How to find a pattern lock if you forgot it on Xiomi's phone

The situation of a smartphone owner suddenly discovering that he can’t access his device is one of the most stressful in the world of mobile technology.The forgotten pattern lock on Xiaomi blocks not only calls, but also access to important contacts, photos and banking applications. Owners of Redmi and Poco devices often face this problem after accidentally changing the pattern in their pocket or because new complex code simply did not stay in memory.

Modern MIUI and HyperOS security systems are designed to make it as difficult as possible to access unauthorized devices, making it almost impossible to brute-force combinations without locking the device for a long time. However, there are proven technical ways to regain control of the gadget. In this article, we will discuss in detail legal methods of bypassing locks using accounts, special modes and utilities from the manufacturer.

Before we get into action, we need to understand exactly what type of lock is installed and whether the phone is tied to cloud services, which will determine whether we can save data or have to take extreme measures. Next, we will look at algorithms for actions from the simplest to the more complex, which require a complete memory cleanup.

Use the Find Device function to remotely unlock

The most civilized and safe way to restore access is to use the Mi Cloud cloud service. If the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data transfer) was turned on on on the blocked device and the Mi Account was activated, you can delete the password remotely.

Once you log in, you'll have a device management interface, and it's important not to confuse the functions, because some of them can lead to data loss, and others can only lead to the removal of the screen lock, and the system will offer several options, among which you need to choose the most suitable one for your situation.

• 📍 Device search: displays the current location of the gadget on the map if geolocation is enabled.
• 🔊 Sound: Includes the maximum volume of the signal even when the silent mode is set.
• 🔒 Blocking: allows you to set a new temporary login password by replacing a forgotten pattern lock.
• 🗑️ Cleanup: Completely removes all data from the device, returning it to factory settings.

The remote lock function works like a crutch, allowing you to set a new digital code that will override an old graphical pattern, which is ideal if you need to make an urgent call or access an authenticator application, but it is worth remembering that this method only works when you are actively connected to the Internet.

⚠️ Note: If Find Device has been disabled in settings or the phone is in aeronautical mode, remote control will not work, in which case the screen will remain locked until the network appears.

Recovery Mode (Hard Reset)

If cloud methods are not available, the only working option is forced resetting via recovery mode. This process, known as Hard Reset, completely erases user data, including photos, contacts and installed apps, returning the phone to the “out of the box” state. 40-50%.

To enter Recovery mode on Xiaomi smartphones, you need to perform a sequence of actions with the buttons. On the device turned off, press both the volume button and the power button. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, but continue to keep the volume until the Recovery menu appears.

In the menu, the navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. You need to find the Wipe Data item, then select Wipe All Data and confirm the action by selecting Confirm. The formatting process can take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, after which the device will suggest to restart.

Once you reboot, the system will start setting up the first setup, and you may have another layer of protection, which is a Google account, and if you've synced your phone, you'll need to enter a password from a Google email that was previously tied, a standard theft protection measure known as FRP.

Unlocking with Mi Unlock Tool (for advanced)

For users who have previously modified the system or just prudently unlocked the bootloader, there is a tool called Mi Unlock Tool, which requires a Windows computer and a device driver installed, and the main advantage of the method is that it allows you to reset the screen lock without losing data, but only if the bootloader was already unlocked before the problem occurred.

The process begins with the smartphone switching to Fastboot mode. To do this, you need to press the volume and power buttons simultaneously on the switched-off device, and an image of a rabbit repairing an android will appear on the screen, indicating a successful transition to the desired mode. The phone is connected to the PC via the original USB-cable.

fastboot devices


fastboot oem unlock

In the running program Mi Unlock, you need to log in under the same Mi Account that was used on the phone. The utility will check the status of the device and, if all conditions are met, prompt you to unlock the bootloader. Once the procedure is successfully completed, the phone will automatically restart, and all data will be saved, and the lock screen is removed.

⚠️ Warning: Unlock the bootloader via the Mi Unlock Tool automatically performs a full Wipe Data reset for security purposes. If you do this for the first time, the data will be lost, but the blocking with the pattern lock will disappear.

Unlocking via ADB (requires debugging over USB)

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) method is only effective in one case: if the developer’s USB Debugging feature was activated before the screen lock and the computer was given permission to access, if these conditions are not met, this method is useless, and you will have to contact Hard Reset.

To implement the method, connect your phone to your computer, install the Platform Tools package, and open the command line in the tool folder, and the method is to delete files that store information about the pattern lock and passwords through system commands, which allows the system to “think” that the lock never existed.

• 📂 gesture.key: A file containing a hash of a pattern lock.
• 🔢 password.key: a file with a digital password hash.
• 📝 locksettings.db: database of lock settings.
• 🗄️ locksettings.db-wal: temporary database file.

In the command line, commands are entered sequentially to delete these files. For example, the command adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key will delete the pattern lock file. After completing all the necessary commands and rebooting the device (adb reboot), the phone may ask you to enter any password or key, or immediately put on the desktop.

It is worth noting that on new versions of Android and MIUI, access to /data/system/ without root permissions is often closed even when debugging is enabled. Therefore, this method does not work on all models and firmware versions, but it is worth trying, since this is the only chance to save data without completely resetting.

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Use only the originals. USB-Cheap cables are often just for charging and don't transmit data, which will lead to a connection error. ADB.

Features of unlocking different versions of MIUI

The procedure for restoring access can vary significantly depending on the version of the installed MIUI shell or the new HyperOS. In older versions (MIUI 10-12), there were vulnerabilities that allowed you to bypass the lock screen through emergency services or date settings, but in current builds these holes are closed.

Owners of Chinese firmware (CN) versions should be especially careful, because these devices often lack Google’s default services, and security mechanisms may work differently, such as resetting via Recovery on the Chinese version may require connecting to Chinese servers to verify an account, which in our latitudes can cause difficulties.

Global and European versions (Global/EU) have a stricter binding to Google Account. After Hard Reset, these devices will require a password from a Google account that was synchronized earlier, forgetting not only the pattern lock, but also the data from the mail, otherwise the phone will turn into a “brick” from the point of view of the average user.

⚠️ Warning: Attempts to flash the phone through the Mi Flash Tool to remove locks on Locked Bootloader devices will lead to an error and possible damage to the software. Reset password through firmware is possible only when the bootloader is unlocked.

What to do if nothing helps: prevention and conclusions

In a situation where none of the software methods worked, and the data is critical, the only way out is to contact an authorized Xiaomi service center.You must have documents confirming the purchase of the device (check, warranty card, IMEI box). Service employees can unlock the procedure at the hardware level, but this is a paid service if the case is not warranty.

To avoid such situations in the future, mobile security experts recommend setting up biometric unlocking. The fingerprint or facial recognition on modern Xiaomi smartphones work quickly and reliably. However, remember that biometrics still need to be periodically confirmed with a digital code or key, so you can not completely abandon them.

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Regular synchronization of data with Mi Cloud and Google Photos is the only way to ensure the safety of information in case of any failures and blockings.

It's also useful to write your graphical keys and passwords into a paper notebook or secure password store on another device. Human memory has the ability to crash at the most inopportune time, and having a backup of access can save you from the hours you spend restoring the system.

To sum up, you can't pick up a pattern lock with a pumpkin method because of the time constraints of the system, and the only way is to use the manufacturer's resetting tools, and be careful when setting up your phone, linking your accounts, and storing your data in the cloud so that you don't lose access to the screen and it's a disaster.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)