Forgot your username, password, or email attached to your Xiaomi account? This is a familiar situation for many users of Redmi, POCO, or Mi smartphones — especially after resetting or buying a used device. Without access to Mi Account, you will not be able to use key features: data synchronization, unlock the bootloader, and in some cases even activate the phone after a hard reset.
In this article, we will discuss all the official and informal ways of recovering access, from the standard procedure via email to bypassing locks using the engineering menu. Importantly, the methods are different for devices with MIUI 12/13/14 and older versions of firmware. We will also explain how to avoid permanent locking of the device after 5 failed attempts to enter a password - this is a critical mistake that turns a smartphone into a "brick".
1. Standard recovery via email or phone
If you remember the email or phone number tied and you forgot the password, this is the easiest scenario. Xiaomi provides a standard reset procedure through the official website.
Instructions:
- 🌐 Go to the recovery page: account.xiaomi.com/pass/forgetPassword
- 📧 Enter the email or phone number associated with your account
- 🔢 Select the confirmation method: code by email or SMS (depending on the settings)
- 🔑 Create a new password (minimum 8 characters, with capital letters and numbers)
⚠️ Warning: If you don't receive an email with a code, check the Spam folder and make sure the email hasn't been deleted or blocked. SMS — If your number is from Russia, Belarus or Kazakhstan, the code may not reach the site due to sanctions restrictions.
2. Recovery via backup email (if the main one is not available)
When registering for Mi Account, the system suggests that you specify a backup email. If you added it, but forgot about it, try to remember possible addresses (for example, work mail or an old inbox to the mailbox). mail.ru/yandex.ru).
How to check:
- On the password recovery page, select the option "Forgot email?"
- Enter the phone number associated with the account
- The system will show a portion of the backup email (e.g. i*n@gmail.com)
- Try to restore access through this address.
💡 If the backup email is from Google or Yandex, try to restore access to the mailbox itself through their support team.
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Before buying a used Xiaomi smartphone, always check if someone else’s Mi Account is tied to it. Ask the seller to log out of the account in the settings or make a reset via Settings → About the phone → Reset (but not through Recovery!).
Bypassing the lock through the engineering menu (for advanced users)
If standard methods don’t work and the phone is locked after resetting, you can try bypassing the Mi Account check through the engineering menu, which is suitable for devices on MIUI 10-12 and requires access to Fastboot or EDL mode.
🔧 Essential tools:
- 🖥️ Windows computer 10/11
- 🔌 Cable USB (original, undamaged)
- 🛠️ Mi Flash Tool or XiaoMiTool V2
- 📱 Firmware for your model (download from the official website)
⚠️ Attention: Fastboot's wrong actions can turn your phone into a brick. If you're not sure about your skills, you'd better go to the service center. Especially carefully work with devices on Qualcomm processors - they have Anti-Rollback protection that blocks downgrade firmware.
Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to log in to Fastboot
Install Qualcomm or MediaTek drivers (depending on the processor)
Download the firmware exactly for your model (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro – sweet)
Disable the antivirus – it can block the Mi Flash Tool
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4.A formal request in support of Xiaomi
If all independent attempts failed, it remains to apply for official support, Xiaomi has a procedure for verifying the owner of the device, but it requires the submission of documents.
📄 What documents will be required:
- 📄 Check or invoice for the purchase of the device (with serial number)
- 🆔 Passport or identity card
- 📱 Photo of the device with the serial number (under the cover or in the settings)
- 📧 Written explanation of the situation (in English)
📌 Where to send a request:
- Write an email to support@xiaomi.com with the topic "Mi Account Unlock Request"
- Or create a ticket through the feedback form: mi.com/support
- For Russia and the CIS, you can try to contact through VK or Telegram channels of official distributors.
⏳ Consideration period: 3 to 14 days, in some cases, support may request additional data, such as a photo of a box or a photo of a box. IMEI device.
What should I do if support is denied?
5. Alternative methods (at your own risk)
If the official ways don't work, you can find informal solutions online, but they're risky, and we don't recommend using them unless absolutely necessary, but to get the picture straight, we'll talk about them.
🔓 Ways to bypass the lock:
| Method | Description | Risks. | Suitable models |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDL (Emergency Download Mode) | Firmware of the device in emergency mode with Qualcomm tools | Can erase IMEI or block modem | Redmi Note 8/9 Pro, Mi 9/10 |
| Use of Mi Account Bypass Tool | Special utilities for bypassing account verification (for example, Xiaomi Tool PRO) | VirusTotal often detects programs like malware | POCO X3, Redmi 9A |
| Reset via Test Point | Closing contacts on the board for forced entry into the EDL | Requires disassembly of the device, risk of damage to the board | Redmi 7/8, Mi A2/A3 |
⚠️ Attention: Most of the magic Mi Account unlockers are scams. They either don't work or they contain viruses. Never pay for them in advance! Check reviews on independent forums (e.g., freelance forums, 4PDA or XDA Developers).
6. How to avoid Mi Account problems in the future
To avoid getting blocked again, follow these rules:
- 📝 Write your account information in a secure location (for example, in the Bitwarden or KeePass password manager)
- 🔄 Regularly update your backup email in your account settings
- 📱 Untie your account before selling your phone: Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account → Delete the account
- 🔐 Enable two-factor authentication, but save backup codes
- 🚫 Do not use the same password for Mi Account and other services
💡 Useful Life Hack: Take a picture of the screen with your account data (Settings) → The phone. → All parameters. → Mi Account status and save your photos to the cloud (like Google Drive) to help you quickly restore access, even if you forget your email.
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If you buy a used Xiaomi smartphone, be sure to check if the Mi Account is untied from it. Ask the seller to reset the settings in front of you and make sure that after the restart, the phone does not require the data of the previous account.