How to change the password on the smartphone Xiaomi: all the ways (2026)

Why it’s important to change your passwords on Xiaomi regularly

Xiaomi smartphones store a huge amount of sensitive information, from personal photos to banking apps. Even if you are confident in the security of your device, changing passwords regularly is not paranoia, but a reasonable precaution. In 2023, researchers at Kaspersky recorded a 37% increase in attacks on Android devices, and Xiaomi was no exception.

The manufacturer has integrated into MIUI There are several layers of protection, but their effectiveness depends on the user's actions. 4 slam-sniff 15 with the help of special algorithms, and simple PIN-code "1234" or "0000" — In a matter of seconds, changing passwords every time. 3-6 You can reduce the risk of unauthorized access to data even if you lose your phone.

Special attention should be paid to the Mi Account, which is tied not only to the smartphone, but also to the Xiaomi ecosystem (smart watches, lamps, robot vacuum cleaners). If an attacker gains access to it, he can remotely block devices or buy goods through the Mi Store at your expense. Next, we will analyze all possible scenarios for changing passwords from the lock screen to the account.

Change the screen unlock password (PIN, pattern lock, password)

This is the most common type of protection that users change most often. In MIUI 14 and later, the process is unified for all models, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. The main rule is: do not use birth dates, repeating numbers or simple combinations like “qwerty”.

To change the current way of unlocking:

1. Open the Settings. → Passwords and security.
2. Select Screen Lock (may be called Screen Protection on older versions).
3. Enter the current password/PIN/key to confirm.
4. Click Change Password (or Change Lock Method).
5. Choose a new type of protection: 🔢 PIN-code (minimum 4 digits, recommended 6)+) 🔑 Password (combination of letters, numbers and symbols) 📊 pattern lock (minimum 4 points, preferably 6)+) 👤 Password-free (not recommended)

Follow the system’s prompts to create and confirm a new password.

Current battery charge > 20%

Connecting to Wi-Fi or mobile internet

Absence of important notifications (bank, messengers)

Synchronization of contacts with Mi Cloud

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On models with a fingerprint scanner (Xiaomi 13T Pro, POCO F5), you will have to re-register fingerprints after changing your password, which is because biometrics are encrypted with a link to your current lock code, and if you forget your old password, go to the reset section, which describes legal ways to bypass the security.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global 13.0.4) after three failed password attempts, the system requires you to wait 30 seconds before the next attempt. If you entered the wrong password 10 times, the phone will lock for 24 hours or require you to enter data from your Mi Account.

How to change your password from your Mi Account (Xiaomi Account)

The Mi Account is a single account for all Xiaomi devices, including smartphones, Mi Band smartwatches, and even electric scooters. Its password changes not in the phone settings, but through the company's official service. Importantly, if you use two-factor authentication (2FA), you will need a code from an SMS or an authenticator application to change your password.

Step-by-step:

1. Open your browser on your phone or computer and go to account.xiaomi.com.
2. Log in with your current login and password.
3. In the menu, select Personal Data → Security → Password.
4. Enter the current password for confirmation.
5. Create a new password (requirements: 🔤 Minimum 8 characters 🔢 At least one number. 🔤 At least one capital letter. 🔤 At least one special symbol (!@#$%^&*)

Confirm the change via SMS or authenticator app (if 2FA is enabled).

If you have forgotten your Mi Account password, you can restore it via your email or phone number, but be careful: when you restore it via SMS, the code may come with a delay of up to 10 minutes due to carrier restrictions in some countries (for example, India or Indonesia), in which case you can try to request the code again or use a backup email.

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Create a backup code for your Mi Account in your security settings, which will come in handy if you lose access to basic authentication methods (for example, change your phone number).

Resetting the password if you forget the current one

Users who forget their lock screen password are more likely than they think, and one in five people, according to service centers, has a problem with it. Fortunately, Xiaomi has a number of ways to reset, but all require proof of ownership of the device.

Basic methods:

• 📱 Through Mi Account (if the phone is linked to the account): After 5 failed attempts of entering, the button Forgot the password will appear?. Enter the username and password from the Mi Account. Follow the instructions for resetting the screen password.
• 🔧 Recovery mode: Turn off your phone. Press the power button. + Volume up before the Mi logo appears. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (Volume button control, Power button confirmation) Once rebooted, the phone will be as new (all data will be deleted!).
• 💻 Through Mi Unlock Tool (for advanced users): Download the official utility from the Xiaomi website. Sign in to your Mi Account. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode. + Volume down. Follow the instructions of the unlocking program.

⚠️ Note: Mi Unlock Tool only works if you previously linked your Mi Account to your phone and waited 72 hours (on new devices) or 7 days (on old ones.

Once a month

Every 3-6 months

Once a year.

Only when I forget.

Never change.

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Features of changing the password on different models Xiaomi

While MIUI is looking for unification, some models have unique nuances. For example, on the POCO F4 GT with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, password resetting via Recovery takes 20% longer because of additional firmware signature verification. And on the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G, when changing your Mi Account password, you may need confirmation through Mi Security Center, a built-in security monitoring app.

On pure Android devices (such as Xiaomi 12T for the European market), the path to password settings is different: Settings → Security → Screen Lock. There is no binding to a Mi Account, but there is integration with Google Smart Lock – a feature that automatically unlocks the phone in trusted places (such as at home or at work).

Additional security measures after changing the password

Changing your password is just the first step. To protect your Xiaomi as much as possible, do the following:

• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version: new firmware patches vulnerabilities that allow you to bypass the lock through exploits (for example, CVE-2023-2117 into MIUI 12.5).
• 🛡️ Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) For Mi Account: Even if an attacker learns the password, they will need physical access to your phone or email.
• 📱 Set up Find Device, which will allow you to remotely block or erase data if your phone gets lost. → Passwords and security → Find the device.
• 🔐 Use a password manager (such as Bitwarden or KeePassDX) to generate and store complex passwords. MIUI There is a built-in manager, but it syncs only with the Mi Account.

On models with an infrared port (Xiaomi 11T Pro, Redmi Note 10 Pro) after changing the password, you may need to reconfigure the remotes in the Mi Remote application. This is due to the fact that some data is encrypted with reference to the current lock code.

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Never use the same password for your Mi Account and lock screen, and if you leak your data, an attacker will have full control of your device.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users experience problems changing their passwords because of common mistakes, and here are the most common ones and ways to prevent them:

• ❌ Entering the old password with an error: the system can block attempts for 24 hours.Solution: Use the "Show password" button (eye in the input field) to avoid typos.
• ❌ Ignoring backup code: If you do not save the backup code of your Mi Account, recovery can take up to 3 days (supported request processing time).
• ❌ Recovery reset without backup: Many forget that Wipe Data deletes all data, including photos in internal memory.Solution: pre-copy important files on a PC or to the cloud.
• ❌ Use of informal firmware: on custom ROM (For example, LineageOS, a password reset can cause a device to "break" (break) Solution: install only official firmware through the Mi Flash Tool.