[Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 Guides, News, & Discussion] Alpha1BA:
Hi, ok so what ive just managed to figure out over the last 30mins or so is...

Goto setttings\all specs\ tap the MIUI version number a few times until you see "You are now a developer" then back out of that page and scroll down to developer options then mi unlock status, follow instructions there and you will find out if your bootloader is indeed locked or not!!! if you want to start the process of unlocking you must agree here. back to dev ops and also tick allow oem unlock. reboot device to fast boot mode (vol down + power) plug into pc and continue with the miui boot unlocker program. if you agree to all you will be presented with the couldnt unlock wait 720 hours then try again. Hope this helps some : )

---------- Post added at 11:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:21 PM ----------

just found this regarding the waiting process:

Here's some FAQ you need to know.

*For those who have bricked their device, do visit the nearest service center to repair your phone. You can't add the Mi account in the settings the device is not bootable/ bootloop.

* For Android One users, please check out unlocking tutorial in your device subforum. You don't have to go through the procedures mentioned here.

How to apply? (new*)

The process is simplified and the permission is granted automatically. You don't have to fill in any application form or wait for the SMS anymore.

Log in and head towards http://en.miui.com/unlock . Download the Mi Unlock Tool (picture above) from the site and proceed to unlock. A waiting period will then be displayed in Mi Unlock Tool.

If you come across the webpage showing that your application got rejected, please post a thread http://en.miui.com/type-64-717.html with a clear screenshot and your Mi account ID.

Download Mi Unlock App (new*)

http://miuirom.xiaomi.com/rom/u1106245679/3.3.827.31/miflash_unlock-en-3.3.827.31.zip

Use this link if you're stuck with account query error:

http://xiaomi-miui-ota-3rdrom.ks3-c...1/3.3.525.23/miflash_unlock-en-3.3.525.23.zip

Download Mi PC Suite

MiSetup3.2.1.3111_2717.zip (38.9 MB, Downloads: 91543)

Unlocking Bootloader Procedure

1. You must ensure that your device functions normally(not in bricked, softbricked, bootloop state) as you need to add the Mi account in the settings.

2. Your PC has necessary drivers and you're on official MIUI ROM before you start to unlock ( Mi PC SUITE, Download Mi Flash Here)

What to do after obtained approval to unlock?

1. Settings---> About phone---> MIUI Version (Keep tapping it to enable developer option).

2. Settings---> Additional settings---> Developer option and bind your approved Mi account under Mi Unlock Status.

3. Log into the Mi account which has acquired unlocking permission on your device.

4. When you logged into the Mi Unlock Tool, tap on the top right gear icon to check the update for both USB driver and Mi Unlock Tool. Make sure you're running the latest version.

5. Turn off your device, press the Power button and Volume - button at the same time to enter bootloader mode.

6. Log into the unlocking tool on PC with the same Mi account. Connect the device to the PC using USB cable

7. Press 'Unlock' and follow the timer/ waiting period shown in Mi Unlock Tool to unlock successfully.

Note:

1. Follow the timer/ waiting period shown in Mi Unlock Tool to unlock successfully, you'll see this sentence "Couldn't unlock the device after XXXX hours" which actually means "Please unlock after XXX hours." There is some translation issue in Mi Unlock Tool.

2. After you've successfully bound your Mi Account, do not log out the approved Mi account from your phone. Otherwise, the timer will be reset and you gotta spend more time waiting again.

3. Use another PC (64-bit) to unlock if MI Unlock Tool fails to detect your device/ unknown error.

If you're facing "Couldn't verify, please wait a minute or two/ No Network/ " related errors when adding Mi Account in Mi Unlock Status. Do post a thread in bug subforum / file a report via Settings---> Feedback, attach the screenshot of the errors and the bug log. Don't spam the forum with multiple threads across subforum.

Steps to reproduce the error

i. Logout your current Mi account from your phone.

ii. After you removed the account, reboot your phone.

iii. Then, add and bind the account again at the developer settings---> Mi Unlock Tool so that the error is reproduced.

iv. Once the error message is shown, head towards dialer and dial *#*#284#*#*. The process will take a few minutes, once the Bug Log has been generated, locate and find them in File Explorer-->Internal Storage-->MIUI-->debug_log--> Zip file with date and time.

v. Attach the zip file to your thread, you can also upload them on Google Drive (set the permission to be accessible by everyone) and give us the link if the zip file is too big.

Why did Mi lock the bootloader for Mi devices?

Mi is an international brand now, but it's only in few countries currently, and is still in the stage of expanding its international market. So it's difficult for users from countries where Mi is not officially sold to buy Mi phones. Many users have taken the risk of buying from an unofficial reseller. But they sometimes get fake Mi phones, or Mi phones with unofficial ROM loaded with bloatware. You guys must have seen some users asking in the forum whether their Mi phones are genuine, or that they have weird ROM version installed on their new phones. This is really bad for user experience, and it might even cause property loss if some malware are installed. This situation also exists in China market.

Another problem Mi users have often encountered is that, after their Mi phones are lost or stolen, the person who got the device could easily flash a new ROM into it, and makes it almost impossible for our users to get their phones back. In the recent MIUI developer version update, we've added a feature that needs users to enter their Mi account info to use the phone after doing a full wipe. But if an ill-intentioned person knows how to use fastboot method to flash ROMs, this will not stop him/her from gaining control of the phone.

Based on the above two reasons, we've decided to lock the bootloader. We've also made changes to Mi Cloud's 'Find Device' function, and adjusted system update's verifying logic. By these combined methods, user data can be better protected, and user experience can also be improved.

What Mi devices are locked?

Mi 4c, Redmi Note 3, Mi Note Pro, Redmi 3, Mi 4S, Mi 5 and Mi devices launched in the year 2016 onwards

How to check whether the bootloader is locked/unlocked?

The status of bootloader can be checked in the following process.

-The unlocker tool will show the message of "Unlocked".

- An "Unlocked" word will be shown when booting.

- Advanced users can check the bootloader status via cmd

Flashing full ROM in unlocked bootloader will lock the bootloader again?

No, the bootloader will remain unlocked unless you choose clean all and lock option during fastboot.

What do you need to know about unlocking?

First and foremost you can only unlock your own device. This means the unlocking tool you downloaded must be logged in with the same Mi account on your device. One Mi account could only unlock one device within 30 days

Isn't locking bootloader against Mi's 'geek' spirit?

Locking bootloader is aimed to provide a better user experience, which we've been trying to do the whole time. In the meantime, we've provided an unlocking tool for senior users who know their ways around flashing and tweaking their devices.

The unlocking procedure will need Internet access to get the unlocking password. Also, the Mi Account logged in on the Mi phone and the unlocking tool needs to be the same. Otherwise, the unlocking request will be denied. This will ensure that ill-intentioned people will not get access to your personal data.

What will change after locking bootloader?

- Locking bootloader will not affect normal OTA updates

- ROOT will be disabled if the user has enabled it before. Enabling ROOT will need to unlock bootloader

- Recovery mode is changed. Updating via Recovery will need to use Mi PC Suite

- Devices with locked bootloader cannot update using Miflash. Users need to unlock bootloader if they want to flash Fastboot ROMs.

The risks stated above do not fully cover changes which may be brought about by Mi Unlock. We will keep improving Mi Unlock in order to prevent the cases when unauthorized vendors unlock Mi devices to install third-party apps which worsen MIUI user experience and cannot to be deleted. Locked devices also provide you with high-quality security features, such as Find device, and other added-value services. We're sorry for any inconveniences our policies may cause. Please think twice before unlocking if you are not familiar with ROM flashing.

Final note, if you don't know that much about Android, flashing, custom ROMs etc. It's not recommended for you to unlock the bootloader. It might cause serious damage to your device or personal data.