Googlebooks are getting unlockable bootloader support

Google’s recently revealed Googlebook laptops may be steering the company’s vision toward a desktop future powered by Android, and, quite on brand, it seems the company still wants to honor its Android roots. A new support document confirms that Googlebooks will have unlockable bootloaders, and Magisk developer John Wu has also confirmed that Magisk is coming to Googlebooks, practically bringing easy root access to Google’s desktop-centric operating system.

In a post on X, John Wu, the renowned developer behind Magisk and a Google employee, announced, “Magisk on Googlebook. New code and instructions will come in the following days.”

The breakthrough comes in tandem with an official Google support document detailing bootloader unlocking procedures for Googlebooks, confirming that Google is leaving the door open for enthusiast tinkering rather than locking down the laptop hardware.

The bootloader unlock procedure also appears to be rather straightforward: enabling OEM unlocking in Developer Options, entering recovery mode via a combination of hardware button presses, and then following the on-screen instructions. The entire process is not yet revealed, but so far, it sounds almost Pixel-like easy to unlock the bootloader, which is excellent since it could have been locked down in a much worse fashion.

Over on Reddit, the enthusiast community has reacted with eager anticipation. While there has been healthy skepticism regarding desktop Android app optimization and recent developer verification restrictions, enthusiasts are relieved to see that bootloader unlockability is being officially supported out of the gate.

For longtime Android power users, the ability to gain root access on a full-laptop form factor opens up a range of possibilities, such as deep system modifications, performance tuning, ad blocking, and root-level automation scripts that standard laptops generally wall off.

It’s worth remembering that unlocking the bootloader on any device wipes user data and carries risks such as triggering integrity checks, but keeping it accessible preserves the spirit of Android. As we noted in our hands-on impressions with Googlebooks, Google is trying to bridge productivity and the mobile ecosystem. Knowing that the root and modding enthusiast community isn’t being locked out gives the new platform an immediate edge, and it would need all the advantages it can get if Google plans to make an impact in the laptop space, especially given Apple’s surprise slam-dunk with the MacBook Neo.