How to unlock Xiaomi Redmi Note 4: all the ways from Mi-account to bootloader

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (codenamed mido) remains one of the most popular budget smartphones even 7 years after its release, but owners often face lockdown problems: a forgotten password from Mi-account, a locked bootloader after firmware or buying a used phone with a tied account of the previous owner. In this article, current 2026 unlock methods, including official Xiaomi tools and workarounds for experienced users.

It's important to understand that the unlocking procedure depends on the type of lock.

• 🔒 Mi-account lock (requires login/password input after resetting or firmware)
• 🔓 Blocked bootloader (This device is locked in Fastboot mode)
• 📱 pattern lock/PIN-code (forgotten password of the lock screen)
• 🚫 Hardware locking (IMEI blacklisted)

We will take each case separately, with the nuances for the Redmi Note 4 (including the Snapdragon 625 and Helio versions). X20). Let’s start with the most common – unlocking Mi-account.

1. Unlock Mi-account on Redmi Note 4

The Mi-account lock is triggered after:

• 🔄Hard Reset (Reset via Recovery)
• ⚡Firmware through Fastboot/EDL
• 📦Buying a used phone with a linked account

The official way is to enter the Xiaomi account information that the phone is linked to, but what if:

1. You forgot your username/password
2. The phone was bought from hand, and the previous owner did not untie the account
3. You have the Chinese version (China) ROM) It is based on Chinese Mi-account

For Redmi Note 4, there are 3 working methods:

Method 1: Officially remove via Xiaomi (if your phone is yours)

If your phone is originally yours but you have forgotten your account details:

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com
2. Restoring access via email or phone
3. In the account settings, find the Devices section → Remove the device

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi may request proof of purchase (check, box with) IMEI) to remove the device.

Method 2: Bypassing EDL (sewer)

For experienced users, there is a way to flash the phone in mode EDL (Emergency Download Mode) with Mi-account deletion:

• 🖥️ Windows PC
• 🔌 Cable USB (original)
• 🛠️ Mi Flash Pro or QFilm
• 📁 Firmware for Redmi Note 4 (version mido_global_images)

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Qualcomm drivers HS-USB QDLoader 9008
2. Turn off the phone, press the volume.+ + Loudness− and plug into the PC
3. In Device Manager, check that the phone is defined as QHSUSB_BULK
4. Run Mi Flash Pro, select firmware and press Flash

Once the firmware is in place, the phone will boot up without being tied to Mi-account, minus the method: it requires an unlocked bootloader (about it in the next section).

Method 3: Alternative tools (at your own risk)

The network is running programs like Mi Account Unlock Tool or Xiaomi Tool. V2. They promise to delete the account without firmware, but:

• ❌ 80% of these tools are viruses or spyware
• ❌ Xiaomi regularly closes vulnerabilities through which these programs work
• ❌ The risk of locking your phone permanently (if the tool uses incorrect commands)

💡

Before using any “magic” tools, check them out at VirusTotal.com and search for feedback on forums. 4PDA or XDA-Developers.

2 Unlock the bootloader on the Redmi Note 4

The bootloader is Xiaomi’s protection against unauthorized firmware. On the Redmi Note 4, it is locked automatically after:

• 🔄 Updates through OTA
• ⚡ Firmware informal ROM (For example, LineageOS)
• 🔧 Recovery with Mi Flash with clean all and lock

Symptoms: When you try to flash your phone through Fastboot, you see an error:

FAILED (remote: Device is locked. Cannot flash images)

The official way to unlock is through the Mi Unlock Tool, but it has limitations.

Step-by-step instructions for unlocking the loader

Enable debugging on USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (press 7 times)|Link Mi-account to Settings → Accounts. → Xiaomi|Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website|Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (Volume)− + Nutrition)-->

Next:

1. Launch Mi Unlock Tool on behalf of the administrator
2. Sign in to your Mi-account (must match your phone account)
3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (on the phone screen should burn a bunny with the inscription Fastboot)
4. Press Unlock and wait until it is completed (may take up to 10 minutes)

If you see a Couldn't unlock error, Current account is different from the account info on the device.

• The account on the phone and Mi Unlock Tool are different
• The phone is not tied to your 30 account.+ days
• Chinese firmware is used (you need to sew the global one)

💡

Once the bootloader is unlocked, all the data on the phone will be erased! Make a backup of important files in advance.

Waiting round 7/360 days

Xiaomi has introduced a lock-out limit to fight thieves, but there are legal ways to reduce the wait:

1. Switch global firmware (if you have a Chinese version)
2. Use the old version of the Mi Unlock Tool (e.g. 2.3.803.1)
3. Remove firmware to version MIUI 8/9 (where there were no strict restrictions)

Illegal methods (for example, changing the date on the phone or using bypass firmware) can lead to permanent blocking. IMEI. Xiaomi is actively fighting against such tricks.

