Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (codenamed mido) smartphones often face the limitations of the operating system. The standard MIUI shell is functional, but enthusiasts often need access to deep system settings to install custom firmware or obtain superuser rights. It is for this purpose that the bootloader is unlocked, a procedure that opens the door to full control of the device.
The process is not complicated if you follow the algorithm clearly, but it requires prior preparation and care. Any error in the preparation stage can lead to the fact that the phone will go into a reboot cycle or lose the ability to connect to the computer. Bootloader is the first program code that starts when you turn on a smartphone, and it checks the integrity of the system before it boots.
Before you start taking action, you need to understand all the risks and consequences. Unlocking the bootloader erases all data from the internal memory of the device for security reasons, so creating a full backup is a must.
Preparation of a smartphone and Mi Account
The first and most important step is to link the device to your Mi Account. Without this step, Xiaomi servers will not issue permission to unlock. 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. In the Developer menu that appears, you need to find Mi Unlock Status and activate it.
Once this wholesale is enabled, the system will require you to link your current device to your account. SIM-card with mobile Internet, as the link is through the mobile network, not Wi-Fi. After successful binding, a message will appear on the screen that the device is associated with the account.
⚠️ Note: After linking the account, you need to wait from 168 hours (7 days) until the moment of unlocking. If you try to unlock the bootloader earlier, the utility will give an error indicating the remaining time.
It is also worth checking the Android version and MIUI. While the procedure is universal for the Redmi Note 4, different firmware versions (Global, China, Russia) may call menu items slightly differently. Make sure the battery is at least 60% so the phone doesn't turn off at a critical moment.
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Use that one. SIM-The card and the same Mi Account throughout the process.
Required tools and drivers
For the procedure, you will need a personal computer or laptop running the Windows operating system. On macOS or Linux, the standard Mi Unlock Tool does not work without the use of emulators or virtual machines, which can add instability to the process. The computer must have a good one. USB-Ports and stable Internet connection.
The critical thing is to install the right ADB and Fastboot drivers. Without them, the computer won't be able to recognize the phone in boot mode. Most drivers are installed automatically with the unlocker program, but in some cases, especially on Windows 10 and 11, manual installation through Device Manager is required.
- 📱 Official Mi Unlock Tool (downloaded from the site) miui.com/unlock).
- 🔌 Original or qualitative USB-cable (cheap cables often cause connection breaks).
- 💻 Qualcomm drivers or MTK (Depending on the processor version of your Redmi Note 4).
There are two main versions of the Redmi Note 4: the Snapdragon 625 processor and the rarer version on the MediaTek Helio X20. The MediaTek version may require specific drivers, but the unlock utility itself is usually one. Check the processor model in the About Phone section before you start downloading the software.
Activation of the developer mode and debugging
Once you have your account attached, you need to make sure that all the necessary switches in the developer menu are active. Go to the settings, select "Advanced Settings" and find "Developers" here, you're interested in a few key settings that should be included.
First of all, turn on USB Debugging. This resolution allows the computer to send commands to the phone. Next, look for OEM Unlocking and activate it, too. Without this flag, the utility on the computer will not be able to initiate the process of resetting the bootloader's restrictions.
Settings → About Phone → 7 clicks on "Version MIUI" → For Developers → Mi Unlock Status → Add AccountSome users are faced with a situation where the "Mi Unlock Status" item is missing or not activated, in which case try to switch the network type in the mobile network settings from 4G to 3G or vice versa, turn off Wi-Fi and try again to bind. Xiaomi servers sometimes do not respond well when the connection is unstable.
☑️ Checking the availability of the phone
Unlocking process with Mi Unlock Tool
Once all the preparations are complete and the waiting time is over, you can proceed to directly unlock, start Mi Unlock on your computer and log in to the same Mi Account that was linked to your phone, and the program will check the status of the account on the server.
Now you need to turn your smartphone into Fastboot mode. To do this, turn off the phone completely, and then press the volume down and on buttons at the same time. Hold them until the image of a hare repairing an android appears, or the FASTBOOT inscription on the screen. Connect the phone with a cable to your computer.
In Mi Unlock, press the "Unlock" button. The system will give a warning that all data will be deleted. Confirm the action. The unlock process will begin, which will take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. The progress bar will display the status of the execution.
⚠️ Warning: During the unlocking process, the phone may reboot several times. Do not disconnect the cable or interrupt the program until a message about successful completion appears.
If it goes well, the Mi logo will appear on the phone screen, and then the initial system setup will begin, since all the data was wiped.
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Successful unlocking is always accompanied by a full data reset, which is Xiaomi’s security mechanism.
Solving mistakes and problems
The process is not always smooth the first time, and users often encounter an error called "Couldn't verify device" or "Account and device mismatch." The first error usually means that the drivers are installed incorrectly or that the driver is not installed correctly. USB-The second is when you try to unlock your phone with a different account than the one you were assigned to.
Another common problem is the error "The current account is not the same as..." This happens if you add one account to your phone's settings in the "Mi Unlock Status" menu, and try to log in to another in the program on your computer, make sure that the logins match completely, including the account region.
| Mistake. | Probable cause | Decision-making |
|---|---|---|
| Couldn't verify device | Drivers not installed | Reinstall ADB/Fastboot drivers |
| Account mismatch | Mi accounts are different | Sign in to the same account in Mi Unlock |
| Wait 168 hours | Little time off the hook | Wait 7 days from the moment of binding |
| Connection timeout | Problems with cable/port | Replace the cable, use USB 2.0 |
In rare cases, the utility may freeze during the verification phase. Try running the program on behalf of the administrator and temporarily disable the antivirus or firewall, which can block the connection to Xiaomi servers.
What to do after unlocking the loader
Once you unlock it successfully, you get full access to the system. Now you can install customized recaps on the Redmi Note 4, like TWRP, which allows you to make full backups of the system and install informal firmware.
Many banking applications and services like Google Pay (now Google Wallet) may fail because they detect a system integrity breach, often requiring patches or Magisk modules to hide the fact that they are unlocked from applications.
Can I lock the bootloader back?
It’s also worth noting that the unlocked bootloader changes the way encryption works: If you decide to sell your phone, be sure to do a full reset (Wipe All Data) through Recovery mode so that new owners can’t recover your personal data.
⚠️ Note: Find My Device may not work properly or require re-activation after unlocking the bootloader.
Now your Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 is ready to experiment, you can install lighter versions of Android, change themes at the system level and optimize battery life, which is especially true for an older model.