How to bypass the graphical password on Xiaomi: reset methods

When you pick up your Xiaomi to make an important call or watch a message, and the screen meets you with a request to enter a forgotten pattern lock, it causes panic. It happens all the time: we get used to certain finger movements, but in a stressful situation or after a long break, memory can fail. Owners of smartphones with a MIUI shell or a new HyperOS face this regularly, because the security system here is quite rigid.

Fortunately, modern Android devices, including Redmi and POCO models, provide several legal ways to restore access to data. You do not need to carry the device to the service center and pay money for what you can do yourself in 5-10 minutes. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to circumvent a graphical password on Xiaomi using built-in Google features, Mi Account, and more advanced methods through the computer.

It's worth noting right away that most methods to bypass locks without knowing the code involve completely erasing user data, a security measure designed to protect your information in the event of a device being stolen. So if you don't have an up-to-date backup in the cloud, photos and contacts can be lost. However, if the choice is between a locked brick and a dropped phone, the latter option looks much more attractive.

Use the “Find Device” function from Google

The easiest and most secure way to do this is to work on any smartphone with an active Internet connection and a Google account attached. Find My Device not only tracks the location of the gadget, but also remotely manages its lock, and if you've enabled it in your security settings, you can solve the problem with a few clicks from any other device.

You need to go to the official website of the service from a computer or another phone, you need to log in to the same Google account that was the main one on the blocked Xiaomi, the system automatically determines the location of the device if it is connected to the network, and offers three options: play the sound, lock the device or clean it, and we are interested in cleaning, because it removes all kinds of locks of the screen.

⚠️ Note: This method only works if the locked smartphone is connected to the mobile Internet or Wi-Fi. If the device is in air mode or discharged, the command will not be executed until the network appears.

The deletion process is triggered immediately after confirmation, and you will see a warning that all files, applications and settings will be erased, which is a necessary step, since the pattern lock is stored in a secure part of the system, which is only accessible after reset, and after the procedure is completed, the phone will restart and appear in factory condition, offering to undergo the initial setup.

Resetting through Mi (Mi Account)

Xiaomi’s ecosystem has its own powerful protection system, similar to Apple’s iCloud. If your device has a Mi Account created and activated, and the Find Device feature is enabled in the cloud service menu, you can unlock the phone remotely, which often works even better than Google’s standard tools, thanks to deep integration with the MIUI shell.

To use this method, go to i.mi.com from any browser. Enter your Mi Account login and password. Select Find Device from the main menu. The map will show your smartphone's location if it's online. The device's control menu (usually three dots or settings icon) will have a "Erase Data" or "Wipe Data" button on the bottom of the screen.

Once you press the button, the system will require you to confirm the action, possibly by sending a confirmation code to the associated phone number. Once the command is sent, the phone will receive a signal for a full reset. Remote cleaning is the only guaranteed way to unblock if you forgot the picture, but remember the password from the account. Without the password from the Mi Account, it will be impossible to unlock the device after the reset due to the protection of the Mi Cloud.

Use Recovery Mode for Hard Reset

If you don't have Internet on your phone or Google/Mi services don't respond, you have to resort to hardware reset. Recovery mode is a special diagnostic interface built into the device's memory regardless of the operating system, and it allows you to perform low-level operations, such as cleaning the cache or completely resetting to factory settings (Wipe Data).

To get into this menu on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models, you need to do a certain sequence of actions with the buttons. First turn off the smartphone completely. Then press the Volume Up and Power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, continuing to keep the volume until the menu in English or Chinese appears.

In the Recovery menu, you can navigate with volume buttons (up/down), and the power button confirms the choice. You need to find the Wipe Data item and select it. Then you will see a submenu where you should select Wipe All Data. The system will warn you about the loss of data — confirm the action by selecting Confirm. The formatting process will take a few seconds, after which you need to select Reboot → Reboot to System.

⚠️ Note: Some new HyperOS models may be blocked from entering Recovery if the developer settings have not been activated in advance, in which case only Fastboot and flashing mode will help.

Unlocking with Fastboot and Mi Flash Tool

For advanced users who don't have Recovery or have a bootloader locked, there's a method of firmware through Fastboot mode, which is a deeper layer of access to the system that allows you to write back the system partition, USB-cable and official utility Mi Flash Tool, as well as the firmware for your model.

First, download the Fastboot ROM for your model from the official website. It should be in the ZIP format that you need to unpack. Then load the phone into Fastboot mode: usually this is pressing the Volume Down and Power buttons simultaneously. Connect your phone to your PC. In the Mi Flash Tool, select the path to the firmware folder and press the Flash button. Note that this method often requires an unlocked bootloader.

This is more complicated than the previous ones, because it requires a firmware matching, and if you flood the firmware from another model or region, the device may stop working correctly. However, if done correctly, you will get a completely clean system with no passwords. Fastboot mode ignores locking the screen because it works at the kernel boot level.

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Always check the firmware version before installing. Global ROMs are only suitable for global firmware. Trying to install Chinese firmware on a global version without changing the region can lead to an anti-rollback error.

Unlocking the block via ADB (for advanced)

The USB debugging method (ADB) can help remove a key file without completely resetting data, but it only works under one condition: the phone must have been pre-enabled with a Developer Menu and USB debugging activated. If you never enabled these settings, this method, alas, will not work, and you will have to return to a full reset.

If debugging is enabled, connect the phone to your computer and install ADB drivers. Open the command line in the ADB folder and enter the command to check the connection: adb devices. If the device is determined, you can try to delete the file that stores the pattern lock. Type the following command:

adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key

Or, for older versions of Android:

adb shell rm /data/system/key.key

Once you've done the command, reboot your phone. In some cases, this allows you to log in without entering a password or with any arbitrary set of dots. 10-14 and MIUI 12-15 This method is often blocked by the security system, as access to the partition is often blocked. /data/system/ without superuser rights (Root) can be closed even through the ADB.

What to do if your phone requires a post-reset account (FRP)

After successfully resetting your settings with any of the above methods, you will encounter a screen of initial setup, where Google's Factory Reset Protection (FRP) security system will require you to enter a login and password from a Google account that was synced to the phone before the reset, which is anti-theft protection: if the phone is stolen and reset, the thief will not be able to use it.

If you remember your account, just enter the data. If you forget your account password, it gets complicated. You have to restore access to Google email through a browser on another device. Bypassing FRP on modern versions of Android is extremely difficult and often requires paid specialized software or service centers, because vulnerabilities are constantly closed.

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FRP (Factory Reset Protection) is a critical security element: Never buy used Xiaomi phones if the seller can’t demonstrate login or offers to “reset” the phone in front of you without logging out.

⚠️ There are many programs that promise to “hack» FRP Be careful, 95 percent of them are virus- or fraud-free. FRP There is no account without data.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)