Google’s new Pixel 9 series is primarily focused on AI, with several new features taking advantage of this growing technology. However, if you unlock your bootloader, many of the Pixel 9’s new AI apps will stop working.
Unlocking the bootloader on an Android phone serves several purposes, including testing new software versions without fear of bricking your device. It can also open up the possibility of making deeper modifications to the software, such as installing custom ROMs, rooting, or performing advanced tweaks.
But if you decide to unlock your bootloader on Pixel 9, it may come at the cost of AI features.
Some early Pixel 9 buyers on the XDA forums quickly discovered (h/t Android Authority) that unlocking the bootloader breaks some AI features. Pixel Screenshots, in particular, doesn’t seem to work at all after making this change, with even an unrooted device unable to download the templates needed to run. AI reports in the new Weather app also don’t work, as does Call Notes according to some users. The only app that still works seems to be Pixel Studio, which works with the unlocked bootloader, but can break with some additional tweaks.
The reason is not entirely clear, but it seems to have something to do with a server-side check that no longer works once the bootloader is unlocked.
Fortunately, the problem is not permanent. Relocking the bootloader (and resetting the device) fixes the issue.
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