OnePlus has published a revised and significantly stricter bootloader unlock policy for devices running ColorOS 16 and newer, building on the Deep Testing Program framework it first rolled out in late 2025. The new rules, shared through a community announcement on July 24, introduce a layered set of eligibility requirements and hard numerical limits that reshape how users in China can request bootloader access.
Tighter identity and account requirements
Under the updated policy, applicants must hold an account that is at least 60 days old, maintains a clean record free of violations, and has completed real-name verification alongside face verification. A bound phone number is mandatory, and the account must show consecutive daily logins on the target device for seven straight days before an application can proceed. OnePlus will cap approvals at four devices per named identity annually, while keeping the existing 30-day waiting period between individual requests.
A quota system replaces open approvals
For the first time, the Deep Testing Program adds a hard quota system; earlier iterations imposed no stated cap on total approvals. Devices that already support Deep Testing will receive their initial quota release in September, followed by fresh batches on the first of each month. Handsets that launch with ColorOS 17 or later will get quota availability one month after release, and models upgraded to ColorOS 17 will follow the same one-month delay once the update lands. OnePlus has not disclosed how many unlock slots each monthly batch contains.
Processing timelines have also been extended. When the program debuted for the OnePlus 15, the company quoted a review window of one to two days. That window now stretches to seven working days. Once granted, unlock access remains valid for 14 days; if left unused, it expires and the user must submit a new application.
Warranty terms and regional scope
OnePlus clarified that unlocking the bootloader voids eligibility for return or exchange if the procedure causes functional damage, though the original warranty coverage otherwise remains in effect. The entire policy applies exclusively to Chinese-market devices running ColorOS 16 or above, and it explicitly excludes carrier-locked, enterprise-locked, and government-locked units.
A broader shift in device strategy
The move lands months after OnePlus introduced hardware-level anti-rollback protection on select ColorOS 16 builds in January, permanently blocking firmware downgrades on affected phones. Taken together, the two policy shifts mark a notable turn for a brand whose enthusiast appeal was long intertwined with comparatively open bootloader access.
Source: bbs.oneplus.com