How to unlock Xiaomi Mi 5 if you forget your password: all the ways

Forgot the password from Xiaomi Mi 5 and can not get into the system? This situation is familiar to many users, especially if the phone has long been unused or password entered rarely. Fortunately, there are official and informal methods of unlocking that will help to return access to the device. It is important to understand that some methods will lead to the deletion of all data from the phone, so first try to restore access without reset.

In this article, we will cover all the current Mi 5 unlocking methods, from simple (via Mi Account) to complex (via Fastboot and EDL), and learn how to avoid locking in the future and what to do if the phone requires confirmation after reset. All instructions are tested on current versions of MIUI firmware and are suitable for Mi 5 models (including Mi 5s and Mi 5 Pro versions).

⚠️ Note: If the phone has the Find Device feature enabled and the Mi Account is tied, after resetting via Recovery or Fastboot, you may need to enter a login and password from this account!

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The safest method is to use a Xiaomi phone-linked account, which works if:

You remember the username and password from Mi Account.

- The phone has mobile Internet or Wi-Fi (for data verification).

- The device wasn't reflashed by unofficial software.

To unlock Mi 5 through your account:

1. On the lock screen, click Forgot your password? (or similar button).
2. Select the option to Sign in via Mi Account.
3. Enter your email/phone and password from your Xiaomi account.
4. Confirm the login via SMS or email (if required).

If the buttons Forgot your password? no, try to enter any password 5 times in a row - a hint about restoring access should appear. This method does not delete data from the phone, but requires a stable Internet connection.

⚠️ Note: If you have previously changed your Mi Account password and haven’t updated it on your phone, the system may block your login attempt.

2.Reset via Recovery Mode (will delete all data)

If you can't log in through Mi Account, the next step is to hard-dump the recovery menu, which deletes all data, including photos, contacts and apps, but returns access to the phone.

You don't remember the password from the Mi Account.

The phone is not tied to a Xiaomi account.

- The device was not locked after the theft (no) FRP-lock-in).

Resetting instructions:

1. Turn off the Xiaomi Mi 5 (press the power button for 10 seconds).
2. Press Volume Up + Power at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons and the Recovery menu will open (in English or Chinese).
4. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.
5. Choose Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (or Clear Data).
6. Confirm the action (Confirm).
7. After reset, select Reboot to reboot.

If after reset, the phone requires data entry from Mi Account, then the protection has been activated. FRP (Factory Reset Protection, in which case, move on to the method №4 or №5.

3. Unlock via Fastboot (for power users)

The method via Fastboot is suitable if:

Recovery menu is not available or working.

You need to reflash the phone without deleting the data (in some cases).

You are ready to use PC and utilities from Xiaomi.

This method will require:

• 🖥️ Windows computer (or Mac/Linux fixed ADB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📥 Mi Flash Tool (download from the official website).
• 📄 Firmware for Mi 5 (the version must match the current one on the phone).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone and put it in Fastboot mode: press Volume down + Power before the hare appears in the hat-eared.
2. Connect the Mi 5 to your PC via USB.
3. Launch the Mi Flash Tool, press Select and point the path to the unpacked firmware.
4. At the bottom, choose Clean All (full reset) or Save User Data (data retention, but not always works).
5. Press Flash and wait for the process to end (5-10 minutes).

Once you've firmware, the phone will restart. If you have a request to enter Mi Account, use the method. №4.

4. Bypass FRP-lock (if required by Mi Account after reset)

If a phone requests Mi Account data after a Recovery or Fastboot reset, FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection is activated.

Method 1: Through the official restoration of the account

• 📧 Go to the Mi Account website and restore access via email or phone.
• 🔑 If a backup email is tied, check the email with the link to reset your password.
• 📱 After restoring access, enter data on the phone.

Method 2: Through a service center

If you don’t remember your account details, you can officially bypass FRP only through the Xiaomi service center with the provision of a purchase check. Informal methods (for example, through EDL) require special equipment and can violate the warranty.

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If you bought the phone with your hands, try contacting the previous owner – they can delete the device from their Mi Account account via a web interface.

5. Unlock through EDL mode (for advanced)

EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is an emergency firmware mode that allows you to reflash your phone even with a locked bootloader. Use it only as a last resort, because:

- An authorized Xiaomi account is required to unlock the bootloader.

The wrong actions can turn the phone into a brick.

- The warranty will be waived.

Instructions:

1. Install the Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 driver (you can download it on XDA Developers).
2. Turn off the phone and connect it to the PC, holding Volume up + Volume down + Power (or use Testpoint).
3. In Device Manager, check that the phone is defined as QHSUSB_BULK.
4. Start the Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware and press Flash.

If the Mi Flash Tool is giving you an SLA Auth error, then your account is not authorized to run through EDL.

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EDL mode is the last chance to bring the phone back to life if other methods have failed, and use it only with complete confidence in your actions or under the guidance of a specialist.

6.How to avoid blocking in the future

To avoid the problem of forgotten passwords again, follow these tips:

• 🔐 Use a fingerprint or facial recognition as an additional unlocking method.
• 📝 Write your password in a secure location (such as Google Password Manager or KeePass).
• 🔄 Regularly update the firmware in new versions MIUI Improved access recovery system.
• 📧 Link backup email to Mi Account and enable two-factor authentication.

We also recommend turning it off. FRP-You can lock it down if you sell or transfer your phone to another person:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Account.
2. Click Delete your account (password required).
3. Perform reset via Settings → Additional → Restore and reset.

This will remove the device’s binding to the account and allow the new owner to activate the phone without any problems.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

When unlocking the Xiaomi Mi 5, users often face the following problems:

Error: "This device is locked" (when running through Fastboot)

Solution: Unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock Tool. This requires a tied Mi Account and a wait of 72-168 hours (if the account is new).

Error: Invalid image in Mi Flash Tool

Solution: Download the firmware again from the official website and check its integrity (the file must be in.tgz or.zip format).

The phone will not turn on after resetting

Solution: Connect the charger and wait 10-15 minutes, maybe the battery is completely drained. If it doesn't work, repeat the firmware through Fastboot.

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If after unlocking the phone brakes or overheats, do a full reset again and install a clean firmware without user data.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions