Unlock Xiaomi Mi 5: all ways to remove the lock bootloader and account

Why Xiaomi Mi 5 is blocked and what to do about it

The Xiaomi Mi 5, released in 2016, is still popular with users due to its powerful hardware and custom firmware installation, but owners often face two types of locks: bootloader lock and Mi-account binding. The first prevents unofficial firmware from being installed, the second completely blocks access to the device after resetting or buying a used phone.

The reasons for blocking vary from automatic activation of protection when resetting to the previous owner’s settings. For example, if you bought the Mi 5 from your hands and did not untie the seller’s account, the phone will require entering its username / password. Without an unlocked bootloader, you can not flash TWRP or LineageOS. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to unlock in 2026, including official and bypasses, taking into account changes in Xiaomi policy.

It’s important to understand that the Mi 5’s procedures are different from newer models (like the Redmi Note 12 or Xiaomi 14).Outdated guides often contain non-working links to tools or miss nuances with accounts. We updated the instructions to take into account current versions of the Mi Unlock Tool and alternative methods.

Preparing for Unlocking: What to Do Before Starting

Before you start unlocking, make sure that all the preliminary steps are followed, and ignoring them can lead to a “brick” (complete failure) of the device or the inability to restore data.

• 📱 Check the phone model: go to Settings → The phone. → Make sure it's the Xiaomi Mi 5 (codename gemini) and not the Mi. 5s (capricorn or Mi capricorn 5c (The methods are different!
• 🔋 Charge the battery to at least 60 percent. Unlocking can take up to an hour, and a sudden shutdown will interrupt the process.
• 💻 Install drivers: download Mi PC Suite or drivers ADB/Fastboot Without them, the computer won't recognize the phone in Fastboot mode.
• 🔑 Prepare a Mi Account: If the phone is tied to someone else's data, try contacting the seller to untie. Otherwise, workarounds will be required (see section 4).

Also save all the important data: unlocking the bootloader or resetting to factory settings will remove all the information from the device. Use Mi Cloud or manual copying to your PC.

⚠️ Note: If the phone was purchased abroad (e.g., the Chinese version), check your region's support in the Mi Unlock Tool.

Method 1: Officially unlock the bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool

This is the most reliable method, but it requires a binding to your Mi-account and waiting for confirmation from Xiaomi.

Steps:

1. Activate USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version to turn on Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers. Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlock (if any).
2. Link your Mi Account to your phone: In the same developer menu, find Mi Unlock Status. Click Add Account and Device and log in. SMS with confirmation (may not come immediately).
3. Download Mi Unlock Tool: Official Version: en.miui.com/unlock. Unpack the archive and launch it. miflash_unlock.exe.
4. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode: Turn off Mi 5. Press Volume Down + Power until the hare in the Fastboot logo appears. Connect the phone to your PC.

Launch unlock.

• In Mi Unlock Tool, press Unlock.
• Confirm the action on the phone (if necessary).
• Wait until the end (usually 10 to 30 minutes).

Is the Mi Account linked to the phone?|Is debugging on-line USB?|Fastboot drivers installed?|Is the phone over 60 charged%?|Download the Mi Unlock Tool of the latest version?-->

Once successfully unlocked, the phone will restart. Now you can install custom firmware via TWRP or Fastboot.

⚠️ Note: If the Mi Unlock Tool gives you a "Couldn't unlock" or "Device not supported" error, then your account is not linked to the device correctly. Try repeating step 2 or using alternative methods (see section 3).

Method 2: Unlock the bootloader without waiting (bypassing restrictions)

Since 2021, Xiaomi has tightened its unlock rules, requiring up to 720 hours (30 days) after an account is tied, but there is a workaround for the Mi 5 by downgrading the MIUI version.

The idea is to flash through the older firmware version, where the restrictions are less stringent, then unlock the bootloader and upgrade back, which doesn't work on all devices, but for the Mi 5, the probability of success is ~70%.

Instructions:

1. Download the archive with firmware: Need a version of MIUI 8.5 or lower for Mi 5 (codename gemini). Link to the official archive: MIUI Downloads (select Stable → Gemini → the oldest available version).
2. Fastboot: Unpack the firmware archive into a folder without Cyrillic. Connect your phone to Fastboot mode (see method 1). Launch MiFlash (download here). Select the firmware folder, press Refresh (should appear). COM-port, then flash.
3. Unlock the bootloader: After the firmware, turn on the phone and link your Mi-account (see method 1). Run the Mi Unlock Tool - now the wait should be reduced to 72 hours or less.

Get back to the actual firmware.

• After unlocking, run a new version of MIUI or install custom firmware.

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If the phone doesn’t turn on after firmware is installed, try to pinch Volume Up + Power for 10-15 seconds for a forced reboot.

Method 3: Unlocking Mi-account without previous owner data

If you bought the Xiaomi Mi 5 hand-held and can’t contact the seller to unblock your account, there are several ways to get around the lock.Be aware that these methods may violate Xiaomi’s user agreement, so use them at your own risk.

Method 1: EDL (Emergency Download Mode)

This is a low-level firmware mode that allows you to overwrite the partition with your account data.

• 🔧 Cable EDL (circuitry).
• 💾 Firmware for EDL (for example, gemini_images_*.tar).
• 🖥️ MiFlashPro or QFil.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the firmware for EDL (see thematic forums, such as 4PDA).
2. Turn your phone to EDL mode: Turn off the device. Close the Test Point contacts (on the Mi 5 board they are located next to the battery) or use a special cable. Connect to the PC - Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 should appear in the Device Manager.

MiFlashPro

• Select a file prog_emmc_firehose_*.mbn from the firmware archive.
• Point the way to the firmware folder.
• Press Flash and wait until it is completed.

⚠️ Attention: Use EDL-The regime could lead to a total loss of IMEI Preserve the original nvram and nvdata before the firmware (if you have access to the modem). TWRP).

Method 4: Unlocking through Custom Recovery (TWRP)

If the bootloader is already unlocked, but the phone is locked at the Mi-account level, you can try to delete account files through the phone. TWRP. This method only works on some versions. MIUI.

Instructions:

1. Install. TWRP: fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0_9-0-gemini.img fastboot boot twrp-3.7.0_9-0-gemini.img (Download TWRP for Mi 5 here.)
2. Delete your account files: In TWRP Go to Advanced. → File Manager, delete the folders: /data/system/mi_account /data/data/com.xiaomi.account

Reboot.

• Select Reboot → System.
• If the phone requests an account again, repeat the steps or flash through the clean firmware.

An alternative way to do this is to pass through TWRP Patch to delete an account (for example, MiAccount_Remove.zip). You can download it on forums like XDA.

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Deleting account files via TWRP only works on MIUI before version 12. On new firmware, data is stored in an encrypted partition, and this method is useless.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When unlocking the Xiaomi Mi 5, users often face typical problems, and we have collected the most common errors and ways to fix them.

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 🔍 Phone status: It is possible that the device was repaired and the fee has been changed (then unlocking through the account is not possible).
• 📡 Firmware region: Chinese versions (CN) You may need a Chinese account to use Mi.
• ⚙️ Loader version: some Mi 5s have an anti-rollback loader that blocks the firmware of older versions.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions