Xiaomi just launched its new “HyperOS” skin for Android devices, but in a bit of a twist of the knife to enthusiasts, the company is not only disabling the option to unlock the bootloader but is also ...

I've been writing about Android since 2011, with a focus on device reviews, Samsung and Google Pixel hardware, and the latest happenings in the ecosystem. In my entire writing career, I've reviewed ...

Chris Thomas was a reporter at Android Police from 2022 until 2025. People generally want the ability to use purchased devices how they see fit. Xiaomi, on the other hand, wants to maintain ...

Xiaomi has confirmed that it is blocking bootloader unlocking by default on HyperOS phones. The company says you’ll need to apply for permission to unlock your HyperOS device via its forum. MIUI and ...

Unlocking your phone’s bootloader is an essential step if you want to install alternative ROMs, beta versions of Android, different operating systems, or get root access for greater control. So it was ...

Xiaomi just introduced strict restrictions to unlocking the bootloader on its HyperOS-running phones, citing security and data protection. While MIUI devices offer some amount of flexibility in this ...

OnePlus is tightening the rules around bootloader access with its latest software update. With the rollout of ColorOS 16 in China, users who want to unlock their phone’s bootloader will now need to ...

Google‘s new Pixel phones have an unusual issue. Not all of them, but a few early buyers of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro have noticed that the devices have arrived with an unlocked bootloader. It’s ...