Develop Bugs

unlock bootloader = fully void warranty?

Wondering about HTC's extremely vague message at htcdev.com. "unlocking bootloader may void part or all of your warranty" whereas under the q&a, etc, it sounds more like if you brick your device they won't be responsible. How void is the warranty after bootloader unlock?
i'm assuming there's no way to relock it later.. been out of the ROM flashing scene for a while, so can someone advise me on this?

From what I heard it fully voids it. Even if you lock it again it says re-locked.
Sent from my HTC One X

There are mixed comments on this matter. Some have managed to get their hardware issues fixed on unlocked phones. BUT its safe to assume unlocking boot loader completely voids warranty unless you get an official confirmation from your regional HTC office stating otherwise.

Alright thanks
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk

Now tell me why I can't edit my old signature haha
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk

Bricked One X
Hi All,
I bricked my One X being a noob I then relocked the bootloader (it said relocked) sent the phone off to O2 under warranty they tried to charge me £178.99 for the repair apparently it was "physical damage" i complained as the phone was immaculate and o2 replaced it free of charge!
..well hello new One X.. I've not stumped up the courage to root this one yet just encase!

http://dl4.htc.com/Web_materials/Manual/Warranty/Android/0525_B_WarrantyEULA_76x126_N-EU.pdf
Certainly reading their "Northern Europe" Limited Warranty Statement it would appear that the warranty still applies for hardware issues (section 4), and no where in section 7 does it say it will be voided by unlocking the bootloader.
ZM

Indeed. Havnt had problems with my one x but the nexus1 was also by HTC and after unlocking warranty was fine as long as
The problem was hardware
I had relocked the boot loader and was running stock software
Meaning if you relock then flash an ruu. You should be OK unless you caused the damage
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app

In theory and probably UK consumer law it won't void it but HTC appear to be being [email protected] about it in the UK...
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

I dropped my hox to t-mobile store here in the UK to get send for repair, the GPS was all over the place. The phone was unlocked but still on stock rom. I got a txt 6 days later saying that the phone was ready for collection. It came back unlocked, wiped, and still with cw recovery. They didn't charge me a penny and GPS looks like its been fixed.
Sent from my HTC One X

HTC One X Status back to "Locked" not "relocked"

I am going to be receiving my One X in the mail sometime later today. I was definitely going to put custom roms on it, and I was intending on using this universal bootloader unlock, instead of the HTC Dev method. Just hoping I could save my warranty.Here's a link to the thread.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=24370319#post24370319
Anyway if I ever needed warranty for anything I was wondering if it is possible to get the bootloader to "locked" instead of "relocked". Also i bought the international edition off of ebay, i was wondering if I got warranty on it here in the U.S?

hashbrown95 said:
I am going to be receiving my One X in the mail sometime later today. I was definitely going to put custom roms on it, and I was intending on using this universal bootloader unlock, instead of the HTC Dev method. Just hoping I could save my warranty.Here's a link to the thread.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=24370319#post24370319
Anyway if I ever needed warranty for anything I was wondering if it is possible to get the bootloader to "locked" instead of "relocked". Also i bought the international edition off of ebay, i was wondering if I got warranty on it here in the U.S?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No and No.
We don't have S-Off yet.
The problem with the latter has to do with import restrictions due to Apple being <expletive>. Well, somebody else said they couldn't get a mainboard, that might change, but don't hold your breath. HTC do provide a warranty it in theory though, but unlocking it won't help.

OK thanks for the info. Probably still going to unlock it, but at least I know what I'm getting into.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using xda app-developers app

hashbrown95 said:
I am going to be receiving my One X in the mail sometime later today. I was definitely going to put custom roms on it, and I was intending on using this universal bootloader unlock, instead of the HTC Dev method. Just hoping I could save my warranty.Here's a link to the thread.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=24370319#post24370319
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that method works with the One X. On pg18 of that thread "Seaskyways" says that only "MTD" devices work.
Sent from my HTC One X
Sent from my HTC One X

Have a few questions about the HOX before I pull the trigger..

Guys,
I just need some clarification.
- Unlocking the bootloader through htcdev.com voids your warranty, correct?
- Can the HOX be rooted without going through htcdev.com?
I was trying to decide b/w the GS3 and the HOX and I think I'm gonna go with the
HOX. I hate touchwiz and the GS3 screen is not too hot.
Thank you!

c47v3779 said:
Guys,
I just need some clarification.
- Unlocking the bootloader through htcdev.com voids your warranty, correct?
- Can the HOX be rooted without going through htcdev.com?
I was trying to decide b/w the GS3 and the HOX and I think I'm gonna go with the
HOX. I hate touchwiz and the GS3 screen is not too hot.
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both yes and no. They claim that you woid you warranty but the warranty is still valid for hardware fault from factory. If you have to send the phone for warranty repair just install stock and relock the bootloader and just play dumb if the ask anything
Havent read ant other way of doing it? search in the development threads.

There's some uncertainty regarding warranty after unlocking bootloader. Some people get faults covered without question while others get it denied outright and have to pay to repair or pay a release fee for the phone to be returned to them un repaired. But to be safe I'd say yes... Unlocking the bootloader will void your warranty.
And no. There is no known way just yet. There are a lot of people waiting for S-Off which will provide us a way to unlock without voiding, but that's quite a long way off.
Hope I helped.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app

ThatNerdGuy said:
There's some uncertainty regarding warranty after unlocking bootloader. Some people get faults covered without question while others get it denied outright and have to pay to repair or pay a release fee for the phone to be returned to them un repaired. But to be safe I'd say yes... Unlocking the bootloader will void your warranty.
And no. There is no known way just yet. There are a lot of people waiting for S-Off which will provide us a way to unlock without voiding, but that's quite a long way off.
Hope I helped.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That may also depend in which country you live in. Some are maybe harder then others if its a genuine htc repair "place" or if its outsourced to another repairplace. Where im from the companies that repair the phones dont check anything about the software they just check what needs to ble replaced and replaces it. They dont ask any questions since they bill HTC or Samsung or whatev for the repair anyway

Someone try to S-off but it seems to hard to work.
If you wanna unlock without htc.dev.....just wait for a while.
Unlock will lose software warranty, but hardware warranty still keep.

Rooting does NOT void your warrany if you live within the EU

This applies to all forums but oh well, https://fsfe.org/freesoftware/legal/flashingdevices.en.html

Well htc could just say ( ya ,modification of software caused hardware failure of such and such component ) than your warranty is void ,its that simple. Htc doesn't have to prove crap unless every complain choose to take HTC to small court claim
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

Legally the accuse should prove your fault..

Bear in mind that it is the seller that is obliged to honour this, not the manufacturer. So if you have an issue, you must persue remedy through the seller, not HTC.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

How difficult is it to just unroot before sending it for repair?

pandaball said:
How difficult is it to just unroot before sending it for repair?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bootloader still says RELOCKED, so there's proof. Also you need the unlock file from HTC...so they know anyway -_-

marcinr said:
This applies to all forums but oh well, https://fsfe.org/freesoftware/legal/flashingdevices.en.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In fact Htc says that if you unlock the bootloader your warranty is void, unlocking is different than rooting

matt95 said:
In fact Htc says that if you unlock the bootloader your warranty is void, unlocking is different than rooting
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In fact they don't if you read closely. They say that the warranty is void if something happens that could be caused by unlocking. The don't state that the warranty is voided in every case.
In the end it comes down to this (I guess):
If you have a clear hardware fault like a broken display they will probably swap in any case. If you have blown CPU they might or they might not, depending if they like to piss you off or not
If you want to be 100% safe, don't unlock.
If you have a legal protection insurance and live in Europe: Go for it.
If you are daring and believe in customer friendlyness of your dealer: Go for it.
Besides, at least in Germany within the first 6 months, your seller would have to prove that the defect is caused by unlocking, which will be as hard as the other way round after the first 6 months
I was daring; I swapped my device 2 times because of hardware faults (stuck/broken softbuttons and a broken vibrator). Both where relocked, both where replaced without any questions asked (Business contract, I have to admit).

The problem with the HOX isn't just regarding gaining ROOT. It's the fact that even if you unlock via htcdev, you still don't have a fully unlocked bootloader and that's some BS right there.

matt95 said:
In fact Htc says that if you unlock the bootloader your warranty is void, unlocking is different than rooting
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to the HTC One X warranty statement: "The Limited Warranty applies only to the hardware components of the Product as originally supplied and does not apply to any software or other equipment." Now, I have not rooted my HOX yet and as so have limited knowledge of the process, but unlocking a boot loader sounds like it is not interfering with the hardware but rather the software (?).

