Unlocking the Xiaomi bootloader without waiting for 720 hours: current methods of 2026

Unlocking a bootloader on Xiaomi smartphones traditionally requires a 720-hour (30-day) wait after a Mi Account is linked to a device, a protection mechanism the company has implemented to combat theft and unauthorized access that often discourages enthusiasts from installing custom firmware, obtaining root rights, or restoring a brick through Fastboot.

In this article, we will discuss current methods of unlocking the bootloader without waiting, including the use of vulnerabilities in the EDL protocol (Emergency Download Mode), official life hacks with Mi Unlock Tool, as well as alternative approaches through the engineering menu. It is important to note that all the actions described are performed at your own risk. Mishandling can lead to a complete loss of warranty, blocking IMEI or converting a smartphone into a brick.

Why Xiaomi is blocking the bootloader and can it be bypassed?

Xiaomi introduced a mandatory wait for unlocking in 2017 after a wave of thefts and frauds with flashing stolen devices.

• 🔒 When first linking your Mi Account to your phone in Settings → Xiaomi account starts timer.
• ⏳ After 720 hours (30 days), the system allows you to use the Mi Unlock Tool to unlock the device.
• 🚫 Any attempts to reset the timer (reset settings, change account) reset the countdown.

However, devices on Qualcomm processors (most Redmi, POCO, Mi series models) have a hidden EDL mode (9008), which allows you to bypass restrictions through low-level access, which is originally designed for service centers, but can be activated by the user using special commands or hardware manipulations.

⚠️ Attention: Use of the regime EDL Without an authorized Xiaomi account (e.g., through Mi Authorized Account) may result in a lockdown. IMEI And then you can only recover it through the official service.

Preparation of the device: what to do before unlocking

Before trying to get around Qualcomm’s wait, follow the mandatory steps:

1. Back up your data. Unlocking the bootloader results in a hard reset of the device.
2. Make sure you support EDL. The method only works on Qualcomm-based smartphones (e.g., Snapdragon 660/732G/865/888). Use the CPU-Z app or command in ADB to check:

adb shell getprop ro.product.cpu.abi

If the conclusion contains arm64-v8a, You probably have Qualcomm devices on Mediatek (like Helio). G85/G95) supportive EDL-method.

• 🔌 Charge the phone at least 60%. interruption of the process due to battery discharge can lead to irreparable damage to the firmware.
• 🖥️ Install Qualcomm drivers HS-USB QDLoader 9008. Without them, the PC will not recognize the device in mode EDL. You can download it from XDA Developers.
• 🔑 Get a Mi Authorized Account (optional). for some models (e.g, POCO F3 Redmi Note 10 Pro requires an authorized service center account, which can be purchased on specialized forums (risk of blocking!).

Method 1: Unlock through EDL (9008) without waiting

This is a good way to do it for most Xiaomi devices on Qualcomm and doesn’t require a 720-hour wait, and the method is to force the phone to EDL mode, where you can flash a modified bootloader or exploit vulnerabilities to bypass protection.

Step 1: Activate the EDL mode

There are two ways to transfer your phone to EDL:

• 🔧 The hardware method (Test Point) requires disassembly of the device and closure of the contacts on the motherboard. Detailed diagrams for each model can be found on the computer. 4PDA.
• 💻 Programming method (through ADB). It doesn’t work on all devices, but it’s easier:

adb reboot edl

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell


su




echo 1 > /sys/bus/msm_subsys/devices/subsys0/force_shutdown




echo 1 > /sys/bus/msm_subsys/devices/subsys0/shutdown

⚠️ Note: On certain devices (e.g, POCO X3 Pro) programme translation to EDL Xiaomi is blocked, and you'll have to use Test Point or alternative methods.

Step 2: Firmware of modified bootloader

After switching to EDL (the device will not display the screen, but will be identified in Device Manager as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008), follow the following steps:

1. Download the MiFlash utility (the official version from Xiaomi’s website) and the modified firmware for your model (look for Xiaomi Firmware Updater).
2. Unpack the firmware in a folder without Cyrillic symbols.
3. In MiFlash, select the firmware folder, select Clean All mode and click Flash.

If the firmware contains a modified bootloader, the device will be unlocked after the reboot, however, this method requires a Mi Authorized Account for new models (2022 and later).

Method 2: Bypassing waiting through the engineering menu (for older models)

Xiaomi devices until 2020 (e.g. Redmi Note 7, Mi 9) sometimes work bypassing through the engineering menu, which does not require EDL, but does not work on all firmware.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code: ##36446337##
2. In the engineering menu, go to Hardware Testing → Device Info.
3. Find the Bootloader Unlock option and set the Enabled value.
4. Restart the device and try using the Mi Unlock Tool – the timer may reset.

If the Bootloader Unlock partition is missing, try the alternative code:

##7378423##

⚠️ Note: On new devices (2021 and later), the engineering menu is blocked to change the bootloader settings.

Method 3: Use of Mi Unlock Tool vulnerability (versions 5.5.224.24 and below)

Older versions of the official Mi Unlock Tool (until 2021) had a vulnerability that reset the waiting timer, and the method is relevant for devices released before 2020.

Step-by-step:

1. Download Mi Unlock Tool version 5.5.224.24 (can be found on XDA).
2. Turn off the Internet on your PC (the utility checks for updates at startup).
3. Open the utility and log in to your Mi Account.
4. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power when the device is off).
5. In the utility, press Unlock. If the Couldn't unlock error appears, try it 2-3 times.

On some devices (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro), this method works on the third attempt, resetting the waiting timer, but on new models (POCO F4, Redmi Note 11), the vulnerability is eliminated.

💡

If the Mi Unlock Tool is 0x80004005, try changing the region of your Mi Account to India or Russia in your profile settings.

Comparison of Unlocking Methods: Pros and Cons

Each of these methods has its own characteristics, and below is a comparative table for choosing the optimal option.

Critical information: On devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/2 processors (e.g. Xiaomi 12/13 series, POCO F4 GT), the EDL method without an authorized account leads to irreversible IMEI lock in 90% of cases.

What if the bootloader is unlocked but the phone is not turned on?

If the device stops booting after unlocking (it gets stuck on the Mi logo or goes to bootloop), follow these steps:

1. Fastboot your stock firmware. Download the official firmware for your model from Xiaomi and use the command:

fastboot flash all firmware.zip

1. Restore boot and recovery separately. If full firmware doesn't work, just scrolle through critical sections:

fastboot flash boot boot.img


fastboot flash recovery recovery.img

If the phone is not identified in Fastboot, try going back to EDL and flashing the full package through MiFlash.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Redmi Note) 10S) After unlocking the bootloader, you need to additionally unlock Critical Partition through the command fastboot oem unlock-go, TWRP) will be impossible.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi bootloader

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On Xiaomi 2023 devices (e.g. Redmi Note 12, POCO F5), unlocking the bootloader without an official wait leads to hardware locking of the eMMC. Recovery in this case is possible only through the replacement of the motherboard.