Hi,
I am back again. I didn't want to bother you with my long posts until I made it. Still working on it, though.
@wally, as I said, my phone sent the SMS but get no response. I hadn't yet updated anything. I was chatting with the Xiaomi customer service and told me two things:

• Clear data/caché from "Settings" --> "Apps" --> "Manage apps" --> "Xiaomi SIM Activaton Service".
• Change "Settings" --> "Additional settings" --> "Languages and input" to other language, in my case to "English (UK)".

You can try it. I don't know if both are necessary, but were simple to accomplish and so did I. Tried again, SMS sent and paid, and MIXiaomi account was linked to my phone number.
Next step, was linking the account to "Settings" --> "Additional settings" --> "Developer options" --> "MIUnlockStatus". For this to work I had to turned off the "Find Device" option: "Settings" --> "MIAccount" --> "Xiaomi Cloud" --> "Find Device" --> Off. And it did the trick.
This is all like a puzzle, a jigsaw, an escape room ...
Still no luck, though. The device is still "deactivated".
Again Xiaomi customer service said that this matters are part of the "Xiaomi Community" and that I should asked there. I found an interesting post, that maybe everybody is aware of, but me. I asked it here before, but it seems that, yes, the unlock request must be made within this app. I made a Google account just to download the "Xiaomi Community" app. In the left lower icon, "ME, go to "Set up" and "Change region" to "Global". Go back to "ME" and "Unlock bootloader" will now be visible. Click on it and mine says "Account must be registered over 30 days".
I have mi fresh Xiaomi account, my fresh Google account and one week still to go ...

@wally I have read more carefully your first post and I think we are stuck in the same step.
At first I undertood you did not receive the SMS for linking the phone with the Xiaomi account. With all I have read lately I think I got the big picture.
I phoned Xiaomi support and I heard them typing looking for a generic and unrelated answer that I had already found by myself. Not a very high service standard.
For the SIM activation, MiAccount app sends a SMS. I checked with my carrier that esch try a SMS is sent (and of course, charged), alternatively, to a local mobile number and a local landline. I phoned these numbers and the former does not exist and the latter is disconnected or out of reach. I mailed Xiaomi asking about these numbers. I presume they will say that I must update MIUI, but I am reticent in case it makes more difficult to unlock the bootloader.
If they do not provide another way or phone number to send manually the SMS, I think I will have no other option than to update hoping that the correct phone numbers are also updated.

Well, 143 hours passed ... and unfortunately still no luck .
The MiUnlock app stops the process at 99%.

First the "Device Verified" ticks green. OK.

But at the end an error message shows: "This device is not activated. Activate it and try to unlock again".

My MI Account is linked to the phone and previously had verified it: "Congratulations! You can be assured the phone you have purchased is the official international version.".

My guess is that I do not have a SIM with a data plan, just calls. For linking the device to the account there was a statement: "Make sure your device can connect to the internet using mobile data." So I borrowed another SIM card, but typed my phone number to get the SMS.

Yesterday I tried to do the same, but still ""This device is not activated ...".

In my "Mi Unlock Status" the account and the device show, but there is another field for the SIM that states "Not verified". I change the phone recovery number to match that of the borrowed SIM card with the hope that it will change the state. Nope. I activate "Find my device" (I read it somewhere it was necessary) and let Xiaomi know where I am without wifi and the SIM data on. No luck. I also read somewhere that I also have to sync calls and messages with their cloud but it failed in all my attempts. I am not paranoid, but all this requisites and opening the File Manager app and read a message asking permission to share data or receive personalized ads its giving me the creeps. I need UBports right now .

I know that there is not any official information and all the requisites I see online seem different or, even, contradictory. I think that I will have to borrow the SIM card a bit longer, do some stuff with it and wait until Xiaomi recognizes I use it in this device. How long do you think it could take?

It was the cable. I used another one. Clicked on the gear at the top right side of the window. I clicked on "install driver" "check" button. A new window popped and ask to replug the phone. I did so and a spinning wheel indicated some activity and the phone was connected. I tried to unlock, the phone was verified, and i got a message asking to wait 143 hours. Next week if I am lucky I can be back on ubuntu-touch.
The first time I opened the MiUnlock app, I had to login in my account. I did so with and email and a verification code send to that account. Afterwards it asked to register the phone number and I got a SMS to that number almost instantly. SoI had no problem with that SMS verification.

Account set and paired to the phone.
@chromiumos-guy Honestly I didn't understand a word
@kln_nurv The last link provided by @wally states "At the end of 2024, Xiaomi will start to check the regions in which your Mi account is used. For example, if your phone or tablet is designed for the Chinese domestic market, you will only be able to unlock the bootloader with a Chinese account.
If you try to unlock the bootloader of a Chinese phone from a global account, you’ll get an error: ‘The place where the account is registered does not match the place where the phone is sold’."
I hope Global accounts don't have the weird limitations you mentioned.
The MiUnlock version from the Ubports devices site didn't work properly in my laptop, so I downloaded the last version from the last link provided by @wally. I can launch the app but cannot connect to the phone. "Mi Unlock not connected to the phone. Possible driver issue or incorrect application folder name. Also possible bad smartphone-PC connection due to poor quality cable." I guess it is the cable.
I realized that i skipped "Submitting an application through the Mi Community app.". Is it necessary?

