Huawei announces decision to permanently end support for bootloader unlocks

The Android OS's largest perk is, perhaps, the flexibility and customizability it offers, due to it being an open-source OS. While the source software remains malleable, OEMs have taken to locking things down on the proprietary side. The latest to take that stance is Huawei, as the company has announced its plans to end support for bootloader unlocks.

Huawei has gained a reputation for being supportive towards community development, going as far as to promote the OpenKirin program, one that caters for devices featuring the company's Kirin SoCs. All of that may as well be for naught now, though. The company has announced that all devices released after May 24—yesterday—will not be able to have their bootloaders unlocked, while support for those released before that date ends in 60 days.

Before this, unlocking the bootloaders of Huawei devices was a simple process comprised of requesting an unlock key on the company's website using your device's details, then applying the key on the fastboot OEM unlock terminal. Going by this announcement, however, the company will no longer offer unlock keys. 

Of course, there are currently third-party software that provide the required key—for a token, of course—but it's unknown if those will still work after Huawei shuts down things from its end.

It's unknown what led to this decision. Those who still wish to unlock their devices in the future would do well to obtain their unlock keys now while they still can.

As a fan of Huawei's recent releases and moves in the market, this comes as a massive blow to me, and I believe enthusiasts around the world share similar opinions. I daily-drive an Honor 7X and was looking to upgrade to an Honor 10 in a short while. Let's just say I'll be looking for a more mod-friendly device. Xiaomi it is, then.