In this guide, we will show you the steps to unlock the bootloader on any Nothing and CMF Phone. The budget domain was already saturated with a slew of noteworthy names. So to be a relatively new player in the market and make a name for yourself was never going to be an easy task. However, the folks who left OnePlus managed to do just that and in quite some style. Breaking away from the usual traditions, it offered a breath of fresh air, across both the software and hardware front.
Whether it was the customizable Glyph interface or the dotted UI/UX, it was welcomed with open hands by the masses. But Nothing didn’t stop here as it has something more to offer- in the form of its sub-brand CMF. Shortform for Color, Material, and Finish, it offers a slew of customizations, including the ability to remove the back cover [though you cannot replace the battery] and attach numerous gadgets including the likes of a card case, lanyard, and stand.
If we talk about the tech enthusiasts, well, the OEM didn’t disappoint in that segment either. The devices have already been blessed with numerous modules, tweaks, and ROMs. But before you can welcome abode any of these mods, there is an important prerequisite that you need to checkmark off the list- the bootloader on your Nothing/CMF Phone should be unlocked. And in this guide, we will show you how to do just that. So without further ado, let’s get started.
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Benefits and Risks of Bootloader Unlocking
Unlocking the bootloader is the gateway to extracting the maximum benefits of Android’s open-source ecosystem. For example, you will be able to install a custom ROM or flash a custom recovery like TWRP. Likewise, you will also be able to get access to the system partition as well as administrative privileges by rooting your device via Magisk. This will then allow you to flash Magisk Modules, LSPosed Framework, Substratum Themes, Viper4Android, etc.
However, carrying out these tweaks brings in a few uninvited risks as well. To begin with, it will wipe off all the data and could nullify the device’s warranty as well. Along the same lines, it will degrade the Widevine L1 certification to L3, thereby preventing you from streaming content in HD [FIXED]. The SafetyNet will be triggered as well [FIXED], thereby preventing you from using banking apps [FIXED]. So if that’s well and good then let’s get started with the steps.
How to Unlock Bootloader on Nothing/CMF Phone
The below process will wipe off all the data from your device and “might” nullify its warranty. So please take a complete device backup beforehand. Droidwin and its members wouldn’t be held responsible in case of a thermonuclear war, your alarm doesn’t wake you up, or if anything happens to your device and data by performing the below steps.
STEP 1: Install Android SDK
First and foremost, you will have to install the Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC. This is the official ADB and Fastboot binary provided by Google and is the only recommended one. So download it and then extract it to any convenient location on your PC. Doing so will give you the platform-tools folder, which will be used throughout this guide.
STEP 2: Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking
Next up, you will have to enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking on your device. The former will make your device recognizable by the PC in ADB mode. This will then allow you to boot your device to Fastboot Mode. On the other hand, OEM Unlocking is required to carry out the bootloader unlocking process.
So head over to Settings > About Phone > Tap on Build Number 7 times > Go back to Settings > System > Advanced > Developer Options > Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking.
STEP 3: Boot Nothing/CMF Phone to Fastboot Mode
- Connect your device to the PC via USB cable. Make sure USB Debugging is enabled.
- Then head over to the platform-tools folder, type in CMD in the address bar, and hit Enter. This will launch the Command Prompt.
- Type in the following command in the CMD window to boot your device to Fastboot Mode
adb reboot bootloader
- Now type in the below command to verify the Fastboot Connection
fastboot devices
- If you get a device ID followed by the fastboot keyword, then the connection stands successful.
- If that is not the case, then please install Fastboot Drivers onto your PC.
STEP 4: Unlock the Bootloader on Nothing/CMF Phone
- Type in the below command in the CMD window that is opened inside the platform-tools
fastboot flashing unlock
- At this point in time, you will get a confirmation message on your device. Use the Volume keys to select the Unlock the Bootloader option and hit the Power key to confirm it.
- The device will undergo a reset and then the bootloader will be unlocked. Do keep in mind that the first boot might take up to a minute, this is completely normal.
- Furthermore, you will have to log in to Google ID and set up your device from scratch, since a wipe has taken place.
That’s it. These were the steps to unlock the bootloader on Nothing and CMF Phone. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution as soon as possible.
How to Unlock Critical Partitions in Nothing/CMF Phone [Optional]
While unlocking the bootloader will open the gateway for flashing custom ROMs, however, some developers additionally require you to unlock the device’s critical partition as well. So refer to the below steps to get this job done [as before, the process will reset your device and might nullify the warranty, so exercise caution].
- To begin with, boot your device to Fastboot Mode, as explained above.
- Then execute the below command to unlock the critical partitions on your device
fastboot flashing unlock_critical
- You might now get a confirmation message on your device.
- Use the Volume keys to select the Unlock the Bootloader option and hit the Power key to confirm it.
- Finally, execute the below command to boot your device to the OS
fastboot reboot
- That’s it. The bootloader as well as the critical partitions on your Nothing/CMF Phone is now unlocked.