Root have never void varranty for HTC, not for me or enyone I know

audiavant said:
Root have never void varranty for HTC, not for me or enyone I know
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah but because we had s-off and we could revert back to stock without any hint

It's important to remember that I never had any problems on my previous HOX till months in. Four to be exact.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

My HOX is roted and i sent it to repair, and HTC repaired it for free...

Not 100% sure but I think we as the UK opted out of that EU directive mentioned in the original post.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

Will S-off void warranty?

If we try to unlock bootloader and gain s-off, will it void warranty?
Can we get s-on back and lock bootloader before sending the device for warranty or selling the phone?

s-off does in fact void your warranty but, I would love to know if turning s back on and re locking the bootloader is possible.

Absolutely lol...
But at the same time you can relock and remove all evidence of S-Off and unlock with it as well.
The only way to keep the warranty is to gain S-Off WITHOUT having to unlock the bootloader first. Once S-Off is gained you can lock and relock with no issues. I believe the T-Mobile M7 had this option on 1.42 builds. Not sure about the M8 yet
Keep in mind the moment you request an unlock key from HTCDev your warranty is void regardless of if you use the code or not. Now I use Void because it is a generalization used in warranty's and insurance but typically if your speaker blows out or your screen dies and you are unlocked they won't void that part of your warranty seeing that your modifications did not directly impact the failing part.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

altimax98 said:
Absolutely lol...
But at the same time you can relock and remove all evidence of S-Off and unlock with it as well.
The only way to keep the warranty is to gain S-Off WITHOUT having to unlock the bootloader first. Once S-Off is gained you can lock and relock with no issues. I believe the T-Mobile M7 had this option on 1.42 builds. Not sure about the M8 yet
Keep in mind the moment you request an unlock key from HTCDev your warranty is void regardless of if you use the code or not. Now I use Void because it is a generalization used in warranty's and insurance but typically if your speaker blows out or your screen dies and you are unlocked they won't void that part of your warranty seeing that your modifications did not directly impact the failing part.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how would you go along and do this?

I don't see how S-OFF would void your warranty as some units were legitimately shipped S-OFF, just make sure the bootloader is locked
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

I've returned the HTC One M7 a good few times for issues while S-off and with a custom ROM on and they were repaired and returned without issue , but I would recommend returning the phone to stock before sending it off if you can.
It'll come down to HTC as to whether something you have done will void your warranty or not when they receive your phone I guess.

s-off does in fact void your warranty but, I would love to know if turning s back on and re locking the bootloader is possible.

If I only want to root and flash custom roms then S-off is not necessary right?
What are benefits of S-Off?

most people will need to unlock thier device via HTC dev prior to s off which will leave a record unique to thier phone which means that waranty will be void so even if all trace of s off and unlocked bootloader is removed, HTC will still be able to cross reference and say no.
Some will be lucky enough to use the method for s off which avoids the need for HTC dev unlock so these people will be able to s off and keep thier warranty providing they retuirn to stock

So is there a way to get S-on?

exocetdj said:
most people will need to unlock thier device via HTC dev prior to s off which will leave a record unique to thier phone which means that waranty will be void so even if all trace of s off and unlocked bootloader is removed, HTC will still be able to cross reference and say no.
Some will be lucky enough to use the method for s off which avoids the need for HTC dev unlock so these people will be able to s off and keep thier warranty providing they retuirn to stock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not necessarily. Just because you've requested the token, who's to say you've used it? If the phone is 100% stock, locked and S-ON HTC can't prove anything - unless the unlock process itself sends something to HTC to say it's been unlocked, in which case they'll know

EddyOS said:
Not necessarily. Just because you've requested the token, who's to say you've used it? If the phone is 100% stock, locked and S-ON HTC can't prove anything - unless the unlock process itself sends something to HTC to say it's been unlocked, in which case they'll know
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, thanks for the info!!! :good:

At least in the US, making a modification to a device does not immediately void a warranty no matter what the manufacturer says. This is most times encountered by car enthusiasts who might replace a part on their engine. Subsequently the engine has a problem and gets taken to a dealer for warranty repair. The dealer cannot unilaterally void the warranty because of a different part or other modification. They must prove that the part or modification directly contributed to the failure and then only that part of the warranty is void, not the entire car's warranty. Phones and other devices would be no different. For more info google the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson–Moss_Warranty_Act
Even with this, it would be rare for someone with a genuine warranty issue to have a problem getting it repaired or replaced regardless of the security status of the device.

