Decoding the Bootloader Nightmare: A Complete Guide to "OEM-Locked CID 0x0032"
1.3 Why the combination matters
A locked bootloader on a generic device (CID 0x0000) is an inconvenience. You can usually run fastboot oem unlock and accept a warning. However, a locked bootloader paired with CID 0x0032 means the OEM has signed a contract with the carrier to disable the unlock command entirely. The fastboot binary on your device simply does not recognize oem unlock as a valid command.
The HTC Legacy
HTC devices (One M8, M9, and Bolt) also used CID 0x0032 for Verizon. On HTC, the error message was slightly different (cid: VZW__001), but the numerical value remained 0x0032. HTC’s fastboot oem get_identifier_token would fail because the token was signed with a key that Verizons’s variant didn’t possess. oem-locked cid 0x0032
Path C: Wait for an EOL Exploit (Not recommended as primary strategy)
When Google ends security updates for a device (typically 3–5 years), independent researchers sometimes release "bootROM" exploits. For example, the Pixel 2 XL (Verizon) eventually got an exploit via the devinfo partition. But by that time, the hardware is obsolete. Do not buy a phone hoping for a future exploit. Decoding the Bootloader Nightmare: A Complete Guide to
Decoding the Bootloader Nightmare: A Complete Guide to "OEM-Locked CID 0x0032"
1.3 Why the combination matters
A locked bootloader on a generic device (CID 0x0000) is an inconvenience. You can usually run fastboot oem unlock and accept a warning. However, a locked bootloader paired with CID 0x0032 means the OEM has signed a contract with the carrier to disable the unlock command entirely. The fastboot binary on your device simply does not recognize oem unlock as a valid command.
The HTC Legacy
HTC devices (One M8, M9, and Bolt) also used CID 0x0032 for Verizon. On HTC, the error message was slightly different (cid: VZW__001), but the numerical value remained 0x0032. HTC’s fastboot oem get_identifier_token would fail because the token was signed with a key that Verizons’s variant didn’t possess.
Path C: Wait for an EOL Exploit (Not recommended as primary strategy)
When Google ends security updates for a device (typically 3–5 years), independent researchers sometimes release "bootROM" exploits. For example, the Pixel 2 XL (Verizon) eventually got an exploit via the devinfo partition. But by that time, the hardware is obsolete. Do not buy a phone hoping for a future exploit.
