How to change the password on Xiaomi: all the ways for smartphones and Mi Account

Why Change Your Password to Xiaomi and When You Need to

Changing your password on Xiaomi devices is not just a recommendation, it's a critical security measure. Even if you're sure your current password is secure, there are situations where it becomes mandatory to update it, such as after you buy a used Redmi or POCO smartphone, if you suspect a data breach, or if you've given your phone to repair. Statistics show that more than 30 percent of users experience unauthorized access to their Mi Account accounts — a direct route to leaking personal photos, payment data, and even remote device lockdown.

The peculiarity of the Xiaomi ecosystem is that the password is used not only to unlock the screen, but also to synchronize data between devices (for example, between a smartphone and the Mi Band), access to the Mi Cloud cloud storage, as well as to confirm payments through Mi Pay. If you use the same password on several services (which is categorically not recommended), its compromise can lead to a chain reaction of hacking all your accounts.

Another nuance is that Xiaomi devices with MIUI 14+ automatically reset all active sessions on other devices when you change your Mi Account password, which means that if you forget the new password, you will have to verify your identity through your linked email or phone number, so make sure you have access to backup contacts before changing.

How to change the screen unlock password on Xiaomi

The screen unlock password (or PIN-The code, the pattern lock, is the first barrier to protecting your smartphone, and it takes less than a minute to change, but it requires knowing the current password, and if you forget it, you'll have to reset it to the factory settings, which will delete all the data. MIUI 12–16:

Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
Go to the Passwords and Security section.
Select Screen Lock → Lock screen password.
Enter the current password/PIN/pattern lock for confirmation.
Select a new type of lock (an alphanumeric password of at least 8 characters is recommended).
Create and enter a new password twice.

On the POCO F5 and Redmi Note 12 models with MIUI 14, after changing your password, the system will offer to enable Auto Unlock over Bluetooth (for example, when connecting to a Mi Watch smartwatch).

Make sure your phone is at least 50% charged

Remember or write down the current password

Disable VPN (can block access to Xiaomi servers)

Check your Internet connection (required to sync with Mi Account)

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If you use a pattern lock, remember that on Xiaomi it is limited to 9 points, and it can be selected in 10-15 minutes using special programs. Therefore, for devices with important data (for example, Black Shark 5 Pro with banking applications), it is better to choose a complex alphanumeric password.

Changing the Mi Account password via smartphone

Mi Account is a single account for all Xiaomi devices, and its password must be changed separately from the screen unlock password. If you forget your account password, you can only restore it via the attached email or phone, and the process can take up to 24 hours due to security checks. To avoid blocking, follow this instruction:

Open Settings → Xiaomi account (at the top of the screen).
Click on the profile avatar or the Manage Mi Account line.
Select Account Security → Password.
Enter the current password for confirmation.
Create a new password (minimum length – 8 characters, the presence of letters and numbers is required).
Confirm the change via SMS or email (code will come to the attached contact).

Starting with MIUI 13, Xiaomi introduced two-factor authentication (2FA) to change your password.This means that even if an attacker learns your password, they can’t change it without accessing your phone or email.

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If you sell or transfer a smartphone to another person, first untie Mi Account in the settings. Otherwise, the new owner will not be able to use the device due to the link to your account (Find Device will lock the phone).

Once you change your Mi Account password, all devices (smartphone, tablet, Mi Band, Mi TV) will be automatically logged off, and you will have to re-enter login data, but this is a necessary measure to prevent leaks.

What to do if you forget your Xiaomi password

Forgotten passwords are one of the most common problems among Xiaomi users, and service centers say that about 40 percent of the calls are connected to unlocking devices, depending on which password you forgot:

🔒 Lock screen password: You can reset via Mi Account if the device is connected to the Internet and is tied to the account. To do this, click on the lock screen Forgot the password? and follow the instructions. If there is no Internet, only hard reset (reset to factory settings).
📧 Mi Account password: restore via account.xiaomi.com. You will need access to an email or phone linked to your account. If you do not have one, contact Xiaomi with documents proving ownership of the device.
🔐 Password from apps (such as Gallery or Notes): reset via Settings → Annexes → Select an application → Warehouse → Clear the data. Please note that this will delete all the data inside the application!

The most radical way is to reset to factory settings via Recovery Mode. However, devices with MIUI 12+ may require data entry from the Mi Account that was tied to the phone after a reset, a measure against theft, but it also makes life difficult for legitimate owners who have forgotten their account details.

What happens if you enter your password 10 times incorrectly?

On Xiaomi, after 5 failed attempts to enter the screen password, a delay timer (from 30 seconds to 24 hours) appears. After 10 attempts, the device can completely lock and require a reset via Mi Account or Recovery Mode. On some models (for example, Redmi K50), after 15 attempts, the Anti-Theft function is activated, and you can only unlock the phone using the original box and the purchase check.

