How to Fix OEM Unlock Missing on Samsung or Android

Have you ever tried to unlock the bootloader on your Samsung or Android phone only to find the OEM unlock option grayed out or missing entirely? This can be a frustrating roadblock if you want to root your device, install a custom ROM, or make other system-level modifications. In this guide, we'll walk through the reasons why OEM unlock may be missing and provide step-by-step instructions to help you get that option enabled.

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Key Takeaways

• To check if your phone's bootloader can be unlocked, search online for your specific device model and carrier along with terms like "bootloader unlock".
• Enabling Developer options is the first step to access the OEM unlock setting. Go to Settings > About phone > Build number and tap it 7 times.
• Change the date to a month or more in the past, disable auto updates, reboot, and check Developer Options for OEM Unlock.
• If the OEM unlock setting is disabled or missing after enabling Developer options, check if your phone is carrier-locked or running an older Android version.
• Unlocking the bootloader wipes the phone, so having a full backup beforehand is crucial.
• If your phone doesn't support bootloader unlocking, consider getting a device that does, like a Google Pixel or Android One phone, if you need that functionality.

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Can I Fix Missing OEM Unlock on Samsung or Android?

Yes, you can typically fix the issue of missing OEM unlock on Samsung or Android devices by enabling Developer Options in the device settings, then turning on OEM unlocking within the Developer Options menu. However, keep in mind that this process may vary slightly depending on the specific device model and Android version.

Why is OEM Unlock Missing?

There are a few common reasons you might not see the OEM unlock toggle in your phone's Developer options:

1. Your device is carrier-locked. Many carriers, especially in North America, request that phone manufacturers disable the bootloader unlock option. This is intended to prevent customers from rooting their phones and potentially violating terms of service.
2. You haven't enabled Developer options. The OEM unlock setting is hidden by default. You need to unhide the Developer options menu before you can access it.
3. Your phone doesn't support bootloader unlocking. Some phone models, often lower-end ones, have bootloaders that can't be unlocked regardless of carrier or software version.
4. You're on an older Android version. Older versions of Android didn't have the OEM unlock option at all. It was introduced in Android 5.0 Lollipop.

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Checking Your Phone's Bootloader Unlock Potential

Before trying to enable OEM unlocking, it's worth checking if your phone's bootloader can be unlocked at all. The best way to do this is to search online for your specific device model and carrier along with terms like "bootloader unlock".

Look for forum posts, articles, or videos from reputable Android enthusiast sites. They'll usually have information on whether a given phone model can be bootloader unlocked and what the process involves.

If you find clear evidence that your exact phone model and carrier combo can't be unlocked, you may be out of luck. But it's still worth continuing with this guide to check for yourself.

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Step 1: Enable Developer Options

The first step is to unhide the Developer options menu where the OEM unlock setting resides. Here's how:

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Scroll down and tap "About phone" or "About device".
3. Find the "Build number" entry and tap on it 7 times. You should see a message saying something like "You are now a developer!" after the 7th tap.
4. Go back to the main Settings menu. You should now see "Developer options" listed, likely near the bottom.

You may need to enter your device PIN or password to enable Developer options. This is normal—it's a security measure to prevent accidental changes to sensitive settings.

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Step 2: Check for the OEM Unlock Setting

Now that Developer options are enabled, let's see if the OEM unlock toggle is present:

1. Tap "Developer options" to enter the developer settings menu.
2. Look for a setting called "OEM unlocking" or "Enable OEM unlock".
3. If you see the setting and it's enabled, great! Your bootloader is likely unlockable. Skip to the next section for instructions on actually unlocking it.
4. If you see the setting but it's disabled, try tapping it. You may see a prompt asking for confirmation and warning you about the risks of bootloader unlocking. If the setting remains disabled after you try to enable it, continue to the next step.
5. If you don't see the setting at all, your phone's software may not support bootloader unlocking. Continue to the next step to investigate further.

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Step 3: Check Your Carrier and Software Version

If the OEM unlock setting is disabled or missing, your phone may be carrier-locked or running an older software version. Here's how to check:

1. Go to Settings > About phone > Software information.
2. Check the "Baseband version" or "Build number" entry. If you see your carrier's name mentioned, e.g. "TMB" for T-Mobile or "VZW" for Verizon, your phone is likely carrier-locked.
3. Check the "Android version" entry. If it's lower than Android 5.0, your software is too old to have the OEM unlock option.

So what can you do if your phone is carrier-locked or on an older Android version? Here are a few possibilities:

• Contact your carrier and ask if they can unlock your phone's bootloader. Some carriers will do this if you meet certain criteria, like having an account in good standing and a phone that's fully paid off.
• Check if there's a software update available for your phone that enables OEM unlocking. Go to Settings > System > System update to check for updates.
• Consider paid third-party unlocking services. These can be risky—there's no guarantee they'll work, and you may void your warranty. Research carefully before using one.

If none of the above options work, you may need to accept that bootloader unlocking and rooting aren't possible on your particular phone. Consider upgrading to a phone that officially supports unlocking if this functionality is important to you.

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Step 4: Backup and Unlock

If you confirmed that your phone's bootloader can be unlocked, hooray! Here are the basic steps to complete the process:

1. Enable the OEM unlock setting if it isn't already. You should see a confirmation prompt with a warning message.
2. Backup any important data on your phone. Unlocking the bootloader will factory reset your device, wiping all user data. Make sure to back up photos, videos, contacts, messages, and anything else you don't want to lose.
3. Reboot your phone into bootloader/fastboot mode. The exact process varies between devices—usually it involves powering off, then holding down the volume down and power buttons while the phone boots up.
4. Connect the phone to your computer and open a command prompt or terminal window.
5. Enter the command to unlock the bootloader. This is usually "fastboot oem unlock" or "fastboot flashing unlock", but check the documentation for your specific device to confirm.
6. On the phone, you should see a confirmation screen warning about the risks of unlocking. Use the volume keys to highlight "Unlock the bootloader" or "Yes", then use the power button to confirm.

Your phone should reboot back into the operating system with the bootloader now unlocked. You may see a warning message on each boot reminding you that the bootloader is unlocked—this is normal.

Enable OEM Unlock via ADB Samsung

Here are the concise steps to enable OEM unlock on a Samsung device via ADB:

1. Enable Developer Options on your Samsung device
2. Turn on OEM Unlocking in Developer Options
3. Connect your device to your computer with a USB cable
4. Open a command prompt/terminal window
5. Run the command: adb reboot bootloader
6. Your device will reboot into bootloader mode
7. Run the command: fastboot oem unlock
8. Confirm the unlock on your device's screen
9. Reboot your device with fastboot reboot

Note that unlocking the bootloader may void your warranty and introduces some security risks. Only proceed if you understand the implications. You'll also need to have ADB and Fastboot set up on your computer beforehand.

Fix No OEM Unlock by removing SIM

Here's a concise version of the steps to try enabling OEM unlock on a Samsung device by removing the SIM card:

1. Remove the SIM card from your phone
2. Factory reset your device
3. Reboot and connect to Wi-Fi during setup
4. Skip Google and Samsung account login during setup (if this doesn't work, try logging into both)
5. Enable Developer Options
6. Check if "OEM Unlock" is now present in Developer Options

If "OEM Unlock" appears, you can proceed with the bootloader unlock process. Keep in mind this will factory reset your device again.

Fix OEM Unlock Missing/Changing Date

Here's a concise version of the steps to try enabling OEM unlock on a Samsung device by changing the date:

1. Go to Settings > General Management > Date and Time
2. Turn off "Automatic date and time"
3. Set the date to a month or more in the past
4. Go to Settings > About Phone > Software Information
5. Tap "Build number" 7 times to enable Developer Options
6. In Developer Options, disable "Auto Update System"
7. Go to Settings > Software Update, disable "Auto download over Wi-Fi", and manually check for updates (ignore any errors)
8. Reboot your device
9. Check Developer Options for the "OEM Unlock" setting

If successful, the "OEM Unlock" option should now appear in Developer Options. Remember that enabling OEM unlocking and bootloader unlocking can void your warranty and cause security vulnerabilities, so proceed with caution.

How to Unlock Bootloader without OEM Unlock

Unlocking the bootloader without the "OEM Unlock" option is risky and not always possible. You can try:

1. Requesting an official unlock from your carrier or manufacturer
2. Searching for device-specific exploits (risky)
3. Using third-party unlocking services (many are scams)
4. Finding bootloader unlock codes for your model

However, if your device doesn't officially support bootloader unlocking, attempting these methods could compromise your device's security, stability, and warranty. Proceed with extreme caution or avoid altogether.

Conclusion

Unlocking your Android phone's bootloader opens up a whole new world of customization, but it isn't always a straightforward process. Many popular phones, especially carrier-branded models, have bootloader locking as an intentional security and warranty-enforcement measure.

If you're lucky enough to have a phone with an unlockable bootloader, just make sure to backup your data and follow instructions carefully to minimize the risk of mishaps. Do plenty of research on your specific device so you know exactly what to expect.

On the other hand, if the OEM unlock option is nowhere to be found, don't lose hope. Try checking for carrier unlocking options or software updates that could enable the feature. If all else fails, consider switching to a phone that offers official bootloader unlocking support, like a Google Pixel or an Android One device.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why is OEM unlock option not showing on Samsung?

The OEM unlock option may be missing because the device's manufacturer has locked the bootloader to prevent users from modifying the device's software for security or other reasons.

How do I enable USB debugging and OEM unlocking?

To enable USB debugging and OEM unlocking, go to Settings > About phone > Software information, then tap "Build number" seven times to enable Developer options. Go back to Settings > Developer options, and enable "USB debugging" and "OEM unlocking."

Why is the OEM option not showing on my Samsung phone?

Go to "Settings" on your Android device. Scroll down and tap on "About phone" or "About device." Locate "Build number" and tap on it seven times until you see a message saying, "You are now a developer!" Go back to the main settings menu, and you should now see "Developer options" available.

What is OEM unlocking in Samsung?

OEM unlocking is a feature that allows users to remove restrictions set by the manufacturer on the device, granting deeper access to the device's software for customization purposes.

What is another name for OEM unlock?

OEM unlock is sometimes called "Jailbreaking." It is a feature located in the Developer Options menu of the Android OS, which needs to be enabled before users can unlock the bootloader of their Android device.

Why is the OEM unlock option missing in developer menu?

Google removed the OEM Unlock option from Android 10 and later versions on its Pixel devices. Instead, a new "Bootloader Unlock" setting appears only when the device is connected to a computer, and the "fastboot flashing unlock" command is used.

Why is OEM unlock disabled?

The "OEM Unlock" option may be greyed out or disabled because the device's manufacturer or carrier has implemented restrictions to prevent unlocking the bootloader.

What is 4x MSAA in Android?

Force 4x MSAA enables multisample anti-aliasing (MSAA) in Open GL ES 2.0 apps, which can improve the visual quality of graphics but may impact performance.

Can I unlock bootloader without USB debugging?

Unlocking the bootloader without a PC is not 100% true. ADB and Fastboot, which are required for unlocking the bootloader, are only available for PC. However, it may be possible to use another Android device with OTG support to unlock the bootloader.