Unlocking the bootloader on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones is a must for custom firmware installation, root rights or brick restoration. However, the official process requires the manufacturer to wait 72 to 360 hours (depending on model and region), which puts many users into a stupor. Are there legal and illegal ways to circumvent this restriction? In this article, we will examine all the current methods of 2026, including hidden chips that Xiaomi supports.
It's important to understand that unlocking the bootloader will void warranty and can lead to data loss. But if you're risk-averse, read on. We'll look at both the official, low-waiting approach and alternatives for models on Qualcomm and Mediatek chips. And why some devices unlock in 5 minutes, while others require weeks of waiting.
Why Xiaomi is blocking the bootloader and how to get around it
The manufacturer has a restriction on unlocking for a reason.
- 🔒 Protection against theft: a blocked bootloader makes it harder to reset the device after loss.
- 🛡️ Data security: prevents malware installation at the firmware level.
- 📱 Ecosystem Control: Xiaomi Wants Users to Stay on Branded MIUI.
- 💰 Warranty obligations: unlocking automatically removes the device from warranty.
However, these measures often become a barrier for enthusiasts who want to install LineageOS, Pixel Experience or simply remove ads from MIUI. Fortunately, there are several ways to speed up the process:
⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi models 12/13/14 series and Redmi Note 12 Snapdragon-chip 8 Gen 2 Mi Unlock may require an account to be linked to a device 30 This restriction can only be circumvented by EDL-regime (below).
The most reliable way to unlock is to use an official tool with minimal waiting, but you need to know a few tricks, which we will discuss in the next section.
How to reduce the waiting time to 72 hours
Yes, even the official method can be speeded up. Here is a step-by-step guide to unlock with minimal waiting:
- Link your Mi Account to your device: 📱 Go to Settings. → Xiaomi account. 🔄 Turn on sync and confirm the phone number/email. 🔑 Activate Device Search in Security Settings.
- Put the debugging on. USB unlock OEM: 🔧 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times to activate the developer mode). 🔓 Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and include: Debugging by USB Unlocking OEM (point-of-point!)
Download the official Mi Unlock Tool (version no lower than 5.5.224.30 for new models).
Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (turn off the device, then press Volume Down + Power).
Start Mi Unlock, log in and follow the instructions. If you see a message saying, "Wait 168/360 hours," don't despair, read on.
Secret Trick: If the tool requires waiting, try:
- 🔄 Reconnect the device to another USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).
- 🔌 Use the original Xiaomi cable (cheap cables often don’t transfer data to Fastboot).
- 🖥️ Run Mi Unlock on behalf of the administrator on Windows 10/11.
- 📅 If you wait 168 hours, try repeating the procedure after 24 hours (sometimes the timer is reset).
☑️ Preparation for unlocking
On some models (such as the POCO F4 or Redmi K50), you can bypass the wait by linking your account to your device in advance (7+ days before unlocking), which doesn’t always work, but it’s worth trying.
Unofficial methods: unlock without waiting
If you're not afraid of the risks, you can try alternatives, which are suitable for users who:
- 🔧 They're good at working with ADB and Fastboot.
- 📱 Have a model on a chip Qualcomm (most flagships Xiaomi).
- 💻 Ready for possible hard brick (complete device failure).
The most common methods are:
| Method | Suitable models | Risks. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDL (Emergency Download Mode) | Xiaomi 11/12/13, POCO F3/F4, Redmi K40/K50 | High (brick possible) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Exploit via Mi Account | Older models (until 2020) | Medium (can block the account) | ⭐⭐ |
| Patched Mi Unlock | All models (but not always working) | High (viruses, account lock) | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Fastboot offline unlocking | Models with unlocked OEM | Low (if you follow the instructions) | ⭐⭐ |
The most reliable informal method is EDL. It requires:
- Purchase of authorized EDL-account (worthy) ~$5–$10 on forums like XDA).
- Installation of Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 drivers.
- Use tools like Mi Flash Pro or QFil.
⚠️ Note: Starting with Xiaomi 13 Ultra and Redmi K60 Pro, the manufacturer closed the opportunity EDL-Unlocking without official permission, and trying to use this method on new models can lead to an irreversible brick.
For models on Mediatek (such as the Redmi Note 11 or POCO M4 Pro), exploit is sometimes run via the SP Flash Tool, but it requires in-depth knowledge and often results in a loss of IMEI.
What is it? EDL-The regime and why it is dangerous?
Step-by-step: Unlock via Fastboot (without EDL)
If you don’t want to take risks with EDL but are willing to try to speed up the official process, follow this guideline.It’s suitable for most Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO models from 2020-2023.
What you need:
- 📱 Smartphone with a charge of at least 60%.
- 🖥️ Computer on Windows 10/11 (on macOS/Linux There may be problems with drivers).
- 🔌 Original. USB-cable (better from the set).
- 🛠️ The Mi Unlock Tool: Mi Unlock Tool, ADB & Fastboot, Xiaomi drivers.
Steps:
- Install drivers: https://new.c.mi.com/global/miuidownload/index (select the Mi Phone Manager section for drivers).
- Turn on USB Debugging and OEM Unlock (as described above) on your phone.
- Connect your phone to your PC and check the connection: Adb devices (you should display your device).
- Reboot to Fastboot: adb reboot bootloader Or manually: turn off the phone, then press Volume Down + Power.
- Launch the Mi Unlock Tool, log in to your Mi Account and click Unlock.
- If you see a “Couldn’t unlock” or “Wait 168 hours” error, try it: 🔄 Reconnect. USB-cable. 🔧 In Device Manager update the driver for Android Bootloader Interface. 📅 Wait 24 hours and repeat (sometimes the timer is reset).
If it went well, you'll see a message called Unlocked successfully. You can now flash TWRP or custom firmware.
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If the Mi Unlock Tool gives an error "Current account is not bound to this device", try to link the account in advance: go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud and enable sync 3-5 days before unlocking. This increases the chances of successfully unblocking without waiting.
What to do if unlocking fails: frequent mistakes and decisions
Even if you follow the instructions, you can get errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Couldn't unlock | The account is not tied to the device | Link your account to Mi Cloud and wait 24-72 hours |
| This device is locked | OEM unlock not enabled | Enable OEM Unlock in Developer Settings |
| Wait 168/360 hours | Xiaomi's official restriction | Try EDL or wait for the specified time |
| Mi Unlock can't get info | Problems with drivers or cable | Install drivers manually through Device Manager |
| Device is not supported | The device is too new. | Use EDL or wait for the Mi Unlock update |
If you see an Anti-rollback check error, it means you're trying to flash an older version of the firmware than the one installed now.
- 🔍 Check the current version MIUI In Settings → The phone.
- 📥 Download the same or newer version from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater.
- 🔧 Use the Mi Flash Tool to Fastboot Firmware.
⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi models 12S Ultra and a newer attempt to flash unofficial software can lead to a hardware lock that cannot be removed software, in which case only replacing the motherboard will help.
How to check if the bootloader is unlocked
Once you've successfully unlocked, it's important to make sure that everything goes right, and you can do this in a number of ways:
Method 1: Through Fastboot
- Turn off the phone.
- Press Volume Down + Power to enter Fastboot.
- Connect to your PC and execute the command: fastboot oem device-info
- If you see Device unlocked: true, the bootloader is unlocked.
Method 2: Through phone settings
- 🔧 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times for the Developer Mode).
- 🔓 Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
- 📋 Check the status of the Unblocking Status OEM — It should be unlocked.
Method 3: Attempting to install TWRP
If the bootloader is unlocked, you can flash the TWRP command:
fastboot flash recovery twrp.imgIf the team is executed without errors, everything is fine.
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Even after successfully unlocking, some features (such as Mi Pay or Face Unlock) may stop working. This is normal, as Xiaomi protects user data on unlocked devices.
What to do after unlocking: the next steps
Now that the bootloader is unlocked, you have new possibilities, but it's important to be careful not to turn the phone into a brick.
- 📱 Install TWRP: Download the current version TWRP For your model from the official website.Swipe through Fastboot: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img Then load up immediately in TWRP (Otherwise, the system will re-write the recovery).
- 🔓 Get root rights: Download Magisk from GitHub. Magisk.zip through TWRP. Install Magisk Manager for Rights Management.
- 🔄 Swipe custom firmware: Popular firmware: LineageOS, Pixel Experience, ArrowOS. Before firmware make a backup in the TWRP! Follow the instructions for your model on XDA Developers.
If you plan to use Google Pay or other banking apps, consider that once you get root, they may stop working.
- 🔒 Install MagiskHide Props Config to mask root.
- 📱 Enable MagiskHide in the Magisk Manager settings.
- 🔄 Reboot the device after setting up.
⚠️ Note: On models with Dynamic Partition (e.g. Xiaomi) 12/13) Custom software firmware can cause data loss in the userdata and vendor sections. Always make a full backup before experimenting!