How to disable screen lock on Android Xiaomi

Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with advanced security systems that are designed to protect the owner’s personal data from prying eyes. However, it often happens that the user forgets the password set, the pattern lock or encounters a software failure that makes it impossible to log in.

There are several proven ways to solve this problem, and the choice of the specific method depends on your situation. If you remember your Mi Account, the process will go as smoothly as possible and without losing data, otherwise you will have to resort to more radical measures, such as a complete reset to factory settings.

It’s important to understand that turning off protection is not just a single button, but a sequence of actions that requires care. In this article, we will take a detailed look at all the options available, from standard menu settings to using engineering modes, so you can choose the most suitable for your Xiaomi or Redmi model.

Using a Mi Account to Remove Password

The most civilized and safe way to unlock a device is to use the Mi Cloud cloud service, which works if the phone has previously logged in to a Xiaomi account and enabled the Find Device feature, which allows you to remotely erase the lock data, while retaining basic information if it is synchronized.

To start, you need to go to the official cloud storage site from any other device, whether it is a computer or another phone, enter your credentials (login and password) in the appropriate fields, and after successful authorization, the system will offer a list of associated gadgets.

• 🔓 Select your locked device from the list of available devices.
• 📂 Click on the “Erase Data” or “Unblock” button in the control menu.
• ✅ Confirm the operation by entering a confirmation code if required.
• 🔄 Wait for the process to be completed, after which the phone will restart.

It's worth noting that once you do this, the password will be deleted, but the phone will go back to factory settings, which means that all apps and photos that aren't stored in the cloud will be lost, but that's the only way to get around the security without knowing the current access code, without using complex technical manipulations.

⚠️ Note: If Find Device has been disabled in the security settings, remote unlocking via the Mi Cloud site will become impossible.

Once you restart, the system will ask you to enter your Mi Account password to prove ownership, a standard theft protection procedure known as Activation Lock, and you won't be able to log in without entering the correct data.

Resetting settings via Recovery Mode

If Mi Account access is lost or the device search function is not activated, the only option is Hard Reset, which involves entering Recovery Mode and forcing all user data to be reset, and requires a precise sequence of actions, as the error can lead to a system freeze.

To enter recovery mode, you need to turn off your smartphone completely, then you need to press the combination of the buttons: usually a Volume Up and a Power button. Hold them until the Mi or Redmi logo appears, then release the power button, while keeping the volume still.

In the menu that opens, the navigation is done with volume buttons, and the power button is selected. You need to find Wipe Data or Clear Data. Some versions of MIUI or HyperOS firmware may require confirmation through the input of special code that appears on the screen.

Once you have selected the cleaning option, the system will alert you to the irreversibility of the action, confirm the choice, and the process of formatting the data partition will begin, which can take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on the amount of information and the memory speed of the device.

When the process is complete, select Reboot or Reboot to System. The phone will restart and you will see the screen of the initial setting, as when you first turn on the new device.

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If after a reset, the phone requires a password from an old Mi Account, that's normal protection against theft. Enter the account details that were synced before the reset.

Unlocking with Smart Lock (Google)

Owners of Android devices with a “clean” or those who have configured Google’s special features can use the Smart Lock service, which allows you to automatically disable screen locking in trusted situations, such as when the phone is at home or connected to a specific Bluetooth device.

The idea is that if you have a paired smartwatch, fitness bracelet or car headset, the phone can stay unlocked while communication with them is active.This doesn't remove the password completely, but gives temporary access to the interface to back up or change security settings.

If you have added your home address to your Smart Lock settings in advance, you may not need to lock your screen when you are within range of a GPS or Wi-Fi network, but if the phone has been fully locked and rebooted, this method will likely not work until the first manual unlock.

• 📍 It only works if the function has been pre-activated in the settings.
• 🔗 Requires a conjugated device or being in a given geo-fence.
• ⏳ It gives temporary access but does not remove the security password itself.

It is a preventative measure or a temporary crutch rather than a complete solution to the forgotten password problem, but in an emergency, it can save the situation by allowing you to copy important contacts or photos.

Using ADB for Advanced Users

For technically trained users, there is a method of unlocking through debugging by USB (USB Debugging: This only works if the feature was included in the Developer Menu before the screen locks. If the debugging has been activated and the computer has previously been authorized to access, you can try to delete the lock files.

You'll need to install ADB drivers on your computer and connect your smartphone with a cable. You can send commands to delete files that store a password or pattern lock hash via the command line, usually gesture.key or password.key files located in the system directory.

adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key


adb shell rm /data/system/password.key




adb reboot

Once the commands are executed and rebooted, the system may suggest unlocking the screen in any way or with a blank swipe. However, on modern versions of Android with data encryption, this method rarely works, since access to system files without an unlocked device is often closed.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of commands ADB This method can cause damage to the bootloader or data loss. Use this method only if you fully understand the consequences.

If the phone requests a connection confirmation on the lock screen and you can't press OK, that won't work, unfortunately, and in such cases, you'll have to rely on a full reset or service center.

What to do if your phone requires an account after a reset

After performing Hard Reset, many users are faced with an activation screen where the device requires you to enter a username and password from a Mi Account that was previously synchronized.This is an Anti-theft protection mechanism that makes the stolen phone useless to outsiders.

If you are the legitimate owner, just enter your details. The problem arises if you bought the phone from your hands and do not know the previous owner's data, or if the account was deleted from memory but not detached from the server.

If the data is lost forever, the process of restoring access to the account can take time, you will have to go through the procedure of password recovery through the linked mail or phone number, without which it is almost impossible to bypass the activation blocking in legal ways.

• 📧 Check all your emails for emails from Xiaomi.
• 📞 Try to restore access through your phone number if you have a SIM card.
• 📄 Keep a check for the purchase of the device - it may be needed at the service center.

There are third-party services and programs that promise to unblock activation (Mi Account Unlock), but their use carries risks. Such methods often require payment, may contain viruses or lead to complete failure of the device (the “brick”). Official support Xiaomi does not remove the activation lock without proof of ownership through a check or box.

Prevention and adjustment of biometrics

To avoid problems with forgotten passwords and complex unlock procedures in the future, it is recommended to correctly configure biometric protection methods. Face ID (face unlock) and fingerprint scanner in Xiaomi smartphones work quickly and conveniently, minimizing the need to enter digital code.

Also, it is important to regularly sync data with the cloud.Setting upload photos automatically to Google Photos or Mi Cloud ensures that even in the event of a complete loss of your phone or its reset, your memories will remain intact.

Write down your password or PIN-code in a secure location, such as a paper notebook or a password manager on a computer. Human memory is unreliable, and complex combinations that are difficult for attackers to pick up are just as difficult for the rightful owner to remember after a while.

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Regular backup and password writing in a secure location is the best insurance against loss of access to data.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)