FRP Lock What is it?
Factory Reset Protection (FRP) is a an anti-theft solution implemented by Google to proctect your devices in case an unauthorized person wipe and factory reset your phone or tablet, it preventing you for the information theft and the use of the device. It’s good if you’ve lost or you phone was stolen!
FRP was first included in Android 5.1, which was released in March 2015, before Factory Reset Protection, the lock screen could bypassed just by accesing recovery and make factory reset, all the user data was erased even the pattern lock and the potential thief could make use of the phone easily.
How FRP works
FRP is configured to be enabled by default in almost all the devices, when it is activated and the phone is wiped, after finish booting up, a wizard configuration will request you to connect to internet by wifi or mobile data, and don’t let you skip until you connect the phone to internet, then it request for the owner’s Google account, so you need to log in to unlock the phone and can use it again.
How FRP is Activated
- First you have to be signed in with a google account.
- You need configure a lock screen method( pattern, pin, fingerprint)
- OEM (Bootloader) must be locked, by default is locked, you don’t need to worry about that, at least you already have unlocked it manually.
How Disabled FRP Correctly
In your device go to settings and remove any lock screen you have configured.
Remove all google accounts you are signed in, go to settings and look for section ‘Accounts’, with an account selected look for a delete or remove option, usually hidden behind the three little dots in the top corner of the screen.
If your device has an extra security layer as “Find my phone” or you have signed in with the brand Id account, remove it too.
When you are sure all accounts and lock screen are erased you can now factory reset through the device settings
What is OEM
OEM is a term to refer the bootloader, it is a piece of code and is responsible for the booting process, most of manufacturers locks the bootloader , a locked bootloader means only specific operating systems can be boot up, or specific kind of apps can be installed.
FRP and bootloader are close related, FRP works only with locked bootloaders, so an unlocked bootloader disables the FRP automatically.
Google stablished a flag indicator to OEM lock/unlock. By lock OEM, indicator sets to 0, unlocking OEM sets indicator 1.
If you want to unlock the OEM, you must go to settings and enable the hidden “Developer Options” then look for the OEM Unlock option.
Some consideretions to keep in mind
Always remember the google account and password wich you have been signed in, you don’t believe how many people forget their owner accounts.
If you going to sell, gift or even buy a used device verify all accounts has been removed.
If you change or reset your Google account password, you can’t use it to wipe a phone that’s using it for 72 hours.
If OEM is unlocked, FRP is disabled, so everybody can wipe and use the device again, althought you have a google account and lock screen configured.
Unlocking the OEM may avoid your device warranty.
