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Samsung One UI 8 Update Removes OEM Unlocking Option for Flashing Custom ROMs: Report

Samsung One UI 8 Update Removes OEM Unlocking Option for Flashing Custom ROMs: Report

Not even a brute force workaround may be sufficient to unlock the bootloader on Galaxy devices running One UI 8.

Written by Shaurya Tomer, Edited by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 28 July 2025 10:39 IST

Samsung One UI 8 Update Removes OEM Unlocking Option for Flashing Custom ROMs: Report

The evidence was discovered in a stable One UI 8 build on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 (pictured)

Highlights

One UI 8 reportedly won't allow developers to flash custom ROMs
OEM Unlocking toggle is said to be missing from developer settings
Samsung previously locked bootloader on US variants of its phones

Samsung released its Android 16-based One UI 8 firmware with the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 earlier this month. Among the myriad of new additions, the South Korean tech giant is said to have quietly removed a few features too. According to a report, the OEM Unlocking setting is nowhere to be found in the One UI 8 stable build. This option enables Samsung users to flash and run custom ROMs on their Galaxy devices.

No OEM Unlocking in One UI 8

According to a SammyGuru report, Samsung has removed the OEM Unlocking toggle which was previously found in the developer options. This is said to be applicable on the stable One UI 8 build that was released with the seventh-generation Galaxy foldables, as well as the One UI 8 Beta update for the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

However, this isn't any glitch in the initial firmware releases. Developers on XDA forum reportedly unearthed evidence that Samsung has removed the toggle of the OEM Unlocking feature from the Android 16-based firmware's code altogether.

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The SystemProperties.get("ro.boot.other.locked").equals("1") code snippet reportedly reveals the change in functionality. When the equals value is set to 0, the user can reportedly unlock the bootloader. It is not possible to do so when the value is set to 1. Up until now, the US variants of Samsung phones are said to have this value set to 1, whereas handsets available in all other markets could have the bootloader unlocked.

However, One UI 8's code reportedly has this value set to 1 as default for the international units too. This was observed by the publication in the AYFK build on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7.

This revelation suggests that Samsung has intentionally made the change and One UI 8 does have the OEM Unlocking option disabled for everyone. Since the bootloader does not have the code to unlock itself, users may not be able to access it until the company decides to add the logic back in. Further, the report suggests that even a brute force workaround may not unlock the bootloader on Galaxy devices running One UI 8.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Slim and sleek IP48-rated design
One UI 8 brings plenty of handy AI features
Vibrant displays with thin borders
Battery lasts a day of heavy use

Bad
Hinge is a bit too stiff or rigid
Cover display experience underwhelming
Gets very hot when using the camera
Charging is relatively slow

Read detailed Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review

Display (Primary) 6.90-inch

Cover Display 4.10-inch

Cover Resolution 948x1048 pixels

Processor 3.3 MHz deca-core

Front Camera 10-megapixel

Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB, 12GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

Battery Capacity 4300mAh

OS Android 16

Resolution 2520x1080 pixels

More Samsung mobiles Samsung mobiles price in India

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Further reading: One UI 8, One UI 8 Beta, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, Bootloader, Samsung

Shaurya Tomer

Email Shaurya Tomer

Shaurya Tomer is a Sub Editor at Gadgets 360 with 2 years of experience across a diverse spectrum of topics. With a particular focus on smartphones, gadgets and the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), he often likes to explore the industry's intricacies and innovations – whether dissecting the latest smartphone release or exploring the ethical implications of AI advancements. In his free time, he often embarks on impromptu road trips to unwind, recharge, and ...More