Samsung is reportedly removing the bootloader unlocking on all phones with One UI 8 update

Samsung may be tightening control over its smartphones with the upcoming One UI 8 update. According to a report by a contributor on XDA Developers, the company appears to be disabling bootloader unlocking across a broader range of devices, including international models that previously supported it.

The new restriction
Traditionally, Samsung phones in the US did not offer the OEM Unlocking toggle in Developer Options, preventing users from unlocking their bootloaders. However, a change spotted in the latest One UI 8 beta firmware suggests this restriction could now be expanding globally. The key discovery is a new line in the bootloader configuration — androidboot.other.locked=1.

This line disables the OEM Unlock toggle entirely, blocking the initial step required to unlock the bootloader. Its presence in non-US firmware implies that Samsung may no longer allow bootloader unlocking even in regions where it was previously possible.

User reports and device checks
Initial user reports suggest that devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 running the One UI 8 beta do not show the OEM Unlock option in Developer Options. This was confirmed by users outside the US, indicating the restriction may no longer be region-specific. Some speculate this could be an oversight in the beta, but no clarification has been issued by Samsung yet.