Galaxy XR bootloader unlock is possible, at least for now

Samsung started selling its first extended reality headset, the Galaxy XR, earlier this week. The device is a collaboration between Samsung, Qualcomm, and Google, with the software giant providing the Android XR platform for the device.

If you were wondering whether it would be possible to run custom Android ROMs on the device, you'd be happy to know that it's possible, at least for now.

An X user has found out that the Developer Options menu in the Settings app on the Galaxy XR does provide a toggle for OEM unlocking. This toggle makes it possible to unlock the bootloader, which the user confirmed by going through the entire process.

It's a bit surprising that this option is being provided on the Galaxy XR, considering how Samsung basically went out of its way to kill bootloader unlock with One UI 8. It's no longer an option on the company's devices that upgrade to the latest software, regardless of the region.

It's also worth mentioning that some of the Galaxy XR's top competitors, including the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest, don't provide users with any official way of unlocking the bootloader.

Could this just be an oversight? Perhaps Samsung will release an update in the future that takes away this ability. It's hard to imagine that Samsung wouldn't want there to be consistency in its approach to bootloader unlocking on its phones and XR headset, but stranger things have happened.

For now, though, Android enthusiasts have free rein with custom ROMs for the Galaxy XR. Who knows, perhaps this is just the impetus the platform needs to be thrust into the limelight.