Compared to the few alternatives that we find in other operating systems, one of the greatest advantages it offers Android is that it is a code system 'opened'. Matches any other device -even the desktop ones- into a key component, which is the bootloader. Its translation into Spanish is, indeed, bootloader. And its function is precisely to carry out the critical functions of the Boot of the device, even before the Android operating system of our smartphone comes into play.
What is the bootloader on an Android mobile?
El bootloader, or bootloader, is a critical piece of software on any device. This comes into operation before loading the operating system, for which it implements a series of pruebas and health checks to make sure everything is working properly. In addition, it is the one that starts the instructions of the startup itself before launching the other orders. Basically, in the first instance it checks the status of the device and, in the second instance, it serves as a guide to lanzar the actions necessary for the device to initialize correctly.
Just like when you start a device you press the on or off button, the bootloader is responsible for launching the operating system. The first 'welcome' screen, in which we can see the manufacturer and model of our device, is launched by it. On the other hand, the integrity check of the boot and recovery partitions is also a thing of this software. So is running the kernel and of course initializing the operating system.
What is the use of unlocking the bootloader on Android?
El bootloader of a device, by default, is configured to load only the system files in a certain path and prevent the execution of third-party initialization files. The bootloader unlock allows us precisely this, modify the path of the first execution and allow them to load modified files of the system. But explained in simpler terms, what will allow us is install a custom recovery, which is a custom recovery menu, or a custom ROM.
Un custom recovery is the one that allows the flashing files to system storage. Even for the modification of the kernel. And one Custom ROM it's just a firmware modified based on a certain version of the Android operating system.
This can be very helpful in brand devices such as Huawei, since these do not include the services or the Google Play Store by default. By doing this, we can enable the store to have access to all the applications and games it offers, although the Chinese brand does not plan to open the Bootloader. Another alternative can be found in the installation of XNUMXrd party ROMs, which are alternative versions that have not been developed by Google or by the brands of the devices. For example, those mobiles that cannot update their operating system by decision of the manufacturer will have this possibility, being able to install later versions.
The advantages offered by the Bootloader are multiple: from installing a android update unofficial, until installing a modified firmware version to have a further customization of the device at the software level and change the appearance to our liking. Even to modify the behavior of the hardware with more updated drivers, or optimized by third parties. Nevertheless, unlock bootloader It also entails significant risks in terms of the security of our device, since malware could have greater 'attack' capabilities within its memory.
How to unlock the bootloader on an Android mobile
Apart from all this information that we have raised about the possibility of unlocking the bootloader and the options it offers to our device, we must take several factors into account before taking the step. And it is that at the time of carrying out the opening process, this may vary depending on the brand of the terminal, the model, the customization layer and even the processor that it mounts, so we must make sure of everything. Taking all this into account, we can now proceed to unlock the bootloader on the device. To do this, and in general terms, the steps to follow are the following:
- On your mobile, go to the system settings and look for the section "Device Information".
- Once there, click several times on the section "Build number" until a notice appears stating that you have unlocked the development options.
- Go back to the previous screen, and now access the Developer Options / Developer Options menu.
- Then find and activate the option "OEM Unlocking".
- Now search and activate the option "USB debugging".
- Once you have done this, connect the device to a computer via a USB cable, and open a command window –ADB or Terminal, depending on the OS you use–.
- To check that the ADB drivers are installed correctly, and that the device has been detected correctly, enter the command adb devices. If the device has been detected, its identifier will appear in the command window.
- To reboot the phone in bootloader mode, run the command adb reboot bootloader.
- Finally, to unlock the bootloader, run the command fastboot oem unlock.
What if I have the bootloader open or unlocked?
The first point to take into account if the bootloader is modified is that, except in a few cases, the device warranty is lost immediately, as this is a profound modification in the software and is not authorized by the brands. In fact, some terminals have security mechanisms so that, even if we close the bootloader again, a record remains that this was previously opened, and with this data it would be worth not to provide the guarantee.
On the other hand, when we unlock the bootloader, the mobile is completely formattedas important changes are made to the way the device handles boot. In short, if we want to fully customize our device, unlocking the bootloader is a good option. On the contrary, if we want to use original software and not take risks, it is better to leave it closed.