How to unlock Xiaomi bootloader: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the desire to gain full control of their device. Unlocking the bootloader opens the door to custom firmware installation, superuser rights and deep system. However, this process requires care, since interfering with system partitions always carries certain risks for the stability of the gadget.

Before starting the procedure, you need to clearly understand the consequences. Warranty case can be canceled by the manufacturer, and all data on the internal drive will be irretrievably deleted. Android is designed so that the security policy of the manufacturer blocks the ability to run unofficial software without special permission of the servers.

In this article, we will discuss how to prepare a device, bypass time constraints, and successfully complete the unlock process. You will learn about the nuances of the Mi Unlock Tool utility and the possible mistakes that users face when trying to modify system software.

Why you need to unlock and what risks exist

The main reason users are looking to unlock Bootloader is the ability to install custom recavers, such as TWRP. This allows you to make full backups of the system, install modified versions of Android and patches to improve sound or camera.

However, some security features stop working after unlocking: Banking apps and services like Google Pay (now Google Wallet) may refuse to work or require additional manipulation to hide the status of the unlocked bootloader. An unlocked bootloader makes the device vulnerable to physical access by attackers if the phone falls into the wrong hands when the boot boot boot is off.

In addition, some models may experience a decline in quality when using global custom firmware due to differences in image processing algorithms, and you will have to balance the functionality and stability of the system.

• 🔓 Ability to install any operating systems and modifications.
• 📸 Potential reduction in photo quality in third-party firmware.
• 🛡️ Disabling some security features and banking services.
• 💾 Completely delete all data during the unlocking process.

⚠️ Warning: Once the bootloader is unlocked, Find the Device may not work properly and remote locking may not work. Make sure you keep the device in a safe place.

Preparation of a smartphone and Mi Account

The first and most important step is to link your Mi Account to your device. Without this procedure, Xiaomi servers will not give permission to unlock. Go to your smartphone settings, select Accounts and sync, and log in to your login.

Then you need to activate the developer mode. To do this, go to the About Phone menu and quickly click 7 times on the MIUI Version (or HyperOS Version). After you see the "You became a developer" sign, go back to the main settings menu and open the Advanced Settings → For developers.

In the developer menu, find Mi Unlock Status and click on it. The system will ask you to confirm the action via SMS or account password. Then turn on the Factory Unlock switch. This is the step that records the start time of the waiting countdown.

This is usually 168 hours (7 days), but for some accounts or regions, the waiting period can be extended to 30 days.

Installation of drivers and software for PC

To interact with a smartphone, the computer needs special drivers. Without them, the unlock utility simply will not see the device in the right mode. It is recommended to download and install the official Mi Unlock Tool package from miui.com/unlock.

In the process of installing drivers, conflicts may arise if other versions of ADB or drivers from other manufacturers have been installed before, in which case it is better to perform a clean installation by removing old components through the Device Manager.

Once the software is installed, restart the computer, which ensures that services are properly logged into Windows. If you use a laptop, it is advisable to connect it directly to the USB port, avoiding the use of hubs or extension cords.

💡

Use the original. USB-Cheap cables often don't support data transfer in Fastboot mode, which leads to connection errors.

Transfer of the device to Fastboot mode

Fastboot mode is a special diagnostic mode that allows you to interact with the device at a low level. To enter it, you need to completely turn off your smartphone. Not just reboot, but turn it off.

Press the volume down and the power button at the same time, hold them until the image of a hare repairing an android appears on the screen, labeled FASTBOOT. If the phone is turned on as usual, try pressing the buttons a little earlier or check the buttons are good.

Connect your phone to your computer with a cable. The Mi Unlock utility should show the phone logo and connection status. If the status does not change, check Windows Device Manager: the Android Bootloader Interface should be in the "Xiaomi Devices" section.

⚠️ Warning: If the Device Manager displays "Unknown Device" or an exclamation point device, the drivers are installed incorrectly. Force the driver to update by selecting it from the list USB-device.

Unlocking process through Mi Unlock

Run the Mi Unlock Tool on your computer and log in to the same Mi Account that is linked to your phone. The program will automatically check the status of the device and the right to unlock. If all conditions are met, the Unlock button will become active.

Press the button and confirm the action in the window that appears. The unlock process will begin, which will take from a few seconds to several minutes, during which time the progress bar will be displayed on the phone screen and the log of the operations performed on the computer.

Unlocking..


Please wait..




Unlock successfully.

Once successfully completed, the phone will automatically restart. The first boot may take longer than usual, as the system will reassemble the cache and check the integrity of the partitions. Don't be alarmed if the process takes 5-10 minutes.

💡

Successful unlocking is confirmed by the inscription "Unlocked" at the top of the screen when downloading and no request for the Mi Account password immediately after turning on.

Possible mistakes and ways to solve them

One of the most common errors is the message "Couldn't verify device" or "Current account is different from the account info on the device." This means that the program on the PC and phone used different Mi accounts.

If you see an error called “Unlock time expired” or a message saying you have to wait a few more hours, then Xiaomi servers have not yet updated status, in which case waiting helps, sometimes you need to wait not 7 days, but 7 days and several hours from the first status activation.

There's an error called "Error code: 10008" or "Network error" that indicates problems with server-client connectivity. Try using mobile Internet instead of Wi-Fi, because you can't use it. IP-Mobile operators’ addresses are sometimes blocked less frequently than those of providers.

Also worth mentioning is the issue of Chinese versions of smartphones purchased through global marketplaces, which may have Chinese firmware with a global account, causing regional conflict, and sometimes require a re-flash to the Chinese region for initial unlocking.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)