zenfyrdev/bootloader-unlock-wall-of-shame

This repository is a publicly maintained list tracking which Android phone manufacturers make it difficult or impossible to unlock the bootloader on the devices they sell. Unlocking the bootloader is a technical step that gives the owner full control over what software runs on their phone, including the ability to install a custom operating system. The project frames manufacturers that block this as companies pretending to protect user data while actually restricting user freedom. The list groups manufacturers into four tiers. The first tier, labeled as just terrible, includes brands like Samsung, Huawei, Apple, and Amazon, where unlocking is described as completely impossible without a workaround. A second tier marks brands to avoid, covering manufacturers that allow unlocking only under specific conditions, such as for certain regions or phone models, or that require unusual steps. A third tier covers brands that require an online account or a waiting period before you can unlock, including Google, Sony, and OnePlus. A fourth tier marks brands currently considered safe, where unlocking is relatively straightforward. Beyond the list itself, the repository documents technical workarounds for specific phone chipsets. For phones using Kirin chips, a tool called PotatoNV is mentioned. For MediaTek chips, a tool called mtkclient may work depending on the device. For Qualcomm chips, the README references some older exploits and a recently discussed but unconfirmed vulnerability. For Unisoc chips, a specific CVE exploit is listed for certain models. The repository also includes a section on custom Android Verified Boot keys, a feature that lets some devices run a custom operating system while keeping the bootloader locked, which is described as rare. Contributions are welcomed via pull requests or discussions on GitHub. Mirrors exist on Codeberg and another platform, but those are not monitored for issues. A Russian translation of the README is also available.