How to disable screen lock on Xiaomi Redmi: all ways

Locking the screen on Xiaomi Redmi is an important security feature, but sometimes it becomes a hindrance. For example, when you are at home and want to quickly access your phone, or if you forgot your pattern lock after a long break in use. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to disable locks on Redmi Note 12/13, Redmi 10/11 and other models with MIUI 14/15, including bypassing through your Mi Account and resetting.

It is important to understand that complete removal of lock is not possible on all versions of firmware. the manufacturer tightens security policy, so new devices (for example, Redmi Note 13 Pro+) may require confirmation through Find My Device or Google Account. We will look at both standard methods through settings and alternative options for cases where the password is lost.

Why you can’t turn off the lock in the standard way

Many users are faced with a situation where the Settings menu β†’ Lock screen β†’ Password deletion option is simply inactive.

  • πŸ”’ Politics MIUI: Starting with MIUI 12.5, Xiaomi blocks the ability to completely delete the password if the device is enabled sync with Mi Cloud or activated the feature Find My Device.
  • πŸ“± Corporate Restrictions: If your phone is linked to your work account (e.g., via Android Enterprise), your administrator can prevent you from changing your security settings.
  • πŸ”„ Recent Password Change: After the Change PIN-The system temporarily (usually 24 hours) blocks the ability to delete the code or pattern lock.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ Protection against theft: On some models (Redmi) K60, POCO F5) You need to enter the old password even to disable the lock.

If you see a gray field instead of the "Delete Password" button, check first:

  1. Is sync with Mi Cloud disabled in Settings β†’ Accounts β†’ Mi Account.
  2. Are there any active devices in Find My Device (check out i.mi.com).
  3. Are there any third-party administrator applications installed (e.g. Clean Master or enterprise applications) MDM-decision).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI Global (European/Indian firmware) after-hard reset may require you to enter your old Mi Account, even if you reset through Recovery.

Method 1: Disable locking through settings (if you know the password)

If you remember the current PIN-code, pattern lock or password, the easiest way is to use the standard settings menu. 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/13C and other models MIUI 13/14/15:

  1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
  2. Go to Lock Screen (or Lock and Protect on older versions).
  3. Select the lock screen password.
  4. Enter the current password/PIN/pattern lock for confirmation.
  5. Click Delete Password (or No if the system suggests you choose a new type of lock).
  6. Confirm the action by pressing Ready or OK.

Some firmware (MIUI 14 CN) may display a security downgrade warning after this step, and you can ignore it by clicking Delete Still.

Battery charge > 30%| VPN | Disabled Synchronization with Mi Cloud turned off | Checked device administrators

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If the β€œDelete Password” option is inactive, try:

  • πŸ”„ Reboot your phone (sometimes helps to reset time limits).
  • πŸ“± Set another type of lock (e.g., change) PIN to the pattern lock, and then delete it.
  • 🌐 Connect to another Wi-Fi network or mobile internet (sometimes geolocation-related blocking).

πŸ’‘

If you have a Smart Lock enabled (smart location or device unlock), first disable it in Settings β†’ Security β†’ Smart Lock. This can unlock the password deletion option.

Method 2: Remove the lock via Mi Account (if you forgot the password)

If you have forgotten your password, but your phone is linked to your Mi Account, you can use Find My Device, which only works under the following conditions:

  • πŸ“± The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
  • πŸ”„ Find My Device was activated before the password was lost.
  • πŸ”‘ Remember the username and password from Mi Account.

Instructions:

  1. Go to i.mi.com from a computer or other phone.
  2. Sign in with the same account as the blocked Redmi.
  3. Select your device in the list (if there are several).
  4. Click Unlock Device (or Unlock in English).
  5. Confirm the action via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
  6. Wait for notifications on your phone screen (usually 1-5 minutes).

After successful unlocking:

  • πŸ”“ The phone unlocks, but the screen password will reset to a standard (usually 1234 or blank screen).
  • πŸ“± You will be asked to set a new password - you can click Miss or Delete.

⚠️ Note: This method does not work on devices with an unlocked bootloader, as the Find My Device function is disabled when unlocked, and it may not work if the phone was reset to factory settings via Recovery.

Model RedmiSupport for unlocking through Mi AccountNotes
Redmi Note 12/13βœ… Yes.Confirmation is required via SMS
Redmi 10/11βœ… Yes.It only works on global firmware.
Redmi 9/9A/9C⚠️ Partially.Chinese firmware requires binding to +86
Redmi K50/K60βœ… Yes.You may require additional confirmation by email.
POCO F4/F5βœ… Yes.Similar to the Redmi Note 12

Method 3: Recovery Mode (complete data cleanup)

If you don't remember your password and you haven't tied your Mi Account, the only reliable way to reset to factory settings is through Recovery Mode, which deletes all data from your phone, including photos, messages and apps installed. Use it only as a last resort!

Instructions for Xiaomi Redmi (relevant for all models):

  1. Turn off the phone with a long press of the power button.
  2. Press the Power button + Volume up at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
  3. Release the buttons when you see the Recovery Mode menu (black screen with English text).
  4. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button to select the item.
  5. Select Wipe Data β†’ Wipe All Data (or Factory Reset on older versions).
  6. Confirm the action by selecting Confirm.
  7. After the reset is complete, select Reboot β†’ Reboot to System.

Once you reboot, the phone will be like new, and you'll need to go through the initial setup, and you can:

  • πŸ†• Skip Password Setup by Clicking Skip or Skip.
  • πŸ”„ Restore data from Mi Cloud backup (if it was created before blocking).
What to do if you ask for an old Mi Account after a reset?
If the phone after hard reset requires data input from the previous Mi Account, this means that the device is tied to the account at the hardware level. In this case: 1. Try to enter data from the account that was used on the phone. 2. If the account is lost, contact Xiaomi (account.xiaomi.com) with proof of purchase (check, box with IMEI). 3. On some models (Redmi Note 8/9) you can bypass the binding via EDL Mode, but this requires special equipment (box Mi Flash).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14+ After resetting via Recovery, the error "This device is locked" may appear even if you correctly enter the Mi Account data, this is due to the new Anti-Rollback protection system, in which case only the official service center will help.

Reset via Recovery|Mi Account (Find My Device)| Standard settings | Contacted the service center |Have not tried-->

Method 4: Use ADB (for advanced users)

If you have debugging enabled USB (USB Debugging) before locking the screen, you can try to delete the password through ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method doesn't work on newer versions MIUI 14/15 with anti-Rollback protection enabled, but can help on old firmware.

What you need:

  • πŸ–₯️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
  • πŸ”Œ USB-cable (preferably original).
  • πŸ› οΈ Installed Xiaomi drivers and tool ADB.

Step-by-step:

  1. Download Platform Tools from the official Android website.
  2. Unpack the archive in any folder (for example, C:\adb).
  3. Connect the blocked Redmi to your computer.
  4. Open the command line (Win + R β†’ enter cmd).
  5. Go to the folder with ADB: cd C:\adb
  6. Check the connection of the device: adb devices (should appear serial number of the phone).
  7. Delete the file with the password: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key adb shell rm /data/system/password.key adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db
  8. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

If you still ask for a password after rebooting, try:

  • πŸ”„ Repeat commands by adding su before each (root rights required).
  • πŸ“± Set up a different type of lock through ADB: adb shell locksettings set-pin 1234 (then enter 1234 on the phone and delete it via settings).

πŸ’‘

The ADB method only works if USB debugging was enabled before the screen lock. On new firmware, Xiaomi blocks access to system files even through ADB.

Method 5: Bypassing locking via Fastboot (for unlocked bootloader)

If your Redmi has a bootloader unlocked (you previously got permission through the Mi Unlock Tool), you can try resetting your settings via Fastboot Mode.This method does not delete data, but requires technical skills.

Instructions:

  1. Turn off the phone.
  2. Press the Power button + Volume down to enter the Fastboot Mode (a hare in a hat-eared hat will appear).
  3. Connect the phone to the computer.
  4. Open the command line in the folder with Fastboot.
  5. Check the connection: fastboot devices
  6. Run the command to reset the lock: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase locksettings
  7. Reboot the device: fastboot reboot

After the reboot:

  • πŸ”“ The screen lock will be reset, but all data will remain (unlike Recovery Mode).
  • πŸ“± You may need to reconfigure your fingerprint or Face Unlock.

⚠️ Note: On devices with a locked bootloader (Redmi defaults with a locked bootloader), this method will not work "FAILED (remote: 'Flashing is not allowed')".

What to do if nothing helps

If all of these methods do not work, there are two options:

  1. Official Xiaomi Service Center: πŸ“ Find the nearest center on the site mi.com/service. πŸ“„ Bring a check or a box with you. IMEI proof of possession. ⏳ The release date is from 1 before 5 days (depending on the model).

Self-repairing through EDL Mode

  • πŸ› οΈ You will need a Mi Flash box or UFED (costβ‚½).
  • πŸ”§ You need to run the phone in mode. EDL (emergency loading).
  • ⚠️ Risk of β€œbricking” the device with incorrect actions.

The cost of unlocking in the service center:

ModelCost (β‚½)Term
Redmi Note 12/131500–25001-3 days
Redmi 10/111000–20001 day
Redmi 9/9A800–15001 day
POCO F3/F4/F52000–30002-4 days

Before contacting the service:

  • πŸ“‹ Check whether your data will be saved (sometimes a reset is possible without losing files).
  • πŸ” Check the reviews about the service center (some "masters" may understate the cost, and then demand a surcharge).
  • πŸ“± If the phone is warranty, unlocking through third-party services can cancel it.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi Redmi

Can I turn off the screen lock without losing data?
Yes, if you remember the password, through the default settings, if you forgot the password, but you attached the Mi Account, through Find My Device, otherwise the data will be lost (except for the Fastboot method for unlocked bootloader).
Why does the phone ask for an old Mi Account after resetting via Recovery?
This is Factory Reset Protection (FRP) that links the device to an account, and to get around it, you need to enter data from the Mi Account that was on the phone before the reset. If the account is lost, contact Xiaomi with proof of purchase.
Does the ADB work on MIUI 15?
No, since MIUI 14, Xiaomi has blocked access to system files via ADB, even if USB debugging is enabled, a method only relevant for older firmware (MIUI 12 and below).
How do I know if my bootloader is unlocked on my Redmi?
Turn off the phone, then press Volume Down + Power. If you see a hare in a hat and say FASTBOOT, the bootloader is locked. If you have UNLOCKED, unlocked. You can also check in the settings: Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ MIUI version (several taps on version, then Additional settings β†’ Developers β†’ Unlock Status).
Can I unlock Redmi through a Google Account like I do on Samsung?
No, Google's Smart Lock feature works differently on Xiaomi: It lets you unlock your phone in trusted places (like your home), but doesn't reset your password. It requires Mi Account or Recovery reset to fully unlock.