HONOR is issuing bootloader unlock codes again, but there are several caveats

Huawei caused a stir in the Android developer community when it announced plans to shut down bootloader unlocking for its devices. Now, the Honor sub-brand has made an about-turn of sorts, but only for some users.

According to a post on the XDA-Developers forum, HONOR is now issuing bootloader unlock codes for a limited number of users on the forum. The codes will be available on a first-come first-served basis and require users to sign up via this form.

In addition to agreeing to HONOR’s terms and conditions, the form also requires you to enter your name, forum handle, email address, IMEI, serial number, product ID, and a reason for wanting a code. The forum post notes that it might take a few weeks for users to actually get their codes.

Plenty of room to improve

It’s certainly a step in the right direction, but there are several ways HUAWEI could improve this new process. For one, it would be great to see HUAWEI devices (i.e. non-HONOR phones) get access to unlock codes as well.

The XDA requirement is somewhat understandable too, as it’s arguably the biggest Android development community around. But if you aren’t a member of the forum, it’s just another hoop to jump through. Then there’s the decision to limit the number of codes that’ll actually be issued to users. So if you inherit or buy an HONOR device six months down the line, there’s no guarantee that the brand will have codes for you.

It all comes together to create a solution that pales in comparison to HUAWEI’s original bootloader unlock process. Hopefully this is just a stopgap solution until a better plan comes to fruition.

Is this a step in the right direction for HUAWEI and HONOR? What else should be done? Let us know in the comments!