If you bought a used Xiaomi smartphone and the previous owner did not untie his Mi Account, you can unlock the device only through the official service center. Independent attempts to bypass the protection (for example, through firmware) lead to blocking IMEI, after which the phone becomes a “brick”.

How to Protect Your Xiaomi After Changing Your Password

Changing your password is just the first step to security, and to minimize the risk of being hacked, follow these guidelines:

🛡️ Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) This will add an additional layer of protection when you sign in from new devices.
🔄 Update regularly MIUI. New firmware versions close vulnerabilities that can be used to bypass passwords. Check the version's relevance in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
📱 Set up backup unlocking methods: fingerprint, facial recognition (but remember that it can be fooled by a photo on some models).
🌐 Use it. VPN When you log in to Mi Account via public networks (such as cafes or airports), this will protect against data interception.

Pay special attention to Find Device, which allows you to remotely lock your phone or erase data, but if you don't activate it, you lose control of your device if you lose or steal it.

Settings → Xiaomi Account → Find Device → Enable

Also check which devices have access to your Mi Account.Delete any unknown or outdated gadgets:

Settings → Xiaomi Account → Account Management → Devices

Once a month

Six months

Only if I forgot.

Never changed.

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Common mistakes when changing your password to Xiaomi

Many users make critical errors that lead to account locking or data loss, the most common of which are:

Mistake.	Effects of consequences	How to avoid
Use a simple password (e.g., “123456” or date of birth)	Easy selection by attackers, blocking the account	Use a combination of letters, numbers and symbols (e.g. k7L!p9@m2)
Forgetting a backup email/phone	Impossibility of account recovery when password is lost	Check the relevance of contacts in Settings → Xiaomi Account → Security
Resetting settings without detachment Mi Account	Locking the phone (requires data entry of the previous owner)	Always untie your account before resetting to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Sign out
Ignoring MIUI updates	Vulnerabilities in old firmware allow you to bypass password	Enable automatic update in Settings → About the phone

Another common problem is password conflict, for example, you can use one password to unlock the screen, another for Mi Account, and a third for applications like Mi Home or Mi Fit, which confuses users, especially if the passwords are similar. Solution: use a password manager (like Bitwarden or KeePass) to store all the combinations.

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Never store Xiaomi passwords in notes on your phone or in cloud services (like Google Drive).If an attacker gains access to your device, they can hack all your accounts.

On devices with MIUI for POCO (such as the POCO X5 Pro), some features such as Game Turbo or Second Space may be lost after changing your password, due to a security reboot. To return functionality, restart your phone or update your firmware.

Additional security measures for Xiaomi

Besides changing your password, there are a few hidden MIUI features that increase your device’s security:

🔐 Secure folder: allows you to hide files behind additional PIN-Included in Settings. → Passwords and security → Even if someone unlocks your phone, they won't see the files in that folder.
📱 Second Space: Creates a separate work profile with its own passwords and data, useful if multiple people use the phone. → Special facilities → Second space.
🛡️ Protection against malicious applications: in Settings → Passwords and security → Virus protection, turn on real-time scanning, and that prevents you from installing password-stealing software.
🔄 Automatic locking SIM-Cards: If someone takes yours out SIM-card, phone locks. Settings are included. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Lockdown SIM-map.

On Qualcomm Snapdragon devices (such as Xiaomi 13 or Redmi K60), there is a hardware protection called TrustZone, which encrypts critical data (including passwords) at the processor level, but this function only works when the device is encrypted on, to activate it:

Settings → Additional → Encryption and credentials → Encrypt the phone

Remember, even the most secure passwords are useless if you install applications from unverified sources. MIUI default lock-in APK-files, but many users are turning off this protection to get it back:

Settings → Applications → Special access → Installation of unknown applications

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing your password to Xiaomi

Can I change my password to Xiaomi without accessing my old password?

If you're talking about lock screen passwords, no, you'll need to reset to factory settings (with loss of data). If you're talking about Mi Account passwords, restore them via email or phone linked to your account. Without access to them, contact Xiaomi with documents on your device.

How long does it take to change your Mi Account password?

The procedure takes 1-2 minutes, but once you change your password, all devices will log off and you will have to log in to each account again, and you may need to confirm via SMS/email, which adds another 1-5 minutes.

Why did some features (e.g. Mi Pay)?summary> This is due to a reboot of MIUI security services. Restart your phone or update the app where the problem occurred. If the error persists, delete and re-add the account in the app settings.

Can I use the same password for the lock screen and Mi Account?

Technically, yes, but it's highly discouraged, because if an attacker learns this password, they'll have full control over your phone and your account, and use different combinations and password manager to store them.

What if Xiaomi asks for the old Mi Account password after resetting?

This is Factory Reset Protection (FRP) function. If your phone was yours, enter your Mi Account. If the used device is yours, contact the previous owner to untie the account, and if you don't, you can only unlock the phone through the official Xiaomi service center.