The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are without a doubt two of the most amazing Android devices on the market right now. These phones will feel right at home if you’re looking for a cutting-edge blend of hardware and software. However, you might not like the phones in their stock software setup, and there is a way to change that by simply unlocking the bootloader. So, here is a detailed tutorial on how to unlock the bootloader of Pixel 6 and 6 Pro.
Also Check- Root Google Pixel 6 via Magisk Patched Boot-Easy Guide
When it comes to the Android operating system, one of the most common or popular ways to begin customizing the handset is to unlock the bootloader and gain root access. Installing complex or powerful apps that require root requires full superuser access on your Android device (subsystem).
What is Bootloader?
A bootloader, often known as a boot program or bootstrap loader, is a piece of operating system software that loads into a computer’s working memory once it boots up. A bootloader is usually launched by a bootable medium such as a hard drive, a CD/DVD, or a USB stick shortly after a device starts for this purpose. The boot medium gets information about the bootloader location from the computer’s firmware (e.g. BIOS). “Booting” is another term for the entire process.
How does a Bootloader work?
The first thing you see on a computer’s screen when you push the start button is information about the hardware installed. The above-mentioned device firmware, which is often implemented by manufacturers in flash memory on the computer’s motherboard, is the software responsible for this notification. The BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) or the more recent UEFI will be used on most desktop PCs and laptops (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface). Both applications gather a wide range of hardware information and compile a comprehensive list of the device’s accessible discs.
When this is finished, the firmware scans through the data carriers in order, looking for a bootloader using a particular signature called the boot signature (or ‘boot record’). The removable media (CD/DVD, USB stick, external hard drive, etc.) is always searched first, followed by the hard-coded drives. The bootloader and its signature are usually found in the master boot record (MBR), which also contains the partition tables for the data carrier. When a bootloader is discovered, it is loaded and the system begins. The firmware will return an error message if the search is unsuccessful.
How to Unlock Bootloader on Google Pixel 6/6 Pro?
Unlocking the bootloader of your Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro is a straightforward process. To be honest, it’s the polar opposite, as it’s one of the simplest tasks. Nonetheless, we’ll consider how to proceed with the procedure.
- Enable OEM Unlock and USB Debugging in Developer Options > Enable OEM Unlock and USB Debugging.
- To get the message ‘You are now a developer!’ go to Settings > About Phone > Tap on the Build Number 7 times consecutively.
- Return to the main Settings menu, search for Developer Options, and turn on OEM Unlock and USB Debugging.
- After extracting the ADB Fastboot zip file, make sure to install it on your PC.
- On your computer, you should also install the Google USB Driver.
- Simply use a USB cord to connect your Google Pixel 6 series phone to your computer.
- Navigate to the PC’s ADB & Fastboot (Platform Tools) folder.
- Then, inside the folder, click the address bar and type cmd, then press Enter to launch the Command Prompt window. [If UAC prompts you, select Yes to provide admin access.]
- Then, in the command prompt window, execute the following command and press Enter to see if your Pixel 6/6 Pro device is linked to the adb mode:
adb devices
- It will provide you with a device ID if the device is connected to the PC in adb mode. If this does not work, reinstall the USB Driver and repeat the procedures.
- Once the device is ready, make sure to reboot it into the bootloader using the following command:
adb reboot bootloader
- Now, run the following command to unlock the bootloader:
fastboot flashing unlock
- If the device is connected to the PC in adb mode, it will give you a device ID. If it doesn’t work, reinstall the USB Driver and go through the steps again.
- When the device is ready, use the following command to boot it into the bootloader:
fastboot flash vbmeta --disable-verity --disable-verification vbmeta.img
- To boot your device into the system, perform the following command:
fastboot reboot
- Allow time for the process to finish, as it may take a while the first time.
You may now customize your Google Pixel 6/6 Pro to your heart’s content by unlocking Bootloader. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below, in the meantime stay tuned for additional information.
