How to Unlock the Bootloader on Samsung Galaxy S21 5G: Step-by-Step Guide

Preparing for Bootloader Unlock

• 💡 Ensure your Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is turned on and connected to a Wi-Fi network.
• 🔑 Navigate to Settings > About phone > Software information and tap the Build number repeatedly to enable Developer Options.
• ⚙️ Within Developer Options, locate and enable OEM unlocking.

Entering Download Mode and Unlocking

• ⚠️ Important: This process will erase all data on your device. Back up your data before proceeding.
• 🔌 Power off your phone. Then, hold both Volume Up and Volume Down buttons simultaneously while connecting the phone to your PC with a data-capable USB cable.
• ⬇️ You will enter Download mode. Hold the Volume Up button to proceed to the bootloader unlock menu.
• ✅ Confirm the unlock by pressing Volume Up again. The phone will perform a factory reset, and the bootloader will be unlocked.

Post-Unlock Setup and Verification

• 🚀 After the factory reset, complete the initial phone setup.
• 🔍 To verify the unlock, go back to Settings > About phone > Software information, tap the Build number to re-enable Developer Options.
• ✅ In Developer Options, confirm that OEM unlocking is still enabled (it may appear grayed out but active), indicating the bootloader is successfully unlocked and ready for custom ROMs or other modifications.