Forgot a graphical password on the phone Xiaomi: 5 working ways to unlock

The pattern lock on Xiaomi smartphones is a convenient way to protect it until you forget it. But what if after a reboot or a long break in use the phone requires a pattern to enter and the memory fails? The situation becomes more complicated if the device stores important data, such as photos, correspondence or work documents. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to unlock for Redmi, POCO, Mi and Black Shark phones — from official methods through Mi Account to technical solutions using Fastboot and Recovery.

It's important to understand that some methods will lead to a complete hard reset, while others will save data - but only if you have set up a backup or sync with Mi Cloud beforehand. We will also show you how to minimize the risk of information loss and avoid re-blocking in the future. If your phone is locked right now, start with the simplest way and move to the difficult only if you fail.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most secure and recommended method for Xiaomi is to use a tied Mi Account, which works on most modern devices (starting with MIUI 9) if:

• 📱 The phone is connected to the Internet (via Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔑 You remember the username and password from Mi Account that was tied to the device.
• 🔄 Find Device has been activated in the settings.

To unlock the phone:

1. On the lock screen, tap the button Forgot the password? (or Forgot pattern? on English firmware).
2. Select the option to Sign in via Mi Account.
3. Enter the email or phone number associated with the account, then the password.
4. Confirm unlocking via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).

⚠️ Note: If you have previously changed your Mi Account password but haven’t updated it on your phone, unlocking may not work, in which case you can try to restore your account through account.xiaomi.com.

This method doesn't cause data loss, but it requires a stable Internet connection, so if your phone isn't connected to the network, go to the next one.

2. Reset the pattern lock via Recovery Mode (without loss of data)

If the Mi Account is not tied or the phone is not connected to the Internet, you can try resetting the graphical password through Recovery Mode. This method does not work on all models, but is suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader or custom recovery (for example, TWRP).

Instructions for standard Mi Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone with a long press of the power button.
2. Press the combination of Loudness up + Power and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select the language (if available), then go to Wipe & Reset.
4. Slip on Wipe Lock Settings (or similar item).
5. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

If your Recovery does not have Wipe Lock Settings, it is not supported, and then you only have to reset completely (see next section).

3. Complete reset via Recovery (Hard Reset)

If previous methods didn’t work, you’ll have to resort to a hard reset, which will delete all data on your phone, including apps, photos and settings, which is suitable for all Xiaomi models, but requires caution.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power before the Fastboot menu (the rabbit logo in the hat) appears.
3. With volume buttons, select Recovery Mode and confirm with the power button.
4. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
5. Confirm the action (usually you need to enter Yes or press the power button for a long time).
6. After reset, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

⚠️ Attention: On phones with MIUI 12+ After the reset, you may need to enter data from the Mi Account that was previously linked. If you do not remember the password, it will be impossible to unlock the device without contacting the service center!

After the reboot, the phone will be like new – you will need to reconfigure it, including the linking of your Google and Mi Account. If you synced data with Mi Cloud, some of the information (contacts, notes, photos) can be restored.

4. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

Fastboot is a good way to do this if you have access to a computer and you're ready to work with the command line, it allows you to reset the pattern lock without completely clearing the data, but it requires an unlocked bootloader.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with drivers installed ADB/Fastboot (You can download from Xiaomi or Mi Unlock Tool).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Phone with a charge of at least 30%.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone and put it in Fastboot mode (clamp Volume down + Power).
2. Connect the phone to the computer.
3. Open the command prompt (CMD) and type: fastboot devices Make sure the device is identified (serial number should appear).
4. Enter the command to reset the key: fastboot erase frp or (for new models): fastboot erase locksettings
5. Reboot the phone: fastboot reboot

If the bootloader is locked, the command will not work – you will need to unlock it through the Mi Unlock Tool (the process takes up to 720 hours of waiting on new devices).

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Before using Fastboot, check the phone model with the fastboot getvar product command. Some devices (such as the POCO F3) require special commands to reset the lock.

5. Use of service codes and hidden menus

Some Xiaomi models (especially older ones like the Redmi 4X or Mi A1) can reset the pattern lock through service codes or engineering menus, a method rarely works on new devices, but it’s worth trying if other methods aren’t available.

Popular combinations:

To use the code:

1. On the lock screen, type the code as if you were calling (in the number input field).
2. If the menu is open, look for the Reset or Lock Screen section.
3. Confirm the reset of the pattern lock.

⚠️ Warning: Service codes can permanently damage firmware if entered incorrectly. MIUI 13+ — These menus are usually blocked.

6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If none of these methods work, the last option is to go to the official service center.

• 🔒 Phones with a locked bootloader and a tied Mi Account.
• 📱 Devices that store critical data (without backup).
• 🛠️ Models with hardware problems (for example, the screen is not working).

What will be required to unlock:

• 📄 Check or warranty card (proof of purchase).
• 🆔 Passport (for proof of identity).
• 📱 Phone box (if saved).

The cost of the service varies from 500 to 2000 rubles depending on the model and region. In some cases, the service can offer free unlocking if the phone is guaranteed. However, be prepared that the data will still be lost - service centers rarely save information during a hardware reset.

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The official service is the only legal way to unlock if the phone is tied to Mi Account and you do not remember the data from the account.

How to avoid blocking in the future

To avoid the problem of a forgotten pattern lock, follow these tips:

• 🔐 Use the backup. PIN-code or password together with pattern lock (configured in Settings) → Screen locking).
• ☁️ Enable sync with Mi Cloud for automatic data backup.
• 📝 Write down the graphical pattern in a safe place (for example, in the Bitwarden or Keeper password manager).
• 🔄 Regularly update the firmware in new versions MIUI Added access restoration functions.

Alternative ways to block the following should also be considered:

• 👆 Fingerprint or facial recognition (configured in Settings) → Passwords and security).
• 🔑 Smart Lock – Automatic unlocking in trusted places (home, work).

If you often forget passwords, install an access control app, such as AppLock, which allows you to restore access via email.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi