How to find a 4-digit password from the numbers on the phone Xiaomi

Xiaomi’s owner forgets the digital access code is a regular occurrence. A lock screen that requires 4 digits becomes an insurmountable barrier to accessing contacts, photos and apps. Users often look for a way to “fix” the combination, but the mathematical probability of guessing the correct code of 10,000 options is extremely small, especially given the restrictions on the number of attempts to enter.

Instead of pointless selection that will only lock the device for a long time or lead to complete locking, it is wiser to use proven methods of resetting. Modern security systems MIUI and Android have built-in protection mechanisms that do not allow you to simply bypass the security without losing data or having an account.

This guide details the technical ways to solve the problem, and we will look at legal methods through Mi Account, Recovery Mode recovery mode, and customized PC tools. It is important to understand that in most cases, full unlock without code will require the complete deletion of user data.

Security system limitations and selection risks

The brute-force attempt on a modern smartphone is virtually impossible. The Android system that underlies the MIUI shell has strict limits on the number of mistypings. After the fifth error, the device locks for 30 seconds, then the timer increases to 5, 10, 30 minutes or more, and this is done specifically to protect against intruders.

Moreover, the automatic data reset feature is often activated in security settings, and if it is enabled, after a certain number of failed attempts (usually 10), the phone will independently execute Wipe Data, which means that all your photos, correspondence and documents will be destroyed without the possibility of recovery.

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Use biometrics (fingerprint or face unlock) along with your password to minimize the risk of a complete lockdown on your device.

There is a myth that there are universal codes or master codes for resetting locks, which in reality do not exist for civilian versions of devices, and the only code that can help is the unlock code through a Google or Mi Account, but it only works if you have preset and access to the Internet.

Reset via Mi Account and Find Device

The most civilized way to access a device, or at least unlock the screen without losing data (on older versions of MIUI) or with minimal loss, is to use the Mi Cloud cloud service, which works if the locked phone logs in to the Mi Account and data transfer is enabled.

First, you need to go to the official i.mi.com website from any other device (computer or other smartphone), enter the username and password from the account that is used on the blocked Xiaomi. If the data is correct, you will be taken to the device control panel.

In the web version, select Find Device. If the system successfully communicates with the phone, you will see several options. We are interested in Lock or Erase. On some firmware versions, Lock allows you to set a new temporary password that will replace the forgotten 4-digit code.

If you don't have the option to change your password, you only have to delete the data completely, and that's guaranteed to unlock the screen, but it'll return the phone to factory status, and after the procedure, you can set it up as new or restore the data from the backup.

Using Recovery Mode for Full Reset

If you can’t access your account, the only option is to force reset via the Recovery Mode Recovery menu, which works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models, regardless of the Android version. It doesn’t require an internet connection at the time of reset, but requires physical access to control buttons.

The process of entering recovery mode can vary depending on the model. Most modern devices need to turn off the smartphone completely. Then press the Volume Up button and Power button simultaneously. Hold them until the Mi logo or Main Menu appears.

In the menu, you can navigate with volume buttons (up/down), and you can select a point with a power button. You need to find the Wipe Data section and select it. Then the system will require confirmation, you usually need to select Wipe All Data and confirm the action by selecting Confirm.

⚠️ WARNING: After resetting via Recovery on devices with protection enabled, you may need to enter a password from a Google account or Mi-acca! make sure you remember this data, otherwise the phone will turn into a "brick" due to the protection FRP.

After completing the cleaning process, which can take 2 to 10 minutes, select Reboot -> Reboot to System.The phone will reboot and you will see the screen of the initial setup as if you just bought the device in a store.

Unlocking via PC and debugging via USB

This method is applicable only in one specific case: if the phone previously was enabled debugging by USB (USB Debugging) and the computer already has access to the device. In the standard situation, when the phone is locked by the screen, this method will not work, since the system requires confirmation of the connection on the screen.

However, if you have access to the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can try to delete the files that store the password hash, and to do this, the phone connects to the PC, and special commands are entered in the command prompt, such as trying to delete the gesture.key file or password.key from the system directory.

adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key


adb shell rm /data/system/password.key

Once the commands are executed, the device must be restarted. If the access rights (root or specific ADB permissions) allow, the lock screen will disappear. But on current versions of MIUI 12/13/14 and Android 10+, this security hole is most often closed, and the system will require you to enter a password immediately after rebooting.

Table of compatibility of methods for different models

The effectiveness of methods can vary depending on the device model and the version of the firmware installed. Below is a comparative table that helps you choose your strategy of action.

As you can see from the table, the universal solution is the recovery mode, but owners of older devices sometimes manage to save data through ADB, if the phone has received the rights of the superuser.

FRP protection and Google accounts

After successfully resetting your settings, you will be faced with the Factory Reset Protection (FRP) step, a mechanism to prevent the stolen device from being used. The phone will require you to enter a Google account that was synced to the device before the reset.

If you don't remember the password from your Google account, it takes time to restore access through the Google account recovery process, and without that step, you can't use your phone. It's not a bug, it's an Android security feature.

⚠️ Warning: When buying a used Xiaomi phone, always ask the seller to reset your settings and log out of all accounts.

In some rare cases, if the phone is not connected to Wi-Fi immediately after reset, you can skip the verification step, but the first time you connect to the network, the verification will still occur. FRP bypass is a complex technical procedure that requires the use of special utilities and often changing exploits.

Prevention and creation of reliable backups

To prevent a forgotten password from becoming a disaster, you need to back up regularly. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, this is done via Mi Cloud or locally to your memory card/PC. Set up automatic synchronization of contacts, notes and photos.

It is also recommended to write a 4-digit code in a safe place or use a password manager. You can set a more complex password (mixed type), which is harder to forget, as it makes sense, unlike random digits like “1234” or “0000”.

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Regular sync with Mi Cloud is the only way to guarantee data recovery after a forced password reset.

Using biometrics (a fingerprint scanner in the power button or under the screen) makes life much easier. Even if you forget the digital code, fingerprint login will allow you to unlock your phone and reset your password in settings, if the system allows you to do so before you lock it completely.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)