How to unlock a Xiaomi phone without data loss: the full guide 2026

Forgot your Xiaomi password and fear losing all your photos, messages or work documents? You are not alone: according to service centers, one in three people is dealing with a screen lock problem. Fortunately, Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones have several ways to unlock without completely resetting – the main thing is to act carefully and choose the appropriate method depending on the model and version of MIUI.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods, from official (via Mi Account) to technical (using ADB and Fastboot), you will learn what methods are suitable for Xiaomi 11/12/13/14, Redmi Note 10/11/12 and other popular models, as well as how to avoid common errors. Importantly, if the phone is enabled with the function "Data Protection when blocking" (starting with MIUI 14), some methods may not work - we will warn you about this in advance.

Before you start, check:

• 🔋 Battery level (minimum 30% – when discharged during the procedure, the phone can lock permanently).
• 📶 Availability of stable Internet (for methods with Mi Account or Find Device).
• 💻 Access to a computer (for methods with ADB/Fastboot).

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most reliable method is if you have linked your Mi Account to your phone and remember your username/password. It works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models with MIUI 9 and later. The main advantage is that the data is not deleted, but there are nuances:

• 📱 The phone must be connected to the Internet (via Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔑 On the lock screen should be a button Forgot the password? (if it is not - the method is not suitable).
• ⏳ The process can take up to 24 hours due to Xiaomi's security checks.

Step-by-step:

1. On the lock screen, click Forgot Password? (or Forgot Password?).
2. Enter the email or phone number associated with the Mi Account.
3. Confirm the entrance via SMS or email (the code will come to the mail / phone).
4. Follow the system instructions – the phone will unlock automatically.

⚠️ Note: If you have changed firmware or installed custom software, this method may not work, and Xiaomi may request additional verification (such as a passport scan) if the account was created less than 30 days ago.

Check your Internet connection | Make sure you remember the username/password from Mi Account| Charging your phone >30%| There is a button on the screen "Forgot your password?"

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2.Use Find Device (Remote Unlock)

Find Device (similar to Google’s Find Phone) allows you to remotely unlock Xiaomi if:

• 📍 Phone's connected to the Internet.
• 🔄 Find Device has been activated in settings (Settings) → Mi Account → Find Device).
• 📱 The device is not switched off or discharged.

How to unlock:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select a locked phone from the list of devices.
3. Click Unlock Device (or Unlock Device).
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

After that, the phone unlocks within 5-10 minutes. Less method: if the device is encrypted data (on default in MIUI 12+), you may need to enter the old password after rebooting.

3. Unlock through ADB (for power users)

The method is suitable if the phone is enabled debugging over USB (USB Debugging) and there is access to the computer. Works on Xiaomi with MIUI 10-14, but does not guarantee the safety of data 100% - depends on the model and firmware version.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 Cable USB (original, undamaged).
• 📦 Installed drivers Xiaomi and ADB Tools.

Instructions:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack the archive.
2. Connect your phone to your computer and open Command Prompt (or Terminal) in the ADB folder.
3. Enter the commands in turn: adb devices (you should have your device name). adb shell su 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 reboot
4. After restarting, the phone should unlock.

⚠️ Note: Some models (Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi) K50) This method does not work due to increased protection, and after unlocking, a protective timer (up to 72 hours) may be triggered, during which some functions will be limited.

💡

If the su command doesn't work, there's no root rights on the phone. Try skipping it and entering commands without su, but the chances of success are lower.

4. Unlock via Fastboot (for tech-savvy)

The method is suitable if debugging over USB is disabled, but there is access to Fastboot mode. the risk of data loss is higher than in previous methods, but on some models (POCO F3, Redmi Note 10 Pro) allows you to bypass the lock.

What do you need?

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers.
• 🔧 Mi Flash Tool or Fastboot Tools.
• 📄 Firmware file for your model (download from the official website).

Step-by-step action:

1. Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to log into the Fastboot.
2. Connect the phone to the computer.
3. Open Command Prompt and enter: fastboot devices (make sure the device is defined).
4. Download the firmware for your model and unpack it.
5. In the Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware folder and click Refresh → Flash.
6. Select Clean all and lock mode (this will delete data but unlock the phone).

Once the phone is rebooted, it will look like new, but all data will be deleted, and this method should only be used if others have failed.

5. Bypassing the lock through Safe Mode (if the fault of third-party software)

If the phone is locked after installing an application (such as a third-party launcher or antivirus), you can try logging into Safe Mode and uninstall the problem software.

How to start Safe Mode:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button before the Xiaomi logo appears.
3. Once the logo appears, pinch and hold Volume down until the phone boots up.
4. In the lower left corner of the screen should appear the inscription Safe Mode.

In this mode:

• 📱 Remove recently installed applications (Settings) → Annexes → Delete).
• 🔄 Restart your phone in normal mode.
• 🔓 If the lock is removed, set a different password.

⚠️ Warning: Safe Mode has disabled all third-party applications, but system settings (including lock password) remain.

💡

Safe Mode is the only way to unlock Xiaomi without losing data if a third-party app is to blame. System locks (forgotten PIN/pattern lock) are not affected.

6. What should I do if nothing helps?

If all of these methods fail, there are two options:

1. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center. 📍 Find the official service on the website mi.com. 💰 Unblocking cost: from 1,500 to 5,000 ₽ (model). ⏳ Time: 1-3 days.

Advantage: a guarantee of data security (if the phone was not reflashed), disadvantage: expensive and not always fast.

Reset your phone to factory settings.

If you decide to reset your phone, try extracting data first via TWRP Recovery (if installed) or connecting the phone to your computer in Fastboot mode using special utilities (such as Dr.Fone or Tenorshare 4uKey).

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi