Samsung’s One UI 8 might shut down bootloader unlocking on Galaxy phones

Samsung's upcoming One UI 8 update appears to restrict the ability to unlock the bootloader on Galaxy phones, including the newly released Galaxy Z Fold 7. This change was first noticed by users on the XDA Developers forum, who discovered a line of code in the Settings app that indicates the bootloader will be locked, preventing users from installing custom ROMs and making other modifications. The bootloader unlocking option had previously been available in regions outside the US, where it had been locked for years. However, with One UI 8, Samsung seems to be extending this restriction globally. This move is likely to be met with criticism from the enthusiast community, who value the ability to customize and modify their devices. Samsung has not yet commented on this change, but it suggests the company is tightening its control over the software experience on its Galaxy devices, potentially limiting the options available to power users and developers.