Unlocking the bootloader on your Surface Duo 1
Edit This PageFiles/Tools Needed đ
- Platform Tools from Google (ADB and Fastboot)
- A Windows PC
PLEASE READ AND BE SURE TO UNDERSTAND THE ENTIRE GUIDE BEFORE STARTING
What you will get đ
You will end up with both Android⢠and Windows on your Surface Duo. Android⢠and Windows will both split the internal storage (64GB and 64GB or 128GB and 128GB).
Android⢠will boot normally, and you will have to use a PC to boot Windows when needed, unless you create a dual boot image (explained later).
Steps đ ď¸
Unlocking the bootloader
Backup all your data. You will lose everything you have on Android⢠and will start from scratch.
Start by turning on your Surface Duo into Androidâ˘, and unlock it
Using the Microsoft Launcher, find the settings app
- Open the Android⢠Settings app
- Scroll down to the about section, and open it
- Scroll all the way down til you see the Build Number field
- Press the Build number field 7 times consecutively, you should first start to see a popup after 3 taps
- Once done tapping 7 times, you should be seeing this popup instead
- Now go to the System section, you should see a new Developer options section like shown below
- Go to the Developer options section
- Turn on the âOEM unlockingâ option as shown above, then, scroll all the way down til you see the âUSB debuggingâ option
- And turn on the âUSB debuggingâ option
Assuming your Surface Duo is booted to Androidâ˘, plugged to your PC:
- Open a command prompt on your PC
- Go to the folder where you extracted the Google Android⢠Platform tools using the CD command and the path of the folder, like so:
- Run the following command to ensure your phone is detected by your PC
adb devices
- Run the following command now
adb reboot bootloader
- Your phone will ask for permission to authorize your computer to execute commands, accept it:
- Now run the following command again, it should now work properly:
adb reboot bootloader
You will be rebooted to Surface Duoâs bootloader.
Image of what you should see right now: Surface Duo in Bootloader mode
- From there:
fastboot flashing unlock
Confirm that you want to unlock the bootloader using your device side buttons, your device will erase itself and restart into the Android⢠Out of box Experience Again.
You should now be seeing the Android⢠Out of Box Experience (OOBE). Setup your phone to confirm it works correctly.
Congratulations, you successfully unlocked your bootloader.
Assuming your Surface Duo is booted to Androidâ˘, plugged to your PC
Using the Microsoft Launcher, find the settings app
- Open the Android⢠Settings app
- Scroll down to the about section, and open it
- Scroll all the way down til you see the Build Number field
- Press the Build number field 7 times consecutively, you should first start to see a popup after 3 taps
- Once done tapping 7 times, you should be seeing this popup instead
- Now go to the System section, you should see a new Developer options section like shown below
- Go to the Developer options section
- Scroll all the way down til you see the âUSB debuggingâ option
- And turn on the âUSB debuggingâ option
The End
And weâre done, please continue with the previous guide that made you land here :)
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Running Windows on your Surface Duo is not a replacement for a proper phone operating system and does not have emergency calling capabilities.
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