Owning a Xiaomi device offers a wide range of customization opportunities, but often comes at the expense of the manufacturer’s strict restrictions: Users who want to install custom firmware like LineageOS or get full rights to a Root superuser inevitably face a blocked bootloader, a security mechanism designed to protect the software from unauthorized changes, but for enthusiasts it becomes the main obstacle to complete freedom of the device.
The procedure for removing restrictions, known as anlok, requires careful attention and understanding of all risks. Mistakes can lead to the inability to boot the operating system or loss of warranty service. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to lock or, more precisely, unlock Xiaomi back into the open state using official and proven methods.
It’s worth noting right away that unlocking the bootloader completely cleans the internal memory of the smartphone. All your photos, contacts and applications will be deleted without the possibility of recovery through standard means. So the first and most important step is to create a full backup of data on an external medium or in the cloud.
Why Xiaomi is blocking the bootloader and what benefits it gives
The company's policy is to create a secure ecosystem where code is protected from modification by third parties. Bootloader is a program that runs to the operating system and checks the integrity of its components. If signatures do not match, the device refuses to boot. However, removing this lock gives the user unique control over the gadget.
The unlocked device allows you to install global firmware on Chinese versions of smartphones, which solves the problem of the lack of Russian language and Google services, and opens up opportunities for deep cleaning of the system from advertising debris and preinstalled applications that cannot be removed by standard methods.
⚠️ Note: Once the bootloader is unlocked, some secure features, such as payment through the bootloader, stop working. NFC in banking applications and the work of Widevine L1, What reduces the quality of streaming in HD on some platforms.
Owners of unlocked devices get access to customized recaps like TWRP. This allows you to make full system backups, install modified cores to improve performance, and use specialized modules to change the interface and functionality of Android.
Preparation of the device and necessary tools
Before starting the procedure, you need to make sure that you have a stable Internet connection and a serviceable one. USB-Bad contact or interruption of communication with the server during the process can lead to critical errors, and you will also need a computer running Windows, since the unlock utility officially only works on this platform.
The most important step is to link your Mi Account to your device, and without that step, the server won't give you permission to unlock it, go to your smartphone settings, look for "About Phone," and click on the MIUI version several times to activate the developer menu.
Then you go to the advanced settings and find the developer section, where you need to activate the debugging over USB and permission to unlock the bootloader, the system will require you to enter the phone number and password from the account, and then will issue a warning about the risks.
☑️ Pre-launch check
Don’t forget to download the official Mi Unlock Tool from the manufacturer’s website. Using third-party software can lead to locking the device over IMEI or infecting the system with malicious code. Also make sure that the computer has all the necessary drivers for your smartphone installed.
Registration of the device and waiting for the timer
After turning on all the necessary switches in the developer menu, click on the button "Add account and device." The system will check and, if all the data is correct, report a successful link, which is from this point the countdown of the waiting time starts.
The standard wait time is 168 hours (7 days) during which time Xiaomi servers analyze the device activity. If you try to unlock the bootloader ahead of time, the utility will give an error indicating the remaining time in seconds.
| Account status | Waiting time | Probability of success | Action required |
|---|---|---|---|
| New account | 168 hours | Tall. | Just wait. |
| Active account | 0-24 hours | Medium | Active use |
| Suspicious activity | 30 days | Low. | Shift. SIM-map |
| VIP level | 0 hours | Guaranteed. | Payment of status |
There are ways to reduce latency, such as using Mi Cloud services, making Internet calls, and installing apps from GetApps. SIM-The card to the operator through which the account was registered also helps.
Can I bypass the waiting timer?
Unlocking process with Mi Unlock Tool
When the wait period has expired, you can go to the direct unlock. Launch the utility on your computer and log in to the same Mi Account that is linked to your smartphone. Put your phone into Fastboot mode, holding both the power and volume buttons.
Connect the device to the computer with a cable. If the drivers are installed correctly, the utility will identify the phone and show the status of "Connected." Press the "Unlock" button, after which a warning will appear about the loss of data. Confirm the action, and the process begins.
Unlocking...
Please wait...
Status: Unlocking successfullyIt takes from a few seconds to a few minutes, and at that time the phone can reboot several times, and the screen will display the progress bar. You can not interrupt the connection categorically, this can damage the partitions of the system.
⚠️ Warning: During the unlocking process, the smartphone screen may go out or the device vibrates. Do not turn off the cable until the utility reports the successful completion of the operation.
Once successfully completed, the phone will automatically restart and begin cleaning the data, the first start of the system will take longer than usual, and an open lock icon may appear on the boot screen, indicating that the restrictions have been successfully lifted.
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If the process is hanging on 50% or 99%, Don't panic. It's often normal behavior of the utility. 10-15 minutes, and if progress does not move, only then try to restart the procedure.
Possible mistakes and ways to solve them
The most common problem is the “Couldn’t verify. Try again later” error, which occurs when the server can’t confirm the account’s rights, in which case try logging out in your phone settings, waiting 24 hours, and linking the device again.
Another common driver error is that if your computer can't see your phone in Fastboot mode, you need to manually install drivers through Windows Device Manager. Find an unknown device, select a driver update, and specify a path to the Mi Unlock driver folder.
Sometimes there is an error "Current account is different from the account info on the device" which means that the utility and phone used different logins.
- 🔌 Connection error: Replace USB-Or try another port or another port. USB, preferably USB 2.0, as 3.0 ports sometimes cause driver conflicts.
- 📡 Network problems: Use a stable Wi-Fi connection or Internet distribution from a smartphone, as IP-Mobile address less likely to be blocked by Xiaomi servers.
- 🔄 Cyclical Reboot: If the phone goes into a bootloop after unlocking, try reflashing the device via the Mi Flash Tool in Clean All mode.
In rare cases, the utility may report that the device is already unlocked, although it is not. This may be the result of resetting the settings through the receptacles without completely cleaning.
Safety and Return to Factory Settings
Once the bootloader is unlocked, the security of the device is reduced, and attackers who gain physical access to the phone can easily copy data or install malware. Therefore, it is recommended to set a strong password and use two-factor authentication for all important services.
If you decide to sell the device or return it to the store, you can restore the bootloader lock. To do this, select “Block the bootloader” from the developer menu or use the command fastboot oem lock. However, before you do this, be sure to install the original stock firmware.
It's important to understand that locking the bootloader again on the modified firmware will lead to a brick of the device, the system will check the integrity of the software, detect changes and refuse to boot, so we return the stock MIUI first, then block it.
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Unlocking the bootloader is an irreversible guarantee action, but reversible for software. Always save the original firmware files to return to the original state.