Where to unlock Xiaomi phone: 5 proven ways in 2026

Forgot the password from Xiaomi or bought a used smartphone with a locked screen? Unlocking phones of this brand is a task that thousands of users face daily. Unlike many brands, Xiaomi uses dual protection: locking the screen (PIN/This makes it more difficult to process, but makes devices more secure from theft. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of unlocking, from official to alternative, taking into account the risks and nuances for different models (Redmi Note). 12, POCO X5, Mi 13 etc.).

It's important to understand that the way you unlock depends on the type of lock you have.

• 🔒 "Enter a password or a pattern lock → This is a screen lock (unlocked through a reset or account).
• 📱 "Device locked. Log in to Mi Account" → activation lock (requires data from the previous owner or official disengagement).
• 🚫 "This device is locked by FRP" → Factory Reset Protection (Updated by Google Account or bypass).

We won’t talk about “magic software” or “unlock codes” — most of them are either scams or only work on older models (until 2019), instead focusing on legal and proven methods that work in 2026.

1.Official unlocking via Mi Unlock Tool

The most reliable way is to use the official tool from Xiaomi, the Mi Unlock Tool, which is suitable for unlocking the bootloader (if you want to flash custom software) or resetting the activation lock Mi Account.

• ⏳ Requires waiting 7-30 days (depending on model and region).
• 📱 It only works if you have access to a Mi Account linked to your phone.
• 🔌 You need to connect to a Windows PC (Mac/Linux unsupported).
• 🔄 Does not work on devices with a damaged bootloader or after unsuccessful firmware.

Step-by-step:

1. Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website (the version should match the region of your phone).
2. Install Xiaomi USB Drivers (if the PC does not recognize the device).
3. Turn on the phone Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in Settings → About phone).
4. Activate OEM Unlock and USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For Developers.
5. Connect your phone to your PC, launch the Mi Unlock Tool, and log in to the same Mi Account as you do on your smartphone.
6. If you see a message saying, "Couldn't unlock. Try again after XX days," you'll have to wait until the deadline.

Download the official utility from en.miui.com|Install Xiaomi drivers|Enable the developer mode|Activate OEM Unlock and debugging by USB|Use the original USB-cable-->

⚠️ Note: If the phone was purchased by hand and the previous owner did not untie his Mi Account, official unlocking will become impossible).

2 Unlocking through Xiaomi Service Center

If you can’t use the Mi Unlock Tool (for example, due to loss of account data), contact the authorized Xiaomi service center.This is the only legal way to unlock the phone without risking loss of warranty or data.

How to find the official service:

1. Go to the Xiaomi support website.
2. Select the "Service Centers" section and specify your city.
3. Check the reviews about the center on Yandex.Maps or Google Maps (sometimes the “official” centers work on a franchise and the quality of services varies).
4. Check by phone if they are unlocking Mi Account (not all centers provide this service).

In 2026, Xiaomi tightened its unlock policy at service centers: models newer than the Redmi Note 11 may need to show a document confirming the purchase (check or warranty card), if the phone is bought with hands, this method may not work.

Yes, under guarantee.|Yeah, for unlocking.|No, but I was considering that.|I prefer to solve problems on my own.-->

3. Unlock through reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)

If only the screen lock is on the phone (PIN/It's a pattern lock, and Mi Account is not tied, you can try hard reset, which will delete all the data from the device, but unlock it. 9, POCO X3, Mi 10T etc.):

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the button combination to enter Recovery Mode: For most models: Volume up + Power. For POCO F3/F4: Volume down + Power. For Mi 11/12: Volume up + Volume down + Power.

Recovery

Wipe Data → Wipe All Data

After resetting, the phone will reboot to its initial state.

⚠️ Note: If the "Data Protection upon Reset" function was enabled on the phone (starting with the MIUI 12), after Hard Reset, you may need to enter data Mi Account, which was previously linked!

For models with a MediaTek processor (e.g. Redmi 10A, POCO M4), there is an alternative method of resetting via Fastboot:

fastboot erase userdata


fastboot erase frp

These commands will delete user data and reset FRP-locking, but require an unlocked bootloader.

4. Alternative methods: bypass FRP and Mi Account

If the official methods have not worked, some users resort to workarounds, which are suitable for phones with a lock FRP (Google) or Mi Account, but have risks:

• 🔓 Test Point: Suitable for older models (Redmi) 4/5, Mi A1/A2). Requires the disassembly of the phone and closing contacts on the board.
• 📱 Exploiting vulnerabilities MIUI: Some firmware versions (MIUI 10-12) allowed to bypass the lock via Emergency Call or TalkBack.
• 💻 Specialized programs: Mi Account Unlock Tool or FRP Bypass APK. They do not work on all models and may contain malicious code.

TalkBack (powered by MIUI 11):

1. On the lock screen, click "Emergency Call".
2. Enter ##4636## (test menu).
3. Select "Usage statistics" → "App ops".
4. Find TalkBack and turn off permissions.
5. Return to the lock screen, activate TalkBack and through it open Settings → Reset.

Since MIUI 13 and Android 12, most of the FRP and Mi Account bypass vulnerabilities have been closed, and today, these methods only work on devices older than 2020.

5 Unblocking through third-party services (paid)

If all the previous methods did not help, you can turn to paid online services that remotely unlock the phone over IMEI.

• 🌍 UnlockBoot (from UnlockBoot) $10, backs Redmi, POCO, Mi).
• 🔓 IMEI-Unlock (from IMEI-Unlock) $15, money back guarantee).
• 📱 FastUnlocker (specialized in the FRP Mi Account).

How it works:

1. You specify the model of the phone and its IMEI (you can find out through *#06# or on the box).
2. Pay for the service (cost depends on the model, for example, for the Redmi Note 12 Pro — ~$20).
3. You get an instruction or firmware file to unlock through Fastboot.
4. You perform the actions yourself or send the phone to the service (if you need physical access).

⚠️ Warning: Beware of scams! On venues like Avito or OLX They often offer “unlocking for 500.” ₽" — This is either a scam or an illegal installation. Check reviews on independent forums (for example, check the reviews, 4PDA or XDA Developers).

💡

Check to see if the service supports your model before paying for the service. Some new phones (such as Xiaomi 14 or POCO F5) have not yet been added to the unlock databases.

6. Unlock after firmware (for advanced users)

If you're willing to risk the warranty and data, you can unlock your phone through custom software firmware.

• 🔧 Devices with unlocked bootloader.
• 📦 Phones that don’t run the Mi Unlock Tool (for example, after a failed update).
• 🔄 Models with damaged firmware ("bootloop").

Step-by-step:

1. Download Fastboot firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website.
2. Unpack the archive in a folder on your PC.
3. Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power when turned on).
4. Launch the file. flash_all.bat (For Windows, run the command in the terminal: fastboot flash all
5. Wait for the firmware to be completed (10-20 minutes).

To bypass Mi Account after firmware can be used patch anti_rollback or modified firmware (e.g, MIUI EU). However, this violates Xiaomi’s license agreement and could result in a blockage. IMEI.

💡

Custom firmware voids the warranty and can make the phone unusable for official updates, and use this method only if other options are exhausted.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi