Xiaomi’s ‘This Device Is Locked’: 5 Ways to Unlock in 2026

The message “This device is locked. Unlock now” on the screen of Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO is one of the most frightening mistakes for owners, it appears after a reset, a failed firmware or buying a used device with a previous owner’s account tied. 90% of the time the problem is related to the Mi Account lock, but there are other reasons, from hardware malfunctions to errors in the bootloader.

In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to unlock Xiaomi in 2026, including official methods through the Mi Unlock Tool, bypass locking in Fastboot and EDL mode, as well as the nuances of working with devices on Qualcomm and Mediatek processors.

Why is there a “This device is locked” error?

The message of locking the device can occur in three main scenarios:

• 🔒 Mi Account locking is the most common case, which occurs when the smartphone was tied to a Xiaomi account and was not untied after the Hard Reset.
• 🔧 bootloader error – appears after a failed firmware, interrupted update or manipulation of Fastboot.
• 📱 Hardware locking is a rare case where the problem is caused by damage to an eMMC chip or memory controller.

On Xiaomi devices from 2020 to 2026, the lock can be activated even after the motherboard is replaced if the new module was not properly linked to the account, due to the company’s anti-theft policy.

Redmi Note 10/11/12|POCO X3/X4/X5|Mi 11/12/13|Redmi 9/10/13C|Another model-->

It is important to distinguish this device is locked from other errors:

• ❌ This device is corrupted – firmware damage, requires flashing.
• ❌ Device is locked by FRP — Google Blocking (solved by bypassing) FRP).
• ✅ This device is locked. Unlock now - Mi Account lock (our case).

Method 1: Unlocking with Mi Account (official method)

If you know the account data that your smartphone is attached to, it takes no more than 5 minutes to unlock, which works on all Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO devices released after 2018.

Step-by-step:

1. On the lock screen, select Unlock now (or Unlock in English).
2. Enter the email or phone number associated with the Mi Account.
3. Please provide your password. If you forgot, restore it through the official website.
4. Confirm unlocking via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
5. Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 2 minutes).

If the device is not connected to the Internet, connect it to Wi-Fi or insert it. SIM-Mobile Internet card. Unlocking is impossible without the network.

Check the correct input. email/phone|Make sure that CAPS LOCK switched off|Try to restore the password.|Check your internet connection|Restart the device and try again.-->

⚠️ Note: If the smartphone was purchased from hand and the previous owner did not untie the account, official unlocking is impossible without his participation.

Method 2: Unlocking via Fastboot (for advanced users)

If you don’t know the Mi Account data, but you have access to Fastboot mode, you can try bypassing the lock using the Mi Unlock Tool, the official utility from Xiaomi. This method only works on devices with an unlocked bootloader (OEM Unlock).

Requirements:

• 🖥️ Windows computer 7/10/11 (On macOS and Linux, the utility may not work).
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 📱 Fastboot Mode enabled (click Power) + Vol− off-phone).
• 🔓 Permission to unlock the bootloader (if not previously unlocked).

Instructions:

1. Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website.
2. Install Xiaomi drivers (if Windows doesn’t find them automatically, download Mi Phone Manager).
3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode to your PC.
4. Start MiUnlock.exe and log in to your Mi Account (should match your phone account!).
5. Press Unlock and wait until the process is complete (it can take up to 10 minutes).

If the utility gives you a Couldn’t unlock error, try:

• 🔄 Reconnect. USB-cable.
• 🔧 Disable the antivirus (it can block the utility).
• 📥 Download an older version of the Mi Unlock Tool (e.g. 5.5.224.24).

⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader resets all data on the device!If the phone had important files, their recovery after this procedure is unlikely.

Method 3: Bypassing a lock via EDL (Emergency Download Mode)

EDL (Emergency Boot) mode is the deepest level of device access that allows you to flash a smartphone even with a locked bootloader.This method is suitable for devices on Qualcomm (most Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO) and requires special equipment or knowledge of commands.

Warning: The wrong actions in EDL can turn your phone into a brick! if you're unsure of your skills, it's best to turn to the service.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Windows PC and Qualcomm Drivers Installed HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
• 📂 Firmware for your model (you can download it on Xiaomi Firmware Updater).
• 🔧 Mi Flash Tool or QFil.
• 🔌 Cable USB and tester EDL (or-closer).

Step-by-step:

1. Put your phone in EDL mode: For most models: turn off the device, press Vol+++VoL− and connect to your PC. If it doesn’t work, disassemble the phone and lock the EDL contacts on the board (see instructions for a particular model).

Qualcomm

Zadig

libusb

Mi Flash Tool

Flash

Wait for the process to be completed (10-20 minutes) and the phone will reboot automatically.

For devices on Mediatek, instead of EDL, BROM mode and the SP Flash Tool are used. The process is similar, but requires other drivers and firmware.

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If you are not sure about the processor model, check it through the IMEI.info service using the phone’s IMEI (printed on the box or under the battery).

Method 4: Unlocking through Xiaomi Service Center

If you don’t succeed on your own, or you’re afraid of damaging your device, the only safe option is to contact a Xiaomi authorized service center, which is especially true for newer models (2023-2026), where the Mi Account lock is tied to a hardware identifier.

What you need to unlock in the service:

• 📄 Check or contract of sale (proof of possession).
• 📱 The device itself (preferably with the original box).
• 💳 Passport of the holder (to confirm the identity).
• 🔑 Mi Account Information if your phone is linked to your account.

Cost and timing:

• 💰 Free – if the lock happened (for example, after resetting the settings).
• 💰 1 500–5 000 ₽ — If you need to replace the board or firmware through EDL.
• ⏳ 1-3 days – standard repair period.
• ⏳ Up to 7 days – if you need to unlock from Xiaomi (for devices with a connection to another region).

The official service centers can be found on Xiaomi’s website, and check by phone before you visit whether they are unlocking Mi Accounts, as some centers refuse such orders.

⚠️ Warning: Unofficial services often offer “unlock in 5 minutes” using questionable methods (e.g., through firmware exploits) that can lead to loss of warranty, data leakage or device breakdown.

Method 5: Alternative methods (at your own risk)

If the official methods did not help, and you do not want to use the service, you can try alternative solutions, they are suitable only for older models (Xiaomi Mi 5/6, Redmi Note 4/5) and require technical skills.

Option 1: TWRP bypass (unlocked bootloader only)

1. Install TWRP Recovery via Fastboot.
2. Download the mod to bypass Mi Account (for example, MiAccount_Bypass.zip).
3. Sweat the mod through TWRP (Install section).
4. Reset the device.

Option 2: TestPoint reset (for Qualcomm)

Some models (Redmi Note 7/8, POCO F1) allow you to reset the lock through the circuit TestPoint — special contacts on the motherboard.

Option 3: Use of exploits (for Mediatek)

For Mediatek devices (e.g. Redmi 9A/9C), utilities like the MCT Mediatek Tool or SP Flash Tool with the DA patch sometimes help. However, this does not work on all firmware and can lead to loss of IMEI.

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Alternative methods often violate Xiaomi’s policies and can result in device locks at the company’s server level. Use them only if you are prepared to risk losing your smartphone warranty and functionality.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If all of these methods fail, there are three options:

1. You can always find customers for your work modules (screen, camera, battery) on Avito or Yula, and they'll cost you 20 to 50 percent of the market value of a good device.
2. Use as a media player. Some models (POCO X3, Redmi Note 10) can be flashed with custom firmware (for example, LineageOS) without being tied to Mi Account. Functionality will be limited (no mobile network, but Wi-Fi and multimedia will work).
3. Contact Xiaomi Russia with a complaint: If the phone is officially purchased, but unlocking is impossible due to a system failure, you can write in support demanding to unlock the device remotely. Sometimes this works.

If the device is under warranty, do not try to unlock it yourself - this will cancel the warranty obligations.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi