How to unlock the Xiaomi Redmi 4 password: the complete guide

The situation of a smartphone owner suddenly discovering he can't access his data is one of the world's most stressful digital tech: A forgotten pattern lock, accidentally altered PIN-A code or security flaw can turn your Xiaomi Redmi 4 into a useless piece of plastic and glass, which is especially frustrating given that it is still a reliable device for many users, despite its age.

Before we take action, it is important to understand that modern Android security systems, including the MIUI shell, are designed to protect user data from unauthorized persons, which means that simply bypassing a lock without losing data is usually impossible unless you have pre-configured backups or specific debugging services enabled.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods of restoring access to the device, we will look at both software methods through Google and Mi accounts, and more radical methods through Recovery mode and PC use. It is important to follow the instructions strictly so as not to aggravate the situation and not damage the software of the smartphone.

Using Mi Account to Reset a Lock

The most civilized and safe way to restore access is to use a tied Mi Account. If your Redmi 4 has enabled the "Find Device" function and your smartphone has an active Internet connection (via Wi-Fi or mobile data), you can remotely unlock the screen.

Sign in using the same login and password as on the locked phone. In the device management interface, select your Xiaomi Redmi 4 from the list. The option available is Unblock or Wipe. The option to unlock will remove the pattern lock, but in some versions of MIUI this may require confirmation via SMS or re-authorization.

⚠️ Warning: Remote unlock only works if the smartphone is on, connected to the network and activated debugging or device search service. If the phone is off or in flight mode, the method will not work.

If standard unlocking is not available, the full data cleanup feature through the same interface often helps, which will delete the password, but also erase all photos, contacts and apps. Once rebooted, you can set the phone as new or restore data from the cloud if it was created before.

Reset via Recovery (Hard Reset)

The most versatile method, which works 99% of the time, is to reset through the Recovery system menu, which does not require an internet connection or account, but it is guaranteed to delete all user data from the device's internal memory. Before starting the procedure, make sure that the battery is at least 50-60% so that the phone does not turn off at a critical moment.

To enter recovery mode on Xiaomi Redmi 4, you need to turn the device off completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, but continue to hold the volume until a menu with several items appears on a black or orange background.

In the menu, the navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the power button selects the item. You need to find Wipe Data or Wipe & Reset. After you select, the system can request confirmation — select Wipe All Data and confirm the action. The process will take a few seconds, after which the phone will suggest to restart (Reboot).

It's worth noting that after this reset, when you first download it, you'll need to enter a password from a Google account or a Mi Account that was previously synced to the device, which is FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection, and if you don't remember those passwords, it's going to be extremely difficult to unlock the device without going to the service center with a check for the purchase.

Unlocking through Google’s Find My Device service

An alternative that is often overlooked is the use of Google’s native service. If a blocked Redmi 4 has a Google account login and geolocation enabled, you can use android.com/find, a method similar to working with a Mi Account, but works at the Android operating system level.

Go to the site from your computer or other smartphone, log in to the account you want, select your device from the list, and the side menu will have the option "Erase Device" available, and pressing this button will delete all data, including your screen lock password, pattern lock, or fingerprint.

It's important to understand the difference between simply blocking and completely clearing. Google doesn't know how to "remove" a password by storing data; it only initiates a full formatting command, so if your photos and documents haven't been synced to Google Photos or Google Drive, they'll be lost irretrievably.

Using ADB and debugging over USB

This method is only suitable for advanced users and only if the phone has been debugged by USB in advance and the computer already has access permissions (authorized). If you have never connected this Redmi 4 to a PC with debugging enabled, this method will not work, since a request for access permission will appear on the lock screen.

If the conditions are met, connect the phone to your computer, install ADB drivers, and open the command line. Enter a command to delete the file that stores the access keys. The path to the file may vary depending on the Android version, but the following design is often used:

adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key

Or, in some cases:

adb shell rm /data/system/keyguard/gesture.key

Once the command is executed, the device must be restarted. If it is successful, the phone will start without asking for a password. However, on modern versions of MIUI, this file can be protected or replaced with a token mechanism, making the method less effective than a full reset via Recovery.

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Tip: If you plan to use ADB in the future, connect your phone to your computer in advance and tick the “Always Allow from this computer” box to avoid losing access at a critical time.

Firmware of the device through the Mi Flash Tool

When software errors block the login or standard reset methods don't work, there's a "heavy artillery" left over, flashing. For Xiaomi Redmi 4 (codename: prado), there's an official utility called Mi Flash Tool. This method requires a PC, USB-cable and downloaded firmware in Fastboot format.

The process begins with the smartphone switching to Fastboot mode. To do this, you need to connect the phone to the computer, holding the volume button. The screen will show an image of a rabbit repairing an android, labeled FASTBOOT. In the utility on your PC, select the downloaded archive with the firmware and press the Flash button.

Selecting Clean All mode in the Mi Flash Tool ensures that all user data and passwords are deleted. This is the most reliable way to return the phone to factory state, eliminating any software conflicts. However, the process takes time (from 100 to 300 seconds), and it is absolutely impossible to interrupt it.

⚠️ Note: When you are running through Fastboot, make sure you are using the firmware version that is designed for your model (Global, China, RU). Installing the wrong version can lead to the “bricking” of the device.

Prevention and backup

To prevent a forgotten password from catching you off guard in the future, you need to take regular care of backups. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, this is done through the Mi Cloud cloud service or sync with Google. Set up automatic save contacts, SMS, call log and photos.

It's also a good idea to write your passwords and graphics keys to a safe place, like a paper notebook or a password manager on another device. Human memory is imperfect, and the complex combinations we come up with for security tend to be forgotten when they're needed most.

Remember to periodically check the health of the accounts to which the device is associated. Changing your email password or losing access to your phone number can create additional problems when trying to unlock through recovery services.

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Regularly syncing data to the cloud is the only way to ensure that losing access to the lock screen will not result in the loss of important photos and contacts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)