Many are interested in the question of how to unlock the Xiaomi bootloader, what is it for and what benefits the user receives. After all, the unlocking process takes a large number of time. Let's try to figure out what the unlocked bootloader will give on the phone, read the instructions, tips and try to avoid possible problems.

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Why unlock the bootloader

Below we will talk about at least 3 reasons for unlocking a bootloader on Xiaomi smartphones. We advise you to carefully study each item so that after that there are no additional questions.

Chinese version of the phone

When buying phones on sites like AliExpress or Gearbest, you can find very favorable prices, which may differ from the local ones by $ 20-50. That's why many users buy phones with low price... Sellers, in turn, can sell the Chinese version of the phone under the guise of a global one. The Chinese version is always cheaper and can be installed with MIUI China, or MIUI Global. In both cases, you will need to unlock the bootloader in order to receive updates, otherwise you can get a brick.

Third party firmware

The first and main plus is the ability to install custom (unofficial) and localized(official, but with modifications specifically for your region) MIUI firmware. Some Xiaomi models accept third-party software, but in most cases, a locked Bootloader will not allow this. Now, in turn, consider what gives:

• Richer functionality and advanced options that allow you to control the entire operation of the smartphone;
• Simple interface with stripped down or improved functionality.
• Advanced and sensitive GPS navigator. The location is determined several times faster than in the standard version.
• Perfectly optimized kernel operating systemwhich either improves the performance of the phone or increases the battery life.

Third Party Recovery

By unlocking the bootloader, you can easily 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;
• Possibility .
• Fast and easy.
• And much more.

Root rights

And, of course, the "Superuser" mode, the benefits of which can be talked about for hours. Having an unlocked bootloader, you can either make the process of installing these rights much easier, or get ready-made ones along with a certain unofficial firmware. The benefits of root-rights are enormous, from overclocking to overclocking.

As you can see, changing the firmware, installing the recovery and ROOT rights are inextricably linked, and for them to work, you just need an unlocked Bootloader.

3 ways to check bootloader status on Xiaomi

It happens that from the very beginning the manufacturer will unlock the bootloader and the user gets rid of a number of complex processes. Unfortunately, this happens quite rarely and only on certain models, which we will discuss below. Now let's check what mode it is in.

Via phone

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

1. Open the standard "Settings" of the smartphone;
2. Go to the item "About phone";
3. Now we press 5 times on the line "MIUI version", the inscription " You have successfully become a developer«.
4. We return to the main menu and find the item "Advanced settings", click on it.
5. We are looking for the item "For Developers", go to it.
6. Now you need to find the line " Mi Unlock status". The first time you log in, you need to give permission and agree with the warning.
7. If the bootloader is locked at the very top there will be a corresponding inscription “ Loader locked, device protected". If the bootloader is unlocked, there will be an inscription “ Bootloader unlocked«.

Via computer

If for some reason the first option does not suit you, you can check if the bootloader is unlocked on Xiaomi using a PC. The instruction is attached for two operating systems - Windows and Linux.

Windows

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

1. Download the archive with ADB files and unpack it to the root of the system drive C, so that the path is like this " C: / adb /«.
2. Turn off the smartphone, put it into fastboot mode. To do this, simultaneously hold down the power and volume down keys.
3. with a USB cable.
4. On the PC keyboard, press "Win" + "r"... The "Run" window opens.
5. We type "cmd" and click "OK". The system command prompt appears.
6. IN command line write the command "cd c: / adb" and press Enter.
7. Now we enter the command "fastboot oem device-info" and see the inscription we need.

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

Linux

1. Download ADB files from the link above and transfer them to the desired folder.
2. Open a terminal and write the following command "adb - sudo apt-get install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot".
3. We put the smartphone into fastboot mode, as in the above version. 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 bootloader status, the same as on the Windows operating system.

If the inscription “ waiting device», Most likely, the actions were not performed on behalf of the administrator.

When turning on the device

And the third way to check the bootloader status is to turn on the phone. To do this, you need to turn off your Xiaomi, wait about 20 seconds and turn it on again. If at boot time at the bottom of the screen it says "Unlocked" and next to it there is an icon with an open lock - the bootloader is unlocked.

Instructions on how to unlock the bootloader on a Xiaomi phone (official way)

Please note: previously you had to get approval to unlock the bootloader and wait a few days, now you don't need to write a letter to the support service.

Step 1: connecting Mi-account to the phone

To unlock the bootloader a prerequisite is the presence of a Xiaomi account on the device. If it's not there yet, read it. If an account is already linked on the 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 in sequence. Some of the points have already been completed when checking the bootloader status using your phone. There are also visual screenshots.

1. We leave our Mi-account, this is necessary to avoid an error about the impossibility of verifying the device and account.
2. Switching from Wi-Fi to mobile Internet ... This is a prerequisite, otherwise the process will not work. Read on.
3. Go to the item "About phone" - press up to 7 times on the line "MIUI version".
4. We return to the main settings menu, look for the sections "Advanced settings" - "For developers".
5. Click on the item "Status Mi Unlock". We confirm our actions by agreeing to the warning that appears.
6. Click on the "Link account with device" button.
7. The MIUI system will require you to enter the Mi-account, we enter.
8. After a successful login, the account will be linked to your phone.
9. If the binding is successful, you will see the corresponding inscription.
10. Done. Now you need to wait until the obligatory period of 360 or 720 hours has passed.
11. You can check how much time is left before unlocking using the final step.

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

Step 3: download Mi Flash Unlock

After the end of the mandatory waiting period, you will need to download the Mi Flash Unlock program. You can download it from the official website en.miui.com/unlock/. Then we 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 disk D and unlocking the bootloader went fine.

If you need a version with Russian, download the archive on w3bsit3-dns.com. But the steps are extremely simple, use the screenshots for the example below.

Step 4: launch Mi Flash

Now we open the Mi Flash program on behalf of the 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: sign in to your account

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

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

Step 6: connecting your phone to your computer

Then we return to the smartphone itself. Turn it off and translate it into, simultaneously holding down the power key and volume down... Using a USB cable, we connect the phone to the computer.

Step 7: unlocking process

Final final stage: the program checks the device, if all conditions are met, the bootloader unlock process will go. We are waiting for a few minutes ( in my case 25 seconds), and if everything was done correctly - we receive a notification about successful unlocking - three green check marks... Done.

Errors and problems

Most often, problems appear due to the company's server itself, in most cases there is no user's fault. But, nevertheless, you need to know how to deal with them. We offer you an approximate list of known problems and methods for their elimination:

• Stop removing protection by 50%... The unlocking process reaches half and freezes. Unfortunately, this is a problem on the mi.com side, nothing can be done manually here. All that remains is to try again periodically.
• Error while linking an account... This is also a fairly popular problem among users. To solve it, you need to log out of the Mi-account before linking the account with the device and then log in again as indicated in step 2.
• Can't download Mi Unlock from the official website... If there is such a problem, download the archive with the program from the forum with w3bsit3-dns.com or c.mi.com.
• Login failedMi-account... Check which keyboard language is enabled, whether you entered the password correctly and do not confuse your account ID or linked phone number.

Bootloader unlock error: retry after 360 hours

If, when trying to unlock the bootloader, a red inscription appears: "Binding time is too short, Less than 72 hours" or "After 360 hours of trying to unlock the device" - it means time mandatory verification the account has not passed yet, i talked about this in the second step! That is, you must wait the specified number of days or hours before repeating the procedure again. You cannot bypass the timer.

How to back lock the Xiaomi bootloader

If, after unlocking the bootloader, you need to close it back, then you should resort to our separate article. Therefore, it is devoted to this topic, where everything is clearly shown.

A bootloader (Hboot) is a program that controls the kernel of your device's operating system so that it boots in normal mode. And this applies not only to Android, but also to other devices with an OS, such as a PC, laptop and even an old one. push-button telephone... 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 analogous to Bios in a computer. It prepares all the data for the kernel, loads it into memory, after which the system starts up directly. If its integrity is violated or something interferes, thanks to the bootloader, you can get into recovery mode to clear the data, or 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 the moment of loading (in some cases the button combination may differ).

Why is the bootloader blocked

Manufacturers implement blocking for two reasons:

1. To oblige the owner to use the operating system that was developed for his device.

2. Ensuring security. Many smartphones and tablets are sold online or retail. In either case, the seller or reseller can, at their discretion, add software of an advertising or malicious nature, which should not be. 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 originally there).

Benefits of an unlocked bootloader

An unlocked bootloader opens up exactly the same possibilities for the user as on a PC, namely:

1. Flash any operating system (available for your device).
2. Installation of individual modules, OS kernels, applications, patches.
3. Freely migrate between stock firmwares, especially if they are based on different Android versions.
4. Easily create backups current OS and / or applications, as well as restore them without using a PC.
5. Use Dual-Boot and install two or more operating systems as in internal memoryor to an external SD card.
6. Wider recovery options in case of unsuccessful firmware.

And this is not the whole list of possibilities after factory unlocking an android.

How to unlock

Each device has its own version of the bootloader, which means that the unlocking method will differ depending on the model and manufacturer. When submitting an application, the company itself can remove the lock (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, deprives you of warranty service. Plus, your device becomes less secure and less vulnerable to hacker attacks. Open bootloader lets you bypass set passwords, get access to personal information or erase everything and install another firmware.

Conclusion

Don't worry too much about problems with the bootloader, especially when it comes to personal information. In found or stolen devices, data is most often erased, and rarely will anyone restore something. An open bootloader is more needed by advanced users who know what to do with it, regularly flash something and experiment.

Leave your questions in the comments to the article below - we will try to answer.

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Not every owner of a mobile device in the form of a smartphone or tablet, running under the control of an "operator" android series, knows that any OS version has such a thing as Bootloader. What it is will now be considered. Based on an understanding of the very essence of the issue, it will be possible to find out what operations can be performed when unlocking it.

Bootloader: what is it?

Let's start, so to speak, from the beginning. Bootloader for Android systems is practically no different from what is available on any computer terminal, be it PC or Mac. In simple terms, Bootloader is a built-in boot tool

If you give an example of computer terminals with several installed "operating systems" (say, Windows and Linux), the bootloader after turning on stationary unit or laptop prompts the user to enter the system to choose from, and after confirmation loads one or another OS.

OS boot principles

As well as in stationary systems, in mobile devices it refers to initialization files in the same way as, for example, Windows does it when loading parameters from the boot.ini file.

If you pay attention precisely to such data, it is easy to conclude that in Android systems you can easily change not only the boot method, but also the OS being loaded either manually or in automatic mode... However, few people know that this tool itself loads only the system that is written for a specific model of a smartphone or tablet.

Bootloader: how to unblock and why do you need it?

As for the possibilities that involve unlocking the bootloader, the matter here is not limited to data recovery.

It is believed that in this case the user gains access to the system kernel, which is impossible by default. How to describe Bootloader in such a situation? What this is will become clear if you look at the lack of so-called superuser rights. It turns out that after the lock is released, they are not needed at all at any level. Otherwise, you often have to install special firmware and applications. If, to put it mildly, "clumsy", then the whole system can fly off.

Any manufacturer of mobile technology provides for work with a component such as Bootloader. How do I unlock it? This is usually done with the help of special utilities installed on a PC when connected to a mobile device via a USB interface. Note that superuser rights are not required in this case.

For most devices, including, for example, Sony and HTC gadgets, the Adb Run utility is implied, and for Sony you will have to additionally use special sony drivers Fastboot, and even refer to the special Unlocker section on the official website. As you can see, the procedure, although feasible, is quite complicated.

