How to change the password on Xiaomi Redmi Note 5: all the ways (including unlocking)

Changing the password on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is a procedure that every user will sooner or later face. Whether you bought a used device, forgot the current pin code or just want to improve personal data protection, it is important to know all the available methods. This phone, released in 2018, is still popular due to the balance of price and performance, but its security system has nuances that are worth remembering.

Unlike modern Xiaomi models, which use biometric authentication (fingerprint scanner and Face ID), Redmi Note 5 relies on classic methods: a graphical key, PIN or password. Resetting password through Mi Account does not always work — especially if the device was purchased from hand and tied to someone else’s account. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods of changing passwords, including emergency measures for blocking, and give recommendations for preventing problems in the future.

⚠️ Critical note: If you bought Redmi Note 5 "hands-on" and the previous owner did not untie his Mi Account, resetting the password without its data will be extremely difficult.

1. Standard password change through settings

If you remember your current password and have access to your phone, the easiest way to change it is through the settings menu, which works on any version of MIUI (including MIUI 9/10/11, which is relevant for the Redmi Note 5).

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

• 📱 Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
• 🔒 Go to Lock and Protect (or Lock Screen and Password in older versions) MIUI).
• 🔑 Select the Password (or Change the Password).
• 📝 Enter the current password, then set a new one (minimum 4 characters for the PIN or 6 for a pattern lock).
• ✅ Confirm the changes.

⚠️ Note: If the settings include Require Password at Startup, you will need to enter a new password immediately after the device is restarted.This is an additional security measure, but it can cause inconvenience when you restart your phone frequently.

Make sure your phone is at least 30% charged

Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (if you plan to sync with your Mi Account)

Remember or write a new password in a safe place

Disable VPN (may interfere with synchronization with Xiaomi servers)

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On the Redmi Note 5 with MIUI 10 and higher, after changing your password, the system can suggest that you link it to your Mi Account, which will allow you to restore access if you forget your password in the future. If you bought your phone from your hands, never agree to be linked to someone else's account, this will lock the device for you forever.

2. change the password through Mi Account (if you forgot the current one)

If you forget your password, but your phone is tied to your Mi Account, you can reset the lock via a web interface, which only works if you meet two conditions:

1. The device is connected to the Internet (via Wi-Fi or mobile network).
2. The settings include the option Find Device.

Resetting instructions:

1. 🌐 Go to the Mi Account website and log in.
2. 📍 In the Devices section, find your Redmi Note 5 (by model or by model). IMEI).
3. 🔄 Select Find the device, then Unblock it.
4. 📱 You'll see a password reset notification on your phone.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone has the internet turned off or Find the Device is not activated, this method will not work, in which case only Hard Reset (with loss of data) or contacting the service center remain.

I had to drop it off through Mi Account.

Yeah, I did Hard Reset and lost my data.

No, I always remember passwords.

I bought a locking phone and couldn’t unlock it.

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3. Hard Reset (full reset) when password is lost

Hard Reset is an extreme measure that erases all data on your phone, including photos, contacts and apps, and only use it if:

• 🔐 You don’t remember your password or have your Mi Account tied.
• 📵 The phone was bought from the hands and blocked by the previous owner.
• 🔧 Other Unlocking Methods Have Not Worked.

How to make Hard Reset on Redmi Note 5:

1. 🔋 Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds).
2. 🔄 Press the power button at the same time. + Loudness up before the appearance of the Mi logo.
3. 📱 In the Recovery Mode menu, select Wipe Data (use volume buttons for navigation, power for confirmation).
4. ✅ Confirm the reset by selecting Yes.
5. 🔄 Reboot the phone (Reboot System).

Once reset, the device will go back to factory settings, and if the phone was tied to the previous owner's Mi Account, you'll need to reboot that account, otherwise you won't be able to use the smartphone, and it's a theft protection that you can't legally circumvent.

4 Unlocking via Fastboot (for power users)

If Hard Reset doesn't help because of the Mi Account link, and you can't contact the previous owner, you can unlock it through Fastboot, USB-cable and basic knowledge of working with ADB.

⚠️ Attention: Fastboot missteps can turn your phone into a brick. Use this method only if you understand the risks!

Step-by-step:

1. 🖥️ Install it on a PC. ADB and Fastboot.
2. 📱 Turn off the Redmi Note 5 and press the Power button + Loudness down to enter Fastboot Mode.
3. 🔌 Connect your phone to your computer through USB.
4. 📝 In the command line (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) enter:

fastboot oem unlock


fastboot flashing unlock

If the command is successful, the lock will be removed, but all data will be deleted.Some versions of MIUI will require additional unlocking of the bootloader through the official Xiaomi website.

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Before unlocking via Fastboot, check if it is allowed in the phone settings. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to activate Developer Mode), then to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Unlock OEM.

5. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you change your password to a Redmi Note 5, you often experience typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

🔹 Tip: If you often forget passwords, use a password manager (like Bitwarden or KeePass) to store backups. It's also helpful to link Redmi Note 5 to your Mi Account and enable data synchronization.

6. How to strengthen protection after changing the password

Changing your password is only the first step to security, and to minimize future risks, follow the following guidelines:

• 🔐 Set a complex password (at least 8 characters, with numbers and special marks) Avoid dates of birth and simple combinations like 1234 or 0000.
• 📱 Activate two-factor authentication for Mi Account in your account settings.
• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI — New versions fix security vulnerabilities.
• 📲 Install Google Find My Device for remote phone control in case of loss.
• 🔒 Turn off notifications on the lock screen (Settings) → Lockdown and protection → Notifications on the lock screen).

⚠️ Attention: On the Redmi Note 5 with MIUI 9 and below, there is a vulnerability that allows you to bypass the pattern lock through an emergency call. To close it, update the firmware to the latest available version.

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Even if you don’t use a complex password, Mi Account binding and Find Device enabled will allow you to unlock your phone remotely 90% of the time.

7. Alternative Unlocking Methods (if nothing helps)

If the standard methods don’t work, you can try the less obvious options:

• 📞 Emergency call: On the lock screen, type ##4636##, which can open the test menu, where you can sometimes access settings. MIUI.
• 🔌 OTG-cable: Connect through OTG You can use a mouse and try to control the lock interface, and sometimes it helps you bypass the pattern lock.
• 📧 Recovery via email: If your phone is linked to a Google account, after 5 failed attempts to enter a password, a button will appear: Forgot the password? – follow the instructions for recovery via email.

🔹 Important: Methods like ADB Safe Mode, which works on other smartphones, on the Redmi Note 5 They're often blocked by the system. Don't waste time on them if the phone is upgraded to MIUI 10/11.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions