Unlocking mi bootloader. How to unlock bootloader on Android smartphone
When using a smartphone, for some users it is not enough to be content with what the mobile device manufacturer provides. How to find out if the bootloader on Xiaomi is unlocked, which is necessary for installing all kinds of firmware?
First of all, you should pay attention to the fact that the firmware has various modifications and branches from global to “home-made”. If you want to know more about them, you should check out the article:
How to know if Xiaomi bootloader is locked?
When you turn on the phone
If, when you turn on your smartphone, a lock icon appears with the inscription “bootloader unlock” (“unlock bootloader” or simply “unlock”), this means that the mobile device is unlocked and is ready for experiments.
During firmware
This can also be noticed when trying to flash a smartphone using the Xiaomi Mi Flash application. The program will throw an error and tell you that the bootloader is locked.
In system settings
In addition to the above methods, you can find out about the status of the bootloader from the settings menu. To do this, go to the settings themselves and in the “System and Device” section, click on the “Advanced” button and look for the “For Developers” item.
In the window that opens, there is a line “Bootloader status”, which indicates the current status of the Bootloader.
Why unlock Xiaomi bootloader?
The bootloader (or Bootloader) is a built-in tool of any smartphone that is responsible for loading the operating system. As a rule, the bootloader is locked by the manufacturer so that unauthorized persons cannot interfere with the operation of the device, but if desired, it can be unlocked and then such a phone can be safely flashed with unofficial firmware that is suitable for it, as well as install various patches, make full backups, etc. .
How to unlock bootloader of Xiaomi Mi5?
This instruction is suitable for unlocking Bootloader MI5 and other Xiaomi smartphones.
First, register a Mi account if you don’t already have one.
After that, download the Mi Flash Unlock application, unpack it, launch it and agree to the terms.
The system reports that the phone is not connected.
Connect the switched-off smartphone to the computer (laptop) with a cable, and then simultaneously press the volume up key and the power button. The smartphone will go into FastBoot mode.
After connecting the smartphone, the Mi Flash Unlock program will detect it and the unlock button will become active.
A bootloader (Hboot) is a program that controls the kernel of your device’s operating system so that it boots normally. Moreover, this applies not only to Android, but also to other devices with an OS, such as a PC, laptop, and even an old push-button phone. In addition, it is the bootloader that gives permission to install any programs and firmware. For this reason, users are interested in factory unlocking the bootloader on an Android phone.
Hboot is activated when the device is turned on, and is an analogue of Bios in a computer. It prepares all the data for the kernel, loads it into memory, after which the system starts directly. If its integrity is damaged or something interferes, thanks to the bootloader you can get into recovery mode to clear the data, or perform a reset to factory settings. To do this, before turning on the device, hold down the power and volume down keys and do not release them until booting (in some cases, the combination of buttons may differ).
Why is the bootloader locked?
Manufacturers block for two reasons:
1. Oblige the owner to use the operating system that was developed for his device.
2. Security. Many smartphones and tablets are sold online or in retail stores. In both cases, the seller or intermediary may, at its discretion, add advertising or malicious software that should not exist. For the same reason, Xiaomi began to block the bootloader of devices released after 2016, due to numerous complaints about the presence of viruses in their firmware (which were not initially present).
Benefits of an unlocked bootloader
An unlocked bootloader opens up exactly the same possibilities for the user as on a PC, namely:
- Flash any operating system (available for your device).
- Installation of individual modules, OS kernels, applications, patches.
- Freely migrate between stock firmwares, especially if they are based on different versions of Android.
- Easily create backup copies of the current OS and/or applications, as well as restore them without using a PC.
- Use Dual-Boot and install two or more operating systems, both in internal memory and on an external SD card.
- Wider recovery options in case of unsuccessful firmware.
And this is not the entire list of possibilities after factory unlocking Android.
How to unblock
Each device has its own version of the bootloader, which means the unlocking method will differ depending on the model and manufacturer. When submitting an application, the block can be removed by the company itself (especially if you are an Android developer), but most often, this happens by hacking previously found vulnerabilities in the system.
Risks and consequences
Unauthorized unlocking of the bootloader will void your warranty service. In addition, your device becomes less secure and vulnerable to hacker attacks. An open bootloader allows you to bypass set passwords, gain access to personal information, or erase everything and install different firmware.
Conclusion
There is no need to worry too much about problems with the bootloader, especially when it comes to personal information. Found or stolen devices most often have their data erased, and rarely will anyone restore anything. An open bootloader is more needed by advanced users who know what to do with it, regularly flash something and experiment.
