How to unlock screen lock on Xiaomi: from simple ways to Hard Reset

A forgotten password, pattern lock or fingerprint that is no longer recognized is a problem faced by one in five Xiaomi smartphone owners. Screen lock protects your data, but can turn into a real headache if access to the device is suddenly lost. Unlike iPhone, where unlocking often requires contacting a service center, there are several official and unofficial ways to regain control of the phone on Xiaomi.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of unlocking, from the simplest (via Mi Account or Find Device) to radical (reset via Fastboot or Recovery). Importantly, not all methods save data on the device. For example, resetting through the Mi Flash Tool completely erases internal memory, including photos, contacts and applications, if there was no backup. So before you start, assess the risks and choose the method based on the phone model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11, etc.) and the version of MIUI.

If you are not sure of your technical skills, you should contact an authorized Xiaomi service center. Wrong actions (for example, interrupted firmware through EDL) can turn the phone into a brick.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most secure and recommended method for Xiaomi is to use a tied Mi Account, which works on most models (including Redmi 10, POCO F4, Mi 11 Lite) if:

• 📱 The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 🔗 The device is linked to your Mi Account (check at account.xiaomi.com).
• 🔒 Find Device is activated in the settings.

Instructions:

1. On the lock screen, tap Forgot Password? (or Forgot Password?).
2. Choose Unblock with Mi Account.
3. Enter the login and password from the linked account.
4. Confirm unlocking via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).

⚠️ Note: If the phone is not connected to the network, this method will not work, and Xiaomi can request proof of identity (passport photo) if you suspect a hack.

2.Use Find Device (Remote Unlock)

Find Device, Google's equivalent of Find My Phone, not only allows you to find a lost phone, but also unlock it remotely.

• 🌐 Phone's connected to the Internet.
• 📍 Find Device is activated in settings (Settings) → Mi Account → Find Device).
• 🔋 Device on (not discharged).

Step-by-step:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select the locked device in the list.
3. Click Unlock the device (or Unlock).
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

Once successfully unlocked, the phone will restart, and you can set a new password. This method stores all the data on the device.

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If the phone is dead, plug it into charging for 10-15 minutes before using Find Device.The system may not respond to a command at a charge level below 5%.

3. Unlock through ADB (for advanced users)

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) method is suitable if the phone previously had Developer Mode and USB Debugging enabled. This is rare, but if you've set up the phone for development or customization, there's a chance. The method works on Xiaomi with MIUI 12-14.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• ⚙️ Included debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap to activate the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the PC via USB.


2. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (Mac/Linux).




3. Enter the commands in order:




adb devices




adb shell




su




rm /data/system/gesture.key (for pattern lock)




or




rm /data/system/password.key (for PIN/password)




4.Reboot phone: adb reboot

⚠️ Note: New models (Redmi Note 12 Pro)+, Xiaomi 13 may not work due to increased protection MIUI. Also after unlocking, you may need to reset the settings.

4.Reset via Recovery Mode (Data Loss)

If previous methods failed, the radical method remains resetting via Recovery Mode, which completely deletes all data (photos, apps, settings), but returns access to the phone, the method works on all Xiaomi models, including the POCO M5, Redmi A2, Mi 11 Ultra.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone (press Power + Volume up for 10 seconds).
2. Press Power + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (volume buttons) and tap Wipe Data.
4. Confirm the reset (Wipe All Data).
5. After restarting, set your phone as new.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 12T, Redmi K50) After the reset, you may need to enter data from the Mi Account that was previously linked (protection) FRP). Without them, the phone will remain locked!

Turn off the phone.|Connect to charging (minimum 30%)|Find the original. USB-cable|Prepare Mi Account data (login / password)-->

5. Unlock via Fastboot (for tech-savvy)

The Fastboot method is more complicated than Recovery, but sometimes allows you to bypass the lock without completely resetting, requires a computer and knowledge of commands, suitable for models with an unlocked bootloader (for example, if you have previously flashed custom software).

What do you need?

• 🖥️ PC with Mi Unlock Tool installed and ADB/Fastboot.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Phone with a charge of at least 50%.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.


2. Press Power + Loudness down to enter the Fastboot.




3. Connect the phone to the PC.




In the command line, type:




fastboot devices (connection check)




Fastboot Oem unlock (bootloader unlock)




fastboot reboot




5. After restarting, set up the phone again.

⚠️ Attention: Unlock bootloader resets phone to factory settings! Xiaomi can also block unlock for 7-30 days if you do it for the first time.

6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If none of the methods worked, you can contact the official Xiaomi service. This is a guaranteed way to unlock, but with nuances:

• 📄 Proof of purchase (check, box, warranty card) will be required).
• 🆔 Passport of the owner (to prove that the phone is not stolen).
• 💰 Cost of the service: from 1000 to 3 000 rubles (depending on the model and the city).

How to find a service center:

1. Go to mi.com/global/service.
2. Choose a country and a city.
3. Check the reviews about the center (for example, on Yandex.Maps or Google Maps).

⚠️ Note: Unofficial services may offer unlocking via EDL (emergency mode, but it is risky - incorrect actions will lead to a breakdown of the communication module (the phone will stop catching the network).

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The official service is the only legal way to unlock if the phone was bought with hands and the previous owner did not untie the Mi Account.

7.How to avoid blocking in the future

To avoid the problem again, follow the following simple rules:

• 🔐 Use Smart Lock (Settings) → Screen locking → Smart Lock for Automatic Unlocking in Safe Places (Home, Work).
• 📱 Link Mi Account and activate Find Device.
• 🔄 Regularly back up through Settings → System system → Backup.
• 📝 Write your password/pattern lock in a secure location (e.g. Google Keep or Google Keep). 1Password).

You should also give up simple passwords (for example, 1234 or 0000) – they are easy to find, the best option is a PIN of 6-8 digits or a pattern lock with 9+ points.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi