How to unlock a found Xiaomi phone: all the ways from official to emergency

Find someone else’s smartphone – the situation is ambiguous: on the one hand, you want to return the device to the owner, on the other hand – if this is not possible, the question arises about its further use. Xiaomi smartphones are protected by several levels of lock: pattern lock, PIN-code, fingerprint and binding to the account Mi Account. The latter often becomes the main obstacle – even after resetting the system may require the username and password of the previous owner.

In this article, we will look at all possible ways to unlock a Xiaomi found, from official (legal) to alternative (with risks and restrictions). It is important to understand that some methods can violate the terms of use of the device or local law. We do not call for illegal actions, but only describe the technical capabilities. If you found a phone, first try to contact the owner — below we will tell you how to do this as effectively as possible.

1. Attempting to return the phone to the owner: legal ways

Before you try to unlock a device, you should make an effort to return it to the owner, which is not only ethical, but also eliminates potential problems with your Mi Account or law enforcement.

• 📞 Call a SIM- card. If you have SIM installed on your phone, try calling it from another device, and the lock screen may show an incoming call with a number.
• 📧 Check your email on the screen. Some Xiaomi models will have a hint from Mi's email account if you enter the password incorrectly.
• 🚔 Call the police, if the phone is found in a public place (transportation, cafe), report the find to the nearest office. They have a database of lost items.
• 📢 Use social media. Take a photo of IMEI (you can find it using the code *#06#) and post a post in local groups with the hashtag #findphone #Xiaomi.

If you can't find the owner and the phone is idle, you can try unlocking it yourself, but remember, unlocking a Mi Account without the previous owner's data is officially impossible, it's a measure of protection against theft. All other methods are circumventions with restrictions.

⚠️ Attention: In some countries (for example, in Russia), unauthorized use of a found phone can be qualified as misappropriation of someone else's property (Article 160 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

2. Resetting with Recovery Mode: Does it work on Xiaomi?

The most obvious way to unlock is through hard reset, which erases all data, including passwords, on most Android devices. However, Xiaomi has added protection: after a reset, you may need to enter your Mi Account data if you previously enabled Find Device.

How to check if the reset will work in your case:

• 🔄 If the phone is not tied to Mi Account or Find Device is disabled, the reset will remove all locks.
• 🔒 If you have a binding, you'll be asked to enter your login/password after the reset. You can't get around it legally.

Instructions for resetting via Recovery Mode:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds).
2. Press Volume Up + Power before the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (manage volume and power buttons).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

If the phone requires Mi Account data after reset, then proceed to the following methods: the probability of bypassing depends on the model and version of MIUI.

Bypassing the Mi Account lock: real ways and their risks

If you reset a Mi Account request, it means that the device is tied to the previous owner’s account, and this protection cannot be legally circumvented, because Xiaomi does not provide such tools, but there are alternative methods that may work on older models or certain versions of MIUI.

Important: These methods may violate the user agreement and lead to:

• 🚫 Blocking IMEI (The phone will be a brick").
• 🔄 Automatically reset after update.
• 📵 Loss of warranty (if any)

Let’s look at the most common methods:

3.1: Use of vulnerabilities in MIUI (older versions)

Some firmware (e.g. MIUI 9-11) had loopholes to bypass the lock via:

• 🔧 Fastboot mode and commands ADB.
• 📱 Screen terminal (via Emergency Call)
• 🔄 Reverse the firmware to an older version.

Example of a team to check the status of a block through ADB:

adb shell


su




pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.finddevice

However, on new models (Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4, Mi 11/12) and current versions of MIUI 13/14, these methods do not work – Xiaomi has closed the vulnerabilities.

3.2. firmware via EDL (Emergency Download Mode)

The radical method is to run your phone in EDL mode with special tools (Mi Flash Tool, QFil), which allows you to overwrite the partition with your account data, but requires:

• 💻 PC with Windows and Qualcomm drivers.
• 📂 A firmware file for a particular model.
• 🔧 Ability to work with fastboot and EDL.

Risks:

• 🔥 The ability to turn a phone into a brick.
• 🚨 Loss of IMEI (recovery required).
• 📵 Locking the bootloader on new models.

