How to unlock the screen Xiaomi: the complete guide

When your favorite smartphone suddenly stops responding to touches or requires a password you allegedly didn't set, it can unsettle any owner.The lock screen is the first frontier of protecting your personal data, but sometimes it becomes an insurmountable barrier for the owner of the device. Owners Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO face this problem regularly, especially after updating the firmware MIUI or HyperOS, which can reset some security settings.

The reasons for this can be many, from trivial forgetfulness to software failures. It is important not to panic and act consistently, as rash actions can lead to the complete loss of photos and contacts. In this guide, we will discuss all the current methods of restoring access, from simple resets through a Mi Account to more complex procedures through the engineering menu.

Before you get to the big steps, make sure the problem isn't temporary. Sometimes the system just hangs around waiting for a response from Google or Xiaomi servers, creating the illusion of locking down. Rebooting the device 30 percent of the time solves the problem without losing data, so don't ignore this basic step.

Using a Mi Account to Reset a Lock

The most civilized and safe way the manufacturer provides is to use a linked Mi Account, and if you have logged in and enabled Find Device, you have a great chance of getting back without losing your personal files, which only works if you have an active Internet connection on the blocked gadget.

You'll need to access a computer or other smartphone to start with, go to the company's official cloud service website and log in with the same credentials that are used on the locked device, and automatically locate the device and offer available actions.

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Make sure that the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data) is turned on on on the locked phone, otherwise the command from the server will not reach the device.

In the management interface, select your device from the list. If the status is displayed as “Online”, you will be able to access remote control options. We are interested in the lock or unlock function, which can vary depending on the firmware version and region.

• 🔑 Enter a new lock password in the field on the site to replace the forgotten one.
• 🌐 Check status. GPS, Make sure the phone is actually online.
• 📱 Use the Sound option to make sure the device responds to commands.
• 🔄 After a successful password change, unlock the screen with a new code.

⚠️ Note: If two-factor protection or Lost mode is enabled on the device, the system may require confirmation via SMS or the Authenticator app, even if you know the password from your account.

It is worth noting that in recent versions of HyperOS security policy has been tightened, now remote unlock may not be available unless the appropriate item in the security settings was activated in advance, in which case the system will only offer data cleanup, which we will talk about below.

Google Find My Device Resets

An alternative, but more radical, method is to use Google services. Unlike the Xiaomi ecosystem, search tools often allow you to not just change your password, but immediately reset your settings completely if you can’t unlock the screen with standard methods, especially for older models, where Mi Account protection is weaker.

The process is similar to that of Xiaomi: you have to go to android.com/find from any browser, log in to the Google account that was the primary one on the locked smartphone, and the system will try to contact the device.

If you have a connection, you'll see three basic options: Call, Lock, and Clear the Device. We're interested in the latter. Clicking Clear initiates Factory Reset, which will delete all user data but remove the screen lock.

It's important to understand that after this procedure, the phone will go back to factory status, all apps, settings and media files will be deleted, but if you've had Google Photos or Google Drive enabled, you can recover most of the information once you've reconfigured it.

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Using Google Find My Device is a guaranteed way to unblock, but it inevitably leads to the complete deletion of data from internal memory.

Unlocking through Recovery Mode

When remote methods are unavailable due to lack of network or forgotten passwords from accounts, there is a “heavy artillery” – Recovery Mode Recovery Mode – a low-level environment built into the phone’s memory that allows you to control the system bypassing the main Android interface.

To enter this mode on most Xiaomi and Redmi models, you need to perform a certain combination of buttons when the device is turned off. Usually this is clamping the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, while continuing to keep the volume.

In the Recovery menu, you can navigate with volume buttons (up and down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. You need to find Wipe Data or Clear Data. In some versions, the menu may be in Chinese, then focus on the icons or the position of the buttons.

⚠️ Attention: New firmware MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS, when you try to reset through Recovery, the system may require you to enter a password from your Mi Account.

If the system does not require a password from your account, select Confirm.The process will take a few seconds or minutes, after which the phone will restart.You will get a clean device ready for the new setup.

There's also a nuance to the Chinese menu, and if you're on it, look for the characters that match the Clear Data button (usually the second button on top), and there's often a language switch in the upper right corner where you can choose English.

Using ADB for Advanced Users

For those who have previously included USB Debugging in the Developer Menu, it is possible to unlock the screen or delete lock files via the computer, a method that requires an ADB driver installed and basic command line knowledge.

Connect your phone to your PC through USB-Open the command line (cmd) in the tool folder ADB. Enter adb devices. If a window appears on the phone screen requesting debugging permission and you have confirmed it (or confirm it now if the screen responds to touch), the device will appear in the list.

adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key


adb shell rm /data/system/keyguard/locksettings.db




adb shell rm /data/system/keyguard/locksettings.db-wal




adb shell rm /data/system/keyguard/locksettings.db-shm

Executing these commands will delete files that store information about the pattern lock or PIN-And then you have to reboot the device. Importantly, this method doesn't work on all versions of Android, and it requires that the partition /data It was not encrypted by complex algorithms, which is relevant for modern versions of Android by default.

If standard file deletion commands don't help, you can try resetting security settings through ADB, but that's the exception rather than the rule. The main use case for ADB today is to save important data before being forced to reset, if that's theoretically possible.

What to do if your phone requires a Mi Account password after a reset

The most unpleasant situation that users face is activation. lock_ (After resetting, the phone requires you to enter the password from the Mi Account that was synced earlier, which is an anti-theft measure, and you can't get around it in simple ways.

The only legal way to do this is to remember your password or re-access your account through i.mi.com. If you bought your phone with your hands and the previous owner didn't untie your device, you'll have to contact them, and without that, your phone will remain a brick.

• 📞 Contact an authorized service center with a check for purchase.
• 📧 Try to restore access to mail linked to the Mi-account.
• 🛑 Do not try to use questionable paid unlock services.
• 📄 Find the box from the phone where it is indicated. IMI-code, this will help with the service.

There are paid software methods to unblock the Mi Account, but they often require disassembling the phone and closing contacts on the board (Test Point) to go into EDL mode. This is a complex process that is better to trust professionals, as there is a risk of permanently disabling the device.

⚠️ Note: Using unofficial patches and “cracks” to bypass a Mi Account can lead to unstable phone operation, inability to make calls or complete blocking on your account. IMEI producer.

Preventing future blockage problems

To avoid such stressful situations, it is important to properly configure the device immediately after purchase.Safety should be a priority, but it should not become a trap for the owner himself.

First, write down your pattern lock or PIN-code in a safe place, in a notebook or password manager. Don't rely on memory, especially if you use complex combinations. Also make sure that the phone number and backup email in your Mi Account are up to date.

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Take a screenshot with the settings of the Mi-account and save it in the cloud or send yourself to the messenger – this will help to remember the attached data in an emergency situation.

Check Find Device regularly. Sometimes after updates, your security settings may get lost and the function goes off. Go to Settings → Mi Account → Find your device and make sure the switch is active.

Use biometrics (fingerprint, face unlock) as an additional method, not the primary one. Always leave the option of PIN-code entry in case your finger is wet or wearing gloves. The combination of protection techniques provides the best balance between convenience and safety.