Motorola Opens Bootloader On Verizon Moto X Paving Way For Custom ROMs Like CyanogenMod

If you bought a carrier-locked Verizon Moto X (2014), it’s understandable that you’re probably a bit angry at Lenovo (Motorola) right now. Although we would hardly call the Moto X an ancient device, Motorola made it clear that it will only provide a Marshmallow update to North American customers running the “Pure Edition” of the 2014 Moto X.

With that being said, the company is at least offering Verizon Moto X users another option to secure a version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Motorola took to its official forums to announce that users an now unlock the bootloader on their smartphones, allowing them to install custom ROMs.

For now, Motorola is only extending the bootloader unlock offer to owners of the Verizon Moto X. If you have a Moto X on any other carrier, you’re simply out of luck, for now. Unlocking the bootloader means that Moto X fans will have easy access to custom ROMs like CyanogenMod, which is one of the easier ways to get Marshmallow (since Verizon doesn’t seem to have the resources to make it happen).

We should warn you, however, that unlocking the bootloader means that you forfeit the warranty (and support) for your device. This likely isn’t an issue for folks that bought a Moto X early in its lifecycle, but for those that picked up the device more recently brand new might want to weigh their options before unlocking the bootloader. 

In Motorola eyes, it reckons that most people won’t be bothered by this wrinkle in the unlocking process. “We know some of you want the flexibility and we're glad we can offer it,” said Motorola’s Forum Manager.