Android Wipes Itself When You Unlock Your Bootloader If your device’s bootloader is unlocked, you will see an unlocked padlock icon on the screen during the start of the boot process. You can’t install a custom operating system – the bootloader will refuse to load it. Even Google’s Nexus line of devices, intended as developer devices, have locked bootloaders.Ī device with a locked bootloader will only boot the operating system currently on it. It’s not just that carriers and manufacturers want to own your hardware and prevent you from installing custom ROMS on it – although they do – there are good security reasons. Android devices come with locked bootloaders for a reason.
