Unlocking the bootloader is a key step for those who want to gain full control of their device, and it opens the door to customized recavators like TWRP, and allows global firmware to be installed on Chinese versions of smartphones, without which access to system partitions will be closed, making it impossible to deep-modify the software.
Xiaomi has implemented strict restrictions requiring a mandatory wait of 168 hours (7 days) after filing an application, which is the time it takes for the manufacturer’s servers to verify the status of the account and link the device. Ignoring official rules often leads to errors when trying to start the process, so it is important to act consistently and carefully.
In this guide, we will cover everything from account preparation to typing special commands into the console, learn how to avoid blocking an account and what to do if the Mi Unlock Tool utility refuses to work. Proper preparation minimizes the risks of turning a smartphone into a brick.
Preparation of a smartphone and Mi Account
The first and most critical step is to link your current account to your device. Unlike other manufacturers, Xiaomi requires that your smartphone be logged in to Mi Account and have an active Internet connection, without which the server will not be able to confirm your rights to unlock.
You need to activate the hidden menu for developers. To do this, go to the settings and find the "About Phone" option. Click seven times in a row on the MIUI or HyperOS version until the notification "You became a developer" appears. Then a new section will appear in the advanced settings.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure that the "Developers" section includes "Factory Unlock" if it is turned off, the system will require you to enter your account password and connect to Wi-Fi to confirm.
Next, you need to put in. SIM-You can turn off your Wi-Fi to allow activation to go through your mobile network. On the Mi Unlock Status menu, click Add Account and Device. Successful addition is confirmed by the message "Account Added." Only after this procedure does the countdown start.
Required tools and drivers
To successfully perform the procedure, you will need a computer running the Windows operating system. On macOS or Linux, the process is much more complicated and requires the use of emulators or special scripts, which is not recommended for beginners. USB-cable, preferably original, coming in the set.
The key element is to install the right drivers. Without them, the computer will not see the smartphone in Fastboot mode. It is recommended to download and install the Mi Unlock Tool from the official website, since the necessary ADB and Fastboot drivers are usually supplied with the utility.
- 📱 Smartphone with a battery charge of at least 60% for stable operation.
- 💻 PC with Windows 7 or higher and free USB-port.
- 🔗 Original. USB-data-line.
- 🌐 Stable Internet connection on PC and smartphone.
If you don't automatically install the drivers, you can use Device Manager to find an unknown device, select the driver update manually, and specify the folder where the unlock utility was installed. The path usually looks like C:\Xiaomi\MiUnlock\drivers.
Unlocking procedure through Mi Unlock
After the 168 hours of waiting, you can start the main step: start the Mi Unlock Tool on your computer and log in to the same Mi Account that was linked to your phone. Make sure the smartphone is turned off.
Put the device in Fastboot mode. To do this, press the power and volume buttons at the same time. The screen will show an image of a hare repairing an android, or the words Fastboot. Connect the phone to the computer with a cable.
☑️ Ready to unlock
In the program, click the "Unlock" button, a warning will appear that all data will be deleted. Confirm the action. The process will take a few minutes, after which the status will change to "Unlocked successfully." The smartphone will automatically restart and begin to clean the data.
⚠️ Warning: When you unlock all files, photos and contacts on the internal drive will be permanently deleted.
Solving common mistakes
Often users will encounter an error such as "Couldn't verify device" or "Account isn't bound to this device," which means that the server can't see the anchor, check if the password is correctly entered, if the account region is the same as the region of the device, and sometimes re-associating the account helps.
If the utility freezes at 99% or gives a network error, try changing the Internet connection. Using a mobile hotspot (distributing Internet from a phone) often helps bypass the ISP or corporate networks that can filter the traffic of Xiaomi servers.
The table below shows the main error codes and methods for their elimination:
| Code/Error text | Probable cause | Decision-making |
|---|---|---|
| 10003 | Unstable connection | Change. USB-port or cable, use another PC |
| 20003 | Account untied | Check the binding in the menu "Mi Unlock Status" |
| 40003 | Device limit exceeded | Remove the old device from the account settings on the site |
| Network Error | Blocking traffic | Use the mobile Internet or change the DNS |
What if the timer is off?
Features of unlocking on HyperOS
With the release of the new HyperOS shell, the company’s policy has become even stricter: now it is not just necessary to wait 7 days to unlock the right, but to have an account with a certain level of activity in the Mi Community.
The number of unlock slots available is limited, which means that even if all conditions are met, you may be denied due to the lack of quotas for the current day, in which case you should try to apply at another time of the day.
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Apply for the unlock on the Mi Community app early in the morning Beijing time when quotas are updated and competition is lower.
The developer menu has also changed, with the Mi Unlock status item being called the bootloader status or being moved to the submenu, and it’s important to look closely for the current names, as Xiaomi is constantly changing localization.
Consequences of Unblocking and Guarantee
Unlocking the bootloader is officially authorized by the manufacturer, but it has consequences. First of all, it is a complete data cleanup. Second, some security features will stop working, for example, banking applications may require additional manipulation to run, and Google Pay (now Google Wallet) may refuse to work without installing patches.
The issue of warranty remains controversial. Technically, unlocking is not a reason to refuse warranty repairs unless the fault is software related. However, if you brick your phone in the process of experimentation, the service center may refuse free recovery.
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Unlocking the bootloader is an irreversible action from the point of view of warranty seals of the software, but reversible from the point of view of returning stock firmware.
Once unlocked, a warning will appear on the screen at each boot that the device is not checked, which is a standard behavior that cannot be removed without relocking, and boot locking is back possible, but only if the stock global or Chinese firmware is installed that corresponds to the region of the device.