How to unlock Xiaomi Mi 6: official and unofficial methods

The Xiaomi Mi 6 is still a popular smartphone among Android enthusiasts, but its potential is only revealed after unlocking the bootloader. Without it, you can not install custom software, get root rights or even upgrade to informal firmware. However, the process of unlocking has become more complicated since 2026, with Xiaomi tightening account requirements, and old methods of bypassing stopped working.

In this article, we will discuss the current ways to unlock the Mi 6 (codename sagit) in view of the latest changes in Xiaomi policy. We will discuss the official method through the Mi Unlock Tool, alternative solutions for devices with a blocked Mi Account, as well as the typical errors that lead to a “brick” of the phone.

Why do I need to unlock the bootloader on Xiaomi Mi 6?

The MIUI factory firmware imposes severe restrictions, even if you own the device, and unlocking the bootloader gives you access to:

• 🔄 Install custom firmware: LineageOS, Pixel Experience, Havoc-OS and others that support sagit.
• 🛠️ Getting root rights through Magisk for deep system setup, removing bloat and optimizing performance.
• 🔧 Opportunities to revert to the old version MIUI, If the new one is not working properly (officially it is prohibited).
• 📱 Use of alternative cores (custom kernels) to improve autonomy or overclocking of the Snapdragon 835 processor.

Without an unlocked bootloader, you can’t even flash the official global firmware if your Mi 6 was purchased for the Chinese market. However, remember: unlocking resets the phone to factory settings and voids Xiaomi’s warranty if it’s still valid.

⚠️ Attention: Mi 6 with version MIUI 12.5.4.0 can be activated by anti-Rollback protection. Trying to flash the old firmware after unlocking will result in a full blink (the phone will not turn on). → The phone. → Version. MIUI.

Preparing your phone for unlocking: Step-by-step

Before starting the process, you need to perform several critical actions, and skipping at least one item can lead to errors in the Mi Unlock Tool or even lock your Xiaomi account.

Make a backup copy of the data (photos, contacts, messages)

Tie it down. SIM-card to the Mi Account (required!)

Enable USB debugging and OEM unlocking

Update to the latest version of Mi Unlock Tool (2026)

Charge your phone at least 60%-->

Let's take a closer look at each item:

1. Backup. Unlock erases all data from internal memory. Use Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset or third-party utilities like Titanium Backup (requires root, but you can make a copy in advance on another device).
2. Tethering SIM-Xiaomi requires that the phone be inserted SIM-a card linked to a Mi Account for at least 72 hours. SIM Wait 3 days or Mi Unlock Tool will give you an 86006 error.
3. Developer settings. Go to Settings. → About the phone and 7 times click on the version MIUI. Then go back to Settings. → Additionally. → For developers and include: 🔌 Debugging by USB 🔓 Unlocking OEM (It may be called a factory unlock)

If the OEM Unlock is inactive (grey), it means that the phone is locked from the operator or the Mi Account is not confirmed, the solution is to wait 7 days from the moment of the first account attachment.

Less than a year.

1-2 years

More than 3 years

I bought a b/w recently.-->

Unlocking with Mi Unlock Tool

This is the only way Xiaomi supports, but it requires all the company’s conditions to be met, and since 2026, the process has become stricter: now you need to confirm ownership of the device via SMS or email.

Step 1: Download and install Mi Unlock Tool

The official utility can only be downloaded from Xiaomi's website (authentication required), and versions from torrents or third-party sites may contain viruses or outdated certificates.

After downloading:

1. Unpack the archive and launch it. miflash_unlock.exe on behalf of the administrator.
2. Log in to the same Mi Account that is linked to the phone.
3. Connect the Mi 6 to your PC through the original USB-cable (importantly, cheap cables may not transmit data).

Algorithm:

1. Turn off the phone and press Volume up + Volume down + Power for 10 seconds – the screen should remain black (phone not turned on).
2. Connect your phone to your PC – Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 should appear in the Device Manager.
3. Start the Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware and press Flash.

⚠️ Risks: Incorrect firmware in EDL It can turn your phone into a brick. Only use firmware designed for sagit!

Method 2: Fastboot Exploitation (for older versions of MIUI)

MIUI versions below 10.2 ran an exploit that bypassed the Mi Unlock Tool check, which rarely works today, but you can try:

fastboot oem unlock-go


fastboot flashing unlock

If you've had your phone restart with the bootloader unlocked after these commands, you're in luck. 90% of the time, on current firmware, this method doesn't work.

What to do after successful unblocking?

Now the bootloader is unlocked, but this is just the first step, and the next steps depend on your goal.

• 📱 Installation of custom firmware: Download TWRP Sagit (the version should support your firmware!) and run through fastboot flash recovery twrp.img. Then through TWRP set up ZIP firmware.
• 🔧 Getting root rights: Squeeze Magisk through TWRP Don't use outdated versions of SuperSU, they're not compatible with Android 10.+.
• 🔄 Reverse to the old version MIUI: Check the Anti-Rollback table for the Mi 6.If your current version is newer than 12.5.4.0, a rollback is not possible without the risk of a blink.

After custom software installation:

• 🔋 The first turn on can take up to 10 minutes - do not interrupt the process.
• 📶 Set up the network manually if mobile internet is not working (especially on firmware). AOSP).
• 🔒 Enable data encryption in your security settings if you plan to use banking applications.

💡

If the camera or fingerprint sensor does not work after firmware custom software, download the fix from the 4PDA forum (look for topics about sagit and MIUI Camera).

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes that lead to data loss or phone breakdown.

Another common problem is the loss of IMEI after the firmware, which happens if the modem partition is corrupted.

1. Download the original firmware for your model.
2. Remove the files nvdata.bin and nvram.bin.
3. Fly them through fastboot flash nvdata nvdata.bin.

⚠️ Note: If banking applications (e.g. SberBank Online or Tinkoff) have stopped working after unlocking, this is due to the SafetyNet trigger.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi Mi 6