How to unlock the screen Xiaomi Redmi: proven methods

The situation when a smartphone suddenly stops letting the owner into the system is familiar to many users of the Xiaomi ecosystem. Whether it is a forgotten pattern lock, a mistaken PIN code or a malfunction of the Mi Account account, the problem needs to be solved immediately. The lock screen is the first frontier of protecting your personal data, and sometimes it becomes an insurmountable barrier for the owner of the device.

In this article, we will discuss in detail how to unlock the Xiaomi Redmi screen in various ways, from standard recovery procedures to radical reset methods. It is important to understand that the choice of method depends on what data you want to save and which version of the MIUI operating system is installed on your gadget. Some methods will require preliminary preparation, while others allow you to solve the problem “hot”.

Before you start taking action, it's worth assessing the seriousness of the situation. If the phone just doesn't respond to touch, it may be a hardware touchscreen failure. However, if the system requires a password that you don't remember, you'll have to use software methods to bypass the security. Attention: most of the actions described below can lead to the complete deletion of user data, so read each step carefully.

Standard ways to restore access through Google and Mi Account

The most civilized and safest way to regain access to your device is through the use of linked accounts. If your Redmi smartphone is connected to the Internet, the system will offer alternative login options after several failed attempts to enter a password, usually on the fifth or tenth attempt, when the button “Forgot your password?” or “Forgot your graphical key?” appears.

To unlock through a Google account, you will need to click on the corresponding link on the lock screen, and you will be asked to enter the username and password from the Gmail mailbox that was the main one on this device.This method works flawlessly on older versions of Android (up to 5.0 inclusive), but on modern MIUI firmware it is often hidden or requires an Internet connection.

Owners of modern Xiaomi smartphones are more likely to face protection Mi Account. This is the company's cloud service, which is deeply integrated into the system. If the phone was enabled to search for the device, unlocking is possible only through the website i.mi.com. You will need access to the Internet and data from an account that was authorized on the locked device.

It's worth noting that trying to get a password using a pumpkin can cause the device to be temporarily locked for 30 seconds, 1 hour or even a day. MIUI security becomes more aggressive with each error. If you're sure you remember the password but the phone doesn't accept it, try entering it slowly and carefully, checking the keyboard layout and the character register.

Use of service menu and codes for resetting

The Android Engineering Menu is a hidden part of the system designed to diagnose and test hardware components. In some cases, especially on older Redmi models with MediaTek processors, it can reset settings, which effectively removes the lock on the screen. However, on newer devices with Snapdragon processors, this method often does not work or requires special rights.

To get into the menu, you need to dial a special code in the Phone app. The most common combinations include ##7780## or ##34971539#. Once you enter the code, the system can immediately go to reset or open a menu with many items.

⚠️ Note: Using the engineering menu on modern Xiaomi smartphones can lead to loss of warranty and disruption of the cameras or communication module.

If the standard codes don't work, you can try to enter Recovery mode via a combination of buttons. To do this, turn off your smartphone completely, and then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo or menu appears in English. In this menu, the navigation is carried out by volume buttons, and the choice is confirmed by the power button.

In the Recovery menu, we're interested in Wipe Data or Factory Reset, and choosing this option will start the process of completely cleaning the internal memory, and it's important to understand that after this procedure, the phone will be like new, without your photos, contacts or apps, but the lock will be removed, and you can configure the device again.

Unlocking via Fastboot and computer

Fastboot mode is a low-level protocol that allows you to interact with smartphone memory directly from your computer.This method is often used by enthusiasts to flash the device, but it can also help in cases where the phone is “hanging” on the lock screen or can not boot the operating system normally.

To enter this mode, you need to turn off the phone and press the volume button along with the power button, and the screen will show an image of a hare repairing an android, or the inscription FASTBOOT. Connect the device to the PC using the original USB-The computer must have drivers installed. ADB and Fastboot, as well as the Mi Flash Tool or similar software.

You can send a command to reboot or reset via Windows Command Prompt, but just being in Fastboot doesn't make it easy to erase your password without flashing it. It's more like a gateway to installing clean firmware that's guaranteed to be free of the old lock settings. The firmware process is complicated and requires you to precisely match the software version for your particular model.

Using Fastboot is justified if other methods have not helped or if the phone is in a "brick" state (bootloop).In this case, flashing is the only way to bring the device back to life. Xiaomi provides the official tools for this, but they require an unlocked bootloader (Bootloader), which creates a vicious circle if the phone is locked.

Remote Unlocking with Find My Device

Google's Find My Device service and similar Mi Cloud service allow you to control your phone remotely. If you've had your internet and geolocation enabled on your locked device, you can try to unlock it through a browser on another gadget. This is one of the few ways that you can theoretically save data, although in practice, you most often need a reset.

Go to google.com/android/find or i.mi.com from your computer, log in to the same account you used on your locked phone, and if the system sees the device, you will be given a set of commands: “Call,” “Block,” and “Clear Device.”

The Erase feature will delete all data and remove the screen password. The Lock feature allows you to set a new password to replace the old one. A unique feature of MIUI is that in some versions of the firmware, you can unlock the screen through Mi Cloud without losing data if you have a special search mode enabled, but this loophole is constantly closed by developers for security reasons.

The effectiveness of this method depends on how fast you catch it, and if the phone has been offline for several days, the command to unlock can only be executed after its next Internet connection, and you should also consider the battery power: if the phone is dead, remote commands will not pass until the next charge.

Specialized software for removing locks

There are many third-party programs designed to bypass Android security, including Dr.Fone, Tenorshare 4uLock, and iMyFone LockWiper, which offer an automated process: you plug in your phone, the program determines the model, and offers to unlock.

Most of these programs work on the principle of exploiting vulnerabilities in older versions of Android or use engineering modes to reset the partition that stores lock data. However, be realistic: on modern versions of MIUI 12, 13, 14 and later, the effectiveness of free versions of such programs tends to zero.

Paid versions often promise miracles, but the results are not guaranteed. Moreover, using untested software carries risks: at best, you will lose money, at worst, you will bring viruses to your PC or damage the boot sector of the phone. Data security when using such tools is also questionable, since you transfer access to the device to a third party.

⚠️ Warning: Beware of programs that require you to disable antivirus or run a file on behalf of an administrator without a digital signature.

If you do decide to use software, follow the instructions on the program screen. Usually the process is: model selection -> USB connection -> script execution -> reboot. Success depends on the specific processor model and the version of the Android security patch.

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If no software method has worked, try leaving the phone charged with the lock screen on for 24 hours.In some rare cases, the system itself will suggest a reset after Google's lock timer expires.

Contacting the service and preventing blocking

Once all methods are exhausted, the final argument is the official Xiaomi service center, which is the only legal way to unlock a device if it has Mi Account protection on it and you have forgotten the login details. Employees of the service can remove the lock only if there is a check about the purchase and a box with the IMEI-code that matches the code on the device.

The service takes anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, and they're reflashing the device to the factory version of the software, which is guaranteed to remove any software locks. The cost of the service varies, but it's often lower than buying a new phone, and certainly cheaper than buying a cat in a bag on the secondary market.

To avoid this kind of situation in the future, set up biometric unlocking. The fingerprint and facial recognition in Redmi smartphones work quickly and conveniently. However, remember that after you restart the device, the system will still require a PIN or pattern lock, so you can not completely abandon them.

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Regularly back up your data in the Mi Cloud or Google Drive cloud, so you don’t have to worry about resetting your settings and losing important information at a critical time.

It's also a good idea to write down your password or draw a pattern lock on a piece of paper and store it in a safe place, separate from your phone. Also write down your account data. In a critical situation, this piece of paper can save you hours of nerves and searching for solutions on the Internet. Remember that modern smartphones are designed to protect your data from outsiders, and this protection is sometimes too tight.