Data recovery

On the other hand, in its standard mode of operation, restoring Bootloader after resetting the settings to the factory settings can be done simply elementary. This does not even require a hard reset.

It is enough just to throw off the settings on the gadget itself, and after rebooting, the system will prompt you to choose an option: either use the new settings on the device, or restore the settings, programs and files by applying account google services... In this case, you will have to enter the address gmail mail with a password, and also connect to the Internet, for example, with an active Wi-Fi connection.

Installing another "operating system"

If we talk about the possibility of installing another OS, this issue is quite complicated, although we can solve it. The fact is that some manufacturers claim that after Android there will be no other system for the gadget. It’s a purely publicity stunt designed to advertise the installed system.

But the Chinese have already proved on their "left" HTC devices that both Android and Windows Phone... Moreover, such models are supplied in most cases with an already unlocked Bootloader. What is it in this case? This is a tool that allows you not only to choose the OS to boot, but also to install any other with changing parameters at the system level.

In other words, the user can do without even any firmware or additional programs to optimize the operation of the installed "operating system". Moreover! This does not even require specialized utilities like optimizers, of which there are so many today that the user himself does not understand what to choose from all this huge number of programs and applications.

What should you pay attention to separately?

But when it comes to custom firmwares, which have become quite popular with many owners of mobile devices, you need to be very careful with them. Of course, a sensible firmware or OS update will not bring harm, rather, on the contrary, it will only improve the operation of the device, but when something unofficial is installed, and not yet tested (like computer beta versions), expect trouble. Then no bootloader will certainly help.

By the way, few people realize that such versions are capable of exerting too much stress on the "iron" components, which, in turn, can lead to their complete inoperability. But changing the processor in the same smartphone is far from the easiest thing.

In addition, unlocking the bootloader in officially released branded gadgets implies an automatic loss of warranty and the possibility of free service. So you have to think a hundred times before performing such actions and operations.

Finally, it remains to add that the issue of installing another OS on an Android device is also, in general, quite controversial. Yes, of course, the system will stand up, no matter what the manufacturer says. But how it will work is another question, especially since most users usually put some kind of lightweight version that has an unknown source of origin. But in vain. Here, as they say, you can break such a firewood that then you will not be saved from sin. And the manufacturer himself does not bear any responsibility for the correct operation of the mobile device under such changes in accordance with the current international standards. Therefore, the decision on expediency must be made by the owner of the gadget. But it's better not to joke with such things.

* Recommended to upload a 720 * 312 image as the cover image

Article Description

Hello everyone! This topic will be useful for those who want to block the bootloader. It's not a secret for anyone (and for many it is a discovery) that Android Pay works if available NFC module, on stable firmware, without root and with a locked bootloader. You can check the status of the bootloader in the "For Developers" settings, it looks like this: Small digression Unfortunately, most Mi phones in the so-called "official" Russian stores come with an unlocked bootloader. Why is that? Nobody can give a concrete answer. From my own experience, I will say that I live in China and went to 2 official Xiaomi stores, checked the bootloader on the exposed phones (Mi Mix 1/2, Mi 6, Mi Max2 and some of the Note, I don't remember exactly). And you know what? It is blocked on all! And to my question in what condition does it leave the factory, after a call to hotline they said it was blocked. And it is obvious that in order to unlock it, you need to manipulate the phone. And another small fact, my friend and I ordered phones through the online platform for friends, 3 pieces of Mi 6 and one Note 4x, and later I ordered myself a Mi Mix, and on all phones the bootloader was blocked, I had to unblock it to put the global))) So, if you need to block the bootloader, there are two options. One with data loss the other without data loss (But this is not certain). I'll tell you first about the one that does not lose data) 1. We block the bootloader without losing data (on some models the data is erased, it is not clear what it depends on) Before you start, you need to know about some points. First: this does not work on all phones. But it works on most of the latest phones. And judging by the comments on the forum, it works on very many. Secondly: it works correctly on official firmwareif they have not been changed system files (root access, patch recovery, TWRP, etc.) Otherwise, the command will not work or you will get a bootlap (perpetual download). Third: The command does not work on almost all unofficial firmware, get a bootlap (perpetual download). Attention: You do everything. at your own peril and risk, a backup is required. Let's get started! 1. Check if the adb and fastboot drivers are installed on the PC. Usually lie on the "C" drive in the "adb" folder. If not installed, type in Google or Yandex "how to install adb and fastboot" and follow the instructions. 2. We enter the phone into fastboot mode (in the off state, hold down the power and volume down buttons at the same time until you see the hare and the fastboot inscription) and connect it to the computer. 3. We go into the folder with installed adb and fastboot (usually in the adb folder on the C drive), hold down Shift and right-click on the free space in the folder and select "Open command window" or who has Power Shell, respectively, "Open through Power Shell" 4 ... We start to write: fastboot devices After that it should give out the phone ID 5. Next, we check the status of the bootloader with the command: fastboot oem device-info If the bootloader is unlocked, the answer will be: 6. Next, write the command to lock: fastboot oem lock And if everything is fine, we get OKAY7. We check the state of the bootloader again with the command: fastboot oem device-info If everything went correctly, it will be false for all points: Reboot into the system with the command: fastboot reboot That's it, you're done! 2. We block the loader with data loss. This method erases all data from the phone since this is a normal flashing with the choice of the bootloader lock function, so before executing it, check that everything is synchronized (contacts, calendar, notes, etc.; applications are backed up and dropped on the computer ; photo, music, important documents on your computer) .1. Download and install Mi Flash2. Download your firmware from the official site (the firmware must be for fastboot) and drop it into a new folder on the "C" drive (the folder name must not have Russian letters and symbols) 3. Enter the phone into fastboot mode (it is written at the top as) and connect the phone to the computer. 4. Open the program, press select or open (depending on the version of the program) and select the folder in which the firmware files are located, this is very important, because as far as I remember, the firmware is in a folder that is in one more folder. Press refresh, information about the phone should be displayed 6. The most important step, which should not be missed otherwise, did everything in vain;) select "clean all and lock" at the bottom of the program 7. Press flash and wait for the phone to load. That's all. Then the first setup and restoration from backups are waiting for you. That's all, good luck to everyone! Leave your questions in the comments!

Creation of self-made, custom, firmwares or even just replacing screensavers in mobile devices (MU) assumes the ability to install images of partitions created by a third-party developer, not the manufacturer. This requires unlocking the MU bootloader.

This process previously varied significantly depending on the manufacturer, but recently it has gradually begun to come to a standard form. Therefore, almost everything that is described below can be used as a practical guide for working on MU of many manufacturers.

We will focus on the detailed step by step guide on unlocking the bootloader of the YB1-X90L tablet, based on my experience.

2. Unlocking the bootloader

In the YB1-X90L tablet, the manufacturer has provided the ability to unlock the OS bootloader by the user himself. To do this, you must first perform the following steps:

• become developer;
• execute factory unlocked bootloader.

2.1. How to become a "developer"

Any MU issued by the developer has a special section of commands intended for performing settings and testing hardware and software Your MU. But these commands are not needed simple user in his daily communication with MU. Therefore, initially they are hidden from you, and in order to gain access, you need to perform a kind of shamanic dance with a tambourine.

To perform this operation, you need to open the application in the downloaded tablet Settings, go to the settings section System and select the menu item About device... In the menu that opens, you need to find the item Build number, which is located almost at the very bottom of the list,

Fig. 1.About device menu

And click on it 7 times. A message should appear You are a developer.

After that go back to the settings section System... In connection with the performance of the previous actions, an additional menu item will appear in it For developerswhich was not there before:

Fig. 2. Menu For Developers

That's it, the tablet recognized you as a developer and new interesting commands became available to you, for example:

• USB debuggingallowing you to enable debugging mode when you connect the tablet to a computer via USB;
• Running applicationsallowing you to view and manage running tablet applications;
• Factory unlocked, a command to unlock the bootloader.

Now you can proceed directly to removing the factory lock.

2.2. Performing a factory unlock

NOTE. Having started working on the tablet's firmware, the first thing to do is to enable USB debugging mode.

To do this, without leaving the menu For developers, set the switch next to this command to on. A warning will appear immediately:

Fig. 3.On warning USB debugging

If the answer is yes, the debug mode will be enabled:

Fig. 4.Incl. USB debugging mode

Now, if an error occurs during work, for example:

• when loading the tablet will reach the output of the logo image and freeze;
• the tablet will stop loading at all, i.e. don't even show the logo;
• will overload itself;

you will have a chance to restore its performance by connecting to it from a PC using ADB.

Run the command here Factory unlocked... To do this, set the switch next to this command to the on state. A warning will appear:

Fig. 5.Request to enable factory unlock

If the answer is yes, the unlock mode will be enabled:

Fig. 6.On mode "Factory unlocking".

Do you think everyone, the tablet bootloader is unlocked? Nope, the manufacturer only ALLOWED you to use the ability to unlock the bootloader, which is performed using commands FASTBOOT in mode FASTBOOT MODE... If you do not know what this mode is and how to get into it,.

2.3. Unlocking the bootloader directly

From the side of the Android OS security system, it looks like this: you can remove the lock only using the commands FASTBOOTthat require access permission knowingly obtained from the user who has become the developer.

To unlock the bootloader, follow these steps:

1. install on the computer (PC) that connects to the tablet, drivers for work via ADB.
2. execute command in mode FASTBOOT MODE

Those. overload the tablet into mode FASTBOOT MODE, while on the screen in the list of parameters the inscription Bootloader locked... We connect the tablet via a USB cable to the PC and in the PC terminal we execute the command

Fastboot flashing unlock.
The tablet will ask you to clean up the data section.

Fig. 7.Request to clear the data section.

If you answer Yes, the tablet cleans and unlocks. If you answer No., neither clearing nor unblocking will occur.

After unlocking the bootloader when entering the mode FASTBOOT MODE on the screen in the list of parameters the caption will change to LOCK STATE - unlocked:

Fig. 8.Bootloader unlocked

To return the lock, you need to execute the reverse command

Fastboot flashing lock.

ATTENTION. When the bootloader lock is restored, another security rule is triggered: so that no one is able to read your data or put the "infection" inside the tablet, the data section is COMPLETELY CLEANED again, destroying all contents.

Instead of typing the above commands, you can run a batch file on your PC fb_unlock_YB.bat with the following content:

fb_unlock_YB.bat

@echo off echo. echo devices echo. adb devices echo. echo reboot bootloader echo. adb reboot bootloader echo. echo variable before unlock / lock echo. fastboot getvar all\u003e 1_Y.txt 2\u003e & 1 echo. echo unlock / lock echo. fastboot flashing unlock :: fastboot flashing lock echo. echo variable after unlock / lock echo. fastboot getvar all\u003e 2_Y.txt 2\u003e & 1 echo. echo Termination pause

To check the installation / unlock of the bootloader, in this case, next to the command file, two service files will be created containing the settings for the tablet loader:

We are interested in parameters (bootloader) unlocked (the first line of the file) and (bootloader) device-state (fifth line of the file). Before the operation is performed, the first line is (bootloader) unlocked: noand the fifth is (bootloader) device-state: lockedsince the bootloader is locked. After execution - (bootloader) unlocked: yes and (bootloader) device-state: unlocked respectively, i.e. the tablet bootloader is unlocked.

3. Conclusion

We examined how the bootloader of the YB1-X90L tablet is unlocked. Next time we will try to install custom recovery on it in order to get, for example, "God's rights", i.e. ROOT-access, the ability to re-partition memory or install custom firmware etc.