How to unlock Xiaomi with a broken screen: from Mi Account to service mode

Introduction: Why the smartphone does not respond to touch

A broken screen on Xiaomi is not only an aesthetic problem, it's also a functional one. Even if the display is cracked, but the image is visible, you can continue to use the device. However, the real headache begins when the sensor stops responding to touch and the phone is locked with a password, a pattern lock or a fingerprint, in which unlocking becomes a non-trivial task: standard password input methods are not available, and a factory reset via Recovery requires confirmation through Mi Account.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways to unlock a locked Xiaomi with a broken touchscreen – from official methods using a Xiaomi account to technical solutions through Fastboot and ADB. It is important to understand that some methods will lead to complete loss of data, so they should be used only as a last resort. If the phone is synchronized with Mi Cloud, some information (contacts, photos, notes) can be restored after unlocking.

Before you start, answer two key questions: 1. Is the image visible on the screen (even if it has cracked)? 2. Is the phone tied to your Mi Account account and do you remember your username/password?

The choice of method depends on the answers.

Method 1: Unlocking with Mi Account (official method)

If your Xiaomi is tied to your Mi Account and the screen is partially displaying the image, you can try unlocking it via a web interface, which works on most models (Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4, Mi 11/12, etc.), but requires an Internet connection.

Step-by-step:

• 🌐 Go to account.xiaomi.com and log in to your account.
• 📱 In the Devices section, find your smartphone (if it is connected to the network).
• 🔓 Press Find the device. → Unlock. The system will send a command to reset the lock.
• ⏳ Wait 5-10 minutes. The phone must unlock automatically (assuming a stable Internet connection).

⚠️ Warning: If the phone is not connected to Wi-Fi or mobile network, the method will not work. 9A or POCO M3) may require additional confirmation through SMS.

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If you see notifications on the screen, try connecting your phone to charge – sometimes this will activate mobile internet automatically.

Method 2: Using Fastboot to Reset Password

Fastboot is a method that works for users who have Mi Account decoupling or access to a computer, and it involves completely resetting your settings, so all the data will be deleted.

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Mi Flash Tool or Fastboot from Android SDK.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone. Press the Power button + Volume down until the Fastboot logo appears.
2. Connect the device to a PC. Install Xiaomi drivers (if Windows didn’t find them automatically).
3. Open the command line (cmd) and type: fastboot oem clean_all This command will reset all settings, including password.
4. Reboot your phone with the command: fastboot reboot

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 8 Pro, Mi) 9T) After this command, you may need to enter Mi Account data, and if you don't remember it, the phone will turn into a brick».

Turn off the phone.|Install Xiaomi drivers|Download the Mi Flash Tool|Prepare original USB-cable-->

Method 3: Unlock through ADB (if debugging is enabled)

If the phone previously had USB debugging enabled (Settings → For developers → Debugging over USB), you can delete the file with the password via ADB. This method saves data, but only works with active debugging.

Algorithm of action:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line.
2. Check the connection command: adb devices (should display the serial number of the device).
3. Delete password files: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key adb shell rm /data/system/password.key adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db
4. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

Once the reboot is done, the lock will be reset, and if this method doesn’t work, your Xiaomi model uses a different password storage mechanism (e.g., /data/system/de).

Fastboot|ADB|Mi Account|Service Center |Not tried-->

Method 4: Service codes and hidden menus

On some Xiaomi models (mostly older ones, up to MIUI 12) you can bypass the lock via an engineering menu, which doesn’t guarantee 100% results, but it’s worth trying if other methods aren’t available.

Possible combinations:

• 📞 Dial on the dial keyboard: ##7780## - reset settings (saves data). ##3646633## - engineering menu (on some models allows you to reset the password).
• 🔢 If the screen reacts to touches partially, try entering the unlock code through SOS-Call (on some firmware, it works).

⚠️ Note: Service codes may vary depending on region and version MIUI. New models (Redmi Note 12, POCO F5) These codes are usually blocked.

Method 5: Contact Xiaomi Service Center

If none of the above methods worked, the last option is to contact an official service center.

• 🔒 The phone is tied to Mi Account, but you don't remember the login details.
• 📱 New model (Redmi Note 13, Xiaomi 14), and self-unlocking is blocked by the protection.
• 💰 It is important to keep your data (service centers can sometimes retrieve information through the service provider). EDL-regime).

What will be required:

• 📄 Passport or other document confirming possession of the device.
• 📋 Check or warranty card (if the phone is guaranteed).
• 💳 Payment for the service (unblocking costs 1-3 thousand rubles, depending on the model).

⚠️ Warning: Unofficial service centers may offer “Mi Account bypass” through exploits, but this violates the terms of Xiaomi’s license agreement.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to unlock Xiaomi with a broken screen, users often make critical errors that can permanently disable the phone.

• 🔌 Using a non-original cable. Cheap. USB-The cables may not be transmitting data in Fastboot mode, which causes commands to fail. Always use Xiaomi's proprietary cable.
• 🔋 Discharge the phone during the procedure.If the battery runs out during the reset process via Fastboot, the phone may stop turning on. Charge the device to at least 50%.
• 🖥️ Mi Flash Tool for new models (Redmi Note 12, POCO F5) You need an up-to-date version of the utility.

Critical Mistake: Trying to Switch the Phone Through EDL-Mode without knowing an authorized Xiaomi account. On new models, this leads to a complete lockdown of the bootloader, and you can restore the phone only in a service center with official access.

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If you are not sure about your actions, it is better to contact the service center. Wrong firmware or reset can turn the phone into a “brick”, especially on models with a locked bootloader (Redmi Note 11 and later).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions