How to unlock the screen of Xiaomi phone, if you forgot the password

The situation when Xiaomi smartphone suddenly stops letting the owner into the system is one of the most stressful for the user. Owners of Redmi and Poco devices often find that after a system update or accidental lock in their pocket, the pattern lock or digital pin code is forgotten. Modern versions of the MIUI 14 shell and the new HyperOS have enhanced security protocols that make simple combination selection impossible, but leave several legal ways to restore access.

Before we go into radical measures, we need to be clear about what type of protection is installed on your device, whether it's a standard screen lock, Google account or binding to Mi Account, which directly affects the choice of unlock method, in some cases, the data will be saved, in others, you will need a complete reset that will remove all information from internal memory.

Importantly, the methods described below are relevant for 2026 and take into account the latest security patches. If your phone is connected to the Internet and synced to the cloud, the chances of success without data loss are much higher. We will look at all scenarios from the usual deletion of a password through the cloud to engineering manipulations through Fastboot mode.

Recovery through Mi Cloud

The easiest and safest way to unlock a Xiaomi phone without losing data only works when a number of preconditions are met: the device must be on, connected to the mobile Internet or Wi-Fi, and the Find Device function must be activated in the settings.

To start the procedure, go to the official website of the Xiaomi cloud service from any other device (computer or tablet), you will need to enter the login and password from the account that is used on the locked smartphone. After authorization, the system will prompt you to select your device from the list of available gadgets.

In the device management menu, find "Block" or "Unlock the screen." By pressing this button, you send a command to the server, which will forcefully delete the current password, pattern lock or fingerprint. The screen of the smartphone will blink, and after a few seconds the lock will be removed. This method does not require resetting to factory settings.

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Make sure that geolocation is enabled on the locked phone – this is often a prerequisite for the operation of the device search service.

However, if the phone is in flight mode or simply does not have access to the network, the command from the server will not be executed until the connection is made, in which case this method will not work, and you will have to find alternative ways to solve the problem.

Resetting the lock through Google Account

Owners of devices with a clean version of Android or older Xiaomi models can use the remote management feature from Google, which is similar to the Mi Cloud, but uses the search giant’s ecosystem, and is effective if the phone is logged in to Google Account and geolocated.

Go to android.com/find and log in to the same Google account used on the locked phone, and the system will locate the device and suggest several actions: play a sound, lock the device or clear it.

Select the “Erase Device” option, which will delete all data, including the lock password, and after the process is complete, the phone will return to factory settings and you can configure it as new. Please note that after the reset, the system may require you to enter a password from your Google account to confirm ownership (FRP protection).

• 🔓 The method works only with an active Internet connection on a smartphone.
• 🗑️ All data in the internal memory will be permanently deleted.
• 🔐 Remember the password from the Google account for subsequent activation.

It is worth considering that on modern versions of MIUI and HyperOS, Mi Account is often given priority, so if Google services have been disabled or restricted, this method may not work.

Reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)

If remote methods are not available, the only option is forced reset via the Recovery Mode Recovery Menu.This process is universal for all Xiaomi models, whether it is a budget Redmi Note or a flagship Mi. It completely clears internal memory by removing photos, contacts and apps.

To enter recovery mode, you need to turn off your smartphone completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then the power button can be released, while continuing to keep the volume. In a few seconds, the main Recovery menu will open.

The menu is controlled by volume buttons (up/down) and power button (confirmation). You need to select Wipe Data, then confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data. The system will warn you about the loss of data — agree. After you complete the process, select Reboot to restart.

⚠️ Warning: Once reset and turned on, the phone will require you to enter a password from Mi-accaAccount or Google account that was synced earlier (FRP/Cloud If you do not remember this data, it will be extremely difficult to unlock the device.

In some cases, especially on custom firmware or after unsuccessful experiments, the Recovery menu can be changed, then navigation can be carried out through the touchscreen if it responds, or through connection to a PC and the use of special gates.

Using ADB to delete password

For advanced users who have USB debugging enabled on their phone, there is a method of deleting a password file through a computer, which allows you to save data, but requires drivers and basic command line knowledge.

Connect the locked smartphone to the computer through the original USB-Open the command line on your PC and enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

If a device with device status appears on the list, the connection is established, and now you need to enter a command to delete the system file that stores the access keys:

adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key

Depending on the type of lock:

adb shell rm /data/system/password.key

Once you've done the command, reboot the device. The lock should disappear, and you'll have access to the system. If the phone requests a password after you reboot, try entering any one -- it should fit, because the key file is deleted.

It’s important to understand that on Android 13, 14 and later, access to system folders through ADB without root permissions is often limited, so this method works mainly on older versions of the OS or specific builds.

Comparison of Unlocking Methods

To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have systematized the main ways to unblock the table, which will help you quickly assess the risks of data loss and the necessary conditions for each method.

As you can see from the table, Hard Reset is the most versatile, but it's also the most radical method, and it doesn't require the Internet on the phone itself, which makes it the only way to save the device if it's offline, but the cost of doing so is to clean up the memory completely.

Data-saving techniques (Mi Cloud, ADB) require prior preparation, and if you haven't set up cloud sync or enabled debugging in advance, you won't be able to use them post-factum, which is why regular backups are a critical habit.

Protection against theft and FRP blocking

Factory Reset Protection (FRP) is a security mechanism that activates automatically after resetting, and if a Google account or Mi Account is linked to a phone, the system will require you to enter a password from it when you first set up after resetting.

This is done so that the attacker who stole the phone can't just do Hard Reset and use the device, and if you forget the password from the account, the phone will turn into a brick for the outsider, but for the legitimate owner, it will become a problem.

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Never buy used Xiaomi phones without first logging out of your Mi Account and Google account. Having someone else's account makes your device useless.

Unlocking FRP is only officially possible by restoring access to your account through a password recovery procedure on a Google or Xiaomi site. Third-party services may offer paid removal of this protection, but such methods often violate the warranty and can be unstable.

⚠️ Attention: Attempts to circumvent FRP using vulnerabilities (exploits) can lead to the blocking of the device IMEI At the manufacturer's server level, use only legal methods to restore access.

Preventing access problems

To avoid getting caught off guard by a “forget password” situation, it’s recommended that you do a few simple things right now, which will take a couple of minutes, but will save your nerves and data in the future.

Set up sync contacts and photos with Google Photos or Mi Cloud. Even if you have to do a full reset, you can quickly recover all important information from the cloud.

• 📝 Write down a complex password in a safe place (notebook, password manager), do not store it only in memory.
• ☁️ Regularly check the synchronization status of cloud services.
• 🔋 Make sure your phone doesn’t run out of power in critical situations when you need a code.

It is also useful to add a backup. PIN-code that you can use if the main pattern lock is forgotten, a feature found in the security settings of most Android smartphones. Don't ignore system updates, as they often contain bug fixes that can cause false locks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)