The original buyer purchased the device on installments and defaulted, then sold it to you illegally. You are a victim of fraud. You cannot unlock it without the original buyer’s cooperation. Contact the reseller for a refund and report them to the police.
You might see this error even if you think you paid on time. Here are the most common triggers:
You must pay the overdue amount in full. Do not pay partial. The original buyer purchased the device on installments
When you buy a Xiaomi phone, particularly budget or mid-range models like the Redmi series, on a installment plan or operator contract, it may be managed by the Xiaomi Financing Lock .
Confirm with the bank that the payment went through. Contact the reseller for a refund and report
The financing partner's server fails to sync a payment confirmation.
Disclaimer: Attempting to bypass a financial lock using unauthorized third-party software may void your device warranty, violate regional laws, or permanently brick the phone. 🔴FIx *This Device is Locked* Mi Account Problem Do not pay partial
This does NOT remove the lock. It only wipes your data. After reset, when you connect to the internet, the lock reappears. Useless for finance locks.
While often used for unlocking bootloaders, the official Mi Unlock Tool will not remove a financing lock, as the server will recognize the financial restriction.
If you are currently staring at this lock screen, start with Step 1: check your payment status. In 90% of cases, paying the overdue amount and waiting 24 hours will restore full access. For the remaining 10%—especially second-hand buyers—the solution is more painful but possible.
Always verify the IMEI number of a secondhand phone before purchasing. Ensure it is entirely paid off and free of active finance contracts.