Last updated: November 8, 2026. Unlocking the bootloader on a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO phone is no longer as simple as “log in to Mi Unlock and wait 7 days”. Since HyperOS, you first have to apply for permission in the Xiaomi Community app, there is a daily quota, and devices made for mainland China can’t be unlocked officially at all.
This guide shows the official method that works in 2026 on HyperOS 2, 3 and 4. It also explains the errors you are most likely to see and what each of them actually means.
Before You Start: Can Your Phone Be Unlocked?
| Your device | Official unlock |
|---|---|
| Global, EEA, India, Indonesia and other non-China units | ✅ Yes, via Xiaomi Community + Mi Unlock |
| China units (CN ROM, sold in mainland China) | ❌ No. Xiaomi has closed unlocking for China devices. |
| “Global version” bought on AliExpress or another marketplace with a re-flashed ROM | ❌ Usually no: it is a China unit with a modified ROM |
How to check: open Settings → About phone and look at the OS version. If the ending is MIXM (Global), EUXM (EEA), INXM (India), IDXM (Indonesia) and the phone was officially sold in your country, you are fine. If it says CNXM, or the seller “installed Global” for you, the official method will not work.
What Unlocking Changes
- All data is erased. Back up photos, chats and 2FA apps first.
- Banking apps, Google Wallet and some games may stop working, because Play Integrity reports an unlocked bootloader.
- You get a warning screen on every boot.
- Warranty rules depend on your country and Xiaomi’s local service policy. Damage caused by flashing your own software is generally not covered.
- Official OTA updates keep working as long as you stay on the stock ROM.
Requirements
- A Xiaomi account older than 30 days, with a phone number added.
- An active SIM card with mobile data in the phone. The binding step does not work over Wi-Fi.
- The latest Xiaomi Community app from Google Play.
- A Windows PC with ADB, Fastboot and the USB driver and the official Mi Unlock tool (en.miui.com/unlock, current version 7.6.727.43).
- Battery above 50% and a working data cable.
Step 1: Enable Developer Options and OEM Unlocking
- Go to Settings → About phone and tap OS version 7 times.
- Open Settings → Additional settings → Developer options.
- Turn on OEM unlocking and USB debugging.
- In Settings → Xiaomi Account → Xiaomi Cloud, turn on Find device.
Step 2: Apply for Permission in Xiaomi Community
- Install or update Xiaomi Community and sign in with the same Xiaomi account that is on the phone.
- Go to Me → Settings → Change region and choose Global. If you don’t see the unlock option later, clear the app’s data and select Global on first launch.
- Open Me → Bootloader unlock (Unlocking section) and tap Apply for unlocking.
- Xiaomi approves only a limited number of applications per day. The quota resets at 00:00 Beijing time (GMT+8). That is 16:00 GMT, 23:00 in Jakarta, 21:30 in India and 13:00 in São Paulo. Tap Apply right at that moment.
- When you see “You can proceed to unlock your device” (or similar), permission is granted for your account.
Step 3: Bind the Account to Your Phone
- Sign out of your Xiaomi account on the phone, reboot and sign in again.
- Turn off Wi-Fi and make sure mobile data is on.
- Go to Developer options → Mi Unlock status and tap Add account and device.
- Wait for “Added successfully. Mi Account is associated with this device now.”
Step 4: Unlock with Mi Unlock
- On the PC, extract Mi Unlock and run
miflash_unlock.exe. Sign in with the same account. - Reboot the phone into Fastboot: power it off and hold Power + Volume Down, or run
adb reboot bootloader. - Connect the phone. Mi Unlock should show Phone connected. If it doesn’t, install the USB driver as described in our ADB guide.
- Click Unlock → Unlock anyway.
- Most accounts first get “Couldn’t unlock. Please unlock N hours later”, usually 72 or 168 hours. This is normal. Don’t sign out of the account on the phone and don’t remove it from Mi Unlock status in the meantime.
- When the timer has passed, repeat this step. The phone wipes itself and reboots unlocked.
You can check the result with fastboot oem device-info. It should show Device unlocked: true.
Common Errors and What They Mean
| Error | Meaning and fix |
|---|---|
| Application quota limit reached | Today’s quota is used up. Try again exactly at 00:00 GMT+8 the next day. |
| Account error / Your account does not meet the requirements | The account is too new or has had unusual activity. Wait about 10 days and try again. Don’t create new accounts: that makes it worse. |
| Couldn’t add. Please go to Mi Community to apply for authorization | You skipped Step 2, or the approval was given to a different account. Apply in the Community app first. |
| Can’t add more accounts to this SIM card | The SIM has already been used to bind other accounts. Use another SIM or wait for the limit to reset. |
| The place where the account is registered does not match the place where the phone is sold | Account region and device region don’t match. This usually means a China unit with a Global ROM, or an account created in China. |
| Bound successfully, but Mi Unlock says Current account is not bound to this device | Binding happened on Wi-Fi or with another account. Repeat Step 3 on mobile data. |
| Phone not detected in Mi Unlock | Fastboot driver is missing. Install the Google USB driver, use a USB 2.0 port and the original cable. |
Unofficial Methods: Be Careful
Forums are full of “bypass” tools, paid unlock services and scripts. Some Snapdragon-based models have had exploit-based unlocks, but there is no universal method, and most paid China-unit unlock offers are scams. If a service asks for remote access to your PC and an advance payment, walk away. Our advice: buy an official Global or local-market unit if you plan to unlock.
After Unlocking
- Root: patch
init_boot.img(phones launched with Android 13+) orboot.imgfrom your exact firmware with KernelSU or Magisk, then flash it withfastboot flash init_boot. - Fastboot ROMs and region changes: see our firmware pages, for example Xiaomi 17 HyperOS 4 firmware.
- Never re-lock the bootloader (or use Clean all and lock in Mi Flash) while running a ROM from a different region or any modified software. The phone won’t boot afterwards.
FAQ
Can I unlock without a PC?
Not with the official method: the final step always needs Mi Unlock on Windows. There are community tools that run Mi Unlock’s protocol on Linux, macOS or even another Android phone, but they use the same Xiaomi server approval.
How many devices can I unlock with one account?
Xiaomi limits the number of unlocks per account and per year, and the exact numbers have changed several times. Plan on one phone at a time.
Does the waiting time reset if I reboot the phone?
No. Rebooting is fine. Signing out of the Xiaomi account or removing it from Mi Unlock status can reset the timer.