Xiaomi OEM- Unlocking: What’s Behind This Function and How to Use It Without Risks

Introduction: Why Xiaomi’s OEM- Unlocking Is Raising So Many Questions

If you’ve ever tried custom firmware on a Xiaomi smartphone, flashed recovery via fastboot, or even just dropped the device to factory settings, you’ve probably come across the enigmatic term OEM- unlocking, a feature hidden deep in the developer’s settings that has become one of the most talked-about (and often misunderstood) aspects of the MIUI ecosystem and the new HyperOS.

On the one hand, OEM Unlock is the key to full control of your device: the ability to run unofficial software, obtain root rights, or restore your phone after a software failure. On the other hand, careless handling of this feature can turn your Redmi Note 12 or POCO F5 into a “brick” that won’t turn on even after a reboot. And there are myths that unlock automatically deprives you of warranties (spoiler: not always) or that it can only be enabled through an official website (spoiler: not).

In this article, we’ll explore what OEM- unlocking is really like without water and outdated instructions. You’ll learn how it relates to the bootloader, why Xiaomi has made it harder in the latest versions of the MIUI, and what happens if you try unlocking a device with a tied Mi Account. And then you’ll find a step-by-step guide with current commands for the ADB and Fastboot, which runs ZXQPH0003QXXZ in the year.

What is OEM- Unlocking and why it is needed by Xiaomi owners

The term OEM- unlocking originally referred to the manufacturer’s ability to unlock the bootloader of the device for testing or repair. In the context of Xiaomi, this means permission to modify the system partition – that is, the ability to:

• 🔓 Install custom recovery (TWRP, OrangeFox)
• 📱 Switching unofficial firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience)
• 🔧 Get root rights through Magisk
• 🔄 Restore the device after a soft brick (when the phone only boots to fastboot)

By default, the bootloader on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is locked.

• 🛡️ Malware installations at the system level
• 📉 Unauthorized access to data after theft
• 🔧 Broken Updates That Can Turn Your Phone Into a Brick

But for enthusiasts and developers, locking is a problem, and without unlocking the bootloader, you can't:

• ⚡ Test beta versions of firmware
• 🔄 Restore backups via TWRP
• 🎯 Use some developer features (e.g., ADB root)

It's important to understand that OEM- unlock ≠ unlock the bootloader. The first is the permission to unlock, the second is the process itself. Without OEM- unlock enabled, any attempt to unlock the bootloader through fastboot oem unlock will end in a FAILED error (remote: 'Device is locked. Cannot flash images').

How to check if the bootloader is unlocked on your Xiaomi

Before you try to turn on OEM Unlock, make sure the bootloader is not unlocked yet.

Method 1: Through Fastboot Mode

Turn off the phone, then press the Power button + Volume down until the Fastboot logo appears.

• Device is LOCKED – bootloader locked (standard state)
• Device is UNLOCKED – bootloader unlocked (you or the previous owner have already performed the procedure)

Method 2: Through the ADB team

Connect your phone to your PC, enable USB Debugging and perform:

adb reboot bootloader


fastboot oem device-info

In the answer, look for the line Device unlocked: true/false. If false, the bootloader is locked.

Method 3: Through the MIUI/HyperOS settings

Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version and tap 7 times on the MIUI Version line to activate Developer Mode. Then open Settings → Additional → For Developers and find “OEM Unlock Status.” If it is active, the bootloader is unlocked.

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On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13T or POCO F6), the option “OEM Unlock Status” may not be on the developer menu.

Step-by-step: how to enable OEM- unlock on Xiaomi in 2026 year

The activation process for OEM Unlock has changed with the release of MIUI 14 and HyperOS. Now it consists of two stages: resolution in settings and binding of the Mi Account.

Step 1: Activate the Developer Mode

Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap the line MIUI version 7 times. the notification will appear “You became a developer!”.

Step 2: Enable OEM- Unlock

Open Settings → Additional → For developers and find the item:

• "OEM Unlocking" (on MIUI)
• "OEM Unlock Status" (on HyperOS)

Activate the switch. If the item is gray and inactive, see the section "What to do if OEM- unlocking is not enabled".

Step 3: Link your Mi Account to your device

From 2023, Xiaomi will require a Mi Account to unlock the bootloader.

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account and log in.
2. Turn on data synchronization.
3. Wait 72 hours (some models have 168 hours) is a safety requirement that cannot be circumvented.

Step 4: Unlock the bootloader via Fastboot

After waiting:

1. Turn off your phone and boot to Fastboot (Power + Volume Down).
2. Connect the device to the PC and execute the command:

fastboot oem unlock

If everything goes well, you will see the OKAY message and the phone will automatically reset to factory settings.

What to do if OEM- is not enabled: common problems and solutions

Even after completing all the steps, the OEM Unlock option may remain inactive, and here are the most common reasons and ways to address them:

If none of these methods helped, check:

• 📱 Device model: On some regional versions (e.g. China), unlocking may be limited.
• 🔄 Version MIUI/HyperOS: Beta firmware sometimes disables unlocking.
• 🔒 Device status: If the phone was bought with hands, the previous owner could have already unlocked the bootloader.

Risks and consequences of OEM-unlocking: what awaits you after the procedure

Unlocking the bootloader on Xiaomi irreversibly erases data from internal memory, including photos, contacts and installed applications. But this is not the only consequence.

• 🔄 Automatic reset to factory settings – all data will be deleted, including files in the DCIM folder and application settings.
• 🛡️ Widevine L1 Disabled – Netflix, Disney+ and other streaming services will work in a resolution no higher than 480p (the problem is solved only by re-locking the bootloader).
• 🔒 Loss of ability to use official updates over the air (OTA) – you will have to manually flash updates through the Mi Flash Tool or fastboot.
• 📱 Potential problems with banking applications – some banks (e.g. Sberbank or Tinkoff) may block access to their services on devices with an unlocked bootloader.

There are positives:

• ⚡ The ability to install Google Camera (GCam) with full support for all camera modules.
• 🔧 Access to Magisk and modules that extend the functionality of the system (e.g., ViPER4Android for sound enhancement).
• 📲 Ability to remove system applications (bloatware) that cannot be disabled by standard means.

⚠️ Warning: If you unlocked the bootloader and then sold the phone, the new owner may have trouble trying to lock it back.Some models (e.g., Xiaomi 12 Pro) require the original Mi Account that was tied when unlocked.

Can I get it all back: how to block the bootloader on Xiaomi again?

If you change your mind or want to return the device to a factory state (for example, before selling), you can block the bootloader.

Method 1: Through the official firmware

Download the latest stable firmware for your model from MIUI Downloads and run it through the Mi Flash Tool in clean all and lock mode.

• Delete all data.
• Return Widevine L1 (if the firmware is official)
• Locks the loader.

Method 2: Through the Fastboot command

Do this:

fastboot oem lock

⚠️ Warning: If the phone doesn't boot after this command, you'll need to flash the full firmware image through fastboot. Without a backup, the data will be lost.

What can't be returned:

• 🔐 Widevine L1 status – if you have installed custom firmware, it may remain at L3 even after the bootloader is blocked.
• 📱 Warranty – if the device has been unlocked, some service centers may refuse warranty repairs (although Xiaomi does not officially prohibit unlocking).

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If you plan to sell the phone, lock the bootloader ZARANEO — the new owner will not be able to do this without your Mi Account tied to the device.

FAQ: Frequent questions about OEM- Unlocking Xiaomi