[Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Guides, News, & Discussion] khajiit:
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Hello guys,

This is my first guide and it is focused on people who just bought their Redmi Note 3 (KENZO/KATE) and having problems with officially unlocking their bootloader. (stuck @ 50% like me)

If you don't want to wait on stock MiUi until you can officially unlock your bootloader (because you need to wait additional ~2 weeks after you received permission from Xiaomi until their servers updated) or you want that extra security layer with locked bootloader this guide is made for you!

Since official LineageOS 14.1 just released, i thought some of you guys are interested in this awesome, easy and safe method.

To save you time searching hours and hours through this forum i made this quick summery.

Downloads :

MiUi 8 Global Developer ROM 6.11.3: KENZO or KATE

ZCX TWRP (direct downloadlink: click here)

Mi Flash 6.8.30

Latest firmware (choose correct device)

[ROM][OFFICIAL][7.1.1][kenzo] LineageOS 14.1 by The_strix

Open GApps - ARM64 - Android 7.1

Instructions :

(follow them carefully!)

Extract MiUi 8 Global Developer ROM and replace recovery.img (in images folder) with ZCX TWRP's recovery.img

Flash using Mi Flash (in EDL mode) and check clean_all

After finished flashing process unplug and press [volume up]+[power] until Mi logo shows up then release buttons and it boots to TWRP (change TWRP language from chinese to english: click here)

Reboot to system (if you get prompt: "Disable stock recovery replace now" > just swipe to allow disable)

Boot to MIUI and complete initial setup (important step - don't skip! first boot will take around 10 minutes)

-----------------------------------------------

Shutdown device and boot to TWRP again

(optinal) Backup every partition and safe this backup on an external device

Wipe > Advanced Wipe > check Dalvik / ART Cache, System, Data, Internal Storage, Cache > Swipe to Wipe

Flash Latest firmware, LineageOS 14.1 and GApps (ARM64, Android 7.1)

Reboot to system and you're DONE!!

updated method (works with newest MIUI version) :

There is a new updated method by kuan improved by [MENTION=8046778]N.G.[/MENTION] and [MENTION=7626964]razr_96[/MENTION]. Thanks for mentioning.

Advantages:

no need to download full MIUI fastboot rom

much faster method, only takes seconds to flash (instead of 4 minutes and you don't have to complete initial MIUI setup which also takes around 5 minutes)

this method is better if you want to stay on MIUI and just want to root

you can stay on your current MIUI version (even 7.1.19 which is currently the latest) and don't have to wipe your data

Disadvantages:

this doesn't clean everything, i would recommend to clean everything if you want to install a custom rom

you have to download a file i can not verify

Instructions :

(follow them carefully!)

(optinal) Backup your current MIUI data (Settings > Additional settings > Backup & reset > Local backups > Back up) and copy it to an external media

Download and extract: Kenzo or Kate

(optinal) Replace included ZCX TWRP recovery.img (in images folder) with your preferred TWRP recovery.img

Flash using Mi Flash 20160401 (in EDL mode) and check flash all except data and storage (not clean_all like in the method mentioned above)

BE AWARE:

This MiFlash version is different to the MiFlash version mentioned above! This version does only support 64 bit systems and you need atleast Windows 7!

After finished flashing process unplug and press [volume up]+[power] until Mi logo shows up then release buttons and it boots to TWRP (change TWRP language from chinese to english: click here)

Reboot to system

Video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCONN1_IPuU

Troubleshooting :

[APP][ROOT][7.1.1]QuickSettings Flashlight fix for all nougat roms

If something goes wrong, start over again and follow my guide step by step.

This guide only works with MiUi 8 Global Developer ROM 6.11.3 or lower.

Put MIUI 8 Global Developer ROM in "C:\ROM" - MiFlash tends to have problems if there are any spaces in folder names.

If you flashed something wrong and have no simcard signal anymore or no IMEI look here for help: EFS Recovery Guide

If you didn't remove your passcode before you did a backuprestore using TWRP:

TWRP > Advanced > Filemanager > /data/system > delete locksettings.db

Issues with locked bootloader :

none

(advanced technique) Higher security with locked bootloader:

Thanks [MENTION=6400084]LeoYL[/MENTION] !

A little addition: If you want a even higher level of security, which is nobody except you can flash packages in recovery, you can create a recovery with limited functions and forced signature verification, with your own keys embedded in that recovery.

This is just like the original status of nearly all Android devices when they are shipped: only signed OTA update packages can be applied via recovery. Normally, the packages are signed by OEMs; however, you can become the "OEM" by creating your own private key, which is used during package signing.

Just follow these guides to create a recovery with your own keys. I use CM 13.0 recovery, since it only has basic recovery features, including installing a ZIP file, factory reset, and it has mandatory ZIP signature verification.

http://mjg59.dreamwidth.org/31765.html

https://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=62796459&postcount=2

The reason why I don't use TWRP is that it allows update packages with any signature. Although you can enforce signature verification, it can also be switched off in TWRP settings.

Now you get a recovery which only accepts ZIP packages that are signed with your own private key. The only downside is you need to sign every package you want to flash each time. But this also means that if a stranger picks your lost phone up, they can't tamper your phone's OS. If the "reset protection" feature works with locked bootloader on our Redmi Note 3, the only distance between our phones' security and Google devices' is edl mode and encryption.

Wanna try other custom roms?

Just follow this guide and you can flash every other nougat customrom as well like:

[ROM]AOSIP 5.5 for Redmi Note 3(Kenzo)[OFFICIAL BUILDS]

[ROM][Nightlies][android-7.1.1_r6]ResurrectionRemix 5.8.0[OFFICIAL][VoLTE]

[ROM][OFFICIAL][Weekly][7.1.1_R13][Slim 7 For Kenzo]

[ROM] ► [7.1.1 ► N4F26M] ► [OTA][OMS][Goodix] ► Nitrogen OS

credits :

[mention=5857684]The_strix[/mention]: For his development work

[mention=5736124]Psy_man[/mention]: For extracting nougat firmware

@kuan: For creating this method (french forum)

[mention=5079244]Tobsucht TM[/mention]: For answering my questions

If this guide was helpful to you, don't forget to press the Thanks! button :good:

Enjoy your new custom rom!

khajiit