Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCOBootloader smartphones, which is a critical parameter that determines whether you can install custom firmware, obtain Root superuser rights, or simply reflash the device in the event of a failure. Many users buy used gadgets or inherit them and do not know whether the previous owner has officially unlocked them.
There are several ways to determine whether a system partition is open without having to use complex manipulations. The simplest method requires no connection to a computer and takes only a few seconds. However, a PC will still be required to get detailed technical information about the status of the Fastboot mode. In this article, we will discuss all the available diagnostic options.
Understanding bootloader status is the first step to deep customizing Android. If you're planning to modify the software, you need to know exactly what you're dealing with._locked_ or _unlocked_ — These two words can change your behavior dramatically.
Checking through smartphone settings
The most affordable way to do this, without any additional hardware, is to use the built-in MIUI or HyperOS menu, and to do this, you have to go to the About Phone section and click on the build number several times to activate the developer menu, a standard procedure that many enthusiasts are familiar with.
Once you activate the hidden settings, you need to go to the Extended Developer Menu, which is where the switch is located. Note that on global firmware versions, this item may be called "bootloader Status" or "Mi Unlock Status."
- 🔍 Go to Settings. → About the phone and 7 times click on the version MIUI.
- 🛠 Go to Settings. → Advanced settings → For developers.
- 📱 Find Mi Unlock status and click on it.
- 📡 Make sure your device is connected to mobile internet or Wi-Fi to get up-to-date data from the server.
If the window that appears says, "The bootloader is unlocked," it means that access is open, and if you see a message saying you need to unlock or an offer to link an account, then Bootloader is closed, and this method works on 99% of the company's current devices.
⚠️ Note: To display status in this menu, the phone must be connected to the Internet, as information is requested from Xiaomi servers in real time.
Diagnostics through Fastboot mode
A more reliable and technically accurate method of checking is to log into Fastboot mode, which works even if the Android operating system is damaged or not booting, and displays technical information, including lock status, on the device screen.
To get into this mode, you need to turn off your smartphone completely. Then press down and power buttons at the same time. Hold them until an image with Android repair or FASTBOOT on an orange background appears. On some POCO models, the logo may differ, but the essence remains the same.
Look closely at the text at the bottom of the screen, there's a status bar, and if you see the word Locked, it means the bootloader is closed, and if it says Unlocked, and you add a color logo (like an open lock) often, you're open, and it's a visual indicator that you can't forge software without access to the system.
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On some models with AMOLED screens in Fastboot mode, text may not be visible well. Take a screen photo on another phone to better see the small inscriptions.
This method is a “hard” status confirmation, and even if the system settings display one thing and the Fastboot another (which happens when software crashes), the information from the Fastboot mode is always given priority.
Use of Mi Unlock Tool
The official tool from the manufacturer Mi Unlock Tool is the most authoritative source of information, designed for unlocking, but also great at diagnostics, it shows not only status, but also the binding to the Mi Account.
To check, you'll need a Windows computer and a USB cable. Download the official utility from miui.com/unlock, install the drivers and run the program. Then connect the phone that has been switched to Fastboot mode to the PC.
The software automatically reads data from the device, and if the bootloader is locked, you'll see an "Unlock" button and a data loss warning, and if the device is already unlocked, the program will give a message, "This device is already unlocked," or similar notification, which is the safest way to double-check the data.
☑️ Checking with Mi Unlock Tool
Checking through ADB Command Prompt
For advanced users who prefer to work with the command line, there is a method of checking through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to get a detailed response log from the device, which is useful for scripts or process automation.
First, make sure that the phone has USB debugging enabled in the Developer Menu. Connect the device to your computer and open the terminal or command line in the SDK Platform Tools tool folder. Enter a command to check the bootloader status.
fastboot oem device-infoYou'll get a few lines of text back, you're interested in a line (bootloader) Device unlocked: true or false, true means that the lock is removed, false means that the device is protected, and there may be a line on the critical security status (Device critical), which is important for some types of modifications.
- 💻 Install Platform Tools on your computer.
- 🔌 Connect your phone in Fastboot mode via the original cable.
- ⌨️ Enter the command fastboot oem device-info in the terminal.
- 📄 Look for the word unlocked or true.
This method provides the most technically accurate information without the need for graphical interfaces, and is especially useful if Mi Unlock drivers are not working properly or the program is stuck in the verification phase.
Visual Signs of an Unblocked Booter
There are some indirect signs that you can tell the status of a system without a deep diagnosis, which are not 100% guaranteed, but they add up the picture, and you can look at the boot process of the device first.
When you turn on an unlocked Xiaomi smartphone, a warning often (but not always) appears on the boot screen that the software may not be secure, and the Android logo with an open lock may also appear.
| Sign. | Blocked BL | Unlocked BL |
|---|---|---|
| Loading screen | The Mi/Redmi logo | Logo + text "Unlocked" |
| Work of banking applications | They're stable. | Root often requires cover-up |
| Widevine L1 | Usually present. | Frequently drops to L3 |
| Getting OTA | He comes regularly. | Maybe not come. |
It’s also worth checking the banking and NFC payment apps, and on devices with open-loader and Root rights, these features often stop working without further manipulation to hide modifications. If the phone is clean, but banks are swearing at the runtime, this is an excuse to check the status of Bootloader.
The impact on Widevine
Possible problems and solutions
During the verification process, users may encounter various errors, such as Mi Unlock, which can write "Couldn't verify device", which is often associated with poor cable or lack of drivers. USB-port, preferably USB 2.0, and the original cable.
Another common problem is status desynchronization, where it says "Unlocked" in the Fastboot and "Locked" in the phone settings, which can happen after a failed flashing or reset, and then you should trust the Fastboot mode, because it reads the flag directly from the memory chip.
⚠️ Warning: If you bought the phone with your hands and found the bootloader unlocked, be careful the previous owner could have installed a modified system with hidden miners or malware. Full flashing with stock firmware with the bootloader closing (if possible) or key reset is recommended.
There are also situations where Xiaomi servers are not available and the phone cannot show status on the menu, in which case it helps to change the DNS to 8.8.8 or use mobile Internet instead of Wi-Fi. Network problems are a common cause of false reports about the state of the system.
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The most reliable method of verification is a combination of visual inspection of the Fastboot mode and verification through the official Mi Unlock Tool utility on the computer.