I’ve always wanted more control over my devices to flash a custom ROM, maybe root it later. So naturally, unlocking the bootloader was the first step.
Disclaimer:
- This will wipe your data – back up everything first.
- You may void your warranty.
- Proceed at your own risk.
Requirements:
- A Mi account (must be signed in on your phone).
- PC with Windows OS.
- A USB cable.
- Internet connection.
- Mi Unlock Tool (https://xiaomitools.com/mi-unlock-tool-en)
I started by doing the usual prep:
- Created a Mi Account
- I went to https://account.xiaomi.com/ to register. You can also do this directly from your phone if you prefer.
- Enabled Developer Options
- In Settings > About phone, I tapped the MIUI version repeatedly (7 times) until I saw the “You are now a developer” message.
- Turned on USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking
- Found both under Settings > Additional settings > Developer options. I made sure both were enabled.
- Added my Mi Account to Mi Unlock Status
- Still in Developer Options, I went to Mi Unlock status and added my account.
- Important note: I was on mobile data, not Wi-Fi, because a lot of folks say Wi-Fi can cause binding issues.
STEPS TO TURN ON USB DEBUGGING
STEPS TO TURN ON OEM UNLOCKING
I turned off the phone and booted into Fastboot mode by holding down Power + Volume Down until the Fastboot mode logo showed up, I connected the device to the PC, and launched the Mi Unlock Tool, logged in with my account. It detected my phone just fine. I hit “Unlock,” only to be greeted with this message:
“You need to wait 168 hours before unlocking your device.”
Yep. 168 hours. That’s 7 whole days. No option to skip. No workaround. Just a hard wall.
Here’s the kicker: if I logged out of my Mi account or reset the phone, the countdown would reset. So I basically turned my Redmi 10A into a sacred relic, didn’t touch anything I didn’t absolutely need to. I even avoided switching from mobile data to Wi-Fi because some people online reported issues.
Finally the wait was over. I ran the Mi Unlock Tool again, and this time, it just… unlocked in less than 5mins. No drama. No additional error messages. Just a clean success.
And that was it. Bootloader unlocked.
What I Learned
- Xiaomi’s bootloader unlock system isn’t technically difficult, it’s just annoyingly time-gated.
- The 168-hour wait is real, and there’s no skipping it.
- Don’t log out of your Mi account or reset your phone once the countdown starts.
- Make sure you’re using mobile data, not Wi-Fi, when adding your account to Mi Unlock Status.
- They warned me, but I thought, “It’s just unlocking the bootloader, how bad could it be?”
- Turns out, they weren’t kidding, everything was wiped.
- Back up your data. No jokes.
