A special bootloader, which is installed on Xiaomi smartphones, provides access to the operating system, allowing you to carry out various operations with it. Sometimes it can be convenient, and sometimes it can get in the way. Therefore, in this article, you will learn several ways to block the Xiaomi bootloader, and understand why you need it.
Xiaomi smartphones
The Chinese company "Xiaomi" was founded quite recently: in 2010. Nevertheless, it immediately gained momentum and began to produce cheap and high-quality smartphones, which are in increasing demand every year. In addition to the Redmi series, the company began to produce fitness bracelets, as well as power banks, laptops, TVs and other electronics. Like any company, Xiaomi has its pros and cons. The advantages include affordable prices, its own operating system and excellent technical characteristics. The MIUI operating system deserves special mention, which is the solecompany development. It may be a little strange at first, but after a while most users get so used to it that they no longer feel like switching to other systems. Many of the highlights, such as fingerprint lock, appeared in MIUI much earlier than in other companies. The system is intuitive, so people of any age can understand it.
The Xiaomi Mi 8 phone has become a real breakthrough in the line. High-contrast display, slim design with rounded edges, and the latest processor make life easier for users. The smartphone allows you to take great pictures that are in no way inferior to those shot on a professional camera. Despite all the advantages, Xiaomi has some disadvantages. For example, minor flaws in the system or poor user support. Otherwise, Chinese flagships continue to win the hearts of customers and make their life even more convenient and comfortable.
Xiaomi Downloader
How to lock the bootloader of Xiaomi Note 3? First you need to decide what role the bootloader plays in the Xiaomi system. Bootloader is a built-in component on Xiaomi devices, which is analogous to the BIOS. If you get the rights to make changes to the system, you can directly influence various areas and programs. The stock OS is protected from tampering with the settings, so it takes some effort to unlock the bootloader. In addition, Xiaomi blocks the bootloader in order to avoid the introduction of viruses into the OS,which recently began to grow like mushrooms after rain. If you become the owner of a smartphone on which you can perform various operations directly, then most likely you bought a fake. Therefore, avoid entering personal data on such a phone.
Why block the Xiaomi bootloader?
- To protect yourself and your data. With a blocked bootloader, malware will not interfere and send information about bank cards to third parties.
- Having an unlocked bootloader on your phone makes it harder to unlock a stolen or lost phone.
- It is impossible to find a phone with a locked bootloader.
- For weekly verification. When unlocking the bootloader, some programs may bypass this ritual, which means that you will not be able to restore the system in the future.
How do I know the status of the bootloader?
How to know if the bootloader is locked on Xiaomi? There are several ways to do this:
- Via phone settings.
- Using a personal computer on Windows or Linux.
The easiest way is to go to the smartphone settings, to the "About device" section. Next, click "Kernel" and open the Softwareversion tab. In it you will find the Fastboot line. Below it you can see the status of the bootloader. If it says lock, then it is locked. If unlock - unlocked. You can also check the status using a computer with the Windows operating system. For this you needboot your smartphone in a special mode called Fastboot, and then connect it to your computer using a USB cable. Next, you need to press the Win + R combination, after which a service window will appear on your screen. Using the "cmd" command, you will launch a command line in which you need to drive in the "adb" combination, and then confirm the execution of the command. Next, you need to get information about the bootloader. To do this, just enter "fastboot oem device-info", after which the program will return the result "True" or "False". In the first case, this will mean that the bootloader is locked, and in the second it will be unlocked.
Another way to know the bootloader status of Xiaomi Mi 8 is to check it using Linux system. In this case, it can be done a little faster and easier. Just enter the command "adb - sudo apt-get install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot" in the terminal. In this case, the smartphone must also be in Fastboot mode. The command to check the bootloader status is the same as on Windows. Sometimes the system may give the result "Waiting for device". This will mean that you are not logged into the computer as an administrator. Changing the user should fix the situation.
Xiaomi bootloader lock
Sometimes users need to get rid of a system that is shared. Many owners of Chinese smartphones ask how to lock the Xiaomi bootloader. This can be done in several ways. The simplest one is using a computer, without flashing. This method does not require removalall data, so it goes much faster. What do you need to block?
- Computer with Windows from version 7. If you have an outdated operating system, then update it before starting the process.
- Drivers for your phone that will allow your computer to recognize it.
- A charged battery so that the phone does not interrupt the procedure in the middle.
- Official firmware on the phone. Otherwise, you risk getting a "dead" device that is unlikely to turn on again.
Also keep in mind that on some phones a second lock can cause errors in the system. If you've already locked the bootloader and then re-unlocked it, then it's best to take the device to a professional. How does the blocking process go?
- First you need to open the program Fastboot.
- Next, go to the USB Debugging section on your phone. It is usually located in the developer section.
- After enabling debug mode, you need to connect your phone to the computer. This must be done using a pre-prepared USB cable.
- Open a command window in the adb folder.
- You only need to enter the adb reboot fastboot command. Next, type fastboot oem lock and press Enter.
Lock via flashing
There is another way to lock the bootloader. It is more time-consuming and requires mandatory saving of all data. How to lock Xiaomi bootloader through flashing? Necessarydo the following:
- Transfer all data to your computer. Unfortunately, during the flashing process, absolutely all information will be deleted. That's why it's important to back up everything from photos to phone numbers to notes. It will also be useful to additionally copy to an external hard drive or cloud storage if the amount of data is very large.
- Download official MIUI firmware. You can find it on the Xiaomi website. Please make sure you are not downloading a third party app.
- Download MiFlash. This boot program will install the new OS on your phone. In this case, it is also important to use only the official versions.
- Run the bootloader and specify the path to the downloaded operating system.
- Then enable Fastboot mode on your smartphone.
- Connect it to your computer.
- Click Refresh and wait for your device to appear in the list.
- Wait for the operation to complete.
As you can see, the answer to the question of how to lock the Xiaomi bootloader via the command line is quite simple. To do this, just install one program and download the latest version of the OS. Perhaps the most difficult part of this is the need to copy all the data.
Possible problems
Each method may cause problems during installation. But most of them already have ready-made solutions:
- If you have problems logging into your account, please enter your ID instead of your username or phone number.
- A message marked Network Error cantestify to a problem on the company's server. Clear your cache or change your IP address.
- If your system does not support bootloader lock, then there is only one way out - to reflash the device.
- Sometimes the process stops in the middle. In this case, reinstalling the drivers for the phone on the computer can help.
- Phone does not enter Fastboot mode. For the command window to appear on the phone screen, you need to press the power button and the volume down button at the same time. Try again a few times if this doesn't work.
- The computer does not see the phone. This is a very common situation and can be caused by a damaged USB cable or missing drivers.
- After blocking, the phone does not turn on for a long time. Not the best outcome, which immediately makes you think about what mistakes you made during the procedure. However, you may have simply unplugged the cable too soon, or your phone may have run out of battery. Try repeating the procedure from the beginning.
After you lock the bootloader and turn on your phone for the first time, don't expect it to start working right away. As a rule, the device needs time, so it can remain inactive for several minutes. Many phone owners fear that a bootloader lock can have a detrimental effect on the speed of their phone. But it only changes the user's ability to make changes to the MIUI system, making it closed from outside interference. Thus, a locked bootloader cannot in any wayslow down your smartphone, but it will definitely increase the security of your data.
Unlock process
More often users ask how to unlock Bootloader. How can this be done?
- Get permission to unlock. A request can be left on the official website of the company by logging into your personal account.
- Download the MiFlash utility.
- Open it and enter your ID and password.
- Press the "Unblock" button.
After that, you can install any firmware on your smartphone, including Russian-language, as well as any programs. Sometimes an error may occur during the application for an unlock. Follow the status of your application in your personal account or submit another application if enough time has passed since the first one.
Xiaomi bootloader version depends on phone model and operating system. Therefore, before unlocking, it is better to update it.
How to flash Xiaomi with a locked bootloader
When you buy a smartphone, it already has a firmware that implies a certain version of the operating system. However, this may not be convenient for everyone. At the moment, there are many custom versions modified by users. Often they are much more convenient than the versions of official manufacturers. The same applies to MIUI OS. It often contains unnecessary options and applications that cannot be removed. So the good news is that you can always change it. User can find richassortment of firmware both in Russian and in English. The official version can always be downloaded from the Xiaomi website. Unfortunately, if your Bootloader (bootloader) is blocked, then it will not be possible to install a new firmware. The only option is to either unlock it or buy an older version, on which access to the bootloader is still open to all users. If you are afraid of malware interference, then after flashing just block Bootloader back.
Expert Tips
There are many opinions about using the bootloader in the Xiaomi system. What do experts advise? They unequivocally recommend not to leave the OS open to interventions. After this procedure, the user will not be able to install a "non-native" system or firmware with support for the Russian language. But access to system files will also be closed, which means that the probability of malware penetration will be close to zero. An unlocked bootloader is like a sore that any infection can get into. Therefore, only an experienced person who understands the device of smartphones can carry out various manipulations.
In addition, the MIUI system itself is reliably protected from outside interference. Therefore, with a high degree of probability, after changing the firmware, it can easily determine how the Bootloader was unlocked and impose a ban on any actions. As a result, the phone will stop turning on, and you will have to spend some money on repairs. How to lock Xiaomi bootloader? The best way to do this is withcomplete flashing of the device. This is a more complex method, but at the same time more reliable. If you decide to lock the bootloader using the USB Debugging section, if you install custom firmware, your phone may stop functioning properly at all.
Results
Flashing, installing various programs not from official sources - all this can cause your smartphone to break down or not work properly. Therefore, many users ask about how to lock the Xiaomi bootloader. There are two ways to do this: using the command line or using a full flashing. The first option is faster, besides, it allows you to save all personal data. And the second allows you to completely reinstall the firmware, thereby eliminating all errors.
