I’ve always wished if at-least Google devices could come with unlocked bootloader, you know it kind of feels.. Wow! But that doesn’t seem to be happening ─ Nexus S had locked bootloader and now the Galaxy Nexus too have locked bootloader.
Anyway it doesn’t kill the fun at all, these nexus devices comes so smart that you just have to type a single line of command to unlock the bootloader, and that’s ─ fastboot oem unlock.
How To Unlock Galaxy Nexus Bootloader
Below’s a step by step guide for folks who’re not much familiar with fastboot and stuff like that. Here you go:
- Download the following two files
- Download and install Android SDK → from here [Make sure you install Google USB Driver and Platform tools from SDK Manager]
- Fastboot files from here.
- Now put your phone in fastboot mode:
- Switch off your phone
- Hold the Volume Up Key + Volume Down Key and then press the Power button.
- You’ll now see a Android robot. And text below it would read “FASTBOOT MODE” in red.
- Extract the Fastboot.zip file on your PC
- Now open the Fastboot folder ─ hold Shift key and Right click at any empty space inside the folder, and select “Open command window here“
- Now connect your phone to your PC using USB cable, and then type fastboot devices in the command prompt to make sure your device is recognized.
- And now to unlock the bootloader, type this in the command prompt:
fastboot oem unlock - Accept the request on your phone by selecting Yes using the Volume button and then press the Power button to confirm (see image above)
Enjoy!
So it was that simple to unlock the bootloader on your Galaxy Nexus. However, if you’re facing any problem, you can share it with us in the comments below. We’ll most probably solve it.
64 responses to “Unlock Galaxy Nexus Bootloader [How-To]”
I do not see a setup program in Samsung_drivers.zip
I’ve re-uploaded the drivers file. Thanks for notifying 🙂
I’ve re-uploaded the drivers file. Thanks for notifying 🙂
thank you Shivam!
I do not see a setup program in Samsung_drivers.zip
I’ve re-uploaded the drivers file. Thanks for notifying 🙂
thank you Shivam!
I do not see a setup program in Samsung_drivers.zip
I’ve re-uploaded the drivers file. Thanks for notifying 🙂
thank you Shivam!
I can’t seem to install the drivers for adb, still get an Android 1.0 in the device tree.
I can’t seem to install the drivers for adb, still get an Android 1.0 in the device tree.
I can’t seem to install the drivers for adb, still get an Android 1.0 in the device tree.
i get still get an Android 1.0 in the device tree. My pc cant communicate with the phone, please help
I have created the drivers for Galaxy Nexus Fastboot Mode (Android 1.0)
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4174784/usb_driver.zip
I’m sorry for the question but I am facing the same problem: uknown device (not even android 1.0…just that) how can we install the drivers???
Installing google usb driver from SDK manager didn’t helped?
Installing google usb driver from SDK manager didn’t helped?
Thank you! that helped so much!!
Wow thanks a million!!!!!
Thanks lot lot lot, it help me lot 🙂
i get still get an Android 1.0 in the device tree. My pc cant communicate with the phone, please help
I have created the drivers for Galaxy Nexus Fastboot Mode (Android 1.0)
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4174784/usb_driver.zip
I’m sorry for the question but I am facing the same problem: uknown device (not even android 1.0…just that) how can we install the drivers???
Installing google usb driver from SDK manager didn’t helped?
Thank you! that helped so much!!
Wow thanks a million!!!!!
Thanks lot lot lot, it help me lot 🙂
i get still get an Android 1.0 in the device tree. My pc cant communicate with the phone, please help
I have created the drivers for Galaxy Nexus Fastboot Mode (Android 1.0)
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4174784/usb_driver.zip
I’m sorry for the question but I am facing the same problem: uknown device (not even android 1.0…just that) how can we install the drivers???
Installing google usb driver from SDK manager didn’t helped?
Thank you! that helped so much!!
Wow thanks a million!!!!!
Thanks lot lot lot, it help me lot 🙂
What is the advantage of unlocking the bootloader ? Can I use the phone with another carrier ? Thanks.
No, the purpose of unlocking the bootloader is to install custom firmwares, recovery and mods.
No, the purpose of unlocking the bootloader is to install custom firmwares, recovery and mods.
What is the advantage of unlocking the bootloader ? Can I use the phone with another carrier ? Thanks.
No, the purpose of unlocking the bootloader is to install custom firmwares, recovery and mods.
What is the advantage of unlocking the bootloader ? Can I use the phone with another carrier ? Thanks.
No, the purpose of unlocking the bootloader is to install custom firmwares, recovery and mods.
i always get hung up with the cmd prompt i hold shift in the folder and i see no option to open up any command prompt
i always get hung up with the cmd prompt i hold shift in the folder and i see no option to open up any command prompt
i always get hung up with the cmd prompt i hold shift in the folder and i see no option to open up any command prompt
I get into the bootloader via “adb reboot bootloader” but “fastboot devices” never shows anything and the phone never responds to the oem unlock command.
This helped me :), thank you.
I get into the bootloader via “adb reboot bootloader” but “fastboot devices” never shows anything and the phone never responds to the oem unlock command.
This helped me :), thank you.
I get into the bootloader via “adb reboot bootloader” but “fastboot devices” never shows anything and the phone never responds to the oem unlock command.
This helped me :), thank you.
it doesnt recognise may galaxy nexus.. it keeps saying waiting for devices…
Still waiting or an answer to that…
Manually install the USB driver…Solution http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9njewnlumKg
it doesnt recognise may galaxy nexus.. it keeps saying waiting for devices…
Still waiting or an answer to that…
it doesnt recognise may galaxy nexus.. it keeps saying waiting for devices…
Manually install the USB driver…Solution http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9njewnlumKg
🙁 it deleted everything… T_T
🙁 it deleted everything… T_T
🙁 it deleted everything… T_T
followed all the steps, open the command prompt, have phone in fastboot attached by usb cable:
after typing ‘fastboot devices’ I have this message:
C:UsersGranPaSmurfDownloadsFastBoot_Win7_64_104>fastboot devices
‘fastboot’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
C:UsersGranPaSmurfDownloadsFastBoot_Win7_64_104>fastboot oem unlock
‘fastboot’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
C:UsersGranPaSmurfDownloadsFastBoot_Win7_64_104>^A
followed all the steps, open the command prompt, have phone in fastboot attached by usb cable:
after typing ‘fastboot devices’ I have this message:
C:UsersGranPaSmurfDownloadsFastBoot_Win7_64_104>fastboot devices
‘fastboot’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
C:UsersGranPaSmurfDownloadsFastBoot_Win7_64_104>fastboot oem unlock
‘fastboot’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
C:UsersGranPaSmurfDownloadsFastBoot_Win7_64_104>^A
followed all the steps, open the command prompt, have phone in fastboot attached by usb cable:
after typing ‘fastboot devices’ I have this message:
C:UsersGranPaSmurfDownloadsFastBoot_Win7_64_104>fastboot devices
‘fastboot’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
C:UsersGranPaSmurfDownloadsFastBoot_Win7_64_104>fastboot oem unlock
‘fastboot’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
C:UsersGranPaSmurfDownloadsFastBoot_Win7_64_104>^A