Forgot the password from Xiaomi? 7 ways to unlock your phone without losing data

Forgetting your smartphone password is stressful, especially if you store important data on your device, such as photos, work correspondence or banking apps. Xiaomi owners (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11) face the added challenge of having a standard Recovery Mode reset erase all files. But there are ways to bypass the lock without losing data, from official Mi Account tools to engineering loopholes in MIUI firmware.

In this article, 7 proven unlocking methods ranked by efficiency and security, we took into account the features of the latest versions of MIUI 14/15 and the restrictions that Xiaomi introduced after 2022 (for example, blocking unlock through Fastboot without linking an account), and we will also analyze why some “people’s” methods (such as deleting the gesture.key file) stopped working, and what to do if the phone requires confirmation via SMS, and the SIM card is not at hand.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most reliable method is if you have linked your Xiaomi account to your phone. Even after a hard reset, you can recover the data from a backup of the Mi Cloud. The algorithm works on all models, including the Redmi 10C, POCO F4 and Mi 12T.

How to do this:

• 📱 Go to the Mi Account login page from another device.
• 🔑 Enter the login (email or phone number) and password from the account associated with the blocked smartphone.
• 🔄 On the locked phone, press Forgot the password? → Unlocking with Mi Account.
• 📲 Enter your account details and confirm the unlock through SMS email.

Important: If two-factor authentication is enabled on your phone, you'll need code from the Google Authenticator app or backup code. Without it, unlocking is impossible - even Xiaomi's support team won't be able to help.

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If you don’t remember the Mi Account password, try to restore it via the linked email or number. On the recovery page, Xiaomi offers an option with a confirmation via a backup email or a secret question (if asked).

2. Use Find Device (if the function is enabled)

Find Device, Google's Find My Phone, not only tracks Xiaomi's location, but also unlocks it remotely.

• 📶 The phone is enabled mobile Internet or Wi-Fi.
• 🔋 Battery level of charge > 15%.
• 🔒 Find Device has been activated in Mi Account settings.

Instructions:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select the locked device in the list.
3. Click Unlock the device → confirm the action.
4. Wait for the notification on the phone (it can take up to 5 minutes).

If the phone is off or offline, the unlock command will be automatically executed the next time it is turned on, but this method will not work if the device has a password for Recovery Mode (configured in Settings → Additional → Protection and Privacy).

3. Unlock through ADB (for advanced users)

The method is suitable if the phone is enabled debugging by USB (USB Debugging) and there's access to a computer. It's the only way to get around the lock without resetting if the Mi Account isn't tied. MIUI 12-15, but requires preparation.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Android installed SDK Platform-Tools.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• ⚙️ Included debugging by USB (If not activated in advance, the method will not work!).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the phone to the PC.
2. Open the command line (cmd) in the adb folder.
3. Enter the commands in turn: adb devices (should display your device) adb shell su rm /data/system/gesture.key
4. Reset the phone. Once turned on, the password will be reset.

Install Android SDK Platform-Tools on PC| Connect your phone with the original cable | Check that USB debugging was enabled before locking | Run the command line on behalf of the administrator-->

⚠️ Note: New models (Redmi Note 12 Pro)+, Xiaomi 13 may not work due to increased protection MIUI. If a Permission denied error appears after the su command, then you do not have root rights and unlocking is impossible.

4. Bypassing the lock via Fastboot (without data loss)

This method works if the phone does not have Mi Account bootloader binding enabled (configured in Settings → Unlock OEM). It is suitable for MIUI 11-14 devices, but requires an unlocked bootloader.

Algorithm:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Down + Power to log into Fastboot Mode.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the folder with fastboot.
4. Enter the command: fastboot oem unlock-go (some models may require fastboot flashing unlock).
5. After unlocking the bootloader, restart the phone.

⚠️ Note: On new devices (Xiaomi) 12S Ultra, POCO F5) oem unlock-go can result in a full reset if you do not link your account.

5. Reset password via Safe Mode (if the lock is third-party software)

If the password is not set by the system, but by a third-party application (for example, AppLock or Smart Lock), you can try to delete it in Safe Mode. MIUI, But it'll help 20 percent of the time.

How to start Safe Mode:

1. Press the power button until the shutdown menu appears.
2. Press and hold Turn Off → Confirm the transition to Safe Mode.
3. In Safe Mode, remove the app that blocks the screen.
4. Reboot the phone.

🔍 How do you know if the lock is from third-party software? Usually, the lock screen displays the app logo (e.g., Norton App Lock) or the words "Blocked: [program name]».

6. Unblocking with Google Account (for older versions) MIUI) On devices with MIUI 10 and below (e.g. Redmi) 5, Mi A2) after 5 If you failed to enter a password, you had the option "Forgot your password?" with the unlocking of Google Account. In the new versions, this method is removed, but it can be returned via the user's account. ADB: Instructions: Connect the phone to the PC with debugging enabled USB. Enter the commands: adb shell content insert --uri content://settings/secure --bind name:s:frc_disable --bind value:s:0 Reset the device. 5 Failed attempts will appear button Forgot password? → Select Restore through Google. ⚠️ Attention: MIUI 13+ This trick doesn't work because of security changes, and it doesn't work unless you add Google Account to your phone.

7. Contact Xiaomi Support (last chance)

If none of the methods worked, the official path remains to appeal for support. Xiaomi can unlock the device if there is proof of ownership:

• 📄 Check or box with serial number (IMEI).
• 📋 Passport (for proof of identity).
• 📧 Letter of explanation (in English or Chinese).

How to contact support:

1. Write to the online chat or email support@xiaomi.com.
2. Enter IMEI (you can find out via Fastboot by the command fastboot getvar imei).
3. Attach the scans of the documents.

🕒 Consideration period: 3 to 10 days.In 80% of cases, Xiaomi is willing to meet the requirements, but may require payment for the service (about 10 to 30 days).$).

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If the phone is bought by hand, the chances of unlocking through support are minimal. Xiaomi requires confirmation of the original owner, and re-registration of the device to a new user is impossible without a reset.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi