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

The forgotten password on Xiaomi is a situation that thousands of users face every day. Unlike the iPhone, where the unlock procedure is strictly tied to the Apple ID, Android devices (including Redmi, POCO and Mi) offer several alternative ways to reset, but each has its own nuances, from data loss to the risk of “bricking” the phone.

In this article, we will look at all the current methods of unlocking, from official (via Mi Account and Find Device) to technical (Recovery and Fastboot mode), especially models with a locked bootloader (2022 and later), where standard instructions from the Internet often do not work, and you will learn how to avoid common mistakes that will turn your Xiaomi into a “brick”.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The safest method is if you have a Mi Account attached and confirmed, and is suitable for most models, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and Mi 13, the main condition is that the phone must be connected to the Internet (via Wi-Fi or mobile network).

Algorithm of action:

• 📱 Enter the wrong password 5 times in a row until the Forgot Password button appears?.
• 🔑 Click on it and select the recovery option via Mi Account.
• 📧 Enter the email or phone number associated with the account and confirm the identity through SMS/email.
• 🔓 Create a new password or pattern lock.

⚠️ Note: If you have previously disabled sync with Mi Cloud or have not confirmed your account via email, this method will not work. A2) After 10 failed attempts to enter a password, the phone is locked for 24 hours.

The advantage of this method is that you can store all the data on your device, but if you don't remember the email or phone you're attached to, you'll have to use alternatives.

2. Reset via Find Device (remote unlock)

Find Device, a similar feature to Find My iPhone, allows you to not only track the phone, but also remotely reset it to factory settings, and works even if the device is turned off, provided that:

• 🔋 Battery level of charge > 15%;
• 📶 The phone was previously connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network);
• 🔒 Find Device has been activated in the settings.

Instructions:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select a locked phone from the list of devices.
3. Click Erase Data and Confirm Action.

Once reset, the phone will reboot and prompt you to set it up as new, a method that is not suitable if you were planning to save photos or contacts — the data will be deleted permanently.

3. Hard Reset via Recovery Mode (without password)

If previous methods failed, the hardware resets through Recovery Mode, which deletes all data but unlocks the phone even without the Mi Account attached, and is suitable for most models except for devices with a locked bootloader (such as the 2023 Xiaomi 12T or POCO F5).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone with a long press on the power button.
2. Press the Power + Volume combination up for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data (use volume buttons for navigation, power for confirmation).
4. Confirm the reset by choosing Wipe All Data.
5. After completion, select Reboot.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi 2022-2026 models with a locked bootloader after Hard Reset may require data entry from Mi Account, which was tied to the phone earlier.If you do not remember this data, the phone will remain locked!

If the phone asks for Mi Account after reset, try using the official unlock utility (Section 5).

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Before resetting via Recovery, try connecting your phone to your computer and copy important files via ADB (if USB debugging is enabled).

4. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

It's good for devices with unlocked bootloaders, or if you're ready to unlock them, requires a computer with ADB and Fastboot drivers installed, and basic command line knowledge. Not recommended for beginners, because errors can cause a phone to break.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/Linux;
• 🔌 USB-cable (original);
• 📦 Google's Platform Tools utility;
• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (if not, see Section 5).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone and put it into Fastboot mode, clamping Power + Volume down.
2. Connect your phone to your computer and open the command line in the folder with Platform Tools.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: fastboot devices If the phone is determined, continue.
4. Run reset: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

After the reboot, the phone will be unlocked, but all data will be deleted. If the bootloader is locked, you need to unlock it before reset (see the next section).

5. Official unlocking of the bootloader via Mi Unlock

If after Hard Reset the phone requires the entry of Mi Account data and you do not remember them, the only legal way to unlock it is using the Mi Unlock Tool utility.This method only works for accounts associated with the phone previously, and requires waiting (from 72 hours to 1 week).

How to unlock:

1. Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website.
2. Sign in to the utility under the same Mi Account that was tied to the phone.
3. Put your phone into Fastboot mode (as in Section 4) and connect to your computer.
4. Click Unlock in the program and wait for the process to be completed.

Important nuances:

• ⏳ The waiting time depends on the activity of the account (can be up to 720 hours). = 30 days).
• 📵 New models (Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) tether SIM-card-to-account.
• 🔄 After unlocking the bootloader, all data on the phone will be erased.

⚠️ Note: Using unofficial unlock methods (e.g., through paid services) can lead to Mi Account blocking or loss of warranty. Xiaomi is actively fighting against "gray" ways of circumventing protection.

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Unlocking the bootloader via Mi Unlock is the only legal way to bypass the Mi Account request after a reset. All other methods (including paid ones) violate the user agreement and can block the account forever.

6. Contacting a service center: when nothing helps

If all of these methods do not work, you need to contact an authorized Xiaomi service center.

• 🔐 Phones with a locked bootloader and lost access to Mi Account;
• 📱 Devices released after 2022 (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra, POCO F5 Pro);
• 💔 Phones that have ceased to turn on after a failed reset ("brick").

What will be required to unlock:

• 📄 Checks or warranty card (if the phone is guaranteed);
• 🆔 Passport of the owner (to confirm ownership);
• 💳 Payment for the service (from 1,500 to 5 000 rubles depending on the model).

It is worth considering that even in the service center will not always be able to unlock the phone without losing data. In some cases (for example, if hardware damage to the memory module), recovery may not be possible.

Before you carry your phone to the service, check whether it is not covered by a warranty - sometimes unlocking is covered by warranty obligations (for example, if the phone is locked due to a software failure).

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi