Many Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco smartphone users will eventually be faced with the desire to gain full control of their device. The standard limitations of the Android operating system often prevent custom recoveries, kernel modifications, or full firmware from other regions from being installed. The key to these features is unlocking the bootloader, which opens up access to the system partition, allowing you to modify the software at a deep level.
However, the procedure is not without risks and requires careful attention to detail. Mistakes can lead to the loss of warranty or turn the smartphone into a “brick”. In this article, we will detail the official methods of unlocking, the necessary tools and steps that must be performed to successfully complete the operation without critical errors.
Before any manipulations are initiated, it is important to understand that unlocking the bootloader will necessarily result in the complete deletion of all user data, a security measure implemented by the manufacturer, so the first and most important step should always be to back up important information to an external medium or to the cloud.
Preparation of the device and account Mi
The process begins long before you connect the cable to your computer, and you need to link the device to your Mi Account, and go to the smartphone settings menu, select About, and click on the MIUI or HyperOS kernel version several times to activate the developer mode, without which you can't do anything.
Once you activate the hidden menu, go to the "Additional" section and find "Developers" section, where you need to activate the "Unlock status" switch. The system will require you to enter your phone number and password from your Mi Account. Make sure that the device is installed. SIM-The card on which the account is registered and there is a stable Internet connection.
An important nuance is the waiting time. Once the device is linked to the account, Xiaomi's security system sets a timer. It's usually 168 hours (7 days), but in some cases it can be as long as 30 days. Trying to unlock before that time period will lead to an error. Don't try to get around this restriction by resetting the settings - the timer is tied to the device ID on the server.
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Use the Mi Account that was linked to the developer menu, and changing your account or logging in from another device will prevent you from unlocking.
Check the anchor status in the Mi Unlock Status app, which is built into the developer menu. If it shows the message "Added successfully", then the device is ready to wait. Otherwise, check the network connection or try to overload the smartphone.
Necessary software and drivers for PC
To interact with your smartphone in bootloader mode, you'll need a computer running Windows. While there are methods for Linux and macOS, the official Mi Unlock Tool only works fully on Windows. Make sure that your PC has all the necessary system updates installed.
A critical step is to install the ADB and Fastboot drivers. Without them, the computer will not be able to recognize the phone in firmware mode. It is recommended to download the Platform-tools package from the official Android website or use the driver installer, which is part of the Mi Flash Tool. Also you will need a USB cable, preferably original, since cheap analogues often do not provide stable data transfer.
☑️ Verification of PC readiness
Download the latest version of the Mi Unlock utility from the official website miui.com/unlock. Antivirus software may react to the program as suspicious, as it makes changes to system partitions. It is recommended to add the program to exceptions or temporarily disable protection during the procedure.
⚠️ Warning: Using modified versions of Mi Unlock or scripts to bypass the timer can result in a permanently blocked Mi Account.
Downloading the smartphone in Fastboot mode
To make the computer see the phone in the right mode, you need to turn it into Fastboot. For most Xiaomi models, this is done by turning off the device and then pressing the volume button when you connect the USB cable to the computer.
If the standard method doesn’t work, try an alternative method via ADB. Connect the USB debugging phone on and type in the command:
adb reboot bootloaderThe device will automatically reboot to the desired mode, in which case the screen of the smartphone will be black or contain only technical information, and do not be alarmed if the screen is turned off, which is normal behavior for some models in the standby mode of commands.
What if your phone is not included in Fastboot?
When you go to Fastboot mode, connect your device to your PC. In Windows Device Manager, Android Bootloader Interface should appear in the Android Devices or Other Devices section. If there is an exclamation point, the drivers are installed incorrectly, and the procedure must be repeated after reinstalling them.
Unlocking process through Mi Unlock
Launch the Mi Unlock Tool and log in to your Mi Account. Make sure it's the same account that's linked to the phone. The program will automatically check the status of the device and tell you if proceed is possible with unlocking. If the timer hasn't expired, you'll see the remaining time in the hours.
When all conditions are met, press Unlock, a warning will appear that all data will be deleted, confirm the action, the process will take from a few seconds to a few minutes, during which time you can not turn off the cable or interrupt the program.
| Status at Mi Unlock | Meaning | User actions |
|---|---|---|
| Unlock successfully | Successful unlocking | You can reboot your phone. |
| Current account is different | Accounts don't match. | Log in to the correct Mi Account |
| Please wait 168 hours | Timer hasn't expired. | Waiting for the end of the waiting period |
| Device not found | Phone's not found. | Check cable and drivers |
Once successfully completed, the phone will automatically restart, and the first boot can take up to 10-15 minutes longer than usual, because the system reassembles partitions and applies new security policies.
Installation of custom TWRP Recovery
The unlocked bootloader allows you to install a third-party recovery menu, such as the TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project), which allows you to make full system backups, install modified firmware and patches. To install, download the twrp.img image that matches your model and place it in the folder with the ADB tools.
Put your phone back to Fastboot mode again. Open the command line in the tool folder and type in the command to flash the recovery image:
fastboot flash recovery twrp.imgImportant: immediately after the firmware is completed, you can not simply restart the phone in the usual way, otherwise the standard recovery will overtake TWRP. You must perform a combination of buttons to enter recovery mode or use the command:
fastboot boot twrp.imgOnce uploaded to TWRP, it is recommended to immediately reset your data (Wipe Data) to avoid encryption issues. If you plan to use Magisk to obtain root rights, you can now flash the corresponding zip archive through the Install menu.
⚠️ Note: When installing custom recavator system can warn about the violation of the integrity of the software. This is normal for unlocked devices, but some banking applications may stop working without additional settings (Magisk Hide, Zygisk).
Possible problems and solutions
During the unlock process, users often encounter a “Couldn’t verify device” error, which means that the program cannot confirm the right to unlock. Most often, the problem lies in the wrong login to the account or using an outdated version of Mi Unlock. Try downloading the latest version of the utility and re-tethering the device.
Another common problem is hanging on the Mi logo after unlocking (Bootloop). If this happens, try resetting via Recovery Mode (pressing the power and volume up). If the reset does not help, you will need to flash the device through EDL or Fastboot mode using the official firmware.
Sometimes antivirus will block Mi Unlock, in which case you should temporarily turn off real-time protection, and it is worth checking whether the firewall blocks the connection of the program to Xiaomi servers. Adding an exception to the firewall rules often solves the problem.
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Most unlocking errors are not due to a phone breakdown, but to inattention when installing drivers or using an incorrect Mi Account.
If nothing helps, maybe your model has additional limitations. Some versions of devices, especially those released for certain carriers, may have a locked bootloader at the hardware level that cannot be circumvented by software methods.