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Many owners of Chinese phones sooner or later wondered how to check whether the Xiaomi bootloader is unlocked. Often, users begin to delve into such details because some devices from this company do not allow them to be reflashed. It is also inconvenient that when buying a phone directly from China, the consumer will not be able to change the operating system to a Russified or other localized system in the future due to closed access to the bootloader.
Of course, a completely logical question immediately arises: “Why doesn’t the manufacturer support the use of its equipment in all corners of the Earth?” Or maybe he is trying to introduce Chinese into wider use? Of course, this is not true. This happens because it has become popular to counterfeit phones and official firmware from Hiomi. The fact is that the software can contain a huge number of viruses that can collect data from the phone. This is why all official devices do not allow you to change the firmware. In this article we will look at how to unlock the Xiaomi bootloader.
Another reason why the bootloader is locked
There is another good reason why the Chinese manufacturer prefers to block access to the bootloader. If suddenly a consumer’s phone is stolen or he loses it, then due to the blocking, the new owner of the device will not be able to reflash it and obtain data and personal information. Moreover, each gadget has its own Mi account. Although it is worth admitting that scammers also often wonder how to unlock the Xiaomi bootloader. And, most likely, they have the necessary skills. In the latest versions of the original software, you can notice new options. One of them has a function that allows you to locate your phone or tablet. The second is responsible for sending absolutely any text to the device’s working screen.
How to determine if the bootloader is locked via PC?
Most often, users encounter this problem when working with the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro phone. Unlocking the bootloader will be easy. However, this process will take from a week to a month.
In order to find out whether the bootloader is unlocked or not on any phone from the Chinese manufacturer "Xiomi", you need to go into a mode called fastboot. You must first connect the device to the computer. After this, you need to write the word “run” in the Start menu. Using it we go to the command line. We enter the letters adb and write a special phrase there. As a rule, it is the same for each phone and looks like this: fastboot oem device-info. After this, one of the inscriptions will appear on the screen: true or false. The first option indicates that the bootloader is activated, and the second indicates that it is not unlocked.
If it does not work, then you must immediately say that it will be difficult to obtain Root rights, even if they have already been activated previously. The fact is that if the initial version of the firmware does not have a locked bootloader, it may become so after a software update. In order to do this, you will have to use a special PC Suite program. Moreover, the update process cannot be carried out via Mi Flash. Therefore, in order to use the usual functionality, you will have to return everything to its original position. The article describes ways to unlock Xiaomi bootloader.
Find out about the bootloader status using your phone
The described method works for Redmi and Redmi Note 3 phones, but may not work for others.
You need to visit system settings. There it is easy to find the “About device” item. We need to find the column in the “Kernel” menu that is responsible for the system version. It will say either “Blocked” or “Unblocked” in English.
Preparation
Before you begin the process of unlocking your device, you must visit the official website and obtain special permission for this action. The resource address is quite easy to find on the Internet, and there a special section that is responsible for activating the bootloader immediately catches your eye. What needs to be done? We offer step-by-step instructions for consideration.
Step one
It’s still too early to move on to instructions regarding that. The first thing you need to do is log in to the site.
Sometimes it happens that the account already has permission to unlock. In this case, you should scroll a little further and proceed to the next part of the solution to the problem. If not, then move on to the second step.
Step two
Next you need to fill out a form. This must be done in English, others are not accepted. If you have any difficulties, you can use any translator. The main thing is not to confuse the information and fill everything out correctly.
Attention! The site may open in the Chinese version. In this case, you need to select English at the bottom of the page.
After filling out, you need to click on the checkbox, which confirms your consent to the use of data.
Step three
The easiest step and not labor intensive. It consists of entering the code on the next page after filling out the form. The numbers will be sent as a message to the mobile phone number specified earlier.
Step four
Consists of waiting for a response from the company. According to the rules, it should arrive 2-10 days after applying, but consumers say it could be sent much later. But you still need to wait for an answer and only then begin to act.
If you wish, you can always check the degree of consideration of your application on the official website.
Preparing to unlock
After the company has responded positively to the request to unlock the bootloader, you can begin the process itself. It is not labor intensive and is universal. It doesn’t matter at all which phone from Hiomi we are talking about, because the method is the same for everyone, there are no differences.
Step one
The first thing you need to do is download the latest version of the Recovery software. You need to be careful when selecting, as updates occur every week. The file should be placed in the internal memory of the device.
Step two
You need to go to the menu responsible for updating and find the column about downloading a new firmware version. This is where you should place the downloaded software file. Since changing the firmware will delete all information and data from the phone, it is advisable to perform a backup (or so-called backup).
Step three
After updating the firmware, you need to use the Mi form, and then log in using the same login where you received permission to unlock. After this, you need to download a special Flash Unlock program. It is an important nuance in the question of how to unlock the bootloader of Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro, as well as in other modifications of the device.
Step four
You should turn off the phone and hold down the power and volume down buttons. You must hold them until Fastboot mode turns on. Next you should move on to the fifth step.
Step five
You need to connect your phone to your computer using a USB cable. After this, launch the previously downloaded program. In it, before starting the process, you must confirm the waiver of claims against the company if something happens after activation and subsequent installation of localized firmware. When wondering how to unlock the bootloader of Xiaomi Redmi 3 and other phones from the manufacturer, you need to understand all the risks.
Step six
You need to log in to the program by entering your identification number and password. Next, you should wait until the corresponding message appears that the device is connected. The “Unlock phone” button is activated, which you need to click on.
Step seven
At the beginning of the description of the steps that will help you learn how to unlock the bootloader of Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 and all other devices from the manufacturer, it was stated that the process itself is quite fast. And indeed it is. 10 seconds after pressing the button, the bootloader will be unlocked. Now the user can get administrator rights, accept updates and install them in easy accessible ways.
It is worth noting that from one account you can unlock no more than one device per calendar month.
Refusal to unlock request
What to do if the response received a refusal to unlock? You need to submit another one. This can be done on a special forum, which is located on the official website. Let's take a step-by-step look at how to proceed next. Another approach may help you get permission to unlock the bootloader of Xiaomi Redmi Pro and all its modifications.
Step one
You need to register on the forum. This time registration is carried out not by phone number, but by email address. The form is quite simple, so there shouldn't be any problems.
Step two
After filling out the form and submitting it, the robot will inform the user that they need to confirm their email address. The letter arrives quite quickly. After the user follows the link in it, he must click on the “Activation” button. Then the Chinese version of the profile will open.
Step three
You need to find the “Unlock” menu and go to it. There the system will ask you to come up with your own nickname, which will be displayed on the forum next to the comments. It can consist of both numbers and Latin letters.
Step four
After this, the familiar page will open where you need to fill out an application to activate the device. How to correctly indicate the information and how long to wait for a response and how to unlock the Xiaomi bootloader is described above. Most likely, this time the verdict will be positive.
Indication of reasons for unlocking?
This statement must be written as fully and openly as possible. You should not copy phrases in English or Chinese “Please unlock your device,” otherwise the chance of refusal increases many times over.
You should not justify your need for this action only by installing firmware. It is best to add a few additional words about obtaining Root rights, which will allow, for example, to remove dangerous viruses from the phone system.
You can describe all the reasons in detail and as accurately as possible, and translate them into English through online services. There is no need to interpret the text into Chinese. It would be good to clarify that the user understands all the resulting risks that arise after unlocking.
Results
People who are concerned about how to unlock the bootloader of Xiaomi Redmi and all its modifications will now be able to fix the problem they have received. After completing the process, you can freely install custom Recovery, localized firmware, and so on. The article describes the official method of unlocking the device, which copes with its task in 90% of cases.
Xiaomi smartphones for flashing localized software, but that article discussed a specific Redmi Note 3 device. Today we will talk about all Xiaomi devices.
The bootloader unlocking procedure is not at all complicated, but there are several nuances that you need to know to obtain the unlock code. I applied to unlock the bootloader three times, and only the third attempt was successful, and then after a certain trick, but more on that a little later. We will proceed in order.
Applying for bootloader unlocking
The entire procedure for unlocking the bootloader can be divided into two stages: competently filling out an application on the Xiaomi website and unlocking the bootloader itself. Previously, applications had to be submitted in Chinese, but a web page has recently appeared in English. Open the link and click on the Unlock Now button.
Enter the details of the MI account to which your Xiaomi smartphone is connected and click on the orange button. If you don’t have a Mi account yet, you can register by clicking on the lower left hieroglyphs.
On the new page, in the first line, enter your name in English. In the second line, select your country of residence. In the third line, enter the phone number without +7. In the fourth text field, insert the following text:
要安装固件的本地化版本
What does it mean when translated into Russian: To install a localized version of the firmware. Place a checkmark in the bottom line and click on the green button.
A message will be sent to the number you specified, containing a PIN code that must be entered on the new page. After entering, click on the green button.
If you did everything correctly, a congratulations page will appear.
The waiting time for permission to unlock the bootloader is approximately 1 to 10 days. But perhaps they will refuse you or not send you the cherished SMS at all. If after 10 days you still have not received confirmation of your application, then we proceed according to the second scenario.
We write a letter to the support service at [email protected] . In the Subject field we indicate: Unlock Mi Device. In the body of the letter in English we describe the essence of the issue. My text looked like this:
Hello.
I have bought Xiaomi Mi4s and I want to install the firmware with the Russian language. I applied for unlocking the bootloader 10 days ago, but the answer is still no. Please help solve the problem.
Thank you.
The next day a response came asking for the following information:
Original purchase channel (website name):
mi account ID number:
Email address:
Phone number:
Phone model:
Phone system version (settings—about phone for check):
Location:
Having filled out and submitted the necessary information, I prepared to wait a few more days. But by the evening I received an SMS containing a link to the necessary application for unlocking.
Unlocking the bootloader
After receiving an SMS with a positive response, download and unpack the MiFlashUnlock application to your computer. All necessary drivers for your smartphone model must also be installed. When starting the program, we agree to the Disclaimer.
Enter your Mi account details and click on the green button.
The program will check the status of the application and if everything is in order, the following window will appear.
Manually turn off the smartphone. Press and hold the volume down and power buttons simultaneously until a hare appears on the device screen. Release the buttons and connect the phone to the PC.
If the drivers are installed correctly, the application will find the Mi Phone device. After checking the smartphone, the bootloader will be unlocked. Three green checkmarks indicate successful completion of the operation. Now you can install custom TWRP recovery on your smartphone and flash localized versions of the software. In my joy, I forgot to take a screenshot of the successful completion of the unlocking, so I had to borrow the last picture from the Internet.
If the verification stops at 50% and the error Couldn’t verify device appears, this means that your account has not yet been added to the database. You need to wait another 2 to 10 days.
As you can see from the description, the procedure is not complicated, but it is very time-consuming. If you have any difficulties unlocking your Xiaomi device, I will try to solve them.
PS. An article is being prepared that describes the process of unlocking a smartphone's bootloader without submitting an application.
Update. To unlock new devices, use the new version of MiLashUnlock on
The article provides instructions for officially unlocking the bootloader using the example of a Xiaomi Redmi 4A phone.
First of all, to see if your device is locked, since the phone may already be unlocked and the steps below are not required. Go to the settings in the developer menu, open the "Bootloader status" item and look.
If the bootloader is locked, you cannot install custom firmware or root the device. Follow the steps below to unlock.
Go to the Bootloader Unlock Request page to apply. Create an account and log in to the site.
The site may ask you to come up with and enter a nickname for the forum.
Next, a form will appear where you need to indicate your name, country code, phone number, reason for unlocking the phone, enter the captcha, agree and accept the terms of the warning. The data must be filled out in English; if you do not have the necessary knowledge, use Google Translator. Do not try to copy reasons that are available on the Internet; copied reasons will most likely not lead to successful unlocking. Show professionalism. As an example, we wrote (in English) that we want to access system files so that (users of Xiaomi Redmi 4A and others are familiar with this problem).
After clicking the "Apply Now" button, an SMS with a code will be sent to your phone, which you must enter on the next page and click the green "Next" button.
In our case, we did not receive an SMS, but on the 5th day we went back to the unlock page under our account and instead of the request form we saw a large “Download Mi Unlock” button to download the unlock utility.
Download, unpack and run the unlocking program. Agree to the warning by clicking the "Agree" button and log in to your account.
In your phone settings, log in to your Mi account. If you registered using email rather than phone, click on “Other login methods.”
In the developer menu, activate the "Factory unlock" item.
Turn off the phone, then turn it on in "fastboot" mode: hold down the volume down key and the power key, the phone will turn on and a hare will appear poking around in the android.
Connect your phone to your computer with a USB cable. The program should automatically detect the device; if this does not happen, install the appropriate drivers. Click on the "Unlock" button and in the pop-up warning, confirm the action by clicking the "Unlock Anyway" button.
If all 3 checkboxes light up green, the unlocking has been completed successfully.
Click on the "Reboot phone" button to reboot your device. Visit the developer menu again to ensure your device is unlocked.
Unlocking errors and their solution
Current account is not bound to this device
Disconnect the USB cable, reboot the phone while holding the power button, wait for the system to boot, in the Android settings make sure that you are logged into your MIUI account (see above) and have provided all permissions. Reboot into fastboot and try to unlock your device again.
Couldn't unlock
Unlocking is blocked for 3 days (72 hours). Check if the Factory Unlock option is enabled (see above) and try again after 3 days.
If all else fails, try unlocking again.
We recommend using only the latest version of the "Mi Unlock" program, downloaded from the official website, since this software is updated very quickly and those versions that are available on the forums are very likely to not work.