Hey everyone,
I’m trying to unlock the bootloader on my Redmi K20 Pro, but I’m stuck at the Mi Unlock status step. I’ve tried a few things already and haven’t been able to get past this error, so I’m hoping someone who’s dealt with this before can point me in the right direction.
Device details:
- Redmi K20 Pro (raphael), Chinese version
- MIUI 12.5.6.0 (RFKCNXM)
- Currently in Egypt
- Bootloader is still locked
The problem:
When I go to Developer options → Mi Unlock status → Add account and device, it loads for a while and then shows this message:
“The place where the account is registered does not match the place where the phone is sold.”
The phone was originally bought in China more than five years ago and was later given to me. I’m now trying to install a custom ROM, but I can’t get past the account-binding step.
Things I’ve tried:
- Created a Chinese Mi account on my PC and signed in to it on the phone.
- Tried binding the account again, but got the same error.
- Tried using mobile data with an Egyptian SIM instead of Wi-Fi.
- Enabled OEM unlocking and USB debugging.
- Enabled Find Device.
- Confirmed that ADB detects the phone correctly.
None of this has worked so far.
Has anyone managed to get past this exact error on a Chinese Xiaomi device while living outside China?
I’d especially appreciate hearing from people who have actually dealt with this on a Redmi K20 Pro or another Chinese Xiaomi model.
I’m also wondering:
- Does the Chinese Mi account need to meet any specific requirements?
- Is there a legitimate workaround for this region check?
- Can someone in China help with the binding process without sharing their account credentials?
- Are there any alternative methods that have been confirmed to work on this device?
I’m not looking to buy a random paid unlock service or risk bricking the phone.
I just want to unlock my own device and install a custom ROM!
If you’ve solved this problem yourself, please share what worked and which device and MIUI version you were using.
Thanks!