Because ro.boot.other.locked is now definitely set to 1, the OEM Unlocking toggle is not videoed in the UI, and the background unlocking logic seems to have been removed or turned off within the bootloader binary. This means that the entire process of unlocking the bootloader is now dead, even if you were to use ADB or fastboot CLI tools for unlocking.
Comparing with Xiaomi’s HyperOS Lockdown and Google’s Play Integrity
The same has happened to Samsung as a result of their decision to make the same to the market that OEM Unlocking have made to restrict users from operations:
- Xiaomi HyperOS: Enable bootloader unlocking only after several weeks of waiting and also it is bound to Mi Account limitations, but functionality is still there at least.
- Google’s Play Integrity API: This is the SafetyNet replacement. It limits situations where rooted devices and custom firmware can access apps such as Google Wallet, Netflix, etc.
IRL, Samsung is way ahead of both by simply deleting the unlocking option.
Why This Change Matters for Developers and Enthusiasts
🔒 Custom Development is Now Dead on New Samsung Devices
The kernel, recoveries (TWRP), or AOSP-based ROMs developers who are now locked out of Samsung’s latest foldables generation and possibly all the future ones because of no unlocked bootloader:
- Magisk runtime root access is disabled
- Disallowed to install custom recovery
- Unavailability of kernel-level debugging/development support
With the One UI 8 upgrade, Samsung has removed the OEM Unlocking option from Developer Settings on the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Flip7. No more U.S. only—this change is now worldwide, meaning that Samsung is significantly limiting the user’s freedom and the history of company’s support for bootloader unlocking.
Given the removal of the option to unlock bootloader, the enthusiasts’ community is fuming. Without bootloader unlocking there will be no possibility for root access, custom ROM, or deep modifications of the system. The consequences are catastrophic, and they are discussed at length below.
The Evolution and Significance of Samsung’s OEM Unlocking Feature
Samsung has always tried to be secure and at the same time to give their users some level of freedom. OEM Unlocking was launched to help users unlock bootloader, thus giving them complete control over their devices. This option was essential for:
- Downloading and installing custom ROMs (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience)
- Obtaining root access for utilizing advanced app features and making system modifications
- Working on apps that require root-level permissions
- Allowing the device to be used for longer than the official update period
The modifications which came with One UI 8 basically sealed the fate of these features and are a larger trend of OEMs closing their ecosystems under the guise of “security” and “user protection.”
The Technical Reason: ro.boot.other.locked=1
The internal system property that controls the availability of OEM Unlocking is ro.boot.other.locked. Up to this point, this flag was set to 0 (or basically not specified) on Samsung global handsets. The switch to One UI 8 saw Samsung turning on the flag for all versions, no matter the region. Here is the code snippet that corresponds to this:
@Override
public boolean isAvailable() {
return !SystemProperties.get("ro.frp.pst").equals("") &&
!SystemProperties.get("ro.boot.other.locked").equals("1") &&
!KnoxGuardManager.getInstance().shouldBlockCustomRom() &&
mOemLockManager != null;
}
Because ro.boot.other.locked is now definitely set to 1, the OEM Unlocking toggle is not videoed in the UI, and the background unlocking logic seems to have been removed or turned off within the bootloader binary. This means that the entire process of unlocking the bootloader is now dead, even if you were to use ADB or fastboot CLI tools for unlocking.
Comparing with Xiaomi’s HyperOS Lockdown and Google’s Play Integrity
The same has happened to Samsung as a result of their decision to make the same to the market that OEMs have made to restrict users from operations:
- Xiaomi HyperOS: Enable bootloader unlocking only after several weeks of waiting and also it is bound to Mi Account limitations, but functionality is still there at least.
- Google’s Play Integrity API: This is the SafetyNet replacement. It limits situations where rooted devices and custom firmware can access apps such as Google Wallet, Netflix, etc.
IRL, Samsung is way ahead of both by simply deleting the unlocking option.
Is There a Way to Re-Enable OEM Unlocking on One UI 8?
❌ As of Now, No Workaround Exists
It seems that the part of the bootloader code that handles unlocks has been removed or turned off, so re-enabling OEM Unlocking is not an option at the moment. Neither creating engineering bootloader builds nor changing persist.sys.oem_unlock_allowed by ADB will make ro.boot.other.locked go away.
⚠️ Flashing an Older Bootloader? Proceed with Caution
Rolling back bootloaders is not allowed on Samsung phones due to the rollback prevention (RP) fuse, hence it is impossible. The device can never flash older firmware once it has been updated to a version with a newer bootloader. Those who updated to One UI 8 are essentially in a permanent lock.
Are We Approaching a Walled Garden Like iOS?
Theoretically, Android can still be considered somewhat open with sideloading technically available (so far). However, the disappearance of the OEM Unlocking feature could be a sign of a potential future:
- No sideloading of APKs
- App installs only via Galaxy Store or Play Store
- Enforced Play Integrity even for debugging
- Custom recovery blocked at the bootloader level
Samsung is seemingly doing just that, slowly but steadily copying Apple’s tightly
What Can You Do as a User?
- Hold Off on Updates: If your device hasn’t gotten the One UI 8 update yet, turn off auto-updates right now.
- Check ro.boot.other.locked: Try using a root terminal to see if the flag is there (on old devices only).
- Explore Other Brands: If unlocked bootloader is a top priority for you, go with Pixel devices, Fairphone, or OEMs like ASUS or Nothing.
- Join Advocacy Forums: To gather a bigger force and get more ears to listen to you, communities like XDA and Reddit’s r/
The Road Ahead: Is Bootloader Freedom Dead?
Samsung’s move is widely seen to be an indicator that it could be the start of a decline in device freedom for the Android phones that are most popular with users. While it is true that most users may never notice or may care very little, developers and power users now need to rethink their association with Samsung hardware.
In the event that Google implements a similar strategy, coupled with the continuous evolution of Play Integrity, the act of unlocking the bootloader might as well become history, only retaining a niche status among brands that are less known or among custom hardware.
Final Thoughts
OEM Unlocking is not simply the turn of a Setting; it represents the last line between the user’s control and the corporate one. The removal of it is the message that Samsung has given, representing a preference for security and legal protection over trust from the developers and contribution from the community.
If Samsung does not reverse this decision and bring back OEM Unlocking in the forthcoming updates, the company will definitely lose a considerable portion of its most devoted Android community niche.