Here is a simple guide to unlock Poco F1 phone bootloader. Once you unlock your phone’s bootloader, you will be able to root your phone, install TWRP alternate recovery tool and switch to 3rd party ROMS like Pixel Experience and crDroid. For guide to install these ROMs, head to this page.
Do note that this may brick your phone and please do this at your own risk. Myself or GadgetDetail cannot be held responsible if your phone ends up in bricked state. In such case, take your phone to service centre and have it reflashed with recovery firmware.
What you need
- Xiaomi USB drivers (if required)
- Minimal ADB Fastboot
- Active Mi User Account.
- Take full backup of your phone data. This will erase all your phone’s data including photos, messages, accounts, contacts. This is like a full factory reset.
- Enable USB Debugging
- Go to About your phone.
- Tap on build number till you see ‘developer options are now available’ message.
- Go to settings -> additional settings -> developer options.
- Enable USB Debugging.
Apply for bootloader unlock permission and unlock
- Using Windows PC, go to ‘Unlock you Mi device‘ page.
- Click on ‘Unlock now’.
- You will now see Mi account login page in Chinese. Click on ‘English’ at the bottom and the page will switch to english portal. If you have ‘login password’, click on ‘sign in with password’ page and log in. This will take you to ‘Mi Unlock Tool‘ download page.
- Download Unlock tool.
- Open the unlock tool.
- Login using your Mi account.
- Power off your phone and start it in Fastboot mode ( Press ‘Volume down’ key + ‘Power button’ simultaneously once phone is switched off).
- Connect your phone to PC using USB cable.
- Mi Unlock Tool will now list your phone and ‘Unlock’ button will be enabled.
- Go ahead and unlock. You will be warned twice that this will erase all your data and that your phone is less secure.
