How to unlock Xiaomi if you forgot your password: from account recovery to reset to factory settings

Forgetting the password from Xiaomi's smartphone is a bad situation, but it's fixable. Even if you can't remember the pattern lock, PIN-There are official and alternative ways to get back to the device, the main thing is not to panic or try to pick up the password at random: after 5-10 unsuccessful attempts, the system can lock the phone for 24 hours or completely erase all data.

In this article, we will discuss all the current unlock methods for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, from recovery via Mi Account to forced reset via Fastboot. Separately, we will focus on the nuances for new models (for example, Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13 Pro+), where the manufacturer has tightened security measures, and you will learn how to minimize data loss and avoid re-blocking.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most reliable and recommended Xiaomi method is to use a tied Mi Account.

• 📱 The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔑 Remember the username and password from Mi Account.
• 🔄 Synchronization is enabled on the device (usually activated by default).

If all conditions are met, follow the instructions:

1. On the lock screen, click Forgot Password? (or Forgot Password? on English firmware).
2. Select the Restore option via Mi Account.
3. Enter the email or phone number associated with the account, then the password.
4. Confirm unlocking via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).

Once you have successfully logged in, the system will suggest you create a new password or graphical key. Importantly, if you don't remember Mi Account data, restore it to account.xiaomi.com before you try to unlock it. Using someone else's account or password generators can result in a complete lock on the device via IMEI (anti-brain protection Xiaomi).

2. reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)

If Mi Account is not tied or you don’t remember the data, you have a hard reset, which is deleting all the data on your device, which works on all Xiaomi models, but has a critical disadvantage: you’ll lose photos, contacts and apps if you don’t have a backup.

How to make a Hard Reset:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press the button combination: 🔄 For most models: Volume up + Nutrition. 🔄 For POCO F5, Redmi K60 and new flagships: Volume up + Loudness down + Nutrition.

Mi

Recovery Mode

Wipe Data

Wipe All Data

Confirm

Reboot

Save the IMEI of your phone (on a box or in a check)

Make sure the battery is at least 30% charged

Prepare. SIM-post-reset activation card

Download the latest firmware (if you plan to re-flash)

-->

Warning: Hard Reset devices with a locked bootloader may require authorization through Mi Account, even if the account was not previously linked, for models released after 2021 (e.g. Xiaomi 12T, Redmi Note 11 Pro).

⚠️ Note: If the phone was bought from hand and tied to someone else’s Mi Account, the reset will not help – you will need to contact the previous owner for an unbundle or a service center with proof of purchase.

3. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

The method via Fastboot is suitable if:

• 🔧 You have access to a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed.
• 🔓 Bootloader unlocked (checked by the fastboot oem device-info command).
• 📥 You downloaded the official firmware for your model from the Miui Download website.

Step-by-step:

1. Install Android SDK Platform-Tools on your PC.
2. Connect the phone to your computer, holding Volume Down + Power to log into Fastboot Mode.
3. Open the command line in the folder with the platform-tools and execute: fastboot devices (should display the serial number of the device).
4. Fastboot flash all [name file firmware].zip
5. Upon completion, type in fastboot reboot

This method deletes all data, but allows you to bypass the lock if Bootloader unlocked. For models with a locked bootloader (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra) you will need to first unlock it through the official Xiaomi tool (can take up to 720 hours of waiting!).

💡

Before you run your Fastboot firmware, check the phone model with the fastboot getvar product command. Using firmware from another model will result in a device being "bricked."

4.Use of Find Device mode (remote unlock)

If the phone has the “Find Device” feature enabled and it is connected to the Internet, you can try to unlock it remotely via the Xiaomi Cloud web interface:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select the locked device in the list.
3. Click Unlock and confirm the action.

This method does not work on all firmware and requires that:

• 🌐 The phone was online at the time the team was sent.
• 🔒 Find Device has been activated in settings (Settings) → Mi Account → Xiaomi Cloud → Find the device).

If the command didn’t work, try sending a Play Sound signal – if the phone reacts, then there is a connection to Xiaomi servers, and the problem may be in the security settings.

5. Alternative methods (for older models)

Xiaomi devices before 2019 (e.g. Redmi Note 5, Mi 8) sometimes had workarounds that no longer work on new firmware.

Warning: Attempts to exploit vulnerabilities on new firmware can lead to hardware locking (e.g. activation of Anti-Rollback on Xiaomi 12 and later).If you are not sure about the model and version of MIUI, it is better to abandon these methods.

6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If none of the methods worked, the official service remains. Xiaomi provides the unlock service if you have:

• 📄 Check or warranty card (proof of purchase).
• 🆔 Passport holder (to confirm identity).
• 🔧 IMEI Devices (indicated on or under the battery).

The cost of the service varies from 1,500 to 5,000 rubles depending on the model and the reason for the lock, and in some cases (for example, when theft) unlocking may not be possible by law.

Addresses of Xiaomi service centers in Russia can be found on the website mi.com/ru/service. Check by phone before your visit if they are unlocking – some centers specialize only in iron repair.

⚠️ Warning: Do not contact unofficial services that offer "unlock in 5 minutes"; often these masters use illegal methods (for example, flashing with a swap). IMEI), This leads to loss of warranty and problems with the mobile network.

7.How to avoid blocking in the future

To avoid the problem of forgotten passwords again, follow the following simple rules:

• 🔐 Use biometric unlocking (fingerprint or facial recognition) as a backup method.
• 📧 Link Mi Account and enable contact sync/photo in Xiaomi Cloud.
• 📝 Write your password in a secure location (such as Google Password Manager or KeePass).
• 🔄 Regularly back up through Settings → System system → Backup.

If you often forget passwords, set up Smart Lock in Android: it will automatically unlock your phone in trusted places (such as at home or work). → Screen locking → Smart Lock.

💡

Even if you use a pattern lock, set a backup PIN-In some situations (e.g., when a screen is damaged), this is the only way to unlock the device.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi