What is bootloader ?


An Android device consists of several pieces of software, which include the bootloader,radio, recovery, and system. The bootloader is the first piece of software that is run when your device turns on. It decides whether to load the recovery, or load Android and the radio. It packages the instructions to boot operating system kernal and most of them are specifically designed to run their own debugging or modification environment.

In order to unlock your device's bootloader, you basically have two different methods of Unlocking. Anyone can unlock either by the official method provided by the manufacturer (Xiaomi) or unofficial method provided by the developers.

If Want to know more about other ways to unlock Xiaomi device which will take less time, click here.


Note:- After you unlock the device, it will become less secure. Your personal data might be leaked or lost. So we do not advise and encourage you to Unlock your device. So Please proceed at your own risk, and you are held responsible for your own device.


Step To Unlock Bootloader (OFFICIAL METHOD)

Step 0: Backup important data

The unlocking process will sweep of all the data of Android. So it is important to backup photos, videos, app data or other files of your device to a computer, SD card or the online cloud. Backup everything that's important, then continue to the following steps.

Step 2: Enable USB debugging.

• Go to "Settings".
•  Tap "About phone" or "About tablet".
• Scroll down to the bottom of the "About phone" and locate the "All specs".
• Under that you will get "MiUi version"
• Tap the MIUI Version area seven times to enable Developer Options. Tap a few times and you'll see a countdown  "You are now 3 steps away from being a developer."
• When you are done, you'll see the message "You are now a developer!".
• Now you'll see the Developer options menu under Aditional Settings.
 •Now Scroll down and locate Android debugging in Developer Option. Toggle the switch on.
• Find the OEM unlocking option, and toggle the switch on.

Step 3:Adding Mi Account

• For this, first of all you need an Mi Account and that should be logged in to your device.
• Now open Developer Options in your setting and click on Mi Unlock Status.
• Click on "Add acount and device" for this you should have mobile data turned on with some active data plan and wifi should be off.
• In case you see an error like "Connect To Network And Try Again", then Logout the Mi Account from device & directly sign in from "Add account and device" in Mi Unlock Status.


In case you see an error like 86012, etc, Then it is  better to wait for a week and then try. (Note- Trying again and again might block your account temporarily).


• If everything goes fine you will see Added Successfully. Mi account is now associated with your device.


Step 4: Using PC

• Download Mi Unlock Tool from here into your PC/Laptop.

• Now Reboot your device into Fastboot mode. For that simply turn off your device, press the Power button, and Volume down ( – ) button at the same time. Then connect the device to the Windows PC/laptop via USB cable.

• Now launch Mi Unlock Tool via Run as Administrator in your PC then click AGREE.
• Login with Mi Account Credentials this should be the same Mi account that you have in your phone.
•  In case you get an error like "current account is not bound" then Power on your device and go to Developer options  then Mi Unlock status and click on "Add account and device". Try to bind your account.
•    If everything work fine you'll get "Couldn't unlock try after XX hrs", then you've to wait that period of time.
For me it took 7 days to unlock my Redmi k20/ Mi 9T.


Step 5: Waiting

After XX period of time, try to unlock by just clicking UNLOCK button on Mi Unlock Tool, hope you'll get success.

If Want to know more about other ways to unlock Xiaomi device which will take less time, click here.

Now the Device is UNLOCKED.