Thinking of getting the most out of your Xiaomi phone? Unlocking the bootloader might be the key. This process grants you deeper access to your device's software, allowing you to install custom ROMs, kernels, and other modifications.
However, it's important to tread carefully. Unlocking the bootloader can void your warranty and potentially expose your device to security risks if done incorrectly.
Our guide will walk you through the process for Xiaomi devices in 2024, highlighting the requirements, steps involved, and potential risks to consider before making the decision to unlock.
Related: How to make Xiaomi phone faster
How To Unlock Xiaomi Bootloader?
Unlocking the bootloader on your Xiaomi device is a straightforward process that requires following a couple of instructions.
Firstly, enable USB Debugging on your Xiaomi smartphone by going to Settings > About Phone > Developer Options and tapping on MIUI version 5-7 times.
Toggle on OEM Unlocking and USB Debugging under Developer Options. Next, navigate back to Settings and permit Sync options by tapping on Mi Cloud, selecting Turn on Find Device, and tapping on Sync Details.
Choose Sync All Items from the drop-down menu. Turn on your data and tap on the Mi Unlock status, then agree to the terms. Add your Mi account and device, ensuring your SIM card is loaded. Power off your Xiaomi phone and enter Fastboot mode.
Connect your phone to a computer via USB cable. Install and launch the Mi Unlock Tool on your computer, agree to the terms, and log in with your Mi Account.
Select Unlock from the options list and choose Unlock Anyway if prompted. Wait for the "Unlocked Successfully" confirmation.
Disclaimer
While unlocking the Xiaomi bootloader is possible, you should be careful and know what you are doing. But don't worry, we are here to make sure you know how to unlock Xiaomi bootloader safely.
Alternative ROMs are therefore completely secure to access. So, if you are acquiring ROMs from a safe, reliable entity, then it won't lead to a conflict.
However, looking closely at the whole situation and considering other factors if you are an Android user, bear in mind that an Android operating system is free open-source software.
It nonetheless signifies that device manufacturers have complete and total control over much of the system software before having installed it on your devices. Therefore, manufacturers have absolute ownership over the OS's appearance, services, and included computer software.
Remember that operating a modified ROM is sometimes a tricky proposition. This somehow generally requires unlocking your device's bootloader, where it terminates the maintenance contract.
Whatever impairment to your gadget will no longer be the duty and obligation of Reliance Digital. If not performed appropriately, you are potentially making your gadget stagnant so your system will be terminated which will result in function abnormality.
Particularly, Xiaomi secured their bootloaders to ensure safety and protection. And if you are a Xiaomi user and having a problem unlocking yours, then this article will be a great help to provide you with the best assistance to your query on how to unlock your Xiaomi’s bootloader and other factors that you need to know.
What You Need To Know About Xiaomi Bootloader
Some may not have an idea what a bootloader is. When you hear the term bootloader, it is the firmware that handles the operating system on the phone and manages the precedence of operations that occur on it.
On the latest and newly purchased phones, the Bootloader is secured to safeguard it from becoming corrupted by unknown sources and usage or manipulation.
The commands to launch the windows system foundation are contained in a bootloader and so many of them encompass their independent troubleshooting or customization context.
Since the bootloader processes first before any program on your system, it is exceedingly chipset-dependent. with each motherboard featuring its very own bootloader. Due to the obvious discrepancies in technical specs, all Android smartphones contain diverse custom ROMs.
Unlocking your bootloader on your Xiaomi Android phone enables you to install alternative programming and grants you complete knowledge and privilege to implement adjustments to your smartphone.
Changes might comprise the amending aspects of the pre-installed components or perhaps even reinstalling the operating system predominantly. Enthusiasts unlock and root their devices to be able to explore more applications, install and even develop.
How To Unlock Xiaomi Bootloader
Before proceeding with the instructions, think thoroughly about your decision because there are always consequences (advantages and disadvantages are later in the article) when unlocking your bootloader.
Our blog's tips and approaches may not have been verified within every single device. Since the other mobility solutions technique is practically identical for any mobile phone.
We shall not be held fully accountable for certain harm or breakage to your phone if anything goes improper with it.
Therefore, around personal risk, use the following strategies! Continue reading to know How To Unlock Xiaomi Bootloader.
How To Unlock Xiaomi Bootloader using Certified Instructions By Xiaomi
Step 1 Your Xiaomi smartphone should have USB Debugging enabled to unlock the bootloader. To do this, go to Settings > About Phone > Developer Options and press MIUI version 5-7 times. Go back and toggle on OEM Unlocking and USB Debugging under Developer Options.
Step 2 Navigate back to Settings and permit Sync options. You can do this by, tapping on Mi Cloud and browsing through the Turn on Find Device option. Scroll down and tap on Sync Details.
Step 3 Choose Sync All Items from the drop-down menu. All of your documents will be linked as an outcome.
Step 4 Now, turn on your data on the phone. Please remember that you must activate cellular internet from the same SIM that you used to register your Mi account.
Step 5 You can now tap on the Mi Unlock status. From there, hold down the Agree option.
Step 6 Then pick Add Account and Device from the selection.
Step 7 Inspect to see whether your SIM card indeed has loaded Then, refrain from the security warnings presented on your monitor.
Step 8 Thereafter, turn your Xiaomi Mi or Redmi phone down.
Step 9 Then once, put your phone in Fastboot mode.
Step 10 Connect your Xiaomi mobile to your other device like your personal computer through a USB cable the moment you have successfully launched Fastboot mode.
Step 11 Install and transfer the Mi Unlock Tool to your personal computer.
Step 12 Enter the saved document, then choose Agree from those in the miflash unlock submenu.
Step 13 Then, login into your Mi Account that has been associated with your mobile phone.
Step 14 Next, pick Unlock out from the options list.
Step 15 Now, whenever prompted, select Unlock Anyway and keep on going.
Step 16 Your unlocking operation would therefore start immediately; sit tight for the Unlocked Successfully confirmation to display.
Now, you should have easily accessed your Xiaomi device's bootloader. Unless you encounter an alert notification saying Couldn't unlock during the unlocking stage, you must be patient to wait 168 hours which is a whole week to try again.
But after, continue the guidelines established here to activate your Xiaomi bootloader on your cellular phone.
Reasons Why Your Phone’s Bootloader Is Locked By Xiaomi
A protected bootloader on your mobile phone maintains the reliability of the program installed on your smartphone.
This has become certainly the case for Xiaomi devices which have been far more opened and filled up with something like a variety of junkware by highly questionable different suppliers.
Distributor ROMs provide us with an enormous privacy and dependability concern.
Bootloaders on Android smartphones are restricted for a specific purpose. It wasn't just that operators and producers like to monopolize your equipment and severely limit you from running alternative ROMs upon that; even though there are legitimate significant concerns elsewhere too.
Sometimes even Google's Nexus series of cellphones, which have been intended for programmers, actually produce bootloaders that are protected.
Whenever your smartphone's bootloader has so far been closed, it will only operate the version of android which is connected to your system. A modified operating system cannot be downloaded because each bootloader might very well continue to attempt and refuse to activate that one.
What To Consider Before Unlocking Your Xiaomi Bootloader
- Bear in mind that it is necessary to back up first all your documents on your desktop or laptop, Xiaomi Mi Cloud, Google Drive, or other storage devices prior to proceeding with the process. Be prepared that you will end up losing all of your files since your Xiaomi smartphone will reboot itself robotically.
- Since the operation for unlocking your bootloader takes too much duration, you have to make sure that your Xiaomi smartphone should have been at least 80% powered.
- Having a computer and an authentic USB connector are considered necessary.
- Rest assured that your SIM does have enough load to send messages that you may need after.
- Only Xiaomi smartphones were indeed considered throughout this article. Alternatively, your phone might even be broken if you attempt this instruction on some other phone brands.
Perks Of Having Unlocked Bootloader
Behind every successful operation you commit with your phone, there are always gains and losses. In this part of the article, we will be giving you a glimpse of the advantages of what it is like once you successfully unlock the Xiaomi bootloader of your device.
- Incorporate systemic changes to the program according to your demand.
- Every adware can now be eliminated.
- You could perhaps download a custom Firmware to offer your smartphone a unique appearance while trying to make it work to update with the new Android version.
- You own full control through all of it.
Downsides Of Having Unlocked Bootloader
As mentioned above, be prepared to experience some disadvantages on your Xiaomi phone if you wish to unlock your bootloader.
The following are just some but not limited to:
- You would no further continue receiving OTA notifications.
- And if you're not a highly qualified customer, then you might even be given access to a malware attack.
- It is indeed technically feasible that your Xiaomi phone will be irreparably destroyed.
How to Install a Custom ROM on Xiaomi?
Unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom ROM can greatly enhance your Xiaomi device by providing additional features and customization options.
Read on as I walk you through the process of installing a custom ROM using the popular custom recovery, TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project).
Apart from this, we'll discuss how to revert back to the stock ROM if needed.
How Do You Install a Custom ROM on Xiaomi?
Download the TWRP recovery image file compatible with your Xiaomi device.
Enable USB debugging on your device by going to Settings > About phone > tap on "MIUI version" seven times to enable Developer options > Go back to Settings > Developer options > Enable USB debugging.
Next connect your Xiaomi device to your computer using a USB cable.
Open a command prompt or terminal on your computer and execute the following command to boot your device into fastboot mode: adb reboot bootloader
Once your device is in fastboot mode, flash TWRP recovery by executing the following command: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img
(replace "twrp.img" with the actual filename of the TWRP recovery image).
After the flashing process is complete, reboot your device into recovery mode by executing the command: fastboot reboot recovery
.
Next, find a custom ROM that is compatible with your Xiaomi device, then download the custom ROM package to your computer and transfer it to your device's internal storage.
Now Boot your Xiaomi device into TWRP recovery mode. In TWRP, select "Wipe" and perform a factory reset by swiping the "Swipe to Factory Reset" button.
Go back to the main menu and select "Install." Navigate to the location where you transferred the custom ROM package and select it.
Swipe the "Swipe to Confirm Flash" button to start the installation process. Once the installation is complete, go back to the main menu and select "Reboot" followed by "System."
- Your device will reboot into the newly installed custom ROM.
- Follow the on-screen setup instructions to configure your device.
How Do You Revert Back to the Stock MIUI ROM?
There are two ways you can revert back to the stock MIUI ROM, one is by using the Recovery tool and the second is by using Fastboot on Xiaomi. Here's how you can do both;
How to revert back to stock Xiaomi ROM via Recovery
Start by downloading the desired MIUI firmware package from a reliable source and then transfer the MIUI firmware package to your device's internal storage.
Now boot your Xiaomi device into TWRP recovery mode.
In TWRP, select "Wipe" and perform a factory reset by swiping the "Swipe to Factory Reset" button.
Go back to the main menu and select "Install." Next, navigate to the location where you transferred the MIUI firmware package and select it.
Swipe the "Swipe to Confirm Flash" button to start the installation process.
After the installation is complete, go back to the main menu and select "Reboot" followed by "System."
How to revert back to stock Xiaomi ROM via Fastboot
Download the latest MIUI fastboot ROM for your specific Xiaomi device from the official Xiaomi website. Next extract the downloaded fastboot ROM package on your computer.
Boot your Xiaomi device into fastboot mode by turning it off and then pressing the Volume Down + Power buttons simultaneously.
Connect your device to your computer using a USB cable. Open the extracted fastboot ROM folder and run the flashing script provided by Xiaomi, such as "flash_all.bat" or "flash_all.sh".
Launch the Mi Flash Tool on your computer (ensure that you have the necessary drivers installed).
In the Mi Flash Tool, click on the "Select" button and navigate to the location where you extracted the fastboot ROM files and select the folder containing the firmware files and click on the "OK" button.
Make sure your device is detected by the Mi Flash Tool. If your device is not detected, click on the "Refresh" button in the Mi Flash Tool to re-scan for devices.
Now choose one that suits your situation;
- "Clean All": This option will completely wipe your device, including userdata.
- "Save Userdata": This option will preserve userdata but is only applicable for stock MIUI updates.
- "Clean All & Lock": This option installs the firmware, wipes userdata, and relocks the bootloader. Use this if you want to return your device to a completely stock state.
Once you have selected the desired flashing option, click on the "Flash" button in the Mi Flash Tool. The flashing process will begin, and you need to wait for it to complete.
After the flashing process is finished, your device will reboot automatically. Disconnect your device from the computer and wait for it to boot up.
How To Unlock Xiaomi Bootloader - Conclusion
What are your thoughts about unlocking your Xiaomi bootloader? We hope our guide on How To Unlock Xiaomi Bootloader was helpful.
Feel free to utilize the given techniques above if you still have not changed your mind regarding this matter even after knowing much about what a bootloader is and how it could affect your mobile phone once you unlock it.
Bootloaders are essential because they serve as our fundamental protection.
They're extremely important for your phone to operate conventionally. Moreover, they are often a significant component of the specially designed ROM trick on your phone.
Elsewhere after several years, operators and companies will therefore presumably acknowledge our preference as a user and consider removing the bootloader untouched.
So, there will be no conflict when we feel like improving our software and downloading some operating system that we would like.
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