Thanks @moem.
What a shame. All is to misleading.
So I guess I will link the phone to the Xisomi account, etc, etc. However my SIM card has not data. It has only calls. I rely on wifi. Why must it has data? This requirement is quite strange for an ignorant like me. Does not feel trustworthy.
Will keep you posted.

@wally this thread recommends GMT+8.
Today I got the phone. It's huge. I miss my 4.5" screen. Why do they make only big phones?
Anyway. It is a officially (xiaomi) refurbished phone. MIUI Global 12.0.8 Stable 12.0.8.0 (RJGEUXM) and Android 11 (RKQ1.200826.002). I have not update anything.
I created a Xiaomi account, but have not yet linked it to the phone. Digging in it, I switched and option called "OEM unlocking" (or something similar, my phone iz not in english). That's it? Is it alteady unlocked without any waiting nor SMS code required? Am I so lucky?
There are some USB options, but think I enabled the "USB Debugging" option.
There also is a "MyUnlockStatus" option but since requires some permissions I haven't accept them in case
As mentioned in the device description I downloaded MIUI Build V12.0.9.0.QJGMIXM. I have to learn how to flash it to the phone though. Would it be enough?

So, can one create a Syncthing shared folder and sync it between devices?

@wally In this other Reddit post a guy says that "... Xiaomi only allows 2000 people per day (unlock requests) which is ridiculous. Took me 3 more days of randomly opening the app & requesting an unlock. It finally happened. Very randomly."
I don't know if its true, but it can explain why some people get it and others don't without any reason.

Thanks @wally for your information.
I said 30 days, because apart from the 168 hour thing, one must have a Xiaomi account more than 30 days old. Which currently I had not.
I just bought it. Hope it works. I do not want to be stuck on Android.
With your information I kept searching and found that lots of people complain from no receiving the sms code. It seems a random issue between countries, attempts and the xiaomi unlock app version.
In this XDA forum, the last post is dated Apr 15, 2026 and a guy from Canada, finally, got the SMS. Hope you also are lucky this time.

Thank you @totalsonic
Actually I pretend to swap to ubports as soon as I get it, so I have no intention of upgrading anything.
In the meantime, the prices has increased, just as the plane flight websites do.
I will wait a little longer in case it drops again and I gather more information.

Thank you @Eric-H.
I am not very fond of social networks such as Telegram, Whatsapp, Instagram and the like. Hence I do not use them .
I haven't found in the web any topic regarding this issue.
I will wait in case someone pops up here with more information.
Thank you for the advice anyway.

Can anybody confirm this issue please?
It is getting more and more difficult to find spare parts for my BQ Aquaris E4.5. (Yes I am still sticking to it ).
I have found a second hand Poco X3 very affordable, but besides being a hassle to wait 30 days (because I have yet not a Xiaomi account), unfortunately I think is quite improbable that I visit China just to get a China region Xiaomi account.

Being the front camera and flash in the right upper corner, does not allow to see the clock.

@kugiigi Got it.
Thank you.

@kugiigi Although the device itself has not support for a wired external connection, would it be possible to achieve it through a slimport adapter?
Does this adapter provide the required hardware for any device?
I have been searching in the forum and found that the success with a slimport adapter is not a constant. It always depends ...

@kugiigi Got it! Thank you. It seems a lost battle though.

On the one hand, if the wireless mirroring is so disappointing I guess, and I understand, the developers will focus their efforts on more useful issues.

On the other hand, if wired mirroring depends on hardware, there is nothing to do, since it seems that the new promoted devices (except FP4) are not prepared for such feature.

I really miss convergence for a tablet. The only ones that have a wired mirroring feature are the old BQ Aquaris M10. I own a BQ E4.5 and Morph crashes a lot (although I will keep using it until its pieces fall apart). I suppose it is due to its low RAM, but I do not think a second hand BQ M10 will do better now. My presentations rely on HTML+CSS+JS so I would create a webapp with Weber, pointing to my presentations.

@domubpkm, on Jan 24th Volla wrote:
"We expect to start shipping the Volla Tablet with Ubuntu Touch at the end of the month. Ubuntu Touch runs perfectly on the device. We will provide two features with a system update:

• The easy installation and use of Ubuntu desktop apps with Ubuntu Touch Noble based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
• The support of VoLTE"

With the answer @DenMoore got, I wonder if you have to buy a tablet with Volla OS and then instal Ubuntu on it by yourself (via system update). In their shop you choose the OS but it seems that they will send you the same.
I would appreciate more transparency. This community will not be blinded by marketing but by specs and freedom. I do not mind delays and I prefer real facts.
@kugiigi, I pretend to project interactive presentations, in which I will draw and I will manipulate 3D models. A noticeable lagging is undesirable.
I mentioned wireless connection because the Lenovo Tab M10 HD 2nd Gen Wifi 4G/64GB has that feature. I prefer being free of wires, but if the connection has a noticeable lag, I would not mind a wired connection. However, as I see in the devices page, among all the phones only Fairphone 4 has that feature.
Will it be one or another (wireless or wired) be extended to the other devices?

Hi,
According to Volla, they already are shipping the Volla tablet.
I am interested in the "Wireless External Monitor" feature. Currently it is not working on their phones. The tablet does not have its page in ubports website, so I asked Volla and their answered saying that the devs were working on it.
Does anyone know (@TheKit @deathmist ) if this feature is in a "priority" list or it is considered secondary/difficult to address now?
Does anyone already receive it? Please, share your opinions. Thank you.

Take a look to this and this old posts.
Maybe your issue is related to what they described.