l7777 said:
At least in the US, making a modification to a device does not immediately void a warranty no matter what the manufacturer says. This is most times encountered by car enthusiasts who might replace a part on their engine. Subsequently the engine has a problem and gets taken to a dealer for warranty repair. The dealer cannot unilaterally void the warranty because of a different part or other modification. They must prove that the part or modification directly contributed to the failure and then only that part of the warranty is void, not the entire car's warranty. Phones and other devices would be no different. For more info google the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson–Moss_Warranty_Act
Even with this, it would be rare for someone with a genuine warranty issue to have a problem getting it repaired or replaced regardless of the security status of the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not a lawyer, but I think that flashing the phone basically can be used to invalidate the warranty in many circumstances. When we flash a phone, we are changing the basic code that is being used to drive the device. That is a bit different that using an after market part in a car. I know that flashing a diesel pickup cpu chip, for example, voids the warranty on the engine. I can't imagine that a phone (which is basically all about the software code) does not have the same effect.
It is a different question as to if the vendor (TMO in my case, HTC for direct orders), would refuse to pay for warranty repairs. I think they would be more likely to pay for a failed screen or other hardware part, but less likely for a burned out motherboard. HTC has been very understanding in this regard, despite the warning when getting an unlock code.
I have flashed my phones before (not since the Amaze - the M7 and M8 are great stock IMHO), but I did so with the understanding that a warranty claim might be rejected.

Rageypeep said:
I don't see how S-OFF would void your warranty as some units were legitimately shipped S-OFF, just make sure the bootloader is locked
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S off is not the same as an unlocked bootloader, my Dev Edition was bootloader unlocked out of the box with s on.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

I was talking to a guy in an electrostore yesterday about rooting phones and warranty.
He said the representative from Samsung Benelux (Belgium etc) said they will still fix phones that are rooted. They all know people do this.
But they will return them to stock when they send it back. Samsung decided this last week.
He didn't know about other company's but he thought they'll do the same.

The HTC Texas repair center refused to repair my M7 with S-Off. Wanted to charge me $180 to fix the purple camera. After arguing and elevating nothing happened, they sent it back, I re-locked/went completely back to stock and tried again. They sent it back no problem.

stevedebi said:
I'm not a lawyer, but I think that flashing the phone basically can be used to invalidate the warranty in many circumstances. When we flash a phone, we are changing the basic code that is being used to drive the device. That is a bit different that using an after market part in a car. I know that flashing a diesel pickup cpu chip, for example, voids the warranty on the engine. I can't imagine that a phone (which is basically all about the software code) does not have the same effect.
It is a different question as to if the vendor (TMO in my case, HTC for direct orders), would refuse to pay for warranty repairs. I think they would be more likely to pay for a failed screen or other hardware part, but less likely for a burned out motherboard. HTC has been very understanding in this regard, despite the warning when getting an unlock code.
I have flashed my phones before (not since the Amaze - the M7 and M8 are great stock IMHO), but I did so with the understanding that a warranty claim might be rejected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you're on the right track. Auto manufacturers can't void the warranty simply because of a modification, they have to prove that the modification caused the failure. For example, if someone changed the engine tuning to allow a 10,000 RPM redline and destroyed the engine the manufacturer would easily be able to say that the modified software caused the failure. Similarly a phone manufacturer could void the warranty on the cpu/mb/battery/etc... if they can prove that the different software caused the problem. They couldn't void the warranty on the camera, usb port, digitizer, headphone jack, speaker, etc... because you decided to go S-Off, root, and run custom software as the software couldn't have damaged those components. As with all things legal though, it would likely cost less to jump through hoops or just buy a new device than to get them to accept your warranty claim if they choose to be difficult about a claim.

yes there are many ways to S-off.

People think that unlocking phone in unauthorized way (S-Off) will be better for warranty rather than using htcdev, how is that?
altimax98 said:
Keep in mind the moment you request an unlock key from HTCDev your warranty is void regardless of if you use the code or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Impossible, only if You unlock your bootloader then warranty may be void.