⚠️ Warning: Firmware through EDL on locked bootloader models (Xiaomi Mi 10/11/12, Redmi K40/K50) requires an official unlocker that is tied to the developer account, without which the phone will not sew.

Download Mi Flash Tool from the official website|Install Qualcomm drivers HS-USB QDLoader 9008|Find Fastboot firmware for your model|Create a backup copy IMEI (if possible)|Disable the antivirus (can block the process)-->

4.The Official Unlocker from Xiaomi: When It Helps

Xiaomi provides a tool to unlock the bootloader, the Mi Unlock Tool, which is designed for developers, but in theory can help in the case of a phone found.

• ✅ Only works if OEM Unlock is enabled on the phone in the developer settings.
• ⏳ Requires a wait of 7-30 days (depending on the model).
• 📱 A SIM- card tied to an account (if the phone was in use) is required.

Step-by-step:

1. Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website.
2. Register a new Mi Account (if you don’t have one).
3. Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
4. Launch the Mi Unlock Tool, log in to your account and follow the instructions.

If the phone is found with the bootloader already unlocked, the chances of success are higher. On newer models (Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12), the bootloader locks automatically after reset, so the method may not work.

5. Alternative methods: risks and limitations

If the official methods don't work, some users resort to non-standard solutions, and we don't recommend them, but to get the picture straight, we'll describe the options and the consequences.

“Unblocking for money” services

There are many offers on the Internet like "we will unlock any Xiaomi for 500-2000 rubles."

• 🔓 Scammers who just take money and disappear.
• 💻 Use vulnerabilities that can damage your phone.
• 📵 Offer firmware with lost IMEI (the phone won't catch the network).

If you do decide to take this step, check:

• 📌 Reviews of the seller (on the 4PDA, XDA Developers forums).
• 🔒 Money back guarantee.
• 📱 The ability to test a conversation via video.

5.2 Replacement Board (IMEI)

On some models (Redmi 4X, Mi A1/A2), you can physically replace the motherboard with a new one (with a different IMEI), which will bypass the binding to the Mi Account, but:

• 💰 The cost of repairs may exceed the price of the phone.
• 🔧 An experienced wizard is required (risk of damaging the device).
• 📵 New IMEI may be blocked by the operator.

⚠️ Warning: Replacing IMEI is illegal in some countries (violates the rules for certifying devices).

6. What should I do if nothing has worked?

If all methods have been tried, and the phone requires Mi Account data, there are three options:

• 📦 Sell for parts. A working screen, battery or camera can be useful for repairing other devices.
• 🔧 Use as a media player. Some firmware (like LineageOS) allows you to bypass the lock, but without the mobile network.
• 🗑️ Recycling. Xiaomi service centers are taking old devices for recycling.

If the phone is relatively new (Xiaomi 12/13, Redmi Note 11/12), you can try contacting Xiaomi Service Center to request that you unlock the device.

• 📄 Check or box (proof of purchase).
• 🆔 Passport (for proof of identity).
• 📱 IMEI phone (recognised by *#06#)

Without documents, the official service is unlikely to help, but sometimes exceptions are made for devices purchased from their branded stores.

💡

If a phone is found with Find Device enabled, it is legally impossible to unlock it, and the only way out is to contact the previous owner and ask them to delete the device from their Mi Account.

7.How to avoid problems when buying used Xiaomi?

If you are planning to buy a used Xiaomi to avoid getting blocked by Mi Account, follow these rules:

• 📱 Check your account status. Ask the seller to log out of your Mi Account and reset your phone.
• 🔍 Make sure Find Device is disabled. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Find Device.
• 🛠️ Check the status of the bootloader. Enter in the terminal: adb shell su getprop ro.boot.verifiedbootstate If the answer is orange - bootloader unlocked, green - locked.
• 📄 Take a receipt or receipt with IMEI and the seller's details.

If the seller refuses to reset the phone with you or demonstrate the exit from the account – this is a reason to doubt the integrity of the transaction.

💡

Before buying a used Xiaomi, check the IMEI at imei.info. If the status is “blacklisted”, the phone may have been stolen or blocked by the operator.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi