Samsung is clearly removing the option of unlocking its bootloader with one UI 8 update from Galaxy devices, at least at places where it was still available.
For Galaxy owners in the US, bootloader unlocking has not been available for a long time, in fact never. But in other parts of the world, Samsung left the option open. It is clearly changing with a UI 8 update.
Samaguru Reports and evidence have been collected from a UI 8, which shows that, like the US, the bootloader unlock is no longer available. In particular, the “OEM unlocking” developer option has disappeared. It is seen both on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, as well as on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 of Samsung and Beta Build on Fold 7, which ships with a UI 8 pre-installed. A Snipet from Samsung’s firmware shows it, as it does Further user conclusions,
For the wholesale of Samsung buyers, this change will not really have an effect.
Most of the smartphone buyers never touches half of the advanced options on their phones, with anything less, requiring an unlocked bootloader. As Samaguru However, it is certainly a matter of shame for enthusiastic people, who enjoy the custom Rome, kernels, or even root their devices for extended functionality.
There will still be a way to unlock bootloader, however, it will not just be a user-accessible. Samsung will still have a way to do it when needed, but the user will not do, which is changing here.
It is still not clear that a UI 8 update will make this change on devices that are already on the market, but it is completely possible. In recent years, it has become more common for Android manufacturers to disable this ability. For example, in China, Xiaomi disabled the ability to unlock its bootloader some time ago with users Take a lot of strict action To go around the border.
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