3. Unlocking the pattern lock/PIN-code

Forgot the lock screen password on Redmi Note 4? There are 4 ways to return access:

Method 1: Mi-account (if the phone is online)

If your phone is connected to the Internet and linked to Mi-account:

1. 5 times enter the wrong password
2. Will you see a button for Forgot your password?
3. Log in to your Mi-account and reset the lock

Method 2: Hard Reset (Recovery Reset)

If you are not connected to your account or phone offline:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Hold the volume.+ + Food before the appearance of the Mi logo
3. Choose Wipe Data → Wipe All Data
4. Confirm the reset

⚠️ Note: Redmi Note 4 with a locked bootloader after Hard Reset may require you to enter Mi-account data! If you do not remember the password, first unlock the bootloader (section 2).

Method 3: Through ADB (if debugging is enabled)

If the locking was included before the debugging USB:

1. Connect your phone to your PC
2. Open the command line and type in: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key
3. Reboot the phone.

Method 4: Through TWRP (sewer)

If a custom Recovery is installed TWRP:

1. Boot in. TWRP (Loudness+ + Nutrition)
2. Go to Advanced → File Manager
3. Delete files: /data/system/gesture.key /data/system/password.key /data/system/locksettings.db
4. Reboot the phone.

4. Unlocking IMEI (If the phone is blacklisted)

If Redmi Note 4 does not catch the network and shows invalid IMEI or no services, possible reasons:

• 📵 Phone in the operator's blacklist (stolen/lost)
• 🔧 The modem partition is damaged after firmware
• 🛠️ Backup incorrectly restored IMEI

To check status IMEI:

1. Type *#06# and yours will appear. IMEI
2. Check it out at imei.info

IMEI Recovery After Firmware

If IMEI has become 000000000000000000 or Null:

1. Download the original firmware for your version of Redmi Note 4 (for example, mido_global_images_V12.0.2.0.QCGMIXM)
2. Swipe your phone through Mi Flash with a clean all tick (no lock!)
3. Check the firmware after you've done it. IMEI — It must be restored automatically.

If the phone is blacklisted

If IMEI locked up:

• 📄 Contact the salon with documents on the phone (if it is yours)
• 🔄 Try changing. IMEI (Illegal in most countries, the risk of network blocking)
• 🛒 Buy a new communication module (for Redmi Note 4 it is a board with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chip)

⚠️ Attention: Change IMEI It is illegal in Russia, the EU and the US, and can be fined up to 50,000 dollars. ₽ (Article 13.3 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation).

5. Frequent errors and their solutions

When you unlock Redmi Note 4, users face typical problems.

This device is bound to a Xiaomi account.

Appears after Hard Reset on phones with a locked bootloader.

• 🔓 Unlock the loader (section 2)
• 📧 Restore access to Mi-account (section 1)
• 🛠️ Squeeze through EDL (if the loader is locked)

Error: "Fastboot not recognized"

If your PC doesn’t see your phone in Fastboot mode:

1. Install the Mi Phone Driver
2. Try another one. USB-cable (original)
3. Run the command line from the administrator and check the command: fastboot devices (should display the serial number of the phone)

6. Alternative methods (for experienced users)

If the official ways haven't worked, there are radical methods. They require skill and they're risky!

Method 1: Firmware through TestPoint (EDL)

For phones with a locked bootloader and a tied Mi-account:

1. Disassemble the phone and find TestPoint (the point for forced transition to the phone). EDL)
2. For Redmi Note 4 (Snapdragon), these are contacts near the battery (you need to close them with tweezers)
3. Connect your phone to your PC – it will determine how QHSUSB_BULK
4. Scroll through Mi Flash Pro with the clean all option

Method 2: Use of programmers

For phones with damaged loader or "bricked":

• 🛠️ UFi Box supports Redmi Note 4 (Snapdragon 625)
• 🖥️ Medusa Pro – Recovery for the Recovery IMEI and unlock
• 🔧 EasyJTAG – for repairs at the chip level

Cost of services in services: from 1,500 to 5,000 ₽ depending on the problem.

Method 3: Flashing on custom firmware

If the official methods do not help, you can flash:

• 📱 LineageOS (without binding to Mi-account)
• 📱 Pixel Experience (Pure Android)
• 📱 Havoc-OS (with customization settings)

But keep in mind:

• ❌ Google Pay will not work due to the lack of SafetyNet)
• ❌ The camera may not work consistently (due to proprietary drivers)
• ❌ No official support from Xiaomi

7.How to avoid blocking in the future

To avoid the problems of locking on Redmi Note 4:

Don’t buy used phones without a Mi-account.|Make backups regularly through Settings → Additionally. → Backup|Do not flash your phone through Fastboot without unlocking the bootloader|Use strong passwords and save them to the manager (e.g. KeePass)|Before selling your phone, do a Hard Reset and untie your account.-->

Additional advice:

• 🔐 Enable two-factor authentication for Mi-account
• 📋 Save it. IMEI, Serial number and account details in a safe location
• 🔄 Update the firmware only through Settings → Update system (not via Fastboot)
• 🛡️ Install antivirus (such as Malwarebytes) to protect against phishing sites

If you are planning to use your phone:

• 📌 Always check firmware compatibility with the model (mido for Redmi Note 4)
• 🔋 Charge your phone at least 50% before the firmware
• 🖥️ Use the original. USB-cable (not cheap Chinese cable)

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Redmi Note 4