In a move that may come as a surprise to fans, Xiaomi has begun rolling back system upgrades for Android handsets that have the new “HyperOS” overlay applied. This includes turning off the bootloader unlocking feature.
HyperOS updates will not be available if the bootloader is unlocked details
The company has officially stated that “HyperOS” includes a policy update, despite the fact that it initially resembles Xiaomi’s prior MIUI. Now that Xiaomi has released HyperOS, users of Android phones will be able to unlock the bootloader.
According to Xiaomi’s explanation to Android Authority, the purpose of locking down the bootloader is to “protect” the device; users who wish to unlock their bootloader must get authorization.
“To protect the device’s security, avoid data leakage, and provide users with a more secure and stable user experience, bootloader unlocking will be disabled by default on Xiaomi HyperOS.“
Android Authority
Moreover, Xiaomi stated that those wishing to unlock the bootloader of their handset would have to ask for authorization via its community forum. Not all users will have access to this option because bootloader unlocking requires a certain amount of time to be applied for.
Xiaomi also imposed a new limitation, allowing customers to unlock a maximum of three devices annually. While this restriction is currently only in effect in China, Xiaomi plans to eventually expand its use to other regions.
Additionally, even if the MIUI-running handset is unlocked, users will not receive these updates, according to the report. The good news is that owners will receive upgrades for HyperOS if the device gets frozen again.