andreykuznetsov-rmrl]

My friend i do not know how i can thank you, you are the best in the world, my phone with locked bootloader started bootlooping and i needed to unlock it to get out, you saved me countless hours of hard work i had on my device, thank you so much, and to everyone reading please do not be like me and backup your data.

[nobleboss]

Unlock not allowed its written in fast boot mode on my phone
Device : lenovo k5 note a7020a48

[sulandertec]

Thank you very much it worked perfectly

[peacebypunch]

Thanks for sharing this info. Very clear instructions. Actually I did this before couple years ago but forgot the steps. I do have to install the usb driver for android though in order to detect the device in fastboot mode.

[md.shakibulhasan]

I want to unlock bootloader my phone y19 please help me

[kelvinken]

How can I enable USB debugging of a Samsung s8 without unlocking the phone

thank you so much..
it was really helpful.

[kevcraige]

hello my phone doesnt have oem unlocking...can ypou help me???

[allrounder]

How to unlock bootloader of vivo v7 1718?

[malictyrell]

What if OEM is locked and phone stuck in boot loop

[Ignacio]

How can i unlock bootloader of asus memopad fhd me320c?you can give me a programe unlock?thanks

[iamaworm]

ADB and Fastboot is a real masterpiece for gadgets problems

[axelpixel]

hi, i tried looking for the "oem unlocking" in settings, but its not there. is there a way to bring it back?
(device is galaxy tab a 9.7)

[fxrhzie]

What to do if my phone (Google Pixel 6) has lost its system, and I try to flash it with the new one, but. I can't unlock OEM because my phone can't work without a system, that's why I can't go into the settings. What should I do?

[sugarplumvodka]

It worked out up until reboot bootloader then i got the black screen with an white text saying fastboot mode on bottom left corner of the screen and that's it. It didn't change at all after i tried the adb devices cmd just stuck on the black screen with the text.

[naatwithlyrics]

My smartphone asking enter Volume up to confirm bootloader unlocked but my volume up not working but my volume button working in volume control after on mobile

[itsphivass]

fastboot oem/flashing unlock doesn't do anything, it just pends with no return... I don't have the same device displayed after rebooting : 0123456789ABCDEF device & mt6572v1_phone fastboot (after reboot)

[Renald]

why may device offline everytime i check

[saputra]

Doesn't work on vivo y12s. Unknown command

[Zoykzmc]

It shows no devices when I type fastboot devices, any ideas why? (I have an xperia z3)