How to Unlock Bootloader of HTC Devices


This tutorial will help you unlock bootloader of HTC phones, the official way. HTC devices always came with a locked bootloader and you need to unlock bootloader manually by the HTCDev website. Why do you need to unlock bootloader? Developers who make custom ROMs and other tweaks for the phone require an unlocked bootloader.

Why unlock bootloader on your HTC device? You will be able to install custom/modified ROMs, flash a custom recovery which would give you tons of features and install other tweaks that require full system access. Let’s get on with the tutorial and unlock bootloader of your HTC phone.

Unlock Bootloader of HTC Phones

Disclaimer: All the tools, mods or ROMs mentioned below belong to their respective owners/developers. We (TeamAndroid.com) or the developers are not to be held responsible if you damage or brick your device. We don’t have you on gun point to try out this tutorial 😉

Here are a few things you need to keep in mind and be careful about before proceeding ahead:

  1. You will need to connect your HTC Android phone with the computer. For that, please make sure you have installed the USB drivers for properly. If not, you can download the latest official drivers from our Android USB Drivers section.
  2. Your phone battery should be 80-85% charged. If your phone goes off suddenly because of battery, during flashing ROMs or installing mods and updates — your phone might go dead permanently.
  3. Backup all your important data that you might need because unlocking your bootloader will delete/wipe all your data.
  4. This tutorial is only for unlocked HTC phones. Carrier / network locked HTC phones are not supported by this tutorial.

Now, let’s proceed with the tutorial below and unlock bootloader of your HTC device.

How to Unlock Bootloader of HTC Phones

We have put together a detailed step-by-step instructions guide on how to unlock bootloader of your HTC device. Please read every line carefully. We suggest, read the tutorial once before actually performing it on your phone.

NOTE: To prevent unauthorized access to your data, unlocking the bootloader will delete all personal data from your device including applications, text messages and personalized settings.

IMPORTANT: Unlocking your device may void all or parts of your warranty by HTC.

Step 1 – Go to HTCDev.com website.

How to Unlock Bootloader of HTC Devices

Step 2 – Click on ‘Register’ and create an account at the HTCDev website.

How to Unlock Bootloader of HTC Devices

Step 3 – Activate your account. Login and go to main page of HTCDev.

Step 4 – Click on “Unlock Bootloader” button and click the “Get Started” button.

How to Unlock Bootloader of HTC Devices

Step 5 – Select “All Other Supported Models” from the dropdown list and then click the “Begin Unlock Bootloader” button.

HTC unlock bootloader

Step 6 – Carefully read the warning popup message and then press the ‘Yes’ button.

How to Unlock Bootloader of HTC Devices

Step 7 – Check both the boxes in the Legal Terms popup box. Now press the “Proceed to Unlock Instructions” button.

Unlock bootloader of HTC phones

Step 8 – Download Android SDK Platform-Tools (Fastboot) if you don’t already have and extract it in C:\ drive (or anywhere in your computer).

Step 9 – Hold the Power button on your HTC device for 10 seconds to completely turn it off.

Step 10 – Now go to Bootloader Mode on your device. How? Press Volume Down and Power to start the device into Bootloader mode.

How to Unlock Bootloader of HTC Devices 1

Step 11 – Use the Volume buttons to select up or down. Highlight Fastboot and press the Power button to select.

How to Unlock Bootloader of HTC Devices 2

Step 12 – Connect your HTC device to the computer via a USB cable.

How to Unlock Bootloader of HTC Devices 3

Step 13 – Now open Command Propmpt. How? Click the Start button and type ‘cmd’ (without quotes) and press Enter.

Command Prompt - Windows

Step 14 – In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter.

cd c:\fastboot
Fastboot mode

Step 15 – Now type the following command and press Enter.

fastboot oem get_identifier_token

Step 16 – You will see a long string of text (identifier token). What to do now? Open this page on HTCDev.

Step 17 – Now follow the instructions as given there to select and copy text from Command Prompt.

