Unlocking Xiaomi bootloader without waiting in 2021: all working ways

Unlocking the bootloader on Xiaomi smartphones in 2021 remained one of the most talked-about topics among customization enthusiasts, with the official process through the Mi Unlock Tool requiring a 7- to 30-day wait, a measure introduced by the company to combat fraud and unauthorized access, but many users have sought workarounds to speed up the process or avoid time constraints altogether.

In this article, we will look at all the current methods of unlocking for 2021, including official life hacks (for example, linking an account to a device in advance) and informal solutions using alternative tools. Particular attention will be paid to the risks - from blocking a Mi Account account to "brick" devices, as well as compatibility with popular models of Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO F3, Mi 11 and others. If you plan to install custom software or gain root access, this guide will help save time without compromising security.

Why Xiaomi has introduced a mandatory wait in 2021?

Since 2017, Xiaomi has gradually tightened its bootloader unlock policy, and by 2021, a mandatory wait has been introduced for most devices:

• 📅 7 days for new Mi Accounts or devices;
• 📅 15-30 days for accounts with suspicious activity (for example, frequent device change).

The official reason is to fight data theft and illegal resale of phones, the unlocked bootloader allowed the fraudsters to bypass Factory Reset Protection (FRP) protections to reset stolen devices, and Xiaomi sought to reduce the number of “bricks” (defaulting phones) due to incorrect firmware custom ROMs.

But for legitimate users, such as developers or customizers, this has become a major hurdle, with ways to get around the wait in 2021, but they all had pitfalls ranging from temporary account lockdowns to loss of warranty.

Official method with minimal waiting: linking the account in advance

The safest way to reduce latency is to link your Mi Account to your device in advance, and if you plan to unlock, follow these steps before or immediately after you purchase your phone.

Sign in to Mi Account on the target device|Activate synchronization in Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud|Add the device to Settings → The phone. → Mi Unlock status|Wait 7 days (minimum time for new accounts)-->

If you have a Mi Account that has been created for more than 30 days and other Xiaomi devices have already been linked to it, the chances of waiting up to 72 hours increase.

• 🔄 Don't change. SIM-map IMEI standby;
• 📱 Do not drop your phone to factory settings;
• 🔒 Do not sign in from other devices at the same time.

⚠️ Note: If you bought the phone with your hands, the previous owner may have already linked his account, in which case unlocking through the Mi Unlock Tool will not be possible without his consent (you will need to remove the device from his Mi Account).

Alternative Unlocking Methods Without Waiting in 2021

For users who don’t want to wait, informal tools and exploits were relevant in 2021, and can be divided into three categories:

The most reliable in 2021 was EDL-method, but he demanded:

1. PC with Windows and Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 drivers;
2. Firmware file in.mbn format for your model;
3. An authorized Xiaomi account (or access to gray servers)

For models on MediaTek (e.g. Redmi 9A, POCO M3), waiting was almost impossible due to the closed chipset architecture.

Step-by-step: unlocking through Mi Unlock Tool (2021)

If you're going to go the official route, follow this instruction. It's relevant for most devices. Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO Android-based 10/11 (MIUI 12):

1. Preparation of the device: 📱 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI and tap 7 times to activate Developer Mode; 🔧 Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and include: OEM-Unlocking; Debugging by USB.
2. Account binding: 🔗 Log in to Mi Account in your phone settings; 🔄 Restart the device and check the status in Settings → The phone. → Mi Unlock Status (should be "Device tethered").
3. Installation of Mi Unlock Tool: 💻 Download the latest version of Mi Unlock Tool (in 2021, version 5.5.224.24 was relevant); 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (press Power) + Vol− off-phone).

Once connected, launch the Mi Unlock Tool and log in to the same Mi Account as the phone. If the device is tied for more than 7 days, the Unlock button will become active, otherwise a waiting message will appear (for example, "Wait 168 hours").

1. Reinstall Xiaomi drivers on PC via Mi Flash Tool;

2. Use another USB-cable (preferably original);

3. disable antivirus (it can block communication with Xiaomi servers).-->

Bypassing waiting through changing the account region (worked in 2021)

One little-known way to reduce the wait is to switch the region of your Mi Account to China, which worked because of the different regions' unblocking policies.

1. Register a new Mi Account from China (use a VPN if account.xiaomi.com is blocking access).
2. Link your device to this account via Settings → Xiaomi Account.
3. Wait 24-48 hours (instead of 7 days).
4. Start the Mi Unlock Tool with your Chinese account.

Important: Once unlocked, you can return your main account, but do not delete the Chinese account – it may be necessary for re-unblocking or restoring.

⚠️ Note: Since 2021, Xiaomi has tightened controls on “multi-accounting” if you change regions frequently or create multiple accounts from one account to another. IP, All of them can be blocked for 30 days.

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

After successfully unlocking, some users have faced problems:

• 🔄 Loaded Loading (Mi or Redmi logo hangs indefinitely);
• ⚠️ DM-Verity Error (phone not loading due to damaged firmware);
• 🚫 Brick (complete download failure, even in Fastboot).

In most cases, the original ROM firmware helps with the Mi Flash Tool:

1. Download the official firmware for your model (choose the Fastboot version);
2. Unpack the archive in a folder without Cyrillic characters;
3. Launch the Mi Flash Tool, connect your phone in Fastboot mode, and select the Clean All option.

If the phone is not identified in Fastboot, try transferring it to the Fastboot. EDL-regime:

adb reboot edl

Or (for non-root devices):

fastboot oem edl

💡

If after unlocking the bootloader, the phone stopped turning on, do not panic - in 90% of cases it can be restored via the Mi Flash Tool or EDL. The main thing is not to use informal firmware until the first successful download.

Compatibility of methods with popular models Xiaomi 2021

Not all unlocking methods are equally effective across devices, and the table below shows the relevance of the methods for Xiaomi’s top models in 2021:

For models on MediaTek (Redmi 9, POCO M3), the only reliable way is the official Mi Unlock Tool. Attempts to use alternative methods often resulted in a loss of IMEI or software blink.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi bootloader in 2021