How to unlock someone else’s smartphone Xiaomi: all working methods 2026

Have you found or bought a used Xiaomi smartphone, but it is locked with a password, a pattern lock or a Mi Account? The situation is familiar to many: the device turns into a “brick” if the previous owner did not remove the protection. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to unlock Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones in 2026 – from official methods to bypassing FRP (Factory Reset Protection).

It is important to understand that unlocking someone else’s device without the owner’s consent may violate the law (Article 272 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on unlawful access to computer information). We consider only legal scenarios: regaining access to your device, unlocking the used phone (with proof of purchase) or helping relatives. If the phone is stolen, return it to the owner or to the police.

The methods in the article are tested on Xiaomi 13/14 series, Redmi Note 12/11, POCO F5/X5 with MIUI 14/15 firmware and HyperOS. For older devices (until 2019), some methods may not work due to changes in Xiaomi’s security policy.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

If the lock screen displays a request for username / password Mi Account is the most reliable way to unlock. Xiaomi binds devices to the owner's account, and without his data, it is almost impossible to circumvent the protection legally.

• 🔑 Do you have any previous owner's data? Ask them to log in to Mi Account and remove the device from the list of attached gadgets.
• 📄 Do you have a check or a sales contract? Contact Xiaomi with proof of purchase. They can remove the account link remotely (consideration period up to 7 days).
• ⚠️ No data, no check, no official unlocking of the phone, no further methods involve bypassing the security and may result in complete loss of functionality of the device (locking). IMEI, denial).

If you still decide to try to bypass Mi Account, consider: since 2021, Xiaomi has tightened protection. on new firmware (MIUI 13+), most of the “holes” are closed, and the use of third-party tools (such as Mi Flash Unlock) requires authorization through the developer account.

⚠️ Warning: After 3 failed attempts to enter the Mi Account password, the device may lock for 24-72 hours.

2.Reset via Recovery Mode (Hard Reset)

If the phone only has a password/pattern lock (without being tied to Mi Account), the easiest way is to reset to factory settings.This method will delete all data but return access to the device. The manual is suitable for most Xiaomi models, except for devices with locked Recovery (for example, some POCO after upgrading to HyperOS).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone (press Power + Volume up for 10 seconds).
2. Press the combination to enter Recovery Mode: For most models: Power + Volume up. For POCO F3/F4: Power + Volume down. For Xiaomi 12/13 series: you may need to connect to a PC via Fastboot.

Recovery

Wipe Data → Wipe All Data

Reboot → Reboot to System

If you reboot your phone and you need your password again, you've been using your Mi Account binding, and then Hard Reset won't help, and you need to use other methods.

Turn off the phone completely.

Check the battery charge (minimum 30%)

Prepare the original. USB-cable (for models with Fastboot)

Download the Mi Flash Tool (if you need firmware)

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FRP (Factory Reset Protection) bypasses Xiaomi

FRP (Factory Reset Protection) is Google’s protection that is activated after resetting if a Google account was attached to the device. On Xiaomi, it works together with Mi Account, making it difficult to unlock. You can legally circumvent FRP only if you know the login/password from the Google account that was on the phone. Otherwise, informal methods will be required.

Ways to bypass FRP on Xiaomi (2026):

• 📱 On the greeting screen, dial ##4636##, then go to Settings. → Reset, working on MIUI 12 and below.
• 🔌 With help. OTG-cable: Connect the flash drive with the file FRP_Bypass.apk (download XDA On the Wi-Fi settings screen, select Files and install APK.
• 💻 Through the PC and ADB: Connect the phone to your computer, open the command line and type in: adb shell am start -n com.google.android.gsf.login/ adb shell am start -n com.google.android.gsf.login.LoginActivity Then add a new Google account.

On HyperOS (the new firmware for Xiaomi 14 and Redmi Note 13), these methods may not work, in which case only the firmware through Fastboot with shutdown will help. FRP, But it requires an unlocked bootloader.

⚠️ Attention: Installation of informal APK roundabout FRP This can lead to the blocking of Google services (the error "Device is not certified.

4. Unlock the bootloader and firmware through Fastboot

If the phone is locked Mi Account and other methods do not help, the last option is to unlock the bootloader and flash the device through Fastboot. This method is suitable for advanced users, as it requires working with the Mi Flash Tool and possible loss of warranty.

What you need:

• 💻 Windows computer 10/11.
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (better from the set).
• 📥 Firmware for your model (download on the official website).
• 🛠 Tools: Mi Flash Tool, ADB & Fastboot.

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool (it will require a link to the developer account and a wait of 7-15 days).
2. Transfer the phone to Fastboot mode: turn off the device, then press Power + Volume down.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, open the Mi Flash Tool and select the downloaded firmware (.tgz format).
4. Press Refresh, then Flash, and it takes 5-10 minutes.

Once the firmware is in place, the phone will look like new, but Mi Account and FRP will be disabled, minus the method: some models will not be able to unlock NFC and Widevine (Netflix is not in HD).

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Before you run the firmware, check the bootloader version (fastboot getvar anti). If the value is anti: 4, the device has new protection, and the firmware can block IMEI.

5. Alternative methods (for older models)

Xiaomi devices until 2019 (e.g. Redmi 4/5, Mi A1/A2) have vulnerabilities that allow you to bypass the lock without firmware. These methods do not work on new firmware, but can help owners of older gadgets.

Methods for outdated models:

• 🔄 Test Point reset: Disassembling phone and closing contacts on Mi Account reset board. requires soldering iron and circuitry for a particular model.
• 📡 Through EDL-Mode: Connect to Qualcomm 9008 and firmware via QFil. only runs on Snapdragon chips.
• 🔧 Use of boxing (UFi, Z3X): Professional tools for service centers. The cost of unlocking - from 1000 rubles.

These methods are risky: wrong actions can permanently put the phone out of action (for example, damage the phone). EMMC-If you are not sure about your skills, contact the service center.

6. What should I do if nothing helps?

If all of these methods fail, you have three options:

1. Contact the Xiaomi service center. Provide a check or a purchase agreement - they can unlock the device officially (cost - from 500 to 2000 rubles).
2. Locked Xiaomi buy for 20-50% of the market price (for example, Redmi Note 11 can be sold for 3000-5000 rubles).

If a phone was stolen and you're trying to unlock it, remember the legal consequences. According to the Interior Ministry, in 2023, 12 percent of smartphone thefts were solved by by bypassing locks.

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If the phone is bought from hands and locked - demand the seller unlock or return the money. the transaction without removing the protection is considered fraud (Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi