What Is OEM Unlock And Why Is It Missing On Your Samsung Galaxy Phone? How To Restore It Easily
How To Fix Missing OEM Unlock On Samsung Galaxy Phones
If you are a Samsung Galaxy user who likes to customize your device, you might have encountered a problem with the OEM Unlock option. This option is required to unlock the bootloader of your device, which allows you to flash custom ROMs, kernels, recoveries, and root your device. However, some users have reported that the OEM Unlock option is missing from their developer options menu, making it impossible to unlock the bootloader. Why does this happen and how can you fix it? In this article, we will explain what OEM Unlock is, why it is missing on some Samsung Galaxy phones, and how to fix it using four different methods.
How To Fix Missing OEM Unlock On Samsung Galaxy Phones
What is OEM Unlock and why is it missing on Samsung Galaxy phones?
OEM Unlock is a feature that allows you to unlock the bootloader of your Android device. The bootloader is a program that runs before the operating system and controls how the device boots up. By default, most Android devices have a locked bootloader, which means that you cannot modify the system partition or install custom firmware. Unlocking the bootloader gives you more freedom and control over your device, but it also voids your warranty and may cause security risks.
On most Android devices, unlocking the bootloader is a simple process that involves enabling the OEM Unlock option in the developer options menu and then using a fastboot command to unlock the bootloader. However, on Samsung Galaxy devices, things are a bit different. Samsung uses a different bootloader unlocking method that involves using a tool called Odin and flashing a special file called combination firmware.
Furthermore, Samsung has implemented a security feature called RMM (Remote Mobile Manager) or KG (KnoxGuard) that prevents you from unlocking the bootloader for a certain period of time after you activate your device. This feature is designed to protect your device from theft or unauthorized access, but it also prevents you from customizing your device. The RMM or KG state can be checked in the download mode of your device. If it says Prenormal or Locked, it means that you cannot unlock the bootloader until it changes to Normal or Unlocked.
The RMM or KG state usually changes to Normal or Unlocked after seven days of normal usage without rebooting or factory resetting your device. However, some users have reported that even after waiting for seven days or more, they still cannot see the OEM Unlock option in their developer options menu. This could be due to various reasons, such as software updates, regional restrictions, network locks, or firmware bugs.
How to fix missing OEM Unlock on Samsung Galaxy phones?
If you are facing this issue on your Samsung Galaxy phone, don't worry. There are some possible solutions that might help you fix it and enable OEM Unlock on your device. Here are four methods that you can try:
Method 1: Fix missing OEM Unlock on Samsung Galaxy phones using Day/Date tweak
This method involves changing the date and time settings of your device to trick the RMM or KG state into changing to Normal or Unlocked. Here are the steps:
Go to Settings > About phone > Software information and tap on Build number seven times to enable developer options.
Go back to Settings > Developer options and turn off Auto update system and Automatic date and time.
Set the date manually to at least one month before the current date.
Reboot your device and check if the OEM Unlock option appears in the developer options menu.
If not, repeat steps 3 and 4 until you find a date that works.
Once you see the OEM Unlock option, turn it on and confirm by tapping Turn on.
Power off your device and boot into download mode by pressing Volume Down + Bixby + Power buttons simultaneously.
Long press Volume Up button to unlock the bootloader. This will wipe your data and automatically reboot your device.
Method 2: Fix missing OEM Unlock on Samsung Galaxy phones by re-enabling Automatic date and time
This method involves re-enabling the Automatic date and time option after disabling it for a while. Here are the steps:
Go to Settings > About phone > Software information and tap on Build number seven times to enable developer options.
Go back to Settings > Developer options and turn off Auto update system and Automatic date and time.
Wait for at least an hour without rebooting or factory resetting your device.
Go back to Settings > Developer options and turn on Automatic date and time.
Reboot your device and check if the OEM Unlock option appears in the developer options menu.
If yes, turn it on and confirm by tapping Turn on.
Power off your device and boot into download mode by pressing Volume Down + Bixby + Power buttons simultaneously.
Long press Volume Up button to unlock the bootloader. This will wipe your data and automatically reboot your device.
Method 3: Fix missing OEM Unlock on Samsung Galaxy phones using Update Check tweak
This method involves checking for software updates after disabling Automatic date and time. Here are the steps:
Go to Settings > About phone > Software information and tap on Build number seven times to enable developer options.
Go back to Settings > Developer options and turn off Auto update system and Automatic date and time.
Set the date manually to at least one month before the current date.
Go back to Settings > Software update and tap on Download and install.
If there is an update available, download and install it. If not, skip this step.
Reboot your device and check if the OEM Unlock option appears in the developer options menu.
If yes, turn it on and confirm by tapping Turn on.
Power off your device and boot into download mode by pressing Volume Down + Bixby + Power buttons simultaneously.
Long press Volume Up button to unlock the bootloader. This will wipe your data and automatically reboot your device.
Method 4: Fix missing OEM Unlock on Samsung Galaxy phones by flashing a combination firmware
This method involves flashing a special firmware file called combination firmware that enables OEM Unlock by default. However, this method requires some technical knowledge and may not work for all devices or regions. Here are the steps:
Download Odin tool from here.
Download combination firmware for your device model from here.
Extract both files to a folder on your PC.
Power off your device and boot into download mode by pressing Volume Down + Bixby + Power buttons simultaneously.
Connect your device to your PC using a USB cable.
Launch Odin tool on your PC as an administrator.
In Odin tool, click on AP button and select the combination firmware file that you downloaded earlier.
In Odin tool, make sure that only Auto Reboot and F.Reset Time options are checked under Options tab.
In Odin tool, click on Start button to begin flashing the combination firmware file.
Wait for Odin tool to show PASS message in green color at the top left corner of its window.
Your device will reboot automatically into factory binary mode with yellow text at the top of its screen.
You can now disconnect your device from your PC.
Your device should now have OEM Unlock enabled by default in its developer options menu.
What are the benefits of unlocking bootloader on Samsung Galaxy phones?
Unlocking the bootloader on your Samsung Galaxy phone can give you many advantages, such as:
You can easily root your phone after unlocking bootloader. Rooting your phone gives you superuser access to your device, which allows you to modify system settings, install apps that require root permissions, and perform advanced tasks.
You can flash custom ROMs or recovery on your smartphone. Custom ROMs are alternative versions of Android that offer different features, performance, and user interface than the stock firmware. Custom recovery is a software that allows you to backup, restore, and flash various files on your device.
You can do lot's of customization to your smartphone. You can change the look and feel of your device by applying themes, icons, fonts, wallpapers, and more. You can also tweak various settings and options to improve your device's performance and battery life.
However, unlocking the bootloader also has some drawbacks, such as:
You will void your warranty and lose official support from Samsung. Unlocking the bootloader triggers the Knox security feature on your device, which permanently disables some software features and services, such as Samsung Pay, Secure Folder, and Knox Workspace.
You will stop receiving OTA updates from Samsung. Unlocking the bootloader prevents your device from installing official software updates over the air. You will have to manually flash the updates using Odin tool or rely on custom ROMs for new Android versions.
You will increase the risk of bricking your device or losing your data. Unlocking the bootloader involves wiping your device's data and flashing custom files that may not be compatible or stable with your device. If something goes wrong during the process, you may end up with a non-functional device or lose your important data.
How to backup your data before unlocking bootloader on Samsung Galaxy phones?
Before you proceed with unlocking the bootloader on your Samsung Galaxy phone, it is highly recommended that you backup your data first. This is because unlocking the bootloader will erase all the data on your device, including contacts, messages, photos, videos, apps, and more. To backup your data, you can use one of the following methods:
Use Samsung Smart Switch app to backup your data to a PC or an external storage device. You can download the app from here.
Use Google Backup service to backup your data to Google Drive. You can enable this service by going to Settings > Accounts and backup > Backup and restore > Google account.
Use third-party apps or tools to backup your data to a PC or a cloud service. Some examples are Helium Backup, Titanium Backup, Dr.Fone Backup & Restore, etc.
How to restore your data after unlocking bootloader on Samsung Galaxy phones?
After you have successfully unlocked the bootloader on your Samsung Galaxy phone, you can restore your data using one of the following methods:
Use Samsung Smart Switch app to restore your data from a PC or an external storage device. You can download the app from here.
Use Google Backup service to restore your data from Google Drive. You can enable this service by going to Settings > Accounts and backup > Backup and restore > Google account.
Use third-party apps or tools to restore your data from a PC or a cloud service. Some examples are Helium Backup, Titanium Backup, Dr.Fone Backup & Restore, etc.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained what OEM Unlock is, why it is missing on some Samsung Galaxy phones, and how to fix it using four different methods. We have also discussed the benefits and drawbacks of unlocking the bootloader on your Samsung Galaxy phone, and how to backup and restore your data before and after the process. We hope that this article has helped you to unlock the bootloader and customize your device as per your liking. However, we also advise you to proceed with caution and follow the instructions carefully, as unlocking the bootloader involves some risks and challenges. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to leave a comment below. b99f773239
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