If you like to unlock the bootloader on your latest Android device to load up your preferable OS (custom ROMs), you may want to think twice before doing it on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3. XDA Developers reported that Samsung’s latest foldable device disables all the cameras on the Fold 3 when you attempt to unlock the bootloader on the phone. 

© MensXP/Akshay Bhalla

While you attempt to unlock the Z Fold 3’s bootloader, the smartphone will display a warning saying, "will cause the camera to be disabled and may cause your phones and apps to stop working correctly.” It has now been confirmed by XDA that once you unlock the bootloader, the smartphone does indeed block all of the cameras on the device. 

Once the bootloader is unlocked, the stock camera app does not even launch which means you cannot take pictures with the smartphone. The camera is not only disabled for stock apps though, it also extends to third-party apps that use the camera. These apps include social media apps and third-party camera apps as well. Right now, there is no workaround to make the cameras work after unlocking the bootloader. 

© XDA Developers

Samsung is known for making it difficult for customers to root their devices so that they can load their own custom ROMs. Samsung also voids the warranty of any device that has been rooted and disables services like Samsung Pay. In the case of the Galaxy Z Fold 3, the smartphone also disables facial recognition features. 

XDA went on to add that upon re-locking the bootloader, the cameras start functioning again proving that Samsung has taken preventive measures to discourage rooting. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is also expected to have similar preventive measures which are yet to be confirmed. 

© MensXP/Akshay Bhalla

Samsung may have put off many of the enthusiast audience due to these preventive measures who might be their main target audience in the first place. Aftermarket developers are trying to identify if it could be possible to bypass these restrictions set by the bootloader, however currently they are finding it difficult to bypass responsible parameters. 

Source: XDA Developers

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