In late 2024 and 2025, reports emerged of ASUS offering a paid service (approximately $200/€185 ) to unlock the bootloader if the device is sent to their repair centers.
| Feature | Effect After Unlocking | | :--- | :--- | | | Permanently drops to L3 (SD only). Even if you relock. | | Google Play Integrity | Fails device integrity → Google Pay/Wallet breaks (can be fixed with Magisk + modules). | | OTA Updates | No longer work automatically. Must manually download and flash firmware. | | ASUS-exclusive features | Some camera tuning, audio profiles, or system optimizations may degrade on custom ROMs. | | Warranty | Officially voided (though some regions legally protect you). | zenfone 9 unlock bootloader
As of April 2026, it is currently not possible to unlock the bootloader of the ASUS Zenfone 9 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. In late 2024 and 2025, reports emerged of
Asus’s warranty terms explicitly exclude coverage for unlocked devices. However, the EU Directive 2019/771 (Sale of Goods Directive) and the US Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act argue that unlocking cannot void warranty unless the user can prove the unlock caused the defect. In practice, Asus has been known to reject RMAs for any hardware fault (e.g., dead USB port) on unlocked units, forcing users to relock and hope the fuse is not checked—but the fuse reveals prior unlock. | | Google Play Integrity | Fails device
Unlocking the bootloader is the master key to your device. It allows you to install custom ROMs (like LineageOS or Paranoid Android), gain root access via Magisk, flash custom kernels, or even install a full GNU/Linux distribution.