Is the download free?

Yes. The setup is free; running operations needs an active license on your account.

Can I run it in a virtual machine?

Not recommended. USB passthrough is unreliable, and a dropped connection mid-flash can brick a phone.

Does it run on macOS or Linux?

No. UnlockTool is Windows-only, and that includes the Apple workflows.

By UnlockTool Support Team · Updated 21 October 2026 · 5 min read

UnlockTool download & install guide

A clean first install: antivirus exclusions, drivers, admin rights, and the fixes for first-launch errors.

Most support tickets come from two skipped steps: the antivirus exclusion and the drivers. Do both first.

Only use the official setup

Repacked or "cracked" builds cannot authenticate with the license server, so they either fail at login or (worse) halfway through a flash. Get it from the download page and verify the MD5.

Add an antivirus exclusion before extracting

Low-level USB and driver access looks suspicious to heuristic scanners, so false positives are normal. Exclude the folder you will install into before extracting, or loader files get quarantined silently.

Install

Extract to a short path like C:\UnlockTool.
Right-click the program and choose Run as administrator. Do it every time.
Allow it through Windows Firewall when asked.

Install drivers before plugging in a phone

USB / ADB drivers for general detection
VCOM / preloader drivers for MediaTek
Qualcomm 9008 (EDL) drivers

Use a rear USB 2.0 port on the motherboard (no hubs, no front panel) and a cable you know carries data.

Quick fixes

Files vanish after extracting? That's your antivirus. Add the exclusion and extract again.
"Server connection failed"? Check your firewall or proxy and allow the tool explicitly.
Login rejected? It's one of three things: no active license, the wrong account, or an unofficial build.
Device not detected? Check the drivers first, then the cable, then the port.
Fails part-way? Update to the newest build and try again.