How to Unlock Xiaomi via Computer: A Complete Guide to Official and Unofficial Methods

Forgot your pattern lock or password on Xiaomi? Your phone locked after failed entry attempts? Or want to delete your Mi Account before selling? Unlocking through your computer is one of the most reliable ways to get your device back, especially if standard methods (via Find My Device or SMS) don't work. In this article, we'll look at all the current ways to unlock, from official Xiaomi tools to alternative solutions for power users.

The process of unlocking via PC requires preparation: you will need drivers, special software and, in some cases, access to the Mi Account. It is important to understand that not all methods are equally safe. EDL-We will describe each step in detail so that you can choose the best option for your model, whether it is the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or flagship series Xiaomi 14.

We warn you in advance that if the device activates the “Data Protection upon Reset” function (online by default on new versions of MIUI), unlocking without a password from your Mi Account may not be possible, in which case you only need to contact the service center with proof of ownership.

Preparation of the computer: drivers and programs

Before you start unlocking, you need to install all the required drivers and utilities on your PC, and without them, your computer simply won't recognize the connected smartphone in the right modes (Fastboot or EDL).

• 🔧 Xiaomi drivers for Windows: official drivers from the manufacturer that provide correct connection in Fastboot and other modes ADB. Downloadable on the website MIUI Downloads (Tools section).
• 🔐 Programs to bypass the lock (optional): for example, Mi Account Unlock Tool or Xiaomi Tool V2. Used if the password from the Mi Account is forgotten, but require caution - the risk of running into malware.

After installing the drivers, check the connection of the smartphone.

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Down + Power to enter Fastboot.
3. Connect the device to the PC via USB.
4. Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd) and execute the command: fastboot devices If the serial number of the device appears in the response, the drivers are installed correctly.

⚠️ Warning: Never download drivers and unlock utilities from unverified sources. Viruses in such programs can not only lock the phone permanently, but also steal data from the computer. Use only official Xiaomi resources or trusted forums (for example, use the official resources of Xiaomi, XDA Developers).

If your computer doesn’t see the device in Fastboot, try:

• Change the USB cable (you need an original or quality USB-type C).
• Connect your phone to another port (preferably USB 2.0 on the back of your PC).
• Disable the antivirus – it can block the installation of drivers.

2.Official method: Unlocking through Mi Unlock Tool

If you remember the Mi Account data, but your phone is locked because of multiple misentry of the password, the safest way is to use the official Mi Unlock Tool utility, which works for most models, including the Redmi 10, POCO F4 and Xiaomi 13T, but requires you to link the device to your account in advance.

Step-by-step:

1. Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website and install it on PC.
2. Sign in to your Mi Account on your computer (use the same data as you did on your phone!).
3. Turn off your smartphone and transfer it to Fastboot (Loudness down + Power).
4. Connect your phone to your PC and start the Mi Unlock Tool.
5. The utility will automatically detect the device. Press Unlock and confirm the action.
6. Wait until the process is completed (usually takes 1-5 minutes) and the phone will reboot with the bootloader unlocked.

After unlocking the bootloader, you can reset the phone to factory settings via Recovery:

1. Turn off the device.
2. Press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery Mode.
3. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (control – volume buttons, confirmation – power button).

⚠️ Note: If you created a Mi Account less than 30 days ago, Xiaomi will block the unlock for 72 to 168 hours. This is a security measure against theft.

Mi Account tied to phone|The phone is enabled mobile Internet or Wi-Fi|The device is charged at least 60 times%|Used by the original USB-cable-->

3. Unlock via Fastboot: reset to factory settings

If you don't remember your Mi Account data or your phone is locked after a reset, you can try hard reset via Fastboot, which deletes all data, including passwords and accounts, but doesn't work on all models, for example, Redmi and POCO with MIUI 13+ may require authorization even after a reset.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot (see Section 1).
2. Transfer the phone to Fastboot (Loudness down + Power).
3. Connect the device to your PC and open the command line in the folder with the platform-tools.
4. Run the command to check the connection: fastboot devices must display a serial number.
5. Enter the command to reset: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase frp (second command deletes) FRP-lock-in, if any).
6. Reboot the phone: fastboot reboot

If the phone needs a password again after rebooting, then the data protection is activated when resetting.

• Entering data from your Mi Account (if you remember).
• Firmware through EDL-regime (see section 4).
• Contact the service center with confirmation of purchase.

On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 with MIUI 14), the fastboot erase frp command does not work – you need to use fastboot erase persistent instead.

fastboot --disable-verity --disable-verification flash vbmeta vbmeta.img

This disables the system integrity check, but can lead to problems with the system. OTA-update.-->

4. Unlocking through EDL: for power users

EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is an emergency firmware mode that allows you to reflash your phone even with a locked bootloader.The method works on most Xiaomi devices, but requires:

• Special cable (EDL-board-bar).
• Firmware file (.tgz or.img) for your model.
• Mi Flash Tool programs.

How to log into EDL:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Connect. EDL-cable (or close the contacts Test Point on the board, if you disassemble the device).
3. Connect your phone to your PC. The Device Manager should have a Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.

If the QDLoader driver is not installed automatically, download it manually from the Qualcomm website or use the Driver Signature Enforcement Overrider for Windows.

The firmware through the Mi Flash Tool:

1. Download the firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website (choose the Fastboot version).
2. Unpack the archive in a folder without Cyrillic characters.
3. Launch the Mi Flash Tool, press Select and specify the path to the firmware folder.
4. Select Clean All mode and press Flash.
5. Wait for the finish (5-10 minutes) and the phone will restart in clean condition.

⚠️ Attention: Firmware through EDL drop off IMEI and the serial number on some models (e.g. Redmi 9) to restore them, you will need to back up the NV-data or contact the service.

5. Alternative methods: bypassing the lock without losing data

If you have important data on your phone and standard methods require a reset, you can try to bypass the lock without deleting files, which is suitable for devices with MIUI 12 and older, but does not guarantee a 100% result.

Method 1: Through ADB (if debugging is enabled)

If USB debugging was previously activated on the phone, you can manually delete the lock files:

1. Connect your phone to your PC in ADB mode (if the screen is locked, try logging in to Recovery and turning on ADB Sideload).
2. Open the command line and execute: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key rm /data/system/password.key rm /data/system/locksettings.db rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm
3. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

Method 2: TWRP (if custom Recovery is installed)

If you have TWRP installed on your phone, you can delete the lock files through the file manager:

1. Enter TWRP (Loudness Up + Nutrition).
2. Go to Advanced → File Manager.
3. Delete files by way /data/system/: gesture.key password.key locksettings.db

Reboot the phone.

These methods don’t work on all firmware. Xiaomi has stepped up protection on MIUI 14, and deleting files may not work.

💡

If USB debugging wasn't enabled in advance, it's almost impossible to get around the lock without resetting, and then you only have to get the firmware through Fastboot or EDL.

6 Unblocking Mi Account Without Phone Access

If your phone is locked because of a link to your Mi Account and you don't remember the password, you can try to restore access via your computer. Xiaomi provides several official ways:

Method 1: Recovery via email/SMS

1. Go to the account recovery page: account.xiaomi.com.
2. Enter the linked email or phone number.
3. Confirm the code from the SMS or letter.
4. Create a new password.

Method 2: Using a backup email

If the main email is not available, but the registration was specified backup:

1. On the login page, click Forgot password.
2. Select the Use Backup email.
3. Enter a backup address and confirm the recovery.

If these methods don’t work, you can only ask Xiaomi for proof of ownership of the device (check, box, IMEI), and in some cases, you may need a video with a serial number and a box.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

When unlocking via PC, users often encounter errors, and consider the most common ways to fix them:

If after unlocking the phone is fixated on the MI logo, do:

1. Enter Fastboot.
2. Re-wire your phone through the Mi Flash Tool in Clean All and Lock mode.

If nothing helps:

• Check if the Anti-Raid function is activated on the phone (it is manually enabled in the security settings).
• Make sure you use the firmware for your model (e.g., ingres for the Redmi Note 12 Pro+).
• Try another computer – sometimes antiviruses or Windows settings block the process.

8.When to contact the service center

Not all locks can be removed by yourself. Contact the official Xiaomi service if:

• 🔒 Phone requires password from Mi Account and you don't remember it (and no proof of purchase).
• 📱 The device is not defined in Fastboot and EDL (Maybe the fee's damaged).
• 🔄 After firmware, the phone does not turn on or gives a Bootloop error.
• 📡 Dropped. IMEI or MAC-address Wi-Fi/Bluetooth.

The cost of unlocking in the service depends on the model and the reason for blocking:

• Screen password reset: ~1 500–3 000 ₽.
• Deletion of Mi Account: ~3 000–5 000 ₽ (check).
• Recovery IMEI: ~2 000–4 000 ₽.

Before the service visit:

1. Make a backup copy of the data (if the phone is turned on somehow).
2. Bring a box, check and passport (to confirm possession).
3. Check whether the warranty will be retained after unlocking (in official services, it is usually yes).

💡

If the phone is bought by hand and blocked by the previous owner, unlocking without proof of purchase is almost impossible, in which cases the services refuse assistance by law.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions