A situation where you pick up your Xiaomi to answer an urgent call or check a message and suddenly realize you have forgotten your pattern lock or a key. PIN-The lock screen becomes an insurmountable barrier, and access to contacts, photos and apps is instantly lost. It's a stressful moment, but you shouldn't panic, because there are proven algorithms for action.
Modern Android security systems and MIUI or HyperOS shells are designed to protect user data from outsiders as much as possible, which is why it will not be possible to simply bypass the lock – either verifying identity through an account or completely resetting the device to factory settings. It is important to understand that most of the methods described below involve deleting user data unless synchronized in advance.
Before you start taking action, you need to evaluate whether you remember your Google account or your Mi Account, whether USB debugging was enabled, and the answers to these questions will determine which way to restore access will work for you. In this article, we will go through all the options, from simple to advanced.
Using a Mi Account to Unblock
If you have signed in to Mi Account and the Find Device function has been activated, this is the easiest way to save data without losing it. The service allows you to remotely control your smartphone, including the ability to reset the lock screen password, for this you will need a computer or other smartphone with Internet access.
Go to the official website of the Xiaomi cloud service and log in under the same phone number or email that was used on the locked gadget. After logging in, select your device from the list of available ones. In the management menu, find the option "Unlock" or "Wipe Data" (depending on the version of the interface and region).
⚠️ Warning: Remote unlock only works if the phone is connected to the network (Wi-Fi or mobile Internet) and is turned on. If the device is offline, the command will be executed the next time you connect.
It is worth noting that in the latest versions of the firmware MIUI Security policy has been tightened, and now unlocking often requires not just logging in to your account, but confirmation through a security system. SMS to the attached number, which must be installed in the locked phone. SIM-The card is not available or it does not catch the network, this method may not work.
- 📱 Visit i.mi.com from any device.
- 🔐 Enter the login and password from your Mi Account.
- 📍 Select a locked smartphone in the list of devices.
- 🔄 Click the "Unlock" button and follow the instructions on the screen.
Successful operation will remove the lock screen, but in some cases may require re-authorization in the Mi Account after rebooting.
Google Find My Device Resets
An alternative and often more reliable way is to use Google services, where if the phone has been turned on and geolocated, Find Device allows you to remotely reset settings, which will return the phone to factory status by deleting all data, including the forgotten password.
To start, go to android.com/find from your computer or other smartphone. Log in to the Google account that was the main one on the blocked Xiaomi. The system will try to locate the device. From the menu on the left or bottom, select the option "Erase Device".
Once confirmed, the phone will be commanded to complete Hard Reset, which can take a few minutes, and it is important that the battery is at least 30-40% charged, otherwise the device may shut down at a critical moment, leading to file system errors.
What if Google can’t see the device?
Once the reset is complete, the phone will turn on as new. You will need to go through the initial setup and enter the data from the Google account to confirm ownership (FRP protection). Without knowing the password from the Google account, it will be impossible to unlock the phone after the reset.
- 🌐 Open the browser and go to android.com/find.
- 📧 Sign in to your Google account.
- 🗑️ Select the "Clean the Device" command (Erase).
- ⏳ Wait for the execution of the command and the reboot of the smartphone.
Hard Reset via Recovery Mode
When remote methods are not available, the only option is to manually reset through the Recovery Recovery menu, which works even if the phone is not connected to the Internet, but it is guaranteed to delete all user data: photos, contacts, apps and settings.
To get into the Recovery menu on Xiaomi, you need to turn the device off completely. Then press the Volume Up and Power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, continuing to keep the volume up until the menu appears.
⚠️ Attention: In the Recovery menu, the touch screen is not working. Navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice of item is done with the power button.
From the menu that opens, select a language (usually English or Chinese), then search for Wipe Data. Then select Wipe All Data and confirm the action by selecting Confirm. The cleaning process will take some time, after which the phone will prompt you to return to the main menu (Back to Main Menu) and reboot.
☑️ Checklist before Hard Reset
The first run after a reset can last longer than usual - from 5 to 10 minutes. Do not try to interrupt the process, even if the screen is lit for a long time with the logo.
Unlocking through Fastboot and ADB
For more advanced users who have pre-installed USB Debugging in the developer menu, there is a method of unlocking or resetting through a computer using the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) tool, which allows you to send a command to delete the lock key file without losing personal data, but it does not work on all versions of Android and requires drivers.
You need to connect the phone to the PC through USB-cable, either in normal mode (if screen allows) or in Fastboot mode (clamping Volume Down) + Power with the phone off. However, for work ADB In lock-screen mode, the phone must have been already authorized on the computer before.
If the conditions are met, open the command line on your computer in the folder with ADB and enter the following command to delete the file storing the pattern lock:
adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.keyOr, for PIN-code:
adb shell rm /data/system/password.keyOnce the command is completed, the device must be restarted. On newer versions of Android with security patches older than 2020, this method often does not work due to access restrictions to system files even with ADB rights.
- 💻 Install the drivers. ADB and Fastboot on the computer.
- 🔌 Connect your phone with a cable to your PC.
- ⌨️ Enter the key removal command into the console.
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone with adb reboot.
Comparison of Access Restoration Methods
The choice of the specific method depends on your situation: the availability of the Internet, the safety of these accounts and the willingness to donate information on the phone. Below is a table that will help you quickly navigate the available options and their consequences.
| Method | Data retention | We need the Internet. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Account (remotely) | No (usually reset) | Yes. | Low. |
| Google Find My Device | No (full reset) | Yes. | Low. |
| Recovery Mode | No (full reset) | No. | Medium |
| ADB (if debugging is enabled) | Yeah (possibly) | No. | Tall. |
| Service centre | Depends on the method. | No. | Low (for you) |
As can be seen from the table, it is extremely rare to save data with a forgotten password, mainly only when using specialized ADB tools on older versions of software. In most cases, the priority of the security system is to protect information, even to the detriment of the owner who has forgotten the credentials.
💡
Save important data in the cloud regularly. Setup automatic photo synching in Google Photos or Mi Cloud takes 5 minutes, but can save thousands of photos if blocked.
FRP Reset Protection (Google Account Lock)
Once you run Hard Reset through Recovery or a remote service, you'll come across an activation screen that requires you to enter a password from a Google account that was synced to your phone before. FRP (Factory Reset Protection to protect your device from theft.
If you remember your email and your Google password, you'll have no problem. Just type them in and the phone unlocks. The problem starts if you forget your Google account password, or if you got your phone from a previous owner who didn't untie the device.
In the case of a forgotten password from Google, restore access via your computer using the account recovery procedure on google.com. Only after changing the password, wait 24 hours (Google security requirement) before entering new data into your phone.
⚠️ Attention: Attempts to circumvent FRP With the help of third-party programs, viruses are often installed on the PC or the software of the phone is completely broken.
If a phone is bought from hand and locked by someone else’s account, the only legal way is to contact the seller to remove the device from his account remotely or through providing login data.
💡
FRP is not a bug, it's a security mechanism. Without account data synchronized to reset, it's impossible to legally unlock modern Android.