Not being an Android-Expert, it wasn't quite obvious for me how to unlock the bootloader of the FP4. Although there is an official guide from Fairphone on how to prepare an FP4 to be able to unlock the bootloader, the crucial part to actually unlocking is missing. Perhaps it's obvious to the average Android-Enthusiast, but for me it certainly wasn't ;-)
This guide shows how to unlock the bootloader of a FP4, as it is intended by Fairphone. So it's kind of official; yet I'm not related to Fairphone.. I just own a FP4.
1. Backup personal data
Unlocking the bootloader will also do a factory-reset of the phone. So a backup of personal data is required.
2. OEM unlocking
"OEM unlocking" must be enabled for unlocking the bootloader. There is an official guide on how to enable "OEM unlocking" for FP3 and FP4:
www.fairphone.com
Just follow through the guide an come back afterwards.
3. Prepare USB-Debugging
Connect the phone via USB-Cable to a PC and enable "USB-Debugging" under Settings->System->Advanced->Developer options.
On the PC you need the Android SDK Platform-Tools ('adb' and 'fastboot' command), which can be downloaded here:
developer.android.com
If everything is setup correctly you can open a terminal and run the following command:
It should print out something like:
4. Actually unlocking the bootloader
Run this command to restart the phone and get in fastboot mode:
Your phone will shutdown and then show a screen which says at the bottom "device statue - locked"
Now, the bootloader can be unlocked with the following command:
Follow the instructions on the phone-screen and the phone's bootloader will finally be unlocked... also a factory-reset will be done, thus deleting all personal data.
I wish I had this guide, when I got my phone, so I hope it can now be helpful to someone else
This guide shows how to unlock the bootloader of a FP4, as it is intended by Fairphone. So it's kind of official; yet I'm not related to Fairphone.. I just own a FP4.
1. Backup personal data
Unlocking the bootloader will also do a factory-reset of the phone. So a backup of personal data is required.
2. OEM unlocking
"OEM unlocking" must be enabled for unlocking the bootloader. There is an official guide on how to enable "OEM unlocking" for FP3 and FP4:
Bootloader Unlocking Code for Fairphone 3 - Fairphone
Instructions on how to unlock the bootloader of your Fairphone 3.
www.fairphone.com
3. Prepare USB-Debugging
Connect the phone via USB-Cable to a PC and enable "USB-Debugging" under Settings->System->Advanced->Developer options.
On the PC you need the Android SDK Platform-Tools ('adb' and 'fastboot' command), which can be downloaded here:
SDK Platform Tools release notes | Android Developers
Android SDK Platform-Tools is a component for the Android SDK.
developer.android.com
adb devices It should print out something like:
abc123 device 4. Actually unlocking the bootloader
Run this command to restart the phone and get in fastboot mode:
adb reboot bootloader Your phone will shutdown and then show a screen which says at the bottom "device statue - locked"
Now, the bootloader can be unlocked with the following command:
fastboot flashing unlock Follow the instructions on the phone-screen and the phone's bootloader will finally be unlocked... also a factory-reset will be done, thus deleting all personal data.
I wish I had this guide, when I got my phone, so I hope it can now be helpful to someone else
