Develop Bugs

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...

Proper unlock request message reason

I've read that Xiaomi my reject your request for unlock of device. I've applied for the unlock two days ago but I really don't know where to check its status? And basically there shouldn't be any specific reason why one would want to unlock bootloader unless they're trying to install third party ROM? If one writes the reason as being I would like to install Xiaomi.eu ROM on my device that Xiaomi would strait off reject it or not? Because mainly that's what I would like to do until Xiaomi releases sources (if they do) at which point many will move to other ROMs (CM etc.). So.
Questions:
What kind of good reason may someone have to unloack bootloader so that unlock will be accepted without issues?
Where can one check unlock request status?
If one unlocks bootloader and then flashes official ROM (which will likely lock it again), can one unlock it without additional unlock requests to Xiaomi?

1. I said I bought from Gearbest and had a shop rom installed and want to install original rom (which was true, but nobody can confirm this obviously)
2. I do not think you can check it
3. Flashing official ROM will not lock your bootloader again
I would suggest you wait a little more and if you still do not get a reply, open a new request or post in the forums.
btw, the request completion will be sent via an SMS message, nothing else.

1. Android Developer.
It worked like a charm, received the unlock code half an out later.

nuukee said:
3. Flashing official ROM will not lock your bootloader again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless you are flashing a fastboot rom with miflash and select the flash and lock radio button.

I wrote flash global rom. got the approval few hours later
Sent from my MI 5s Plus using Tapatalk

I said "I want to install the xiaomi.eu rom for localization."
3 hours later they approved the request.

Thanks guys. I got permission to unlock after about 4 days. I suppose they had a bit more work after Black Friday so it took them a bit longer than usual.
But of all the reasons you're mentioned I think the best one is I'm an Android application developer. Others related to fake ROM etc. are not as viable as I'm pretty confident they know exactly which ROM you're using on which device the moment you sign in with you Mi account.

Bootloader Unlocking
If any problem, If i unlock the bootloader ???
In my redmi 4 ???
Plz tell me ...

Something Emotional and Real
I got permission in 4min by giving a emotional reason like my brother flashed wrong Nougat firmware on my Redmi Note 3 and my device got bricked I need to unlock bootloader to fix it.
And got permission.
Hurray

Can i lock the bootloader after installing a custom rom?

i was wondering if i unlocked the bootloader and installed a custom rom i`m not willing to change soon, can i lock the bootloader again while i have this rom?

iHookar said:
i was wondering if i unlocked the bootloader and installed a custom rom i`m not willing to change soon, can i lock the bootloader again while i have this rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Certainly you can if you are prepared for a bricked device later. I mean, it is not advisable to lock the bootloader if you have a custom ROM since any issues arise later, you will not be able to solve them. In addition, even if you manage to unlock the bootloader again in such a scenario, you will lose all your data including files, photos, videos etc.

If you properly sign the firmware, you don't even have to unlock the bootloader, see https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-3t/how-to/guide-custom-kernels-roms-recoveries-t3572525

Please HELP to unlock BootLoader - nothing works, looking for unofficial method

Hello there,
I've searched through all the googles and i can't seem to be able to unlock my mi 5S
Bought a half dead phone, glitchy screen and bad battery. Purchased new parts and had them installed.
Phone came with unlocked BL and lineage OS, but i f-ed it up by flashing a miui rom that locked the BL.
Then I found out the phone was actually bound to an existing MI account, so I cannot unlock it with the official tool.
Phone is in edl mode, i tried searching for an unlocked emmc_appsboot.mbn but no luck.
Can anyone please advise how to unofficialy unlock the bootloader?
I'm about to sell it for parts as I've been trying to fix it for the past week ... :crying:

Not sure if there is a way, because that way could also be used for a stolen device...
My suggestion is that you contact your seller and ask him for his Xiaomi account or that he deletes the phone from his account.
Weird thing though, the phone does not get locked if you just flash an official ROM. You specifically have to choose "flash + lock" in the official flashing application to have it locked again.

patoberli said:
Not sure if there is a way, because that way could also be used for a stolen device...
My suggestion is that you contact your seller and ask him for his Xiaomi account or that he deletes the phone from his account.
Weird thing though, the phone does not get locked if you just flash an official ROM. You specifically have to choose "flash + lock" in the official flashing application to have it locked again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been emailing with xiaomi support, gave them all the details. Maybe I can convince them to remove the account.
Before flashing i was checking online on how to do it with miflash tool but i missed the radio buttons and default was clean and lock ..

After a few documents submitted through [email protected] they have removed the unknown mi account.
To conclude, I have not found any way of unlocking the bootloader except for the official way.
Also, be careful when flashing with miflash, don't lock your phone by mistake.

Ah great that it worked!

7T - preparing for root

I've asked this on Reddit already, but thought it was worthwhile to ask here as well
It's been a long time (3 years) since I had a device that I'd been able to root and I wanted to make sure I'm ready to do it on my UK 7T whenever a solution becomes available (I've checked here and it seems a bit hit and miss at the moment). In order to get my device prepped should I just unlock the bootloader and wait for someone to get TWRP and Magisk working? Basically, I want to avoid losing all my stuff in x weeks time when the process becomes safer/simpler and from memory I think unlocking the bootloader causes everything on the device to be wiped.
TLDR
2 real questions:
Does the process of rooting the device wipe it, or does that only happen when unlocking the bootloader?
If I unlock the bootloader when I first get the device, will this be me prepped for rooting later on without losing all of my data?
Thanks

If you're not going to install a custom Rom, you're prepared for root without losing your data. I did it too yesterday when my 7T arrived, right after update oxygenos.

lmfao009 said:
If you're not going to install a custom Rom, you're prepared for root without losing your data. I did it too yesterday when my 7T arrived, right after update oxygenos.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't see myself moving from OOS, I just want root. So you're saying if I unlock bootloader from the off I'll be good for rooting in the future?

r0brimmer said:
I can't see myself moving from OOS, I just want root. So you're saying if I unlock bootloader from the off I'll be good for rooting in the future?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm changing from an iPhone 7+ to Oneplus 7T and got it yesterday. Why you don't make a backup when it's time for root? So far I can't see Custom ROMs or a working TWRP for the Oneplus 7T.

r0brimmer said:
I can't see myself moving from OOS, I just want root. So you're saying if I unlock bootloader from the off I'll be good for rooting in the future?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, i lost data when unlocking the bootloader but then it was okay while rooting. I think you should unlock the bootloader and root as soon as you get the phone, but after updating to latest 10.0.4 version

Unlocked Bootloader / no Magisk Hide
Consider that apps like GooglePay or other apps will refuse working since they detect the unlocked bootloader state as possible security leak. GPay says, that due unlocked bootloader it does not want to initialze it.
So after facing this problems I would recommend, since magisk is limited to patching the actual boot.img, to stay on locked bootloader and unlock it after a secure method exists to install magisk and maybe TWRP. Otherwise, if you donot use these kind of apps, you can stay with unlocked BL.