How to bypass screen lock on Xiaomi: from pattern lock to fingerprint

A forgotten password or pattern lock on a Xiaomi smartphone can become a real headache – especially if the device stores important data that cannot be lost. Unlike many other brands, Xiaomi phones come with additional security mechanisms, such as binding to a Mi Account account and hardware encryption in MIUI. This complicates the unlock process, but does not make it impossible.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for bypassing screen lock on Xiaomi devices (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models) relevant to MIUI 12-14. From official methods through Find Device to technical solutions using Fastboot and ADB. Importantly, not all methods are suitable for devices with a locked bootloader or Factory Reset Protection (FRP) enabled - we will also talk about this.

Warning: Attempts to break the lock can lead to loss of warranty, activation of anti-Rollback protection or even a "brick" of the device. If the phone is tied to a Mi Account, start with the official methods - they are the most secure.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most reliable and legal method is to use Xiaomi's "Find Device" feature, which works if:

• 🔹 The device is linked to your Mi Account (even if you don’t remember your password).
• 🔹 Mobile data or Wi-Fi are included on the phone.
• 🔹 Find Device has been activated in settings (Settings) → Mi Account → Find Device).

If the conditions are met, follow the instructions:

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com from your computer or other device.
2. Sign in with the same account as the locked phone, and if you don't remember the password, restore it via email or phone number.
3. From the menu, select Find Device → Delete data (or Unblock device, depending on the version of the site).
4. Confirm action. After 5-10 minutes, the phone unlocks automatically (may need to restart).

⚠️ Note: If two-factor authentication is enabled on the device (2FA), Unlocking will require a code from SMS It's going to be very difficult to restore access to your account without it, and you're going to have to contact Xiaomi with a confirmation of purchase.

2. Reset password via Recovery Mode (without loss of data)

If Mi Account is not tied or Find Device is disabled, you can try resetting your password through Restore mode, which works on devices with the unlocked bootloader and MIUI version up to 12.5 (on the new firmware Xiaomi closed this loophole).

Instructions:

1. Turn off your phone. Press Power + Volume up at the same time to enter Recovery Mode.
2. Select the language (usually English by default).
3. Go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (don’t be afraid – the data won’t be deleted, it’s a deceptive name).
4. Instead of resetting, the system will suggest you enter the Mi Account password, and if you know it, enter it, and the phone will unlock.
5. If the password is unknown, select Reboot – the phone will restart, but the lock will remain.

💡 Useful advice: On some models (Redmi Note) 8/9, POCO X3) after 5 If you fail to enter a password in Recovery, the option Forgot Password appears. It redirects to the password reset page via Mi Account - this is a chance to unlock the phone without losing data.

3. Use of ADB (for USB debugging devices)

The method is suitable if the phone previously had USB debugging enabled (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version → 7 taps to unlock developer options, then Settings → Additional → Developers → USB debugging). This is rare, but if you activated this feature, the chances of unlocking without resetting data are high.

Procedure:

1. Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
2. Open the command line (Win + R → cmd) and type:

adb devices

If the device appears in the list, do:

adb shell


su




rm /data/system/gesture.key




rm /data/system/password.key




rm /data/system/locksettings.db




rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal




rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm




reboot

After restarting, the screen lock will be reset. ⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13+ And with encryption enabled, this method can cause you to lose data or require a password after you reboot it, and it doesn't work if you debug it. USB not included in advance.

4. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

The method is suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader. If the bootloader is locked, you will first need to unlock it through the official Mi Unlock Tool, which takes up to 720 hours of latency (according to Xiaomi rules).

If the bootloader is already unlocked, follow the instructions:

1. Turn off the phone and log in to Fastboot Mode (clamp Power + Volume Down).
2. Connect the device to the PC and check its detection by the command:

fastboot devices

1. Download custom recovery (such as TWRP) for your model.
2. Squeeze recovery:

fastboot flash recovery twrp.img


fastboot boot twrp.img

1. In TWRP, go to Advanced → File Manager and delete the files:

/data/system/gesture.key


/data/system/password.key




/data/system/locksettings.db

1. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect actions in Fastboot can lead to a "brick" of the device (completely inoperable).If you are not sure about your skills, it is better to contact the service center. 12/13, Redmi Note 11/12) Xiaomi is blocking the firmware of unofficial recovery.

5. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If all of the above methods have failed, the last option is to contact an official service center.

• 🔹 Devices with a locked bootloader and Mi Account disabled.
• 🔹 Phones that have been affected by anti-Rollback protection (for example, after a failed firmware).
• 🔹 Models with hardware encryption (Xiaomi) 12T, Redmi K50 newer).

What will be required to unlock:

The cost of unblocking in the service varies from 1 500 before 5 000 depending on the model and complexity, in some cases (e.g. when triggered) FRP) The official Xiaomi centers in Russia can be found on the website. mi.com/ru/service.

💡

If the phone is purchased abroad (for example, on AliExpress), the official service may refuse to unlock due to regional binding, in which case only an informal service with experience with gray devices will help.

6. Alternative methods (with caution!)

There are dozens of magical ways to unlock Xiaomi online, from using EDL Mode to running Test Point, most of which are either outdated or require special hardware.

Method 1: Bypassing Emergency Call

Some older models (Redmi 4/5, Mi A1/A2) have a loophole:

1. On the lock screen, tap Emergency Call.
2. Type ##4636## and it will open the test menu.
3. Return to the home screen via the Home button (if any).
4. Sometimes this allows you to access settings without entering a password.

🔴 Success: ~10 percent. This doesn't work on new devices.

Method 2: Use of third-party tools

Programs like Miracle Box or UFi Box promise to unlock in a few clicks, but:

• 🔹 Requires the purchase of a license (from 5 000 rubles).
• 🔹 May contain malware.
• 🔹 They often don’t work on the latest versions. MIUI.

Using such tools can lead to blocking IMEI or activation of anti-Rollback protection, after which the phone becomes a “brick”.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi