Buying the Phone with a Chinese ROM? Flash English ROM? - Xiaomi Mi 5s Questions & Answers

Hi,
I'm looking to get one of these but the ones I can find are all Chinese versions, can I switch to the Global ROM without breaking anything / causing any issues with NFC... etc? I don't mind unlocking the device as long as it doesn't cause any problems (not worried about the warranty issue)
Any one know the answer?

If you don't have any problem unlocking the bootloader then there's no problem. Just unlock the bootloader and flash a custom ROM. If you want to use MIUI then flash Xiaomi.eu ROM.

If you use the official global rom, simply lock the phone afterwards again, to have a fully banking conform phone.

Related

Bootloader unlock problems?

Hello,
I bought a 64gb version throw gearbest and they installed a vendors version 7.3.14.0.0 not oficial rom. With defeats the purpose of the bootloader being locked.
I want to install the original miui 8 china or miui 8 from xiaomi.eu.
If I unlock my bootloader by submitting the request to xiaomi what I lose? What are the disavantages?
Does the fingerprint reader works on a bootloader unlocked phone with official miui 8 china?
Does it work with xiaomi.eu rom?
What are the features that cease to work with an unlocked bootloader with these two roms?
If I install xiaomi.eu rom without unlock the bootloader using Doom Slayer method I must not update by OTA or I will brick it, right?
And oficial miui 8 can I update by OTA?
Sorry for these questions but is my first xiaomi with locked bootloader and don't want to screw up by not knowing the consequences of each method?
Thanks in advance
filtragem said:
Hello,
I bought a 64gb version throw gearbest and they installed a vendors version 7.3.14.0.0 not oficial rom. With defeats the purpose of the bootloader being locked.
I want to install the original miui 8 china or miui 8 from xiaomi.eu.
If I unlock my bootloader by submitting the request to xiaomi what I lose? What are the disavantages?
Does the fingerprint reader works on a bootloader unlocked phone with official miui 8 china?
Does it work with xiaomi.eu rom?
What are the features that cease to work with an unlocked bootloader with these two roms?
If I install xiaomi.eu rom without unlock the bootloader using Doom Slayer method I must not update by OTA or I will brick it, right?
And oficial miui 8 can I update by OTA?
Sorry for these questions but is my first xiaomi with locked bootloader and don't want to screw up by not knowing the consequences of each method?
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The fingerprint will work. But Find phone will not work and it will not be secure. But your phone will be less secure like if gets stolen anybody can flash firmware and you will be loser. With find my phone nobody could even flash firmware . I have got permission within 2 days for unlocking but i have not done but i have flashed chinese firmware by using miflash. the link is here http://en.miui.com/thread-326039-1-1.html. it is very safe that way.
seking said:
The fingerprint will work. But Find phone will not work and it will not be secure. But your phone will be less secure like if gets stolen anybody can flash firmware and you will be loser. With find my phone nobody could even flash firmware . I have got permission within 2 days for unlocking but i have not done but i have flashed chinese firmware by using miflash. the link is here http://en.miui.com/thread-326039-1-1.html. it is very safe that way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Security is not about flashing, is about protecting your data. Encryption makes phone more secure, not locked bootloader. We have ways to flash whatever we want with locked bootloader... how about that? Do you still fil secure?
Thank you both,
@seking for what I could understand this is the xiaomi.eu rom with even more stuff, right?
Do you have the helium version?
For that rom you just need the miflash to flash the rom via fastboot, right?
This is different from the Doom Slayer method because with it we fastboot the TWRP recovery and then use it to flash the xiaomi rom.
@nijel8, that is my question also the locked bootloader doesn't add security, gearbest flashed a custom rom even with it locked, so the security reason isn't a valid one.
Partition encrypting is only available when the bootloader is locked? If so that is one feature that is gone with unlocking.
If one unlock the bootloader can later lock it again?
With the bootloader locked we can't use miflash tool to flash fastboot rom, right? Only using EDL, and even then from what I could understand the system and data partition need to be formatted and that removes the encryption...
I just want to get rid of a rom that I don't know what is it and install a oficial rom or a rom from good sources like xiaomi.eu
After replace my rom can I update it by OTA or after I must update only by fastboot ot TWRP?
Thanks again
Bootloader status has nothing to do with encryption. Encryption always is a user option in any ROM... Not sure about MIUI though b/c they enforce encryption on both system and userdata partitions in ramdisk fstab so no user choice as far as I know. And yes... You can always lock bootloader back but will loose your data in process.
Not going to answer the second set of questions (see my signature ) not b/c I don't know but b/c never done it myself so yeah...
mi max is comparatively new phone. there are notnmany roms. development still new. therefore be careful of what you flash. for hardbrick solving we have to open the back cover which is risky. i have taken the safe mthod of not unlocking it. i flashed the rom on the locked rom with miflash via EDL. one can always flash the official rom through twrp and you will be safe.
Thanks a lot you two.
Trying to get the most information before doing something wrong.
Don't worry... Mi Max poves to be die hard phone...

Can I flash a global version ROM to a Redmi Note 8 Pro CN version?

Hello all,
As a consequence of a recent OTA update to MIUI 12.5.2, Google Play and Google apps ceased to work on my Redmi Note 8 Pro (begonia) CN version. In order to have them back again, I am considering switching to a stock ROM for the global version of the RN8Pro.
Does this sound like a reasonable plan?
Are there hardware differences between the CN version and the global version of the RN8Pro?
Can I go ahead and flash a global version ROM over a CN version ROM?
Would this allow me to install Google Play and Google apps on the RN8Pro?
Thanks!
You can. You are not asking for impossible. But it will cost you your data as your phone will be wiped in the process.
The procedure is Unlock bootloader -> Flash Global/EEA/Indonesia/Xiaomi.eu ROM (but the guys at xiaomi.eu stopped the development of the ROM long ago, so only ancient version of MIUI is available) OR even a custom ROM (wichever you like). You will find the corresponding tutorial in this device's forum.
@kekesed97: Thanks!
After a one-week wait (Xiaomi imposes this waiting period for bootloader unlocking), I was able to unlock the bootloader and flash a stock global ROM to my RN8Pro. Everything went fine. The phone was working perfectly, with its bootloader still unlocked.
Then I fell into a trap.
After reading about things that would not work on a phone with unlocked bootloader (Google Pay, banking apps, etc.), I decided to relock the bootloader of my RN8Pro. Did that by running "fastboot oem lock" on a PC connected to the phone.
Relocking the bootloader kind of bricked the phone. The RN8Pro is now stuck in the menu for "MIUI Recovery 5.0", with the following message at the bottom of the screen:
"This MIUI version can't be installed on this device"
Is there a way out of this trap?
reverbel said:
After a one-week wait (Xiaomi imposes this waiting period for bootloader unlocking), I was able to unlock the bootloader and flash a stock global ROM to my RN8Pro. Everything went fine. The phone was working perfectly, with its bootloader still unlocked.
Then I fell into a trap.
After reading about things that would not work on a phone with unlocked bootloader (Google Pay, banking apps, etc.), I decided to relock the bootloader of my RN8Pro. Did that by running "fastboot oem lock" on a PC connected to the phone.
Relocking the bootloader kind of bricked the phone. The RN8Pro is now stuck in the menu for "MIUI Recovery 5.0", with the following message at the bottom of the screen:
"This MIUI version can't be installed on this device"
Is there a way out of this trap?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some GooglePay and banking apps can be used after pass safetynet by doing something with Magisk. And you should read something about lock bootloader before doing that. China phone only can be locked with China Miui roms, by chose clean and lock on Miflashtool (best way to prevent brick). So if you want to do that, better downgrade to Miui 12.0.x to use Google apps and no more updates. And if anything else you want to be helped, join group on Telegram and get help.
Kirasu2080 said:
Some GooglePay and banking apps can be used after pass safetynet by doing something with Magisk. And you should read something about lock bootloader before doing that. China phone only can be locked with China Miui roms, by chose clean and lock on Miflashtool (best way to prevent brick). So if you want to do that, better downgrade to Miui 12.0.x to use Google apps and no more updates. And if anything else you want to be helped, join group on Telegram and get help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, @Kirasu2080. Now I see that I should have flashed a MIUI 12.0.x China version ROM, rather than a global ROM.
But I still don't see how to fix things... Since phone is stuck in recovery with its bootloader locked, it appears as there is no way for me to downgrade now.
reverbel said:
Thanks, @Kirasu2080. Now I see that I should have flashed a MIUI 12.0.x China version ROM, rather than a global ROM.
But I still don't see how to fix things... Since phone is stuck in recovery with its bootloader locked, it appears as there is no way for me to downgrade now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use free unbrick hardbrick method for this. You can search Youtube videos, some solve problems, some not work, some make you lose Imei. That's why i told you join Telegram group for direct chat.
I have the global vesrsion of the Redmi note 8 pro. I want to flash the Euro version on it without unlocking the bootloader. Is this possible with the MiFlash tool?
reverbel said:
Thanks, @Kirasu2080. Now I see that I should have flashed a MIUI 12.0.x China version ROM, rather than a global ROM.
But I still don't see how to fix things... Since phone is stuck in recovery with its bootloader locked, it appears as there is no way for me to downgrade now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to do the "EDL mode or Test point".
Lock xiaomi devices can be unbricked using that method.
Flash firmware using EDL or Test point mode. Please search in youtube.

Question Carrier ROM not updating since miui 12.5.5. Is there anything I can do to fix this?

Hi, my carrier purchased 'Lisa' came with its ROM showing as version RKOEUBY.
My carrier isn't keeping up with updates so was wondering if I can just flash the ROM RKOEUXM without unlocking the bootloader?
I have my banking apps etc on this phone so am reluctant to unlock the bootloader unless absolutely necessary.
If anyone else has found an easy way to solve this would be grateful for your feedback.
Many thanks
rockyrobin said:
Hi, my carrier purchased 'Lisa' came with its ROM showing as version RKOEUBY.
My carrier isn't keeping up with updates so was wondering if I can just flash the ROM RKOEUXM without unlocking the bootloader?
I have my banking apps etc on this phone so am reluctant to unlock the bootloader unless absolutely necessary.
If anyone else has found an easy way to solve this would be grateful for your feedback.
Many thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi !
The best way is to download the zip of your European ROM from the Xiaomi site and try to install it from the update utility in your phone's settings. If that doesn't work, you'll have to unlock your bootloader, install the ROM you want with the flash utility, and choose the relock option before the install starts. Then you will be on an official Xiaomi ROM, with your bootloader locked and you will have updates from Xiaomi and no longer from your operator.
Bill
Hi,
I confirm that manually flashing the European ROM does not work (in my case at least), so I am stuck on MIUI 12.5.6 with RKOEUSF ROM.
If anyone finds a way to upgrade to the official version without unlocking the bootloader, and therefore not breaking the warranty, I would be grateful if you could share it.
Thanks
Hi !
From the moment you want to install a new ROM, you have no choice but to unlock your bootloader. You can then reblock it. Afterwards, I don't know if the warranty is impacted because you go through the official unlocking from Xiaomi.
Bill
Thanks Bill,
I've just tried flashing the zip of my ROM and the phone just quits the update after a long pause, saying that it cannot verify update.
Guess I'll have to unlock the bootloader. There's plenty of info about how to do this, but I've noticed a number of people complaining about the flash process.
When they apply the update, at the end they get an error message. The only way they get round this is with an edit of the settings of miflash.
Is this something I need to worry about?
Just been reading about these errors and it appears that they are caused by the path to the ROM file having too many characters.
Placing the ROM file in your C: folder solves this.

Question Unlocking + Flashing Taiwanese Stock Rom via Fastboot + Locking

Hello all,
I've had problems with my former device after it being bootloader unlocked. I didn't try to relock the device though.
Now I got a new Xiaomi device based on Mediatek like 11t. In this instance, though, it comes with a global rom with a abhorrent suite of google apps.
I don't mind about google's messaging but the google's phone app is unusable for me. I'm hating even the intro page. (what I want is a secure dialler app that opens to a keypad while letting me search and find my contacts through the keypad, instead of using the full virtual keyboard.
From what I gather from the plethora of forum entries and youtube videos, I'm understanding Xiaomi side-stepped regulatory issues regarding the contact related apps by just simply offloading those with google's bad apps in many regions.
And I can only get to the old phone app (Xiaomi's) by loading Taiwanese, Indian, Chinese roms.
Chinese roms have a differing set of communication parameters with the network, so it's not suitable for me.
Xiaomi.Eu is simply a custom rom based on Chinese stocks, so it can't be re-locked after a fastboot install.
I have global stock miui 13 rom currently on my device.
So the lingering question for me is this:
After unlocking with Mi Unlock, I'll install stock Taiwanese rom to my device via fastboot method;
1- Then, would I be able to lock the bootloader (relock) again?
2- If yes, are there any risks involved or future crashes with the locked bootloader on a different stock rom, and would I be able to continue receiving OTA's for the particular taiwanese region stock rom?
If the answer 2nd question is "no", then there is no point in choosing taiwanese rom over Xiaomi.eu rom. Xiaomi.eu might just be better since it provides a semi-reasonable path for future sw updates.
If the answer for the 1st question is "no", then,
3- Am I be able to gain locked status again, provided I fastbooted and flashed the global stock rom in a future time?
katilkurt said:
Hello all,
I've had problems with my former device after it being bootloader unlocked. I didn't try to relock the device though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 11T (AGATE)is intended for the global market so no Chinese rom.
Xiaomi Eu rom does not provide rom for this device.
You can relock the bootloader without any problem.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/flash-tool-guide-use-xiaomi-flash-tool.4262425/

I've bought a Redmi Note 8 Pro and the devices is locked by Xiaomi

Hello there, I've bought this model.
There was a custom ROM flashed on it when I get it.
I've flashed it back by the Stock Firmware.
Then I saw that the device is locked by Xiaomi.
What can I do?
The best option would be to unlock it with the Stock Firmware on it, so I would have any other Option,.
If this isn't possible I would like to know how I can flash a custom ROM on it.
The bootloader is also locked, so please help me.
Bye, JonnyBoy84
JonnyBoy1984 said:
Hello there, I've bought this model.
There was a custom ROM flashed on it when I get it.
I've flashed it back by the Stock Firmware.
Then I saw that the device is locked by Xiaomi.
What can I do?
The best option would be to unlock it with the Stock Firmware on it, so I would have any other Option,.
If this isn't possible I would like to know how I can flash a custom ROM on it.
The bootloader is also locked, so please help me.
Bye, JonnyBoy84
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
return it and ask for a refund you has been scammed
JonnyBoy1984 said:
Hello there, I've bought this model.
There was a custom ROM flashed on it when I get it.
I've flashed it back by the Stock Firmware.
Then I saw that the device is locked by Xiaomi.
What can I do?
The best option would be to unlock it with the Stock Firmware on it, so I would have any other Option,.
If this isn't possible I would like to know how I can flash a custom ROM on it.
The bootloader is also locked, so please help me.
Bye, JonnyBoy84
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ask seller for unlock bootloader again (Official way) and remove his account from phone. (But I don't think he had, maybe he got the phone by unofficial way also)
Or you can use free unofficial tool to unlock it (Unofficial way, easy to find on YouTube).
Then choose one custom rom from forum.
Follow guide and enjoy the rom

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