Owners of budget but high-performance smartphones often face limitations of the MIUI operating system that prevent them from unlocking the full potential of the device. Unlocking the bootloader is the first and most important step for those who want to install custom firmware, obtain superuser rights or install a modified Recovery, a process that is not complicated, but requires careful and strict follow the instructions so as not to turn the gadget into a “brick”.
Xiaomi Redmi 7 is based on the Snapdragon 632 processor, making it an excellent platform for software experimentation. However, before you start taking action, you need to understand the risks. Any interference in the system partition can lead to loss of warranty, although for this model the warranty period is likely already expired. It is important to prepare all the necessary tools and files in advance.
In this article, we will go through all the steps from applying to Mi Unlock to the final firmware of the modified bootloader, you will learn how to set up the phone correctly, what drivers to install on your computer and what to do if the process is stuck at a certain percentage.
Preparation of the device and account Mi
The first step is to link the device to your Mi Account, and without that step, the company's servers simply won't give you permission to unlock it, you need to log in to your phone's settings, select About, and click on the MIUI version several times to activate the developer menu, which is standard for all of the brand's modern devices.
Once you activate the hidden menu, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Developer. You need to find the Mi bootloader status and turn it on. The system will alert you to the risks and require confirmation via SMS or password. Once enabled, a message will appear about the device's association with the account.
⚠️ Warning: After activating the bootloader status and account binding, you need to wait 168 hours (7 days). If you try to unlock earlier, the server will give an error indicating the remaining time.
Make sure that the SIM card inserted into the smartphone, mobile data transfer is enabled. Wi-Fi for binding can not be used, the server must see the mobile IP-This is a security measure that the manufacturer has put in place to deal with stolen devices, and it's also worth making a full backup of the data, because in the process, all files will be deleted.
Required tools and drivers
To do this successfully, you'll need a Windows computer. On macOS or Linux, the process is possible, but requires additional command-line manipulation and may be less stable for beginners. Download the official Mi Unlock Tool utility from the manufacturer's website and install it on your PC.
The critical thing is to install the right drivers. The computer must correctly identify the phone in Fastboot mode. Usually, drivers are installed automatically on the first connection, but there are often driver signature conflicts in Windows 10 and 11. In this case, you may need to disable the mandatory driver signature verification when you boot the system.
☑️ Preparation for unlocking
Prepare quality. USB-Cheap charging-only cables won't do, because they don't transmit data. Use the original cable or a certified, thick wire counterpart. Connect the device directly to the motherboard ports (back of the system unit) without having to worry about the data. USB-hubs and front panels of the case, where the voltage can be unstable.
Application and waiting
Once you have your account tied up and the seven-day deadline has expired, you can start your application, start Mi Unlock on your computer, log in to the same account you have on your phone, and automatically check the status of your device and tell you if you can proceed further.
If you see a message saying, "Current account is not the same as the one in the device," check if you logged in correctly. Often users confuse regional accounts or use different email addresses. Make sure that the phone's bootloader status displays the exact account you use in the program on your PC.
| Status at Mi Unlock | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Unlock successfully | Successful unlocking | You can sew a custom Recovery |
| Waiting for 168 hours | Wait 7 days | Do nothing, wait until the deadline |
| Account mismatch | Accounts don't match. | Log out and re-enter Mi Account |
| Device locked | Device locked. | Check the Internet and repeat |
In rare cases, the server may not respond the first time, don't panic or try to press the Unlock button dozens of times in a row, which can lead to a temporary account lockdown. IP-If the error persists, try using mobile Internet on your computer (distribution from another phone) or changing the Wi-Fi network.
Translation of the smartphone to Fastboot mode
To get your computer to see the phone in the right mode, you need to turn the Redmi 7 into a Fastboot state. To do this, turn the device off completely. Then simultaneously press the volume down and the power button. Hold them until an image with a hare fixing an android appears and an orange FASTBOOT label is written.
If the phone is just turning on normally, you've let go of the power button or the volume button too late. Try again, timing. The screen should light up, and in a couple of seconds, the characteristic picture will appear. In this mode, the touch screen is not working, the control is only done by the buttons and the cable connection.
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If the phone is not detected in Fastboot, try to press the buttons on the phone turned off and only then connect. USB-computer-wire.
In Windows Device Manager, Android Bootloader Interface should appear in the "Android Devices" or "Other Devices" section. If the exclamation point is burning instead, the drivers are installed incorrectly, in which case you need to manually update the driver through the Device Manager, indicating the path to the folder with the Mi Unlock drivers.
The process of unlocking the loader
Now that your phone is in Fastboot mode and connected to your PC, press the Unlock button in the program. You will see a warning that all data will be deleted. Confirm the action. You will start a process that will take 10 seconds to a few minutes. The progress bar will fill in, showing the status of the operations.
During the process, the phone can reboot several times, the screen can go out and light up again, it is strictly forbidden to turn off the USB cable or remove the battery (if possible) during the execution of the unlock script, this will lead to the resolution of the bootloader partitions and the inability to turn on the device.
⚠️ Warning: Once successfully unlocked, the phone will automatically reset to factory settings (Wipe Data) for security reasons so that the new owner does not gain access to the previous user's data.
When the process is complete, the program will display a message in the program window, "Unlocked successfully", and on the phone screen, the bunny will hold an open folder that says "unlocked". Now the device is ready to install a modified bootloader or custom firmware. The first start of the system after unlocking can take up to 10-15 minutes, since application optimization is taking place.
Installation of TWRP and obtaining Root rights
The unlocked bootloader allows you to install customized recoveries, such as the TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project), which is an advanced recovery menu that allows you to make full system backups, install patches and modify system files. For Redmi 7 (codenamed onclite), there are stable versions of the recovery.
The installation process is done via a computer using the Fastboot command. Download the twrp.img image file specially assembled for your model. Put it in the ADB tool folder and run the command line. Enter the command to flash the recovery partition.
fastboot flash recovery twrp_onclite.imgYou can't boot into the system right after the firmware is installed, otherwise the regular MiUI recaptures the TWRP. You need to immediately press the volume button up and power to get into the recovery menu. If you see the TWRP logo, it's a success. Then you can install the Magisk archive through this menu to get superuser rights.
What to do if TWRP asks for a password?
Getting root permissions opens up access to system files, allows you to remove embedded adware, block ads in apps, and change the CPU frequencies. However, beware: Bank applications may stop working with root rights. To circumvent this limitation, you use Magisk Hide or Zygisk.
Possible problems and solutions
During the unlock process, users often encounter a "Couldn't verify device" error, which means that the program cannot confirm that the account on the phone and in the program match, or that 7 days have not yet passed. The solution is one: double-check the accounts and (be patient) before the exact time specified by the server expires.
Another common problem is that you freeze by 50 percent or 99 percent, and if it takes more than 10 minutes, you probably have a communication or driver failure, and you can try restarting your phone to Fastboot and rebooting it, and often on the second try, it's a success, because some of the checks have already been passed and cached.
⚠️ Warning: If after unlocking the phone stopped catching the network or disappeared IMEI, So the section was damaged. EFS. It can be restored only from a backup if it was made in advance, or through a service center using repair boxes.
Also worth mentioning is the Widevine L1 issue. Once the bootloader is unlocked, DRM protection often drops from L1 to L3. This means streaming services like Netflix will only show content in standard HD, not Full HD or 4K. For a budget Redmi 7, this is not critical, but it’s worth knowing.
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Unlocking the bootloader is an irreversible process in terms of data security and security, but it gives you complete control over the device.