Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the desire to gain enhanced access to the Android system to install custom firmware such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience, or to obtain superuser rights (Root).The key to these features is unlocking the bootloader, which is officially supported by the manufacturer, but requires compliance with certain rules and expectations. Unlike many other brands, Xiaomi does not hide the tools for this, but the process is deliberately complicated by time restrictions and mandatory account binding.
Before you start taking action, you need to realize that this procedure entails a complete deletion of data from the device. The MIUI or HyperOS security system automatically initiates formatting of all memory partitions when you detect an unlocked bootloader to prevent personal information from being stolen.
The unlocking procedure is official and does not require the use of dubious paid services, if you have stable Internet access and Mi Account. SIM-The card, firmware version and latency, which can vary, in this article we will discuss in detail each step, from account preparation to the final input of the command to the console.
Preparation of Mi Account and smartphone
The foundation of the whole operation is the Xiaomi account, you need to log in on the smartphone itself, which you plan to unlock. IMEI-The device address is set to run a waiting time count, which can be from 7 to 30 days depending on the current policy of the company and the region.
After authorization, activate the hidden menu for developers. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7 times on the line MIUI Version or OS Version. The screen will show a notification that you have become a developer. Next, go back to the main settings menu, find optional (or advanced settings) and select For developers.
In the menu that opens, you need to activate two critical settings: the first is OEM Unlocking, and the second is USB Debugging. When you turn on debugging, the system can request confirmation through a pop-up on the smartphone screen — be sure to click OK. You will also need to link your Mi Account to the status of the device by clicking the Add Account and Device button inside the debugging settings menu.
⚠️ Warning: Do not log out of your Mi Account or reset your network settings after you turn on these features before you unlock them. Resetting the anchor will reset the waiting timer and you will have to start the procedure again.
To complete the preparation, check the battery charge. It should be at least 50%, although it is better to keep the device connected to the power source during the final stage. USB-cable, as cheap analogues may not provide stable data exchange, which will lead to errors in the connection with the Mi server.
Installation of drivers and utilities Mi Unlock
The main tool is the Mi Unlock Tool, which should be downloaded exclusively from the official website miui.com/unlock. Using third-party versions can lead to data leakage or blocking by device ID.
In addition to the utility itself, the system needs the correct ADB and Fastboot drivers. Often these are installed automatically with Mi Unlock, but in some cases, especially on Windows 10 and 11, manual installation is required. If the computer does not see the phone in bootloader mode, use the Device Manager to update the driver manually, indicating the path to the driver folder from the SDK Platform Tools kit.
The installation process is as follows:
- 📥 Download the archive from the Mi Unlock utility and unpack it to the root of the C disk: to avoid problems with encoding paths.
- 💻 Run the executable file miflash_unlock.exe on behalf of the administrator.
- 🔐 Sign in using the same Mi Account login and password as you did on your phone.
- ✅ Accept the terms of the disclaimer agreement.
Once you log in, your account status will be displayed. If you just linked the device, the utility can show the remaining time until unlock permission.
The process of unlocking the loader
Once all the preparatory steps have been completed and the waiting period has expired, you can proceed to directly unlock. Put your smartphone into Fastboot mode. To do this, turn the device off completely, and then press the Volume Down and Power buttons simultaneously. Hold them until an image with a hare in an orange cap repairing an android appears, or the words FASTBOOT.
Connect your phone to your computer through USB-In Mi Unlock, press the Refresh button to let the program discover the device. If the status changes to Connected, press Unlock. The system will warn you that all data will be deleted. Confirm the action by entering a captcha or code if required.
The unlocking process will start, the progress of which is displayed as a percentage.
Unlocking... Please wait...
Success: The bootloader is unlocked.
The average procedure takes 30 seconds to 5 minutes, and when it is completed, the phone will automatically restart, and the first boot after unlocking (First Boot) can take much longer than usual, up to 10-15 minutes, as the system recreates the partition structure and encrypts the data.
What to do if you are stuck at 99%?
If the process is 99% over 10 minutes, don't panic. Often this means that the phone is already unlocked, but the program has not received a response. Try manually restarting the device with a power button for 10-15 seconds. If the phone is turned on, check the status in Mi Unlock again.> Table of possible statuses and errors In the process of working with the Mi Unlock Tool, you may encounter various error codes or statuses. Understanding their meaning will help avoid unnecessary panic and wrong actions. Status / Error Description User Action Couldn't verify device The account in the program does not match the account in the phone Go out and log in to the correct Mi Account in the utility Account isn't bound Linked in the developer menu is not executed or reset Turn on the Internet on the phone and link Wait 168 hours Waiting period has not expired (7 days) Wait for the expiration of the term without leaving the Server error account Problems on the server side of Xiaomi Try later or use mobile Internet (Hotspot) Particular attention should be paid to the "Server error" error. Often it is caused by a provider or geographical restriction, and in such cases, the effective solution is to distribute the Internet from phone to PC or use the Internet. VPN-European IP-There's also the concept of "regional lockdown". Some global versions of smartphones bought in China but destined for other markets may have limitations, and if the utility says the device can't be unlocked, it may be tailored to a specific carrier. Unlocking the bootloader is not just a technical manipulation, it is a change in the level of security of the device. After this procedure, TrustZone (CPU Safe Zone) ceases to be considered trusted. This means that applications requiring a high degree of protection, such as banking clients, Google Pay (Mir Pay) and some anti-cheat games, may refuse to work. MIUI Closely connected to closed libraries, which when unlocked can function incorrectly or be completely disabled by the security system. Photos may become less contrasting or noisy. ⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader makes the device vulnerable to Evil Maid attacks. Anyone who gains physical access to your unlocked phone can install malicious firmware and access your data even if the screen is locked with a password. In addition, you permanently lose the manufacturer’s warranty in case of software failures. If after unlocking the phone turns into a “brick” due to a user error during firmware, the Xiaomi service center may refuse free repairs. There is a myth that codes exist for instant unlock without waiting. In reality, such codes (##...##) worked on older versions. MIUI Now, the only legal way to do this is to wait for a timer through an official utility. Some users use paid services that promise to unlock without waiting. These methods are usually based on exploiting vulnerabilities in older versions of Android or using accounts with special status (for example, accounts of Xiaomi partners). Using these methods carries a high risk of completely blocking the device via IMEI at the server level. If your goal is to install Russification or remove ads, unlocking may not be necessary. Many system applications can be disabled through ADB without superuser rights, which is a safer alternative. For advanced users, there is a technique for using Edl Mode (Emergency Download Mode), but to log in to modern models, Xiaomi often requires an unblocked account, or the user is already re-backed to the user. 💡Use flight mode when you first unlock. If your phone tries to connect to Wi-Fi immediately after resetting, it can start checking for activation. 💡Unlocking Xiaomi bootloader is a balance between freedom of customization and loss of security. Do this only if you understand the risks and you really need custom hardcover and firmware capabilities. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Will the unlock timer reset when you flash your phone? Yes, if you do a full Wipe All Data reset or refashion your phone with a cleanup, the account-to-device link in the developer menu might fly off. The timer would have to be rerun. However, a simple change of region or update to the OTA They don't reset the wait. Can you unlock the bootloader if you buy the phone on credit? Technically, this is possible if the phone does not have hardware or software locks from the operator, however, if the device is pledged to the bank or operator, unlocking can be considered a violation of the contract, and in case of non-payment, the phone can be blocked remotely. IMEI. What is Anti-Rollback and how does it affect unlocking? Anti-Rollback is a security mechanism that prohibits installing an older firmware version than the current one. When the bootloader is unlocked, the risk of accidentally downgrading the software version increases, which can lead to a "bricking" of the device that cannot be restored software. L1 In most cases, the Widevine level of protection falls from the L1 before L3. This means streaming services (Netflix, Disney+) will only stream content in standard resolution (SD), and it will be impossible to watch movies in HD or 4K through official apps.