How to unlock Xiaomi phone if you forget your graphical password: all working ways

Why Xiaomi Phone Is Locked and What to Do

The forgotten pattern lock on Xiaomi is a situation that one in five users encounter at least once in their lives. According to service centers, 32 percent of device lock requests are due to the loss of a password or unlock pattern, and the reasons range from trivial forgetfulness to failures after a MIUI update, when the system requires you to enter an old password at a new stage of settings.

Unlike iPhones or Samsung, where unlocking often requires a service center, Xiaomi provides several legal ways to reclaim access to the device. However, each method has its own nuances, from the need for a tied Mi Account to the risk of data loss in Hard Reset. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods for 2026, from the simplest to technically complex, taking