Xiaomi activation after reset: how to unlock the smartphone and restore access

Why Xiaomi is blocked after resetting?

Hard resets on Xiaomi smartphones are often a headache for users. Instead of a clean device, you get a welcome screen demanding you enter the Mi Account details that were tied before the reset. This is not a bug, but a feature of MIUI protection, the so-called Factory Reset Protection (FRP), which is designed to protect your data in the event of theft, but sometimes interferes with the legitimate owners.

The problem is compounded by forgetting your Mi Account login/password or buying a used phone with someone else's account tied. In 2026, Xiaomi tightened its security policy: now, even after a Recovery or Fastboot reset, the system requires proof of ownership. In this article, we will discuss all the working methods of activation, from official to bypass, taking into account the latest MIUI 14/15 updates.

Important: The methods vary depending on the model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.), the firmware version and the type of reset (via settings, Recovery or Fastboot).

Official method: activation via Mi Account

If you remember your Mi Account, the activation process will take no more than 5 minutes.

1. Connect to Wi-Fi. On the welcome screen, select your network and enter your password. Without the Internet, activation is impossible - the system checks your account information on Xiaomi servers.
2. Enter email/phone. Click Log in Mi Account and enter the previously associated address or phone number.
3. If two-factor authentication is enabled, you will need code from SMS or Mi Authenticator.
4. Accept the terms. Once you have successfully logged in, agree to the privacy policy and set up your phone as a new device.

⚠️ Note: If you use a Google account to log in, the system will still require Mi Account data if it was previously linked, and you can only get around this through a full reset with deletion of the account (see section below).

Correctness of the input email/phone|Stable Wi-Fi connection|Shutdown VPN (It can block access to Xiaomi servers)|Battery charge at least 50%-->

If you have forgotten your password, restore it through the official account.xiaomi.com. Use the attached email or phone. SMS recovery only works for numbers confirmed in the account previously.

Reset via Mi Unlock Tool: Forgotten Account

If you don’t remember Mi Account details or you bought a phone with someone else’s tether, you can officially unlock the device only through the Mi Unlock Tool, a tool from Xiaomi to unlock the bootloader. The process takes up to 720 hours (30 days) of waiting, but it is guaranteed to work.

Here's what you're gonna need:

• 🖥️ Windows computer 7/10/11 (On macOS, the utility does not work).
• 📱 Xiaomi smartphone with a charge of at least 60%.
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (low-quality cables can cause connection errors).
• 🔑 A Mi Account tied to your phone (even if you don’t remember it, you’ll need to unlock it).

Instructions:

1. Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website.
2. Install the ADB and Fastboot drivers (you can use the Android SDK).
3. Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to log into the Fastboot.
4. Connect the device to your PC and start the Mi Unlock Tool.
5. Log in to the same Mi Account that was tied to the phone (if you don’t remember, restore access).
6. Press Unlock and wait until the process is complete. The wait time varies from model to model (72 to 720 hours).

⚠️ Warning: Once the bootloader is unlocked, all data on the phone will be erased and Xiaomi’s warranty will be cancelled, and some features (such as Mi Pay or Find Device) may stop working.

FRP bypass without Mi Account: alternative methods

If the official methods are not suitable (for example, you do not know the data of the previous owner), you can try to bypass FRP-locking through vulnerabilities in MIUI. These methods do not work on all models and may cease to work after updates. We tested them on Redmi Note 11/12, POCO X4 Pro and Xiaomi 12 Lite with MIUI 14.

Method 1: Emergency Call (for MIUI 12-14)

1. On the activation screen, press Emergency Call.
2. Dial ##4636## and the test menu will open.
3. Go to Settings. → Telephone information.
4. Click 7 times on the Build Number to activate the Developer Mode.
5. Return to the main settings menu and enable USB debugging.
6. Connect your phone to your PC and use it ADB, remove FRP: adb shell content insert --uri content://settings/secure --bind name:s:user_setup_complete --bind value:s:1
7. Restart the device – the lock should disappear.

