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Samsung One UI 8 Disables Bootloader Unlocking on Galaxy Phones

Samsung’s One UI 8 release has quietly removed the bootloader unlock toggle on Galaxy Z Flip 7, Z Fold 7 and S25 beta builds outside the US. By setting “androidboot.other.locked=1,” Samsung locks bootloaders worldwide, preventing developers and enthusiasts from flashing custom ROMs or kernels. This move tightens device security but limits advanced customization.

Published July 28, 2025 at 10:04 PM EDT in Software Development

Samsung One UI 8 Locks Bootloader Globally

Over the weekend, the developer community spotted a major change in Samsung’s latest One UI 8 operating system: the disappearance of the bootloader unlock toggle on Galaxy Z Flip 7, Z Fold 7, and One UI 8 beta builds for the Galaxy S25. Regions outside the United States—where this restriction already existed—can no longer flip the switch to install custom firmware.

What Changed Under the Hood?

By diving into the Settings app code, enthusiasts discovered the directive “androidboot.other.locked=1.” In previous versions, this flag was set to “0” outside the US—enabling bootloader unlocking for custom ROMs, kernels, and advanced testing.

Implications for Developers and Enthusiasts

  • Custom ROM installations are blocked on newly shipped devices and S25 beta units.
  • Kernel-level tweaks and custom recovery partitions become inaccessible.
  • Automated testing environments relying on unlocked bootloaders must be reengineered.

While this change enhances device security—reducing the risk of malicious firmware—it also constrains the community’s ability to innovate, troubleshoot hardware-level issues, and deliver bespoke builds for specialized use cases.

How Brands and Businesses Can Adapt

Enterprises and OEM partners need a clear roadmap for firmware compliance, secure update workflows, and rigorous QA. QuarkyByte’s analytical approach helps align mobile deployment strategies with evolving OS policies. We model staging environments to simulate locked bootloader scenarios, ensuring critical internal apps deploy seamlessly without sacrificing security.

Looking Ahead

Samsung’s shift signals a broader industry trend toward locked-down hardware ecosystems. Organizations should monitor firmware flags closely and build agile testing and deployment pipelines. With the right insights, locked bootloaders become manageable constraints rather than development roadblocks.

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