Samsung’s One UI 8 update seems to restrict access to bootloader

Samsung’s One UI 8 interface seems to tighten its grip on the software experience. In addition. New discoveries suggest that the option allowing users to unlock the bootloader from their Galaxy devices is being deleted.

For a long time, Samsung has limited the unlocking of the bootloader on its devices in the United States. However, users of many other regions have had the freedom to unlock their devices.

This situation seems to change with the introduction of One UI 8.

Reports collected by Sammyguru indicate that the “OEM Unlocking” option. Moreover, a key element of the development parameters to initiate the unlocking process, has disappeared in the new software.

This was found in the beta versions of samsung’s one ui 8 update new One UI 8 on the ultra galaxy S25. Nevertheless. on new devices such as the Galaxy Z Flip 7 samsung’s one ui 8 update and Fold 7, which are delivered with preinstalled one UI 8.

I can confirm that the “OEM Unlocking” button is also absent from my East African version of the. Galaxy Z Fold 7.

A contributor on XDA Developers also found a specific line in the bootloader code: AndroidBoot.other.locked = 1.

This command orders the system to hide the OEM unlocking option, preventing the user from launching the unlocking procedure. The presence of this code in the latest one UI 8 firmware on non -American devices suggests that it. is now a global policy.

For the average user of a smartphone, this change will probably go unnoticed. Most people do not use the advanced parameters and are even fewer to carry out actions samsung’s one ui 8 update new requiring a unlocked bootloader.

However, for a community of enthusiasts and developers, this is an important change. The unlocking of the bootloader is samsung’s one ui 8 update the first step towards the installation of personalized ROMs. the test of different software cores or obtaining root access for personalization and more advanced features.

If you plan to update to One UI 8. buy a new Samsung device running Android 16, you should know that this restriction may apply.

It is not yet known whether this change will be applied to older devices already marketed through the UI 8 update. but that remains a possibility.

For the moment, the starting chargers of current Samsung devices not operating with One UI 8 should remain unlocking. However, this trend of manufacturers to lock the start -up chargers is not new.

Xiaomipar Example, disabled the unlocking of the bootloader samsung’s one ui 8 update new in China some time ago. Samsung has not yet made an official declaration on this subject. In the meantime. the community must observe these changes. reflect on the samsung’s one ui 8 update implications for the future of personalization of devices.