- Xiaomi is making it harder to flash custom ROMs with its new policy.
- Users can now unlock the bootloader of only one device per year.
- This could immensely slow down custom ROM development; People are quite upset with this change.
Xiaomi may not be as synonymous with clean software experience as it is with custom ROMs in the community. Most Xiaomi devices have had exceptional third-party support in the community, but that could change with the firm’s latest policy that limits users from unlocking the bootloader of the device, a crucial prerequisite when installing a custom ROM.
Spotted first by XiaomiTime , Xiaomi has changed its bootloader unlock policy. The new policy restricts it to only one device a year , per account. This was previously 3 devices per year, per account. Not to mention, there was already a waiting period of 7 days before the unlock process could proceed.
Image Credit: XiaomiTime
The latest decision will certainly affect the developer and third-party ROM communities. That’s because, Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO phones are the most sought-after and high-priority devices for third-party developers. The new policy could immensely slow down the development process and lead to developers prioritizing some (popular) devices over others.
The development of custom ROMs has already taken a massive hit in the last few years due to Google’s Play Integrity API . Another reason is that manufacturers have also started providing more than 4 years of Android updates to their phones. As a custom ROM aficionado and someone who’s not a huge fan of Xiaomi’s software (like most people who flash custom ROMs), it’s disappointing to see Xiaomi indirectly disapproving the custom ROM community. I’m hopeful Xiaomi will take the criticism and will roll back this policy.
Custom ROMs are what keep popular Xiaomi devices like the POCO F1, Redmi K20, and some Redmi Note devices active. Most of them recently got Android 15 updates in the form of PixelOS, Project Elixir, LineageOS, and other popular custom ROMs . The new policy could lead to developers dropping support for older, relatively less popular devices.
Abubakar covers Tech at Beebom, with his passion for technology tracing back to 2011 when he received a Dell Inspiron 5100 as a gift. He’s also a passionate advocate for the right-to-repair movement, believing in empowering users to maintain and extend the life of their devices. Outside the tech world, he enjoys watching anime and exploring his newfound enthusiasm for Japanese cars. In his free time, you’ll often find him immersed in Genshin Impact or researching his next gadget purchase. Before joining Beebom, he contributed to leading publications like Android Police, How-To Geek, and Fossbytes.
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