How do I know if my bootloader is unlocked?

[oper8or]

I just flashed my s3 back to factory stock and did a factory reset. Before doing this I had an unlocked bootloader. I never re-locked it before going back to stock. Is there a way to tell if it is still unlocked before I return it? Seems to me I read somewhere that when you start your phone and the "SAMSUNG" image flashes very briefly it means you are unlocked. Mine does just that even after flashing back to stock.

 

[mischiefse7en]

wont ez-unlock tell you when you open it?

 

[Srambo217]

wont ez-unlock tell you when you open it?

Yes it will.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Android Central Forums

 

[oper8or]

not if you are already unrooted. You have to re-root and lock the bootloader then re-unroot the phone if you are sending it back under warranty.

 

[sparesr4sissies]

I think you have to relock the bootloader yourself. I don't think that flashing a stock ROM will lock the bootloader. So I'd say you're most likely still unlocked.

 

[valorian]

So if you have not rooted your phone, is there a screen you can go to that will show you if your bootloader is locked or not?

 

[Srambo217]

I'm 98.5% sure if you're Odin your phone back to stock unrooted EVERYTHING (including your bootloader) will return to a factory state.

I know this because I've tried several ROMs w/ kernels and have returned my device to stock quite a few times.

Don't jump through hoops unless they person giving you advice has done it themselves.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Android Central Forums

 

[oper8or]

I'm 98.5% sure if you're Odin your phone back to stock unrooted EVERYTHING (including your bootloader) will return to a factory state.

I know this because I've tried several ROMs w/ kernels and have returned my device to stock quite a few times.

Don't jump through hoops unless they person giving you advice has done it themselves.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Android Central Forums

I was rooted and unlocked, used ODIN to flash back to the factory rom and was still unlocked after a complete reset. You can tell by how long the "SAMSUNG" stays on the phone at boot-up. If it is a quick flash of about a second then you are unlocked, if it stays on the phone for more than a second or 2 you have a locked bootloader. Watch an unboxing video to see how long it should stay on the screen. I had to re-root my phone and re-download EZUNLOCK and re-lock the bootloader and then ODIN back to stock and was good to go.