bricked: I get "this system version can't be installed on this device" after trying to go back to official ROM

[JorgeXiaomiMi12Pro]

Hi, I have a Xiaomi Mi 12 Pro (model 2201122G) and I unlocked the bootloader and flashed the custom xiaomi.eu ROM xiaomi.eu_ZEUS_OS2.0.208.0.VLBCNXM_15. That worked well and I have been using that ROM for a while.

Today I tried to flash the official ROM zeus_global_images_OS2.0.206.0.VLBMIXM_15.0 and ran the "flash_all_lock.bat" to flash it and lock the bootloader because I want to go back to a stock OS state to pass Google Play Protection certification. However, when the phone boots, it goes to the recovery screen and it says: "this system version can't be installed on this device"

Is that because the xiaomi.eu ROM version I had before was 2.0.208.0 and then I downgraded to the official rom 2.0.206.0?

If so, is there a way I can unlock the bootloader again so that I can at least re-flash my v2.0.208 custom rom ?

 

[Igor Eisberg]

Perhaps your device didn't have a normal Global ROM...
Boot to fastboot and try to unlock it with Mi Unlock and the same account you used in the first unlocking.

 

[Kacper Skrzypek]

"this system version can't be installed on this device"

Very likely you have China phone, not Global one, so it can't run, in normal cases, Global ROM on locked bootloader.

 

[JorgeXiaomiMi12Pro]

Perhaps your device didn't have a normal Global ROM...
Boot to fastboot and try to unlock it with Mi Unlock and the same account you used in the first unlocking.

I tried to unlock but it's complaining that the region doesn't match. This was not an issue the first time I unlocked it (I have a United States account and the phone came with Global ROM) but now I think the region doesn't match since I had the xiaomi.eu which is China-based but my account is still USA.

 

[JorgeXiaomiMi12Pro]

Very likely you have China phone, not Global one, so it can't run, in normal cases, Global ROM on locked bootloader.

When the phone was working, I saw in the about section that it said the model number is "2201122G". In that case, it should be a Global hardware phone right?

 

[Igor Eisberg]

When the phone was working, I saw in the about section that it said the model number is "2201122G". In that case, it should be a Global hardware phone right?

The model number is set in the ROM, not your hardware. The sad news for you is that you have the Chinese model, which means you won't be unlocking it yourself.
You can try your luck with a paid unofficial/gray market solution.

 

[JorgeXiaomiMi12Pro]

The model number is set in the ROM, not your hardware. The sad news for you is that you have the Chinese model, which means you won't be unlocking it yourself.
You can try your luck with a paid unofficial/gray market solution.

Oh I see you're right! I found the original box and it says 220122C. Is there a way to find the real model number besides the box?

Also, if I do have the Chinese model, then I dont understand why I was able to unlock the bootloader before and not now... I had the same USA Mi account back then

 

[Igor Eisberg]

Oh I see you're right! I found the original box and it says 220122C. Is there a way to find the real model number besides the box?

The model number - no, but the hardware region - yes.
With ADB:

adb shell getprop ro.boot.hwc

With Fastboot:

fastboot oem hwid

Also, if I do have the Chinese model, then I dont understand why I was able to unlock the bootloader before and not now... I had the same USA Mi account back then

Because Xiaomi changed their unlocking policy a year ago.

 

[JorgeXiaomiMi12Pro]

Thanks!

Because Xiaomi changed their unlocking policy a year ago.

Damn, I guess I lucked out back in 2023 when I unlocked it without even realizing it...
I just sent an email to Xiaomi support to see if they can override the region mismatch error when unlocking.

Otherwise, the paid gray market solution you mean is to use Xiaomi Pro Tool? or what do you recommend?

 

[Igor Eisberg]

Otherwise, the paid gray market solution you mean is to use Xiaomi Pro Tool? or what do you recommend?

No. I don't recommend anything. It's fishy business and I'm not getting involved.