While Huawei smartphones haven’t always been the best choice when it comes to custom ROMs, one thing that has always been accessible is the ability to unlock the bootloader. An unlocked bootloader is the first step into the magical world of rooting, but after May 24, Huawei will stop offering this service.
Huawei devices are one of the simplest devices when it comes to unlocking bootloaders. By visiting their official website, creating an account, and inputting your phone information, Huawei will provide an unlock code for your device. With the OEM unlock code, you could unlock your bootloader using ADB commands.
However, an announcement from Huawei (which we learn about thanks to a tweet by Paul O’ Brien) was released on May 24, stated that this service would not be available for any devices released after this date. For older devices, you will no longer be able to use the website to obtain the OEM unlock code after July 23, 2018.
We reached out to Huawei and got an official response on the matter:
“In order to deliver the best user experience and prevent users from experiencing possible issues that could arise from ROM flashing, including system failure, stuttering, worsened battery performance, and risk of data being compromised, Huawei will cease providing bootloader unlock codes for devices launched after May 25, 2018. For devices launched prior to the aforementioned date, the termination of the bootloader code application service will come into effect 60 days after today’s announcement. Moving forward, Huawei remains committed to providing quality services and experiences to its customers. Thank you for your continued support.”
The decision to stop providing bootloader unlock codes is a 180-degree flip from earlier this year. With their push into the US market, Huawei decided to send early copies of the Honor View 10 to custom ROM developers to create ROMs for their upcoming devices. When combined with Project Treble, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro and Honor View 10 were significantly better at addressing the wants and needs of the aftermarket community, becoming one of the best phones for those wishing to try out new ROMs. But, with this news, this will no longer be the case.
What do you think about Huawei’s decision to eliminate the unlock codes? Will you try to unlock your device before the July 23 deadline? Let us know in the comment below.
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