The situation when the owner of a Xiaomi smartphone forgets the previously set password to log into individual applications is quite common. The protective mechanisms of the MIUI or HyperOS shell can be too strict, blocking access to messengers, gallery or banking services after several unsuccessful attempts to enter. The user is faced with a screen requiring a code, pattern lock or fingerprint, which for some reason has ceased to be accepted by the system.
There are several proven ways to solve this problem, from a regular reset via Mi Account to radical measures like a complete reset, which depends on the version of the operating system, whether the root rights are available, and whether the device remembers biometrics. In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithms for various lock scenarios.
Itโs important to understand that modern versions of Android place a lot of emphasis on data security, so simply โresettingโ an appโs password without verifying the identity of the owner may not be possible without losing the appโs data. Backing up important information should be a priority before you start experimenting with system settings.
If you've just forgotten the code, but you remember the pattern lock, or vice versa, try to remember what data was used when you installed the security. Often users confuse the Mi Account password with the local application lock code, and the distinction between these concepts is critical to choosing the right path to restore access.
Staff Reset Method Through Security Settings
The safest and easiest way to unlock applications on Xiaomi is to use the built-in recovery feature if it was pre-configured. The system allows you to link the recovery of access to your Mi Account or phone number. To do this, you need to click on the password entry screen on the link "Forgot password" or similar inscription, which is usually at the bottom of the input form.
Once you click, the system will prompt you to log in to your Mi Account, which is necessary to confirm that the device is owned by the owner of the profile. If you remember the login data, the process will take no more than a minute. SMS-message sent to the linked number.
โ ๏ธ Note: If you have changed SIM-card after setting a password to the application and not updated the data in the security settings, method with SMS-The code will not work, so you only have to log in through your Mi Account.
If you are successful, the system will suggest creating a new password or disabling protection for selected applications completely. It is recommended to write a new code in a safe place or use a password manager. You should not use too simple combinations like "1234" or date of birth, as this reduces the level of cybersecurity of your device.
If the standard path doesnโt work, it may have crashed or been disabled before, and itโs worth checking if Find Device is activated, which is often a prerequisite for remote or alternative resetting.
Use of the "Find the device" function
Xiaomiโs Find Device service is a powerful tool that not only tracks the location of a smartphone, but also manages security settings. If access to applications is blocked and the password is forgotten, sometimes switching the security status through a web interface or another device authorized in the same account helps.
First, you need to go to the official i.mi.com website from your computer or other phone. Log in, select a locked device from the list. In the management menu, find the section related to app lock or loss mode. While direct password removal from a particular application is rare, activating Lost mode can temporarily change security priorities.
- ๐ Sign in to your Mi Account on the service website.
- ๐ฑ Select your device in the list of connected gadgets.
- ๐ Try changing your screen lock settings, which sometimes resets and app protection.
- โ๏ธ Check the security status in the profile settings section.
This method doesnโt work on all versions of MIUI, as privacy policies change all the time, but trying to log in from a new device can force you to sync your security settings and remove local password conflicts, especially if youโve recently changed your Mi Account password.
Why can the Find Device service not work?
Reset via Recovery Mode (Recovery Mode)
If the software methods don't work, you can use the recovery menu, which is more radical and requires caution. Recovery Mode on Xiaomi is logged in by a combination of buttons when the phone is off, usually by pressing the volume button and the power button at the same time.
In the recovery menu, you can navigate with volume buttons and you can choose with the power button, and we need to find a cleanup item, but remember, a standard Recovery reset will remove all the data from your phone, including photos, contacts and apps, and the password from the apps will be removed, but the price of that is a complete memory cleanup.
Volume Up + Power -> Recovery Mode -> Wipe Data -> Wipe All DataBefore you do this, make sure you have a fresh backup. If your phone is linked to a Google or Mi Account, you will need to enter the username and password from those accounts to unlock (FRP protection) after the reset.
โ๏ธ Preparing for resetting through Recovery
Application of debugging by USB and ADB
For advanced users who have had pre-bugging enabled over USB, there is a method to delete password configuration files via a computer that does not require root rights, but requires an installed ADB driver and minimal command-line knowledge, the essence of the method is to delete system files that store lock password hashes.
First, connect your smartphone to your computer through USB-Open the command line on your PC and type in a command to check the connection. If the device is determined, you can move to delete the security files. The path to the files may vary depending on the version of Android, but most often they are in the directory. /data/system/.
You need to delete files with names that contain the words gesture, password or locksettings. After deleting files, you need to restart the device. The password should disappear, since the system will not find a file to compare the entered data.
| ADB Team Team | Description of action | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|
| adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key | Deletion of the pattern lock | Low. |
| adb shell rm /data/system/password.key | Deletion of the digital password | Low. |
| adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db | Removing the database of lock settings | Medium. |
| adb reboot | Rebooting the device | No. |
โ ๏ธ Note: On modern versions of Android (11 and above) access to section /data/system/ without root rights, it is often closed even when debugging is enabled, in which case the commands will return the error "Permission denied".
Use of third-party utilities and launchers
If the built-in tools fail to remove protection, you can try to bypass the lock by installing an alternative launcher or using special utilities, which works if the application blocker does not block the installation of new programs from unknown sources or if you have access to settings through a voice assistant.
One popular but not always working trick is installing a launcher that intercepts desktop control. If Xiaomi's application blocker has a vulnerability in detecting an active window, the new launcher can allow access to the settings menu, and there, in the Application section, you can find the blocked application and clear its data.
- ๐ Download. APK-Third-party launcher file (e.g. Nova Launcher).
- ๐ฅ Install it through a file manager or browser.
- โ๏ธ When you start, select a new launcher by default.
- ๐๏ธ Go to the settings and clear the app blocker cache.
There are also special programs for PCs that can unlock locks, but using such software often carries the risk of viruses or identity theft. Official tools from Xiaomi are always safer than dubious utilities from unknown developers.
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If you have a Xiaomi smartwatch or bracelet, try unlocking your phone through it.Sometimes the Smart Lock feature lets you bypass app passwords if the device is worn on your wrist and is within Bluetooth radius.
Radical measures: Full reset (Hard Reset)
When all methods are exhausted, and access to important data inside the applications is not critical (or there is a backup), the last option is a complete reset to factory settings. This is guaranteed to remove the password from the applications, as it will delete the application itself and all its settings.
Hard Reset can be executed via the Recovery menu, as mentioned earlier, or through special codes if the phone responds to input. ##7780### in some versions of MIUI causes a settings reset menu without deleting personal files, but the application password can be saved, so full Wipe Data is more reliable.
Once reset, you'll need to reconfigure your phone, pick a language, connect to Wi-Fi, log in to your Google account and Mi Account, and all apps will have to be downloaded from GetApps or Play Market, which takes time, but is the only 100% way to regain control of your device when you forget your password.
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A full reset is a guarantee of password removal, but the price of the issue is the loss of all data on the internal drive if no backup to the cloud was made.