Honor Re-Opens bootloader Unlocking on a Limited Trial for XDA

[svetius]

Honor's recent decision to end bootloader unlocks for their phones upset the entire community, us included, and we've been working feverishly to get them to change the decision. That said, it takes time for complaints to climb the ladder of such a big company, and we've had to settle for baby steps. :fingers-crossed:

We asked Honor for the reason behind this action and this is what they said:

"\The unlock code application service was closed on May 24th for all Huawei/ Honor products as a security measure and to avoid issues caused by ROM flashing. The decision to close the page ensured Huawei/ Honor could continue to provide an excellent user experience for all global fans.

XDA Developers are actively engaged in software development and they constantly provide valuable suggestions to optimize Honor products. Based on their feedback, that unlocked bootloaders make it easier for them to develop and create, Honor has decided to re-open bootloader unlock on an exclusive number of codes to the XDA Developer community. :highfive:

The unlock codes are available for download exclusively to XDA Developers on a first-come-first-served basis via this online form....Update: thank you to all that applied for an unlock code. We are no longer taking requests. Unlock codes will be sent out in batches, starting the week of 25 September and continuing until the end of the year. Further instructions will go out via XDA PM asap. . XDA users can apply for the codes using the form and all applicants will have the opportunity to share their feedback. It might take several weeks to receive an unlock code after requesting one, but we'll work with Honor to expedite the process as much as possible.

XDA will continue to work with Honor to give users a strong voice when decisions are made that affect their user experience. Finally, they had this to say:

Honor phones and systems have gone through rigorous testing and improvements, which is why Honor is able to offer great products at good prices for global digital natives.

 

[Daryl18]

Honor's recent decision to end bootloader unlocks for their phones upset the entire community, us included, and we've been working feverishly to get them to change the decision. That said, it takes time for complaints to climb the ladder of such a big company, and we've had to settle for baby steps. :fingers-crossed:

We asked Honor for the reason behind this action and this is what they said:

XDA Developers are actively engaged in software development and they constantly provide valuable suggestions to optimize Honor products. Based on their feedback, that unlocked bootloaders make it easier for them to develop and create, Honor has decided to re-open bootloader unlock on an exclusive number of codes to the XDA Developer community. :highfive:

The unlock codes are available for download exclusively to XDA Developers on a first-come-first-served basis via this online form. XDA users can apply for the codes using the form and all applicants will have the opportunity to share their feedback. It might take several weeks to receive an unlock code after requesting one, but we'll work with Honor to expedite the process as much as possible.

XDA will continue to work with Honor to give users a strong voice when decisions are made that affect their user experience. Finally, they had this to say:

Only for Honor devices?

Enviado desde mi BLA-L29 mediante Tapatalk

 

[svetius]

Only for Honor devices?

Yes.

 

[hackintosh5]

This is great! +1xp to Honor!

Sent from my kminiltexx using XDA Labs

 

[Criston]

Applied for the Code hope they will provide

 

[h8Aramex]

Well I am a Huawei owner and I already have my code. But I would like to still thank XDA for pushing this, and actually doing something.
Really hoping Huawei will come up with a solution.

To be fair, I kinda understand them. As it is right now, the OS on the phone is way too fragile, and you can end in a permanent brick way too easy.
But that is something they should fix on their end and not punish users for wanting to have control over these great devices.
Like, I love my Mate 10 Pro. It's one of the best on the market I believe. And hell, I am ready to purchase a Mate 20 (Pro?) if it comes out. But only, if we get custom OS support. Don't get me wrong, I actually like EMUI, and I totally don't get the complaints about EMUI. Trust me. If you complain about it, go and try Touchwiz. You will know hell. However, at some point, Huawei will stop providing updates or will focus on later models. At that point, I would still like to stay 'fresh' and have a lean OS. I had an S3 LTE, a Note 2, Note 4, LG G4, LG G Pro 2, and Cyanogen/Lineage and the others have given these devices new life.

Ps.: tl;dr: If we get custom roms, I keep buying them, my family will buy them, my friends will buy. If not, well, we all go to other brands.

 

[ming3r]

This isn't just spitting in the face of users right?

 

[2WildFirE]

Hope they change the decision and permanent opening bootloader again.

 

[Nimueh]

Well I am a Huawei owner and I already have my code. But I would like to still thank XDA for pushing this, and actually doing something.
Really hoping Huawei will come up with a solution.

To be fair, I kinda understand them. As it is right now, the OS on the phone is way too fragile, and you can end in a permanent brick way too easy.
But that is something they should fix on their end and not punish users for wanting to have control over these great devices.
Like, I love my Mate 10 Pro. It's one of the best on the market I believe. And hell, I am ready to purchase a Mate 20 (Pro?) if it comes out. But only, if we get custom OS support. Don't get me wrong, I actually like EMUI, and I totally don't get the complaints about EMUI. Trust me. If you complain about it, go and try Touchwiz. You will know hell. However, at some point, Huawei will stop providing updates or will focus on later models. At that point, I would still like to stay 'fresh' and have a lean OS. I had an S3 LTE, a Note 2, Note 4, LG G4, LG G Pro 2, and Cyanogen/Lineage and the others have given these devices new life.

Ps.: tl;dr: If we get custom roms, I keep buying them, my family will buy them, my friends will buy. If not, well, we all go to other brands.

Well I for one do NOT understand them. It's absolutely NONE of their business what we (who paid good money for OUR phones!) do with the devices! If we brick them or whatever breaks - it doesn't concern Huawei at all since it's not covered by any kind of warranty after we unlock the bootloader.

I bought the View 10 ONLY because of the Honor Open Source program and of course right after I got the damn thing everything shut down.

I for one will NOT support a company that treats their paying customers like dirt - this is my first and most definitely LAST Huawei/Honor device unless they do an about face, let us unlock our bootloaders and support custom roms. ?

 

[Surge1223]

This is great news. I'm glad that the talks with them went somewhere. Good job guys.

 

[KreAch3R]

While I truly appreciate the effort from everyone involved in this action, this doesn't help anything. If the devices are not open for everyone, they are not open for anyone.

This is the equivalent of not escalating a situation with an angry customer and giving him what he wants, a special treatment, while all the others won't get it.

That's not fair at all.

 

[MishaalRahman]

While I truly appreciate the effort from everyone involved in this action, this doesn't help anything. If the devices are not open for everyone, they are not open for anyone.

This is the equivalent of not escalating a situation with an angry customer and giving him what he wants, a special treatment, while all the others won't get it.

That's not fair at all.

This is hopefully the first step to get this decision reversed at a later stage.

And regarding your analogy comparing this to an angry customer - the people who mainly are concerned by this decision are the people who would come to XDA forums anyway. This decision is more like showing special treatment to a target demographic of angry customers than a single angry customer.

 

[moonmandev]

what about Kernel Source codes etc for more recent devices like honor play? are they planing on releasing any?

 

[garwynn]

I'm glad to see a little wiggle room on this. But as Huawei arguably has one of the top devices on market (or so I keep hearing about the P20 Pro) it also starts to make sense.

Here's hoping a good balance can be found.

 

[ghostofcain]

Well I for one do NOT understand them. It's absolutely NONE of their business what we (who paid good money for OUR phones!) do with the devices! If we brick them or whatever breaks - it doesn't concern Huawei at all since it's not covered by any kind of warranty after we unlock the bootloader.

Except you don't, in the EU at least, inspite of Honour / Huawei claims software modification, including unlocking bootloader doesn't invalidate your hardware warranty.

 

[LJAM96]

Good to see. Well done to XDA for sticking to their guns and getting Honor to soften their stance.

Hopefully if just the start and it can become a permanent policy and the Huawei side of the business to do the same. (which I heavily doubt they will
) My P20 Pro would be a perfect phone if I could get from EMUI to stock

 

[KingOfMezi]

Hello, XDA
I am a developer, can I get this benefit to unlock the bootloader of my device Honor?

 

[rodolphe06]

They must have seen aggresive concurrent Xiaomi taking some market share

 

[UnNamsa74]

what about lock code on Honor V10? some people write about not working old codes on ROM FW>=163 version. Via this service, Huawei sent new code for new room or include downgrading to old room warning with code?

 

[Nimueh]

Except you don't, in the EU at least, inspite of Honour / Huawei claims software modification, including unlocking bootloader doesn't invalidate your hardware warranty.

While that IS true you'll have a hard time getting any repairs done once you unlocked it - and besides, my hardware doesn't break due to me f*cking up by unlocking and flashing custom roms etc. If someone flashes a bad kernel and blows their chip due to overclocking or what have you the repair centers can still tell and refuse a warranty repair.

Either way you look at it - letting us unlock our devices does NOT cost them anything, but it will keep us buying their phones.