Method 2: Mi Assistant (for older models)

Some devices (e.g. Redmi 9A or POCO M3) can use the Mi Assistant utility:

1. Download Mi Assistant.
2. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode.
3. In the utility, select Remove FRP and follow the instructions.

⚠️ Note: These methods can lead to a firmware break if executed incorrectly, and Xiaomi regularly closes such vulnerabilities in new versions. MIUI. If after bypassing the phone stopped turning on, you will need firmware through Fastboot.

Official (Mi Unlock Tool) | Emergency call + ADB|Mi Assistant |Nothing else |I haven't tried-->

Activation through Xiaomi Service Center

If you don't succeed, go to a Xiaomi authorized service center, which is the most reliable, but also the longest way.

• 📄 Check or warranty card (proof of purchase).
• 🆔 Passport (for proof of identity).
• 📱 The phone itself with a charge of at least 30%.
• 💳 Payment for services (on average 1000-3000 rubles, depending on the model).

The process looks like this:

1. Find the nearest service center on the site mi.com/ru/service.
2. Make an appointment (in some cities, the queue is 1-2 weeks).
3. Provide documents and phone number, and specialists will unlink the account through service utilities.
4. Wait until the end (usually 1-3 days).

⚠️ Note: Service centers do not remove the lock if the phone is listed in the database of stolen or lost, nor will they help if the device was purchased abroad (for example, the global version of Redmi in Russia), in such cases, only bypassing through Fastboot or buying a new phone is left.

Frequent activation errors and their solutions

Even with the right actions, users are faced with errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them:

1.Couldn't sign in error (unable to log into Mi Account)

• 🔹 Check your internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 🔹 Make sure you enter the correct one. email/telephone (registration is important!).
• 🔹 Turn it off. VPN — Xiaomi servers can be blocked by suspicious IP.
• 🔹 If your account is new, wait 24 hours – sometimes it takes time to activate.

2. "This device is locked" error (device locked)

This means that the phone is linked to another Mi Account.

• 🔹 Try the rounds through ADB Mi Assistant (see section above).
• 🔹 Contact the previous owner for account details.
• 🔹 If the phone is bought from hand, ask the seller to remove the binding before payment.

3. "Too many attempts" error (too many attempts)

It works after 5 failed attempts to enter a password.

• 🔹 Wait 24 hours and try again.
• 🔹 Reset your password through the Mi Account website.
• 🔹 If your account is not yours, use the Mi Unlock Tool.

4.The telephone shall not be switched on after discharge

If the device does not boot after a hard reset (hangs on the MI logo or flashes the screen), the reasons may be as follows:

• 🔹 Firmware damaged – requires flashing through Fastboot.
• 🔹 Incompatible version MIUI — Download the correct firmware for your model on the official website.
• 🔹 Hardware malfunction - contact the service.

💡

If the phone doesn't turn on after a failed FRP bypass, try pinching Volume Up + Power for 10-15 seconds to force it to reboot to Recovery. From there you can try repeating the reset or flashing the device.

Prevention: How to avoid problems when resetting

To avoid getting blocked after a hard reset, follow these rules:

• 🔐 Untie Mi Account before selling. Go to Settings → Mi Account → Get out and remove the tether.
• 📝 Save your account information. email/phone and password to a secure location (e.g. Google Keep or notebook).
• 🔄 Check the version. MIUI. New firmware bypasses FRP More difficult – before reset, upgrade your phone to the latest version.
• 🛡️ Don't buy used phones without a reset. Ask the seller to do a hard reset before paying.

If you reset your phone frequently (for example, to test firmware), create a spare Mi Account and link it to your device, so you can restore access even if you forget your primary account.

⚠️ Attention: Starting with MIUI 13, Xiaomi introduced additional protection — the device can lock for 72 hours after several failed attempts to enter a password!

💡

The most reliable way to avoid problems is to unplug the Mi Account before the reset. If the phone is already locked, the official method (Mi Unlock Tool) works 90% of the time, but takes time.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions