How to unlock Xiaomi bootloader in 2022

Android is popular mainly due to its open source nature, much like what we see in Linux on PCs. Developers around the world can bypass this and tinker with the OS to customize it accordingly. But most smartphone manufacturers don't prefer users to tinker with their user interfaces. To prevent anyone from making changes to the configured version of the OS, OEMs typically install a software switch that acts as a firewall, that is, until it is turned off.

OEMs have installed this switch in such a way that regular smartphone users can experience it without any hassle. OEMs test their software a lot before releasing it to consumers, and allowing it to work by default can result in software incompatibility. Additionally, most smartphone manufacturers (except Oneplus) will immediately void the device's warranty if the user allows OEM unlocking and then bootloader. But that doesn't really stop some users from doing it. For some people, customizing the OS to suit their preferences is more important than maintaining the device's warranty. So for those users who want to enable OEM unlocking to unlock the bootloader, this article is for you.

What is MI Unlock?

Mi unlock allows you to unlock the Xiaomi bootloader.

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What is Bootloader and why unlock it

In order not to write for a long time and not take up time from others, I recommend reading ( if you are a beginner ) about what a bootloader is on Xiaomi smartphones in our glossary. Below we will talk about at least 3 reasons for unlocking the bootloader. We advise you to carefully study each item so that no additional questions arise later.

Chinese version of the phone

When buying phones on sites such as AliExpress or Gearbest, you can find very competitive prices, which may differ from local prices by $50-100 . This is why many users buy phones with low prices. Sellers, in turn, can sell the Chinese version under the guise of a global one. The Chinese version of a Xiaomi smartphone is always cheaper and can have MIUI China or MIUI Global installed on it.

MIUI China: the phone only has English and Chinese languages (+ there may be several others), no Russian, Ukrainian and others. Such a device usually comes with a locked bootloader, in a sealed box.
MIUI Global: the smartphone is flashed with global firmware, but it itself is a Chinese version. When you try to update, you may get a “brick”. Also, in such cases, the seller may flash Chinese devices bypassing bootloader unlocking in order to sell them under the guise of “global” ones for much more.

I recommend reading this article: what is the difference between the Chinese version of the phone and the global one.

Third party firmware

The first and main advantage is the ability to install custom (unofficial) and localized (official, but with modifications specifically for your region) MIUI firmware. What does custom firmware provide:

Richer functionality and advanced options that allow you to control the entire operation of your smartphone;
A simple interface with reduced or improved functionality.
Advanced and sensitive GPS navigator. The location is determined several times faster than on the standard version.
A highly optimized operating system kernel that either improves phone performance or increases battery life.
Ports of various assemblies from “romodels”, ranging from Pixel Experience to firmware from other shells (OneUI, EMUI, Flyme, etc.).

Third Party Recovery

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

Access to installing new firmware;
Ability to install Magisk.
Quick and easy backups.
Obtaining root rights.
Installing Google Camera.
And much more.

Root rights

With an unlocked bootloader, you can gain Superuser status. Almost all current builds use Magisk, since SuperSu has not been supported for a long time and new versions have not been released. The benefits of root rights are enormous, from removing built-in advertising to overclocking the processor.

What is OEM unlocking?

OEM Unlocking is an option in Developer Options that is usually disabled by default. It was reintroduced in Android Lollipop and has remained unchanged since then. After enabling OEM unlocking on your device, the Ability to Unlock flag is set to 1, allowing users to use the Fast Firmware Unlock command. Once you turn it on, it stays on. Even if the user performs a factory reset, it remains unlocked until the setting is manually changed by going to the developer options. It's not safe at all if you don't know much about flashing ROMs.

Why is the bootloader blocked?

Why bootloader

blocked Indeed, manufacturers often
block
access to
the bootloader
on their devices. Thus, they prohibit users from running any other operating system on the device other than the one provided by the manufacturer. ... Bootloader is installed by the smartphone manufacturer.

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Instructions on how to unlock the bootloader on a Xiaomi phone

Previously, you had to get approval to unlock the bootloader (write a letter to support) and wait several days. Now you don’t need to do this, but the so-called “timer” has appeared. Read more in the official instructions below.

Step 1: connect Mi account to phone

To unlock the bootloader, you must have a Xiaomi account on the device. If you don’t have one yet, read on how to create a Mi account. If an account is already linked on your phone, proceed to the second step.

Step 2: Linking your account to your device

Now you need to link your Mi account to your phone. To do this, follow these steps sequentially. Some of the steps have already been completed when checking the bootloader status using your phone. There are also visual screenshots there.

We log out of our Mi account, this is necessary to avoid the appearance of an error
about the impossibility of verifying the device and account.
Switching from Wi-Fi to mobile Internet . This is a mandatory condition; otherwise the process will not work. Read how to set up mobile internet on Xiaomi.
Go to the “About phone” item - click up to 7 times on the “MIUI Version” line.
We return to the main settings menu, look for the sections “Advanced settings” - “For developers”.
Click on the item “Mi Unlock Status”. We confirm our actions by agreeing to the warning that appears.
Click on the “Link account to device” button.
The MIUI system will require you to log in to your Mi account, log in.
After successful login, your account will be linked to your phone.
If the binding is successful, you will see the corresponding message.
Ready. Now you need to wait until the mandatory period of 360 or 720 hours has passed .
You can check how much time is left before unlocking using the final step.

If you encounter difficulties while linking your account to your smartphone, watch this video.

Please note: you need to proceed to the third step only after the waiting period for confirmation of bootloader unlocking has passed. Sometimes Xiaomi developers change the timer, increasing the waiting period or, conversely, decreasing it.

Step 3: download Mi Flash Unlock program

After the mandatory waiting period ends, you will need to download the Mi Flash Unlock program. You can download it from the official website en.miui.com/unlock/ or from our article. Afterwards, unpack the contents of the archive and, if desired, transfer it to the root of the system disk or leave it on the working disk.

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

Step 4: Launch Mi Unlock

Now we open the Mi Unlock program as administrator , we see a white screen with text in Chinese (if the localized version is like mine, then in Russian), where the disclaimer rules are indicated. We agree and click on the appropriate button.

Step 5: Login to Mi account

We are presented with a new window that requires you to log into your Mi account. Enter your password and your ID (linked phone number or email). We carefully check the specified data and keyboard layout, since it is at this stage that many users have problems with the appearance of such a notification: “ You entered your password and/or login incorrectly .” Click “Sign in”.

Sometimes a window with a procedure for checking unlock permission may appear; this may take several minutes.

Step 6: Connect your phone to your computer

Then we return to the smartphone itself. Turn it off and put it in fastboot mode by simultaneously holding down the power and volume down keys . Using a USB cable, connect the phone to the computer.

Step 7: Unlock Process

The final final stage: the program checks the device, if all conditions are met, the process of unlocking the bootloader will begin. We wait a few minutes ( in my case 25 seconds ), and if everything was done correctly, we receive a notification about successful unlocking - three green checkmarks. Ready.

How to find out whether the bootloader on Xiaomi is unlocked or not?

Now I will tell you about 3 ways to check the bootloader status on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones. I recommend checking using at least 2 methods, since there are still models (purchased for “very cheap” or used) that were flashed or hacked to bypass unlocking the bootloader. In this case, the first method may show a line that the bootloader is unlocked, but when checking through ADB, everything will be different ( only the PC will show the truth ).

METHOD 1: through the phone menu

The easiest way, built into your device and does not require additional programs.

Open the standard “Settings” of the smartphone;
Go to the “About phone” item;
Now click on the line “MIUI Version” 5 times, the message “ You have successfully become a developer ” will appear.
We return to the main menu and find the “Advanced settings” item, click on it.
We look for the “For Developers” item and go to it.
Now you need to find the line “ Mi Unlock Status ”. When you first log in, you must give permission and agree to the warning.
If the bootloader is locked, at the very top there will be a corresponding message “Bootloader locked, device protected.” If the bootloader is unlocked, the message “Bootloader unlocked” will appear on the entire screen.

METHOD 2: via computer

If for some reason the first option does not suit you, you can check whether the bootloader on Xiaomi is unlocked using a PC. Instructions are included for two operating systems - Windows and Linux .

Windows

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

ADB.zip

Download the archive with ADB files and unpack it to the root of the system drive C, so that the path is “ C:/adb/ ”.
Turn off the smartphone and put it into fastboot mode. To do this, simultaneously press the power and volume down keys.
Connect the device to the computer using a USB cable.
On your PC keyboard, press “Win” + “r” . The Run window opens.
Type “cmd” and click “OK”. The system command prompt appears.
In the command line, write the command “cd c:/adb” and press Enter.
Now we enter the command “fastboot oem device-info” and we see the inscription we need.

If “true” is specified, the bootloader is unlocked, otherwise “false”, which indicates a locked bootloader.

Linux

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

sudo fastboot devices – the device number appears here, sometimes the model is added;
sudo fastboot oem device-info – and here is the status of the bootloader, similar to that on the Windows operating system.

If the message “ waiting device ” appears, most likely the actions were not performed as an administrator.

METHOD 3: when you turn on the device

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

Turn off your Xiaomi, wait about 20 seconds for all internal processes to completely stop.
Turn on the phone again (press and hold the power button).
If, during booting, “Unlocked” is written the bottom/top