How to activate Xiaomi if you forget your password: the full guide 2026

A forgotten password on a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that thousands of users face every day. Unlike other brands, Redmi, POCO or Mi phones have an additional layer of protection through binding to Mi Account, which complicates the unlocking process. Without the right actions, you risk permanently losing access to data or turning the gadget into a brick.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways of unlocking, from official (via Xiaomi account and reset settings) to technical (using ADB and Fastboot), and pay special attention to bypassing the lock without losing data – rare information that you will not find in standard instructions, and you will learn what actions lead to a hard lock device and how to avoid it.

Why Xiaomi is blocked when the wrong password is used

Xiaomi smartphones use a layered security system that is different from standard Android locking.

• 🔒 Local. PIN/Password is the standard screen lock that you set in the settings. 5 Failure to enter the system requires waiting 30 Seconds, the waiting time increases.
• 📱 Mi Account – a Xiaomi account that can block the device remotely (Find the device function) or require login/password input after resetting settings.
• 🛡️ Protection against discharge (FRP) — If the phone was enabled Mi Account and activated the option “Find the device”, after hard reset you will need to enter account data.

The main problem is that even after resetting your settings through Recovery, your phone can remain locked if you don't know the username and password from Mi Account, which is protection against theft, but it also creates difficulties for legitimate owners.

⚠️ Note: If you bought the phone with your hands and the previous owner did not untie his Mi Account, you can unlock the device only through the official Xiaomi service (you need a check or a sales contract).

Newer models (starting with MIUI 13) have added Safe Mode — if you type the wrong password 10 times in a row, the phone will prompt you to log in via Mi Account or wait for unlock after 24 hours, but this mechanism does not work on all firmware.

Method 1: Unlocking with Mi Account (official method)

The most reliable and recommended way for Xiaomi is to use a tied Mi Account, which works if:

• 📧 Remember the email and password from Xiaomi account.
• 📱 Mobile Internet or Wi-Fi (for authorization) is enabled on the phone).
• 🔄 The device was not reset to factory settings (otherwise you will need to enter account data after restarting).

Instructions:

1. On the lock screen, enter any password 5 times in a row until the message Forgot the password? or Unblock through Mi Account appears.
2. Click on this caption and enter the email/phone linked to your Xiaomi account.
3. Enter your account password. If you forgot, use the recovery function at account.xiaomi.com.
4. After successful authorization, the system will offer to set a new lock password.

Check your internet connection (turn on mobile data or Wi-Fi)

Make sure you enter the right email (registration is important!)

If the account is not tied, this method will not work.

Try to restore the password through the computer if it does not work on the phone.-->

If an error fails to unlock after entering the account data, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🌐 No Internet connection (check mobile data or connect to Wi-Fi).
• 🔄 Xiaomi servers are temporarily unavailable (try it later).
• 🚫 Account blocked for suspicious activity (you need to unlock through support).

⚠️ Warning: If you are trying to unlock a hand-held phone and the previous owner hasn’t untie his Mi Account, this won’t work.

Method 2: Reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)

If you don’t remember the Mi Account or lock password, the only option is a full reset, which will delete all data from your phone, including photos, messages and apps. However, newer models (Redmi Note 12, Xiaomi 13 and later) may require data entry from Mi Account after a reset if the Find Device feature was previously activated.

Instructions for resetting via Recovery Mode:

1. Turn off the phone with a long press on the power button.
2. Press the button combination: For most models: Volume up + Power. For POCO and some Redmi: Volume up + Volume down + Power.

Mi

Recovery

Wipe Data

Factory Reset

Yes

Reboot

If after resetting the phone requires you to enter Mi Account data, and you do not know them, there are two options:

1. Contact the Xiaomi service center with documents on the phone.
2. Use informal bypass methods (see Method 4), but they are not suitable for all models.

Redmi Note 10/11/12|Xiaomi 11/12/13|POCO F3/F4/F5|Redmi 9/9A/9C|Another model-->

Method 3: Unlocking through ADB (for advanced users)

If you have USB debugging enabled on your phone and you have access to your computer, you can try resetting your password through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which only works if you meet two conditions:

• 🔌 The phone previously activated the option of debugging USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (press 7 times) → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 💻 You have a computer with Xiaomi drivers and tools installed ADB.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your computer through USB-cable (original!).
2. Open the command prompt (Win + R → enter cmd) and execute the commands: adb devices If the device appears in the list, continue. If not, install drivers or check the cable.
3. Enter the command to delete the file with the password: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key or for newer versions of MIUI: adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm
4. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

After rebooting, the lock password should reset. If not, try repeating the steps or using an alternative command:

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.ChooseLockGeneric

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If the adb device command does not find the device, try reinstalling the drivers via the Mi PC Suite or manually through Windows Device Manager.

⚠️ Attention: On models with MIUI 14 and later, this method may not work due to enhanced security, also after resetting the password through ADB Mi Account issues may arise (re-authorization will be required).

Method 4: Bypass locking through Fastboot (for tech-savvy)

If ADB It doesn't help or debug USB If you're not able to unlock your phone, you can try to unlock it through Fastboot, which requires an unlocked bootloader, which isn't always possible without data loss. POCO).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your phone and put it into Fastboot mode: Click Volume Down + Power before the Fastboot logo appears (a cartoon labeled Fastboot).

fastboot devices

fastboot oem unlock

Attention!

boot.img

TWRP

fastboot flash boot twrp.img


fastboot reboot recovery

TWRP

Advanced → File Manager

/data/system/gesture.key

/data/system/locksettings.db

Reboot the phone.

This method is only suitable for users with experience with custom firmware. For beginners, the risks are:

• 🚨 The device brick (turning into a brick) with incorrect actions.
• 🔒 Loss of warranty (if the bootloader was blocked).
• 📱 Delete all data without recovery.

Method 5: Officially Unlocking through Xiaomi Service Center

If all previous methods fail, you can contact an authorized service center, which is the only legal way to unlock your phone if:

• 📄 You have a check or a sales contract (proof of ownership).
• 🔐 The phone is tied to someone else's Mi Account (for example, after buying from hand).
• 📱 The model does not support unofficial unlock methods (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra with enhanced protection).

How the procedure goes:

1. Find the nearest service center on Xiaomi’s website.
2. Take with you: Locked phone, proof of purchase (check, invoice, contract), passport (for proof of identity).

Xiaomi

Mi Account

The process can take from a few hours to 5 working days.

The cost of the service varies from 500 to 2000 rubles depending on the model and region. In some cases, unlocking can be free (if the phone is guaranteed and you provide all the documents).

⚠️ Warning: Unofficial services that offer undocumented Mi Account unlocking often use fraudulent schemes, including the risk of account hijacking, installing spyware, or losing access to your phone altogether.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to unlock Xiaomi, users often make critical mistakes that make things worse.

Another common problem is that the phone doesn't turn on after it's reset, and it's because:

• 🔋 Battery discharge (charge your phone before manipulation).
• 🔌 Fastboot Firmware (use only official files for your model).
• 📱 Damaged section. EFS (Reflashing is required through the Mi Flash Tool).

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If the phone hangs on the Mi logo after the reset, try going to Fastboot and flashing stock firmware through the Mi Flash Tool with the clean all option.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions