It is common for a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone to be locked after resetting, and a user sees a screen demanding username and password from a Mi Account, but the data is lost, forgotten, or the device has been transferred to a new owner without first interchange.This security system, known as account binding, is designed to prevent theft, but often becomes an obstacle for the legitimate owner.
There are several proven ways to solve this problem, ranging from official restoration of access through the form on the site to more complex methods that require a check to purchase. It is important to understand that bypassing the lock without losing data is not always possible, and in most cases you will have to make compromises. Below we will discuss in detail the algorithms of actions for different scenarios.
Before you start taking action, you need to be clear about the status of the device, and if the phone was bought from hand and the previous owner did not untie it from his profile, standard methods may not work, in which case the only legal way is to contact an authorized service center with a full set of documents.
Official Recovery Method through Mi Account
The most reliable and secure way to retrieve your device is to retrieve your account password. If you remember the phone number or email you registered to, the process will take only a few minutes.
Click on Forgot Password and enter the information you know, and the system will offer you several options for verifying your identity, which can be a code from an SMS, a backup email, or an answer to a secret question if it was set in advance.
After a successful password change, the following actions must be performed on the locked device:
- 📱 Connect your smartphone to a stable Wi-Fi network or mobile Internet.
- 🔑 Enter a new password in the authorization field on the lock screen.
- ⏳ Wait for the server to verify the data, after which the system will be restored.
⚠️ Note: If you change your password but your phone is not connected to the Internet, it will not be unlocked instantly.The server should receive a signal to change the data, which is only possible if there is an active connection.
Sometimes security requires extra time to sync. If the error persists after you enter a new password, try waiting 15 minutes to an hour without turning off the device. In rare cases, a forced reboot helps, but only after you have made sure that the Internet connection is stable.
💡
If you've changed SIM-card, which was registered account, first restore access to the number from the operator, otherwise to receive SMS with the confirmation code will not be possible.
Using a purchase check to unlock
Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices have the unique ability to unlock a device through a special service if they have the original check, which the company has provided for such cases when access to the account is lost forever.
First, you need to find a check that clearly shows the IMEI or serial number of the device, and that data must match the data on the box or in the phone information (which you often see on the lock screen or on the box), without a check with the visible IMEI service will refuse service.
The application procedure is as follows:
- Go to mi.com/global/support/unlock.
- Fill out the form by specifying the IMEI device and contact email.
- Upload a clear photo or scan of the check, where you can see the date of purchase and the number of the device.
- Expect a response from the support team within a few working days.
After reviewing the application, the specialists will send an instruction or a special code to unlock, which is the only guaranteed working method for devices purchased from official dealers if the password is lost, it is completely legal and does not require the use of third-party software.
☑️ Preparation of documents for the service
Resetting settings via Recovery Mode
If you want to get in and you're ready to lose all your data, you can try a full reset, but you should keep in mind FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection, and on modern versions of MIUI, after resetting, the phone will still require you to enter a password from the Mi Account that was previously linked.
However, this is a necessary step to clean the device before selling or transferring to another person (if you are sure that the account is untied, but the phone is locked erroneously).
The procedure for entering Recovery Mode:
- 📴 Turn off your smartphone completely.
- 🔘 Press the volume button and the power button at the same time.
- 🖐 Hold the buttons until the Mi logo appears, then release the power while continuing to keep the volume up.
In the menu that appears, you can navigate with volume buttons and select with a power button. Select Wipe Data, then Wipe All Data, and confirm the action. After you complete the process, select Reboot.
⚠️ Note: On devices with Find Device protection enabled, a simple reset via Recovery will not remove the Mi Account lock. Once booted, the system will again request authorization.
What to do if the buttons do not respond?
Use of Mi Unlock Tool and Fastboot
For more advanced users, there is a utility called Mi Unlock Tool, which is officially designed to unlock the bootloader, which allows you to install custom firmware. However, in some cases, flashing the device through Fastboot mode can help you bypass software errors associated with the account, although it does not remove the Mi Account directly.
To use this method, you need to get permission to unlock in the phone settings in advance (before blocking), and if the phone is already locked and access to the settings is closed, this method will not be used without prior authorization.
Algorithm of working with Fastboot mode:
1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the volume button and connect the USB- cable to the PC.
3. A hare in headphones will appear on the screen (Fastboot mode).
4. Run the Mi Unlock Tool on your computer and follow the instructions.It is important to understand the difference between unlocking the bootloader and removing the account lock. Mi Unlock removes protection from installing third-party OSes, but does not cancel the binding to the Xiaomi cloud service. Attempts to use modified versions of the utility can lead to complete inoperability of the device.
💡
Unlocking the bootloader and unlocking the Mi Account are two different processes: one that opens the system, the other that confirms the owner's rights.
Comparison of Unlocking Methods
The choice of the right method depends on your specific situation: whether you remember the data, whether there is a check, how long ago the purchase was made. Below is a table that will help you navigate the effectiveness of various methods.
| Method | Conditions required | Data retention | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Password recovery | Access to telephone/email | Yes. | Low. |
| Check for purchase | Original IMEI check | No (reset) | Medium |
| Hard Reset | Physical access | No. | Low. |
| Service centre | Device documents | Depends on the case. | Low. |
As the chart shows, having a check or access to email makes it much easier. Using third-party unlock services for money often carries the risk of fraud, as they exploit the same vulnerabilities that Xiaomi regularly closes in security updates.
If none of the legal methods worked, you have to go to an authorized service center, and engineers can go through the device at the hardware level, but they will require proof that the phone is not stolen, which can be a box, a warranty card, or a sales contract.
Preventing future blockage problems
To avoid such situations in the future, it is recommended to follow a few simple rules of digital hygiene. First of all, always untie the device from the Mi Account before selling or transferring to another person. → Mi Account. → Get out.
It is also useful to write your account information in a secure location, store it in a password manager or write it in a notebook that is stored in a secure location, and update your contact information in your Mi Account profile regularly to allow you to quickly restore access in the event of data loss.
The main safety recommendations:
- 📝 Keep a photo of the check in the cloud immediately after purchase.
- 🔐 Use two-factor authentication to protect your account.
- 📲 Add a backup phone number and email to your profile settings.
Keep in mind that Xiaomi’s security system is designed to protect your personal data, and circumventing it, even by the owner, is a complex procedure that requires proof of ownership.