How to unlock the screen of Xiaomi phone: from Mi Account to hard reset

A locked Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that one in five users face. The reasons are different: a forgotten pattern lock, a failure after a MIUI update, buying a used phone with someone else's account, or even childish pranks. Depending on the model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11) and the firmware version, the ways to unlock are different — somewhere the tied Mi Account will help, and somewhere you will need a full reset via Fastboot.

It is important to understand that not all methods are safe. For example, resetting through Recovery will delete all data, and trying to bypass the lock through third-party programs can lead to a device being knocked out. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven methods - from the simplest to the emergency - and also tell you how to avoid blocking in the future. If your Xiaomi requires a password after rebooting or shows the message "This device is locked", read on.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most reliable and recommended method Xiaomi uses is a tied Mi Account, which works if:

• 📱 The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 🔑 You remember the login and password from the account that was linked to the device.
• 🔄 The “Find Device” function was activated in the settings.

If the conditions are met, follow the instructions:

1. On the lock screen, tap the button "Forgot password?" (or "Forgot password?" on English firmware).
2. Enter the email or phone number associated with the Mi Account.
3. Confirm the login via SMS or email (depending on your account settings).
4. Create a new one. PIN-code.

⚠️ Note: If the phone was bought from hand and tied to someone else's account, this method will not work, in which case you will need to contact the previous owner to untie the device or contact the service center with proof of purchase.

2. Recovery Mode reset (data loss)

If the Mi Account is not tied or you don’t remember the login details, you can still reset hard through Recovery Mode, which will delete all the data on your phone, including photos, contacts and apps, but will return access to the device, and is suitable for most Xiaomi models, except those that are protected by the Mi Cloud Lock (for example, after theft).

Instructions for phones with MIUI 12/13/14:

1. Turn off the power button + volume up for 10 seconds.
2. Once the Mi logo appears, release the power button, but keep the volume up until you enter Recovery.
3. Use the volume buttons for navigation and the power button to select "Wipe Data" (or "Clear Data").
4. Confirm the reset by selecting "Wipe All Data".
5. Once completed, select “Reboot” to reboot.

Turn off your Google account (if you remember your password)

Backup important data (via Mi Cloud or PC)

Charge your phone at least 50%

Prepare. SIM-post-reset activation card-->

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi 9, POCO M3) After the reset, you may need to enter data from the Mi Account that was previously linked.If you do not remember them, the phone will remain locked!

3. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

The method via Fastboot is suitable if:

• 🔧 You have access to the PC and USB-cable.
• 📥 You can download the official firmware for your model.
• 🛠️ You are ready to work with the command line.

This is more difficult than resetting through Recovery, but sometimes it’s the only way to get around Google’s FRP (Factory Reset Protection) lock.

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers (you can download on the official website).
• 📂 Firmware for your model (for example, fastboot-rom for Redmi Note 11).
• 🐍 The Mi Flash Tool.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone and press the power button + volume down to log into the Fastboot.
2. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
3. Launch the Mi Flash Tool, select the downloaded firmware and press "Refresh" - the program must determine the device.
4. Press Flash and wait for the process to be completed (5-10 minutes).

💡 If the Mi Flash Tool is a “Couldn’t load device” error, try it:

• 🔌 Connect the phone to another USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).
• 🔄 Reinstall drivers manually through Device Manager.
• 🔧 Launch the program on behalf of the administrator.

4. Bypassing the lock through ADB (without data loss)

If the phone is debugging on USB (USB Debugging, you can try unlocking the screen through ADB (Android Debug Bridge without data reset. This method works on Xiaomi with MIUI 10–14, but requires prior preparation.

What needs to be done:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
2. Open the command line (Win + R → cmd) and type:

adb shell


su




rm /data/system/gesture.key




rm /data/system/password.key




rm /data/system/locksettings.db




rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal




rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm




reboot

After restarting, the phone should start without asking for a password. If the commands don't work, try an alternative:

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.ChooseLockGeneric

⚠️ Note: On new models (Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) This method may not work due to increased protection. MIUI. It is also useless if the debugging is USB was offline.

5. Official Xiaomi Service Center

If all of these methods did not help, you can contact an authorized Xiaomi service center.

• 🔒 Phone locked through Mi Cloud Lock (for example, after theft).
• 📱 The device requires an account of the previous owner (when buying a used one).
• 🔧 You are afraid to flash your phone through Fastboot.

What will be required to unlock:

💡 Useful tip: Before visiting the service center, check if the warranty period has expired. If the phone is under warranty, unlocking can be free. A list of official Xiaomi centers in Russia can be found on the website mi.com.

💡

Service center is the only legal way to unlock a phone with Mi Cloud Lock. Self-attempts to bypass can result in the complete loss of the device.

How to avoid blocking in the future

To avoid hitting a locked screen again, follow the simple rules:

• 🔐 Use a fingerprint or facial recognition in addition to a password.
• 📧 Link Mi Account and enable the “Find Device” function".
• 🔄 Make regular backups via Mi Cloud or Google Drive.
• 📝 Write down your password in a secure location (for example, in Bitwarden’s password manager or in a secure location). 1Password).
• 🚫 Do not buy used phones without decoupling from your previous account.

Xiaomi’s MIUI 14+ models have an “Emergency Access” feature that lets you unlock your phone through a trusted contact (such as a family member) without losing data. To activate it, go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Emergency Access.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi