End of an Era: Samsung Blocks Custom ROMs

Samsung has officially banned the installation of custom firmware on devices running One UI 8. Owners of the Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 and Flip 7 have encountered restrictions on unlocking the bootloader, which is necessary for obtaining root access and installing third-party software. This rule also applies to the One UI 8 beta for the Galaxy S25. Samsung has completely removed the code responsible for bootloader unlocking.

Support for custom firmware and kernels has always been a key feature of the Android platform, but interest in modifications has declined over time. Samsung's decision deprives users of the ability to customize new devices, which for enthusiasts symbolizes the end of an entire era.