Unlock Nexus One Bootloader in Android 2.1

by Haris on January 7, 2010
in Android

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modaco-logoGoogle Nexus One was officially released yesterday at the Android Press Conference which was updated live online along with live video streaming. It is available for $530 (unlocked).

Nexus One was already rooted long before the official announcement was made by Google with the Superboot ROM (how to root Nexus One) that you can download for free.

The Nexus One, which were distributed by Google had engineering bootloader on it which granted full file system access already, but the retail Nexus One comes with a locked bootloader.

Unlock Nexus One Bootloader in Android 2.1

Modaco has once again found the fix to this problem and you can easily unlock the bootloader yourself.

You see, in the bootloader of the Nexus One there is a secret command. A command that, when issued via fastboot, gives you the warning you see here, after which you can merrily unlock your bootloader and flash anything you want onto your device (including our superboot rooting image).

Follow the steps below to unlock the bootloader of your Nexus One. Try this on your own risk, and we’re not to be held responsible if you brick your phone.

  1. Download and extract fastboot from here (Windows, Linux and Mac included)
  2. Run a command prompt / terminal at the directory you just extracted
  3. Type ‘fastboot-windows oem unlock’ or ‘./fastboot-mac oem unlock’ or ‘./fastboot-linux oem unlock’ (as appropriate)
  4. Proceed on your merry bootloader unlocked way

[Via Modaco and RP]

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  • kevinknight

    Nexus One Retail
    In bootloader mode connnected to usb
    screen displays 'FASTBOOT USB' when usb is connected

    run 'fastboot-windows devices' at a command prompt
    returns and nothing is displayed
    run 'fastboot-windows oem unlock' at a command prompt
    says '< waiting on device >'

    I have the usb drivers installed and can shell into the phone when booted

    This would indicate the phone is not being found. Am I doing something wrong?

  • awrar

    you need to install PdaNetA241.exe in your PC

  • http://www.sizzledcore.com Haris Nadeem

    That means your phone (and USB drivers for the Nexus One) are not installed
    properly. You will have to do that again.

  • geofflee

    The instructions above are not complete.

    First off, you need to connect your USB cable, then shut off your Nexus One by holding-down the power button. After it's off, hold-down the trackball and press the power button. This should put you into the bootloader, and you should see the text “Fastboot USB”.

    At this point, you should run “fastboot devices”, and it will say something like “HT02NP901454 fastboot”.

    If “fastboot devices” returns and nothing is displayed, then you need to install the USB driver. Instructions here:
    http://developer.android.com/sdk/win-usb.html

    When “fastboot devices” works correctly, you can finally do “fastboot oem unlock”.

  • rje

    I can't do this. I follow your simple directions and nothing changes. The problem appears to be with this, Run a command prompt / terminal at the directory you just extracted. I click on fastboot-mac. It creates a terminal window. It's impossible to past anything into that terminal window, so I launch a new command. Nothing happens.

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