How to Unlock Xiaomi Bootloader

This article will discuss how to unlock the Xiaomi bootloader (MIUI), why it is necessary, what gives such an operation, and what difficulties can arise afterward. This is a step-by-step instruction, so even if you are new to such things – there will be no difficulties (provided you follow all the points).

What is Bootloader, and why unlock it?

To avoid a long description and not to take time from others. Below we will talk about at least 3 reasons to unlock the bootloader. We advise studying each point carefully so that no additional questions arise afterward.

A Chinese version of the phone

When buying phones on sites like AliExpress or Gearbest, you can find favorable prices, which can differ from local by 50-100 dollars. That’s why many users buy low-priced phones. Sellers, in turn, can sell the Chinese version under the guise of a global version. The Chinese version of a Xiaomi smartphone is always cheaper, and it may have MIUI China or MIUI Global installed.

• MIUI China: the phone only has English and Chinese languages (+ maybe a few others). Such a device usually has a locked bootloader in a sealed box.
• MIUI Global: the smartphone is flashed with the global firmware, but it is a Chinese version. If you try to update, you may get a “brick”. Also, in such cases, the seller may flash the Chinese devices to bypass the bootloader unlock to sell them under the guise of being “global” much more expensive.

Third-party firmware

This model’s first and main advantage is the ability to install the custom (unofficial) and localized (official but with modifications specifically for your region) MIUI firmware. What does the custom firmware provide?

• Richer functionality and advanced options allow you to control all the work of the smartphone;
• Simple interface with reduced or improved functionality.
• Advanced and sensitive GPS navigator. Location is determined several times faster than on the standard version.
• Perfectly optimized operating system kernel that either improves phone performance or battery life.
• Ports of different builds, starting from Pixel Experience and ending with firmware from other shells (OneUI, EMUI, Flyme, etc.).

Third-party Recovery

Having unlocked the bootloader, you can easily install TWRP or CWM-recovery, which is necessary not only to get root rights but also for other important operations on your smartphone. Let’s take a closer look:

• Access to install new firmware;
• Ability to install Magisk.
• Quick and easy backup creation.
• Getting root rights.
• Google Camera installation.
• And much more.

Root rights

With an unlocked bootloader, you can get Super User status. Almost all current builds use Magisk since SuperSu has long been unsupported, and no new versions are released. The benefits of root rights are huge, from removing built-in ads to overclocking the processor.

How do I know if the bootloader is unlocked on Xiaomi or not?

I will talk about 3 ways to check the bootloader status on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones. I recommend using at least 2 methods since some models (bought for “very cheap” or used) were either flashed or hacked to bypass bootloader unlocking. In this case the first method might show the line that the bootloader is unlocked, but checking via ADB will be different(only the PC will tell you the truth).

1 WAY: Via the phone menu

The easiest way is built into your device and requires no additional programs.

1. Open the standard “Settings” of your smartphone;
2. Go to “About Phone”;
3. Now click on the line “MIUI version” 5 times, and the inscription“You have successfully become a developer” will appear.
4. Return to the main menu, find the “Advanced Settings” item and click on it.
5. Find the item “For developers” and go to it.
6. Now we need to find the line“Mi Unlock Status“. You must give permission and agree to the warning the first time you log in.
7. If the bootloader is locked, at the very top will be the corresponding inscription “The bootloader is locked, the device is protected“. If the bootloader is unlocked, it will say “Bootloader unlocked” all over the screen.

2 WAY: Via computer

If the first option does not suit you for some reason, you can check if the bootloader is unlocked on Xiaomi with PC. Instructions are attached for two operating systems – Windows and Linux.

Windows

This is a complicated method, but it is the most accurate.

1. Download the archive with ADB files and unzip it to the system’s root drives C, so the path is “C:/adb/“.
2. Please turn off the smartphone, and put it into fastboot mode. To do this, simultaneously hold down the power and volume keys.
3. Connect the device to the computer with a USB cable.
4. On the PC keyboard, press “Win” + “r”. The “Run” window opens.
5. Type “cmd” and click “OK”. A system command line appears.
6. At the command line, type “cd c:/adb” and press Enter.
7. Now enter the command “fastboot oem device-info” and we will see the necessary inscription.

If it says “true” then you have an unlocked bootloader, otherwise you get “false” which means that the bootloader is locked.

Linux

1. Download the ADB files from the link above and move them to the desired folder.
2. Open a terminal and write the following command “adb – sudo apt-get install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot“.
3. We put the smartphone in fastboot mode, as in the above version. The entered inscription is disconnected, and next to each part of the text, we see the necessary information about the bootloader:

sudo fastboot devices – here the device number appears, sometimes the model is also added;

sudo fastboot oem device-info – and here is the bootloader status, similar to that of the Windows operating system.

If the inscription “waiting device” appears, the action is likely not performed as an administrator.

3 WAY: When powering on the device

And the last, third way to check the bootloader status is to turn on the phone or its boot screen. To do this, you need the following:

1. Turn off your Xiaomi, and wait about 20 seconds for all internal processes to stop completely.
2. Turn your phone back on (press the power button).
3. If during boot up, it says “Unlocked” or there is an icon with an open lock on the bottom/top of the screen – the bootloader is unlocked.

Instructions on how to unlock the bootloader on a Xiaomi phone

Previously, you had to get approval to unlock the bootloader (by writing a letter to support) and wait several days. There is no need to do this, but a so-called “timer” exists. Read more details below in the official instruction.

Step 1: Connecting Mi-account to the phone

To unlock the bootloader, it is mandatory to have a Xiaomi account on the device. If you don’t have one, read how to create a Mi-account. If the phone already has an account – go to the second step.

Step 2: Linking the account to the device

Now you need to link a Mi account with your phone. To do this, follow these steps one by one. Some steps have already been completed by checking the bootloader status on the phone. There are also illustrative screenshots.

1. Log out of your Mi account to avoid the error stating that the device and account cannot be checked.
2. Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile Internet. This is a prerequisite. Otherwise, the process will not take place. Read how to configure the mobile Internet in Xiaomi.
3. Go to “About the phone” – click up to 7 times on the line “MIUI version”.
4. Return to the main settings menu, looking for “Advanced Settings” – “For Developers”.
5. Click on the item “Mi Unlock status”. Confirm your actions by agreeing to the warning that appears.
6. Click on the “Link account to device” button.
7. The MIUI system will ask you to sign in to your Mi account, so we do.
8. After a successful login, the account will link to your phone.
9. When it is successfully linked, you will see the corresponding inscription.
10. Done. Now you have to wait until the mandatory period of 360 or 720 hours.
11. You can check how much time remains to unlock the final step.

Please note: move to the third step only after the waiting period for the bootloader unlock confirmation. Sometimes Xiaomi developers change the timer, increasing the waiting period or on the contrary reducing it.

Step 3: Downloading Mi Flash Unlock software

After the mandatory waiting period ends, you must download the Mi Flash Unlock program. You can download it from the official website or our article. After unpacking the archive’s contents, optionally transfer it to the root of the system drive or leave it on the working drive.

I left the archive on my D drive, and unlocking the bootloader went fine.

Step 4: Launching Mi Unlock

Now open the Mi Unlock program as an administrator, and see the white screen with the text in Chinese, where the disclaimer rules are stated. Agree and click the appropriate button.

Step 5: Log in to the mi-account

Here is a new window that asks you to sign in to your mi account. Enter your password and ID (linked phone number or email address). Check the data and the keyboard layout carefully because, at this step, many users have problems with the following message: “You have entered the password and/or login incorrectly“. Press “Sign in”.

Sometimes a window may appear with the procedure of checking the unlock permission. It may take several minutes.

Step 6: Connecting the phone to your computer

Then we go back to the smartphone itself. Please turn it off and put it into fastboot mode by simultaneously holding down the power and volume keys. Using the USB cable, we connect the phone to the computer.

Step 7: Unlock the process

The final and final step: the program checks the device. If all the conditions are met – the bootloader unlock process will start. Wait a few minutes(in my case, 25 seconds), and if everything was done correctly – receive a notification of a successful unlock – three green ticks. Done.

Errors and problems

Most often, the problems appear because of the server itself. In most cases, it is not the user’s fault. Nevertheless, it is necessary to know how to deal with them. We propose you read a rough list of known problems and methods of their elimination:

• Stopping protection removal at 50%. The unlock process reaches the halfway point and gets stuck. Unfortunately, this is a problem on the side of mi.com. There is nothing you can do manually here. The only thing left to do is to try again and again periodically.
• An error during account binding. This is also quite a popular problem among users. To solve it, you need to sign out of the Mi account before binding the account to the device and then sign in again, as described in step 2.
• Mi-account login error. Check which keyboard language is enabled and whether you entered the password correctly, and do not confuse the account ID number or the linked phone number.
• Repeat after 360 hours. If you see red text when trying to unlock the bootloader: “Binding time is too short, Less than 72 hours” or“After 360 hours of trying to unlock the device” – it means that the time of obligatory account checking is not over yet, I told you about it in the second step! Before repeating the procedure, you must wait for the specified number of days or hours. There is no way to bypass the timer.

FAQ

Is there any limitation on unlocking?

There is. Officially you can unlock only one device every 30 days. For example, unlock a tablet, waited a month, and then you can unlock a phone.

Do I need to unlock the bootloader at all?

This question is strictly individual for everyone. If you’re a beginner, not too confident user, you do only mundane things on your smartphone, which include viewing the news, games, and social networks – you do not need to perform such a difficult operation.

Are there other fast ways to unlock?

Unfortunately, no. The best and best option is the official method described above.

Unlock failed, what to do?

Please specify at what stage you have problems and write to us in the comments with a screenshot of the problem.

Is a SIM card required?

Yes, because unlock process requires enabled mobile internet.

Now you know that unlocking bootloaders on Xiaomi devices is quite realistic if you follow our step-by-step instructions. If you have any additional questions – write below in the comment form.