A forgotten password, a locked pattern lock, or a used Xiaomi account with a previous owner are situations that thousands of users face every day. Unlike iPhones, where unlocking often requires contacting a service center, Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO, and Black Shark) offer several official and informal ways to unblock. However, not all methods are equally safe: some can lead to data loss, others to a “brick” of the device if executed incorrectly.
In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to unlock (from the simplest to the most difficult), their pros and cons, and give checklists for preparation. Particular attention will be paid to the EDL method, which works even on locked bootloaders, but requires special cable and knowledge of commands. If you are not confident in your abilities, you should contact the authorized Xiaomi service, especially if the device is enabled Find Device (phone search).
1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)
The most legal and safe method is to use a linked Mi Account, which is suitable if:
- 🔹 Remember the login/password from the account linked to the phone
- 🔹 The device is enabled mobile Internet or Wi-Fi
- 🔹 Find Device is not activated (in this case, additional verification will be required)
To unlock Xiaomi through Mi Account:
- On the lock screen, click Forgot Password? (or Forgot Password? on English firmware).
- Enter the email or phone number associated with the account.
- Confirm the entry via SMS or email code.
- Follow the system instructions for resetting the password/pattern lock.
⚠️ Note: If the Find Device feature is enabled on the device, the system may request additional verification, such as a linked phone number or backup email. In some cases (for example, when buying a used phone), this method will not work, and you will have to use alternative methods.
2. Recovery Mode reset (data loss)
If you don’t remember Mi Account data or the phone is bought with your hands, you can try resetting through Recovery Mode.This method removes all data from the device, including photos, contacts and apps, but keeps the system running.
Resetting instructions:
- Turn off the phone with a long press of the power button.
- Press the combination of Loudness up + Power and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
- From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data (or Wipe & Reset on new firmware).
- Confirm the action by choosing Wipe All Data.
- After reset, select Reboot to reboot.
⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or POCO F4) After the reset, you may need to enter data from the Mi Account, which was previously linked (FRP). If you don’t know the previous owner’s data, this method won’t work.
Disable Google Account (if possible)
Backup of important data (via Mi Cloud or computer)
Charge your phone at least 50%
Prepare. SIM-mobile internet card (in case of Wi-Fi blocking)
-->
3. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)
If the reset via Recovery does not help (for example, because of the FRP), You can try unlocking the bootloader through Fastboot mode. This method requires a computer, installed drivers. ADB/Fastboot and unlocked bootloader (if it was previously blocked) Suitable for Xiaomi models on Qualcomm processors (for example, Redmi Note). 11 Pro, POCO X3 Pro).
Step-by-step:
- Install ADB and Fastboot on PC (or use the Mi Flash Tool).
- Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to log into Fastboot Mode.
- Connect your phone to your computer through USB-cable.
- In the command line (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) enter: fastboot oem unlock If the bootloader is blocked, you will first need to unlock it through the official Xiaomi website (the process takes up to 72 hours).
- Once unlocked, enter the reset command: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase frp
- Reboot the device with the command fastboot reboot.
⚠️ Note: Unlocking the bootloader via fastboot oem unlock erases all data and can lead to a loss of warranty.On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra), this method is blocked by the manufacturer.
What if the fastboot oem unlock command doesn’t work?
4. Unlocking through EDL (Emergency Download Mode)
EDL-Emergency boot mode is a hidden mode for firmware Qualcomm devices that bypasses locking the bootloader, which works even on locked phones, but requires:
- 🔧 Specialist EDL-cable (or closing contacts on the board)
- 🔧 Mi Flash Tool or QFil
- 🔧 Firmware for your model (for example, fastboot-ROM)
- 🔧 Knowledge in working with ADB command-line
Step-by-step (simplified version):
- Download and install the Mi Flash Tool from the official website.
- Download the firmware for your model (for example, Redmi Note). 10 Pro — courbet_global_images...).
- Turn off your phone and connect it to your PC via EDL-cable (or close the contacts Test Point on the board).
- In the Mi Flash Tool, select the downloaded firmware and press Refresh – the device should be determined as COM-port.
- Press Flash and wait for the process to end (5-10 minutes).
⚠️ Note: Incorrect Firmware Through EDL It can turn a phone into a brick. On models with a MediaTek processor (like Redmi). 10C) EDL-The mode is not available - instead, Brom mode is used. Also, some firmware requires authorization of the Mi Account even after flashing.
💡
Before you run your firmware through EDL, check your Xiaomi CPU model in the CPU-Z app (available in Play Market).If it lists MediaTek, look for instructions to unlock through Brom Mode or SP Flash Tool.
5. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center
If all of the above methods did not work (for example, due to the activated Find Device function or the previous owner’s Mi Account blocked), the only legal way to unlock it is to contact an authorized service center.
- 🏢 Official Xiaomi service centers (list on the manufacturer's website)
- 🏢 Partner workshops (for example, Communication Service, M. Video)
- 🏢 Local repair shops with a license to work with Xiaomi
What you need to unlock in the service:
| Requirement | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Purchase document | Check or warranty card (if the phone is guaranteed) |
| Passport of the owner | To verify identity (if the phone is purchased new) |
| Data from the previous owner | If the used phone is an email or phone number tied to Mi Account |
| Payment for services | The cost of unlocking – from 1000 to 5 000 ₽ model-wise |
⚠️ Warning: Unofficial workshops may offer Mi Account bypass through modified image firmware, which violates Xiaomi’s license agreement and could result in loss of the service. IMEI, Problems with mobile network or locking device through Find Device.
💡
Officially unlocking at the service center is the only way to keep the warranty and avoid problems with Find Device or FRP in the future.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When trying to unlock Xiaomi on their own, users often face typical problems, including the most common ones and ways to solve them:
Error 1: "This device is locked" in Fastboot Mode
Reason: The bootloader is locked and needs to be unlocked through the official Xiaomi website.
Solution: Go to the unlock page, log in and wait for confirmation (3 to 7 days).
Error 2: After resetting via Recovery, the phone asks for an old Mi Account.
Factory Reset Protection (FRP) is activated.
Solution: If you do not know the data of the previous owner, contact the service center with the purchase documents.
Error 3: The Mi Flash Tool does not see the device in EDL mode.
Reason: Qualcomm drivers are not installed or an inappropriate cable is used.
Solution: Install drivers manually through the Qualcomm website or use the original EDL-cable.
Error 4: There is no network after the firmware (IMEI invalid).
Reason: The modem or nvram partition is damaged when running the firmware.
Solution: Restore IMEI via Maui Meta (for MediaTek) or QCN-file (for Qualcomm).