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1# 🔓️ Generic Unlock Guide
2
3- Difficulty: **Easy 📗**
4
5> [!CAUTION]
6> Read in full before you act!
7
8The standard unlocking process is to enable **OEM unlocking** from the developer options and then run some commands from fastboot.
9
10## Requirements
11
12- A device to which you can connect your patient.
13- Ability to tweak terminal commands to fit your system.
14- Ability to follow simple instructions.
15
16> [!NOTE]
17> This guide does not work with Unisoc/Spreadtrum devices!<br/>
18> They require additional steps not mentioned here.
19
20## Getting Ready
21
22To unlock you phone, you have to download SDK Platform Tools.
23
24Go to [developer.android.com](https://developer.android.com/tools/releases/platform-tools#downloads) and download the package for your OS (most likely Windows) and extract the archive where appropriate.
25On Linux it may be better to use your distro's package manager, although the package may be quite old.
26
27### Windows
28
29On Windows, some devices might require special drivers. In these cases, Windows can download them automatically.
30Otherwise, go to [OEM USB Drivers](https://developer.android.com/studio/run/oem-usb) and search for your manufacturer.
31If your device isn't included in this list, you'll have to search for drivers yourself.
32
33### Linux
34
35> Should only happen when using the archive version.
36
37If you run `./fastboot devices` now, you may get a `no permissions; see [http://developer.android.com/tools/device.html]` error.
38
39One solution is to use `sudo`, `pkexec` or `run0`,
40but the correct way is to set up `udev` rules for the adb/fastboot binary to work. The procedure usually depends on the distribution.
41
42## OEM Unlocking
43
44To enable OEM Unlocking, you must first gain access to Developer Options.
45
46> [!NOTE]
47> OEM Unlocking allows you to unlock the bootloader, but it also disables Google's factory reset protection.
48
49On almost all Android phones you will need to go to "About Device" or similar to unlock the dev options,
50in this menu look for "Build Number",
51now tap the button several times until a confirmation toast/prompt appears.
52
53Now you can search for Developer options and from there enable OEM Unlocking.
54
55## Fastboot
56
57Now you need to restart your phone in Fastboot mode.
58This varies from device to device, but can usually be done by pressing and holding the power and volume down button while the phone is switched off.
59Another option is to use ADB:
60
61```sh
62adb reboot bootloader
63```
64
65To unlock the bootloader, you have to run the following commands in fastboot mode.
66
67<details><summary>Almost all modern devices</summary>
68<p>
69
70```sh
71fastboot flashing unlock
72```
73
74</p>
75</details>
76
77<details><summary>Older devices</summary>
78<p>
79
80```sh
81fastboot oem unlock
82```
83
84</p>
85</details>
86
87## Troubleshooting
88
89> I cannot get into Fastboot.
90
91If you cannot boot into Fastboot using the volume buttons, try the ADB command above.
92If the device still refuses to boot, your OEM may have restricted fastboot access,
93in which case you'll need to consult device-specific guides.
94
95> I get `fastboot flashing unlock: FAILED (remote: Unrecognized command flashing unlock)` when I try to run the command.
96
97Make sure the device is in Fastboot mode, not FastbootD. FastbootD is for other things.
98
99If Fastboot still doesn't recognise your commands,
100your OEM may have removed the correct unlock command,
101in which case you'll need to consult device-specific guides.