How to Unlock Bootloader on Mediatek Device

[Linux User]

If you are looking to unlock your Mediatek device’s bootloader then Here I have brought you a step by step guide on how to unlock bootloader on Mediatek device. Bootloader unlock on Mediatek device will open up a whole new world of possibilities for the device such as custom ROM, custom recovery, mods etc.

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DISCLAIMER:
YOUR WARRANTY MAY BE VOID IF YOU ARE GOING TO UNLOCK BOOTLOADER ON MEDIATEK CHIPSET DEVICE.
YOUR PHONE DATA MIGHT BE DELETED DURING THIS PROCESS, SO MAKE SURE TO HAVE A BACKUP BEFORE YOU UNLOCK BOOTLOADER ON YOUR MEDIATEK PHONE.
I CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IN ANYWAY FOR THE MISTAKES DONE BY YOU.
[/su_note]
 

Why to Unlock Bootloader on the Mediatek Device

Most of the Android phone manufacturers now a days lock the bootloader, so as to prevent modification of the stock firmware or software that is installed on the Android phone regardless of Mediatek chipset based or other.

A bootloader is a software code that runs when an Android phone is powered up, whose job is to load the boot image then rest of the software will be loaded by the boot image.

So, when you are powering up the phone or entering into recovery mode, there is a boot kernel that is loaded by the bootloader to memory to execute. The bootloader is locked to make sure the bootable image always remains the same and cannot be altered.

To be able to alter or modify the bootable image to be loaded by the bootloader, you need to unlock the bootloader.

What you can do after Unlocking Bootloader on Mediatek phone

Well, after unlocking the bootloader, you are free to flash or install any bootable image you want to.
But still it is not easy. You cannot just install anything into it.

Every Android phone has a recovery mode which is usually used to recover the Android phone if the phone software has gone bad or to reset phone to factory mode etc.
To be able to alter the stock Android software or to install any other Android Custom ROM to your Mediatek phone you need to first install a custom recovery image.

TWRP is a popular custom recovery available for many or almost all Android phones out there.
After installing the TWRP recovery to your Mediatek phone you can ROOT your phone, install LineageOS, or any other custom ROM or you can install mods, etc.

Now, How to Unlock Bootloader on any Mediatek Device

I believe you are clear why we need to unlock bootloader on Mediatek phone or any Android phone. If not, you can always reply to this thread if you have any doubt on this.

Before you unlock bootloader on your Mediatek Device, make sure you have the following:

• A Mediatek chipset based Android phone
• USB cable to connect your Mediatek Phone to PC
• A Windows, Linux or MAC PC
• USB drivers for your Mediatek phone
• ADB and fastboot utility installed on your PC

  – 15 Seconds ADB Installer for Windows
  – Minimal ADB and Fastboot for Windows
  – ADB and fastboot for Linux and MAC

• Take complete backup of your Android phone [OPTIONAL]

Step by Step guide to Unlock bootloader on Mediatek Phone:

Many Mediatek phones are already bootloader unlocked. Which means you don’t need to unlock bootloader on your Mediatek Phone at all.

Before following the below steps to unlock bootloader on your Mediatek phone, check if you already have an unlocked bootloader
How to check if bootloader is unlocked or not

If you see your device’s bootloader is locked then you can follow the below steps to unlock the bootloader on any Mediatek Phone:
Make sure you have already installed ADB and fastboot utilities on your PC.
You have installed USB drivers for your Mediatek phone.

1. Download and install the ADB and Fastboot binaries using the above installer download link for Windows or Linux or MAC.
2. Enable USB Debugging under Developer Options, to make the device accessible via ADB.

   – If you don’t know how to do this then here is How to Enable Developer Options and How to Enable USB Debugging and OEM unlock.

3. Open the command console on your PC. To open a command window in the current directory in Windows, press shift + Right Click anywhere on Windows explorer, or some folder.

   – Then on the menu opened, just press the “w” key on the keyboard or select “Open command window here” to open a command window.

4. Now connect your Android to the PC using a USB cable.
5. Enter the following command on the command window: adb reboot bootloader to put your Android into bootloader mode where you can unlock the bootloader

   – If your Android device asks permission such as “Allow USB debugging” then just tap on OK to proceed.

6. Execute the following fastboot command from the bootloader mode to know the bootloader unlock status:
   fastboot devices

   – If you see a device Id in the output then your phone is accessible via fastboot.
   – If not check if you have proper drivers installed or not.
   – you may uninstall and re-install the USB drivers for your device and try again.

7. Then execute the following fastboot command to unlock the bootloader:
   fastboot oem unlock

Sometimes, you cannot unlock bootloader on Mediatek device by following this guide, if the OEM has some other way to unlock bootloader. Such as a Motorola device. To unlock a Motorola phone’s bootloader you need an unlock code which needs to be given to the fastboot oem unlock command.

To unlock a Mediatek based Motorola device’s bootloader you need to follow how to unlock bootloader on Motorola phone.

How to check if Bootloader is unlocked on your Mediatek device or not

Check bootloader unlock status using dialer app method:

1. Open the dialer app and enter the following code: *#*#7378423#*#*
   this will open a window.
   If there is no window opened then you need to check the bootloader status by executing fastboot command on a PC which is in the next method.
2. Once the window opens, go to Service Info > Configuration
   On the next window you will see one of the following info:

   Bootloader unlock allowed - Yes
   – This means that the Bootloader is Locked

   Bootloader Unlocked - Yes
   – This means that the Bootloader is already unlocked

 

Check bootloader unlock status using fastboot method:

1. Restart your Mediatek Phone into bootloader mode.

   – Power off the phone
   – Press appropriate key combination for your phone while pressing the power button

   – If you don’t know key combination for bootloader mode on your phone then just connect your phone to your PC (while the phone is in power on state) and execute the following ABD command:
   adb reboot bootloader

2. Open a command prompt or a terminal and execute the following fastboot command from the bootloader mode to know the bootloader unlock status:
   fastboot oem device-info

– Among other info you will see the following:
Device unlocked: true if the bootloader is unlocked or false if the bootloader is locked

If you are having trouble following this guide, then login and reply here. I will address all your queries as far as possible.

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