While many manufacturers artificially require a SIM card for bootloader unlocking, it’s often possible to bypass—especially on devices with MediaTek chips, older Android versions, or unlocked bootloader policies (Pixel, Moto, OnePlus). For locked-down brands like Xiaomi or Samsung, a dummy SIM is the simplest solution.
Most official guides tell you to insert a SIM card, enable OEM unlocking, and wait for a carrier to "approve" the unlock. But what if you don’t have a SIM card? Perhaps you are using a Wi-Fi-only tablet, a secondary device, or you live in a region where carrier-branded phones are rare.
Concluding checklist
Insert it once, toggle OEM unlock, then remove SIM. This is the safest path.
: You only need the SIM to initiate the "Add account and device" step in settings. You can remove it immediately after the account is successfully bound and wait the required period (usually 168 hours) using Wi-Fi. how to unlock bootloader without sim card
A SIM card is used to authenticate your identity to a cellular network for calls, texts, and mobile data. Since unlocking the bootloader is a local process that involves the device's internal storage and processor, the presence of a SIM card is usually irrelevant.
OnePlus (pre-Oppo merger, before 2022) was the most developer-friendly brand. No SIM card is ever required. While many manufacturers artificially require a SIM card
Two tiny metal contacts on the phone's motherboard. Shorting them forces the phone into Emergency Download Mode (EDL) .