How to find out the version of the bootloader on Xiaomi: all the ways from Fastboot to ADB

Why it is important to know the version of the bootloader on Xiaomi

The bootloader in Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO is the first software layer to be launched when the device is turned on. It is responsible for initializing the hardware and handing over control to the operating system. The bootloader version is critical when firmware, unlocking or restoring the device: version incompatibility can lead to a blink (completely inoperable) of the phone.

For example, if you try to flash custom recavators (TWRP) or official firmware through the Mi Flash Tool, the program may refuse to work, giving an anti-rollback error. This means that the bootloader version in the firmware is older than on your device — and Xiaomi blocks the rollback to older versions for security reasons.

In addition, some instructions for unlocking the bootloader require that the bootloader version be specified in the Mi Unlock Tool unlock request, which may be delayed or unsuccessful without this information.

Method 1: Fastboot Mode (most reliable)

Fastboot mode is a low-level interface that allows you to interact with the bootloader directly. To learn its version through Fastboot, follow the following steps:

1. Turn off the smartphone completely (press the power button and select Turn off).
2. Press the combination Loudness down + Power and hold it for 5-10 seconds until the screen with the image of a rabbit in the hat (Fastboot mode) appears.
3. Connect your phone to your computer through USB-cable (preferably original).
4. Open the Command Prompt (CMD) on your PC and type:

fastboot getvar anti

In response, you will receive a line of the form:

(bootloader) anti: 3


OKAY

The number after anti: (in example, 3) is the version of the anti-rollback engine that is directly related to the bootloader version. The higher the number, the newer the bootloader.

• 🔹 anti: 1 - old devices (2016-2017, for example, Xiaomi Mi 5)
• 🔹 anti: 3 – most models of 2018-2020 (Redmi Note 7, POCO F1)
• 🔹 anti: 5 – new devices (2021–2026, Xiaomi 12, Redmi Note 12)

⚠️ Note: If the fastboot getvar anti command returns an empty line or error, try entering fastboot getvar all. In some models, the bootloader version may be hidden under other variables, such as the version-bootloader.

💡

If you have Windows and fastboot is not recognized, download Google’s Platform Tools and add a folder with utilities to the environment variables.

Method 2: Through ADB (without unlocking the bootloader)

If you have debugging enabled USB (USB Debugging, you can recognize the bootloader version without going to Fastboot.This method works on most Xiaomi devices with the bootloader unlocked or locked, but requires a connection to a PC.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Connect the phone to the computer and confirm the debugging permission on the smartphone screen.
4. In the command line (CMD), enter:

adb shell getprop ro.boot.veritymode

If the command returns enforcing, the bootloader is locked. To find out its version, type in:

adb shell getprop ro.boot.bootloader

You will receive a line like unknown:7.5.13 or UFI:1.0.3.0.

• 🔹 First part (unknown, UFI) — loader.
• 🔹 The second part (7.5.13, 1.0.3.0) - his version.

Enable the developer mode|Activate debugging by USB|Connect the original cable|Install drivers ADB PC-only-->

Method 3: Through the Hidden Menu of Engineering Settings

Some Xiaomi models (especially on Qualcomm processors) let you know the bootloader version through a hidden engineering menu, which does not require a PC connection, but does not work on all devices.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##.
2. In the menu that appears, select Phone Information.
3. Scroll down to the Version block and find the Bootloader or Baseband version strings.

If this menu is not there or the bootloader data is not there, try another code:

##7378423##

Service tests → Version info can display a bootloader version, but this method does not work on all devices, especially newer models with MediaTek.

Method 4: Using the official Mi Unlock Tool app

If you plan to unlock the bootloader, you can find out its version through Xiaomi’s Mi Unlock Tool, a method that is only suitable for devices with official MIUI firmware.

Step-by-step:

1. Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website and install it on PC.
2. Sign in to your Mi Account (it must be linked to your phone).
3. Turn off your smartphone and put it into Fastboot mode (as in Method 1).
4. Connect your phone to your PC and start the Mi Unlock Tool.
5. The program will automatically determine the device model and the bootloader version in V12.0.3.0.QFGMIXM format (where QFG is the firmware code and V12.0.3.0 is the version).

Note that the Mi Unlock Tool doesn't show a clean version of the bootloader, but the firmware version it's compatible with, but that information is usually enough to unlock.

⚠️ Note: If the Mi Unlock Tool gives you a Couldn't verify device error, it may mean that your account is not tied to your phone or the device does not support unlocking.

Through Fastboot| Through ADB| Through Mi Unlock Tool|Never checked |Another way-->

Method 5: Through firmware files (for advanced users)

If you have access to the Fastboot ROM, you can find out the version of the bootloader by analyzing the contents of the archive, which is suitable for users who have already downloaded the firmware for their device.

Instructions:

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the MIUI Downloads website.
2. Unpack the.tgz or.zip archive in a separate folder.
3. Find bootloader.img or aboot.img (for Qualcomm devices).
4. Open the file in a hexadecimal editor (such as HxD) and find the anti or bootloader version string.

Alternatively, you can use the command in the terminal (for Linux/macOS):

strings bootloader.img | grep -i"anti\|version"

This method requires technical knowledge and is only suitable for advanced users. If you are not sure about your actions, use the simpler methods in this article.

💡

The version of the bootloader in the firmware files may be different from the current version on the device. Always check the data against the real state of the phone via Fastboot or ADB.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to find out the version of the bootloader, users often encounter typical problems, and here are the most common ones and how to solve them:

• 🔌 Device not defined in Fastboot: Check the cable (use the original), install Mi drivers USB Driver and try another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).
• 🔒 The fastboot getvar anti command returns the void: On some devices (like the Redmi Note 10), the bootloader version is stored in another variable.
• 📱 Phone doesn't go to Fastboot: Hold the Volume buttons down + Meals of at least 10 seconds on some models (e.g, POCO X3 Pro) it may be necessary to turn off the device first and then to clamp the combination.
• 🖥️ ADB Does not see the device: Make sure that the debugging is USB Enter the adb device command – if the list is empty, reinstall the drivers.

If none of the methods worked, your device may be using a custom bootloader (for example, on some Black Shark models), in which case, refer to the XDA Developers or 4PDA forums, which often publish unique instructions for rare devices.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions