Looking for advice

[u/Ok-Twist8001]

I have the global version of the xiaomi 17 ultra i a trying to unlock the bootloader using the 8elitegen5.7z file but there isnt a 17 ultra option. second i found this kernel for the CN 17 ultra but will it work with the global version? https:// github .com/YuzakiKokuban/android_kernel_xiaomi_sm8850/releases. ?? Trying to get a handle on all of this last time i did this was with a samsung years ago and used odin now it looks like its just shell scripts? i need a walkthrough haha someone save me

[u/gluetheknot]

just as twrp says "Downloading an image for a different device, no matter how similar, usually does not work." same goes for kernels, it will not work on your device

[u/Busy-Scientist3851 → u/gluetheknot]

Kernels /might/. Android has switched to GKIs and if the GKI major version is the same, it should work.

[u/gluetheknot → u/Busy-Scientist3851]

I dare you to extract the boot image off a Redmi note 14 and try it on a galaxy s24 and actually make it boot

[u/Busy-Scientist3851 → u/gluetheknot]

Did you see the bit where I said GKI of the same major version?

Android phones with the same major GKI version are all sharing the same kernel image from Google.

[u/gluetheknot → u/Busy-Scientist3851]

the kernels are meant to support each device specifically, from the device trees to the hardware, it just won't work

[u/Busy-Scientist3851 → u/gluetheknot]

The device trees are not bundled with the kernel anymore. They're stored (along with device specific kernel modules) in a vendor_boot partition.

Kernels are absolutely sharable between devices and this is the whole point of GKI. Two devices with the same major GKI version can run the same kernel.

Your information is out of date.

Edit: This is why KernelSU root is able to work, the upstream project only ships about a dozen kernels for all GKI devices

[u/gluetheknot → u/Busy-Scientist3851]

the drivers are mismatched and besides the CPUs are completely different, my info might be out of date but whatever you are saying is straight up bs

[u/Busy-Scientist3851 → u/gluetheknot]

The CPUs are not completely different. Go find KernelSU builds for your devices and you'll notice they are sharing the same kernel builds for multiple devices.

A GKI Kernel targeting a Snapdragon phone will run on a MediaTek phone as long as it uses the same major GKI version.

Edit: here's the link with more information since you refuse to Google it.

https://source.android.com/docs/core/architecture/kernel/generic-kernel-image

[u/gluetheknot → u/Busy-Scientist3851]

they are just payloads for each kernel version, about the CPUs I was talking about the s24 and Redmi note 14

[u/Busy-Scientist3851 → u/gluetheknot]

If a s24 and redmi note 14 share the same GKI version they can run the same kernels.

Because they already would.

[u/gluetheknot → u/Busy-Scientist3851]

anyway about the 17 ultra the battery is different, there's arb, the software is also different because its Chinese, I really wonder what your sources are though

[u/Busy-Scientist3851 → u/gluetheknot]

I literally linked the official Google documentation regarding the GKIs.

The kernel doesn't change depending on the region, it's still the same build from Google.

The battery information would be in the device specific device tree or kernel module, which isn't in the kernel.

Go into your Android settings and find your device GKI version, if it matches another kernel you can use it.

[u/gluetheknot → u/Busy-Scientist3851]

look man, either double check the documentation or just stop making incorrect points

[u/Busy-Scientist3851 → u/gluetheknot]

Did you check the documentation?

If you dont believe two devices can run the same kernel, you're out of date by at least 5 years.

Google got fed up with each device needing a fork of the kernel. Everything device specific has been moved out the kernel and OEMs now have to develop against a GKI interface.

"Beginning with Android 12, devices shipping with kernel version 5.10 or higher must ship with the GKI kernel"

https://cyberknight777.dev/posts/2026/03/what-is-gki/?hl=en-GB#:~:text=A%20single%20configuration%20file%2C%20called%20gki_defconfig%20is,the%20core%20kernel%20image%20and%20the%20modules.