Nothing is a new smartphone brand but has accomplished great success through its unique smartphone lineup in a short time. In the past few years, they have released three generations of smartphones. Notably, they allow users to unlock the bootloader for manual modifications. If you also want to unlock the bootloader of a Nothing Phone, this guide is for you.
Nothing phones are powered by NothingOS, one of the best and most powerful custom UI. It is like a stock UI with a unique and stylish finish from Nothing. In my opinion, NothingOS is the best selling point of the phone.
As a security measure, just like every other brand, Nothing also locks the bootloader locked on their phones. This prevents any system-level modifications and ensures the device’s security. But what if you are the owner and want to customize your phone without restrictions, you can unlock the bootloader to achieve this.
How to unlock the bootloader of Nothing Phones
Since there are no restrictions on unlocking the bootloader of a Nothing phone, anyone can unlock the bootloader. However, it’s important to know the pros and cons of unlocking the bootloader before proceeding.
Unlocking the bootloader will erase all the data on your device. It might also void your phone’s warranty. Additionally, some stock functionalities, such as banking apps, may not work. On the advantage side, there are many benefits, including the possibility of rooting the device, support for advanced apps, custom recoveries, and more.
Since unlocking the bootloader of Nothing phone will erase all data, make sure to back up all important data beforehand. You’ll need a PC, your phone, and a USB cable for the process. Now let’s jump into the steps.
Enable OEM Unlocking and USB Debugging
- Open Settings on your Phone and go to About Phone > tap Nothing OS banner. Here tap seven times on the Build Number.
- Now go back to main Settings and navigate to System > Developer options.
- Scroll down and enable OEM Unlocking and USB Debugging.
Unlock the Bootloader
- If you don’t have adb and fastboot installed on your PC, download and extract the SDK platform tools.
- Open the command window from the extracted platform tools on your PC. On Mac, right-click on the folder and select “New Terminal at Folder.” On Windows, type “CMD” in the file location bar. Alternatively, refer to this guide for more information.
- Once the command window opens, connect your Phone to your PC using a USB cable. Make sure your phone is unlocked. Now, enter the following command.
- adb devices
- You’ll get a confirmation message on your phone to allow debugging. After allowing it, run the same command again, and it’ll display a device id.
- Now enter this command to boot your phone into the bootloader.
- adb reboot bootloader
- Once your phone is in bootloader mode, enter the command below to check if the phone is connected properly.
- fastboot devices
- If you see a device ID, this means that your phone is connected and ready for bootloader unlocking. If not, try again or repeat the process. Now, enter the following command.
- fastboot flashing unlock
- You’ll receive a confirmation on your phone. Use the volume buttons to navigate and the power button to select. Choose “Unlock the bootloader” and wait for the process to finish.
- Your device should automatically reboot once the bootloader is unlocked. If it doesn’t, you can manually reboot it.
That’s it! You’ve successfully unlocked the bootloader of your Nothing phone. This process should work for most Nothing devices. After this, you can root your phone or use other customization options that require an unlocked bootloader. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments.
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