Step 18 – Once copied, paste that identifier token into the box at the bottom of that HTCDev page and then click Submit.

How to Unlock Bootloader of HTC Devices 4

Step 19 – You will receive an email by HTC (on the registered email) with a link to the second part of the instructions and your “Unlock_code.bin” file attached.

Step 20 – Download “Unlock_code.bin” and save it in your Fastboot folder (C:\fastbooot in our case).

Step 21 – Now type the following command in Command Prompt and press Enter.

fastboot flash unlocktoken Unlock_code.bin

Step 22 – Check your phone. Read on-screen instructions. Press Volume Up to accept and the Power button to confirm.

That’s it. Your HTC device now has a unlocked bootloader. This means, you can install custom ROMs, flash a custom recovery and perform other system tweaks on your HTC phone now.

Haris Nadeem
Haris Nadeem

Haris lives on everything Android; has countless devices, apps and games to play with everyday. Currently serving as the Chief Editor at Team Android. Connect on Twitter: @harisn

Articles: 193

42 Comments

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    • You need to have the correct drivers, connected the phone to the PC, and you have to boot into fastboot: remove and re-insert battery> volume down+powerbutton>wait till it’s done saying some things with searching for correct .img>press power again

  15. HELP! when i put in fastboot oem get_identifier_token and press enter it says ‘fastboot’ is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. WHAT DO I DO??

  16. Hello, I am trying to unlock bootloader in my HTC Vision (Z) but at step 15, I am getting an error:

    (bootloader) [ERR] Command error !!!

    OKAY [ 0.008s]

    finished. total time: 0.010s

    I’ve read somewhere than problem is wrong version of h-boot but I have no idea which version I need and where to download ti. Any ideas? Thanks a lot.

  17. It failed a the very last step! 🙁
    I received the very last message in my Command Prompt saying “success”:

    :C:UsersDaniel>fastboot flash unlocktoken
    Unlock_code.bin
    sending ‘unlocktoken’ (0 KB)…
    OKAY [ 0.108s]
    writing ‘unlocktoken’…
    (bootloader) unlock token check successfully
    OKAY [ 0.003s]
    finished. total time: 0.111s

    But instead of it bringing up the “UNLOCK BOOTLOADER” screen on my HTC E8, my screen stayed the same:

    *** UNLOCKED ***
    MEC_DUGL PVT SHIP S-ON
    HBOOT-3.18.0.0000
    RADIO-1.19.30306251.17.2G
    OpenDSP-v38.2.2-00542-M8974.0311
    OS-1.21.1402.11
    eMMC-boot 2048MB
    Aug 1 2014,19:40:10.27804

    FASTBOOT USB
    to preview item
    to next item
    to select item
    HBOOT
    RAMDUMP
    REBOOT
    REBOOT FASTBOOT
    P0WER DOWN

    Can anyone help??
    Thanks!

  18. لطفا یکی بهم ایدی و پسوردشو بده تا بتونم گوشی htc one e8 خودمو روت کنم

    Please give me the ID Psvrdshv phone htc one e8 I myself am Ruth

  19. i have a htc evo design , locked s-on bootloader loop. got the unlock bin from htc, fastboot loads to phone fine, but i press volume up to yes but power does nothing, volume down to no ..power press shuts down, any help please to for my kid

  20. I tried to do things exactly as mentioned but after step15 my cmd says waiting for device and its like eternity there is no start or end token. what to do? please help!

  21. When i use “fastboot oem get_identifier_token” it allways says and nothing happens anymore… what can i do?

  22. Hallo,
    I have read all your troubleshooting for htc phones,thanks for that.But still i am stuck with HTC log screen even after trying unlocking bootloader.I went up to bootloader unlocking without any issues then instead of factory reset still the htc logo is stuck their.Without unlocking i cant install any custom rom.The only thing i can do is toopen the boot menu by power button+volume down button.Dont know what do next,no one knows.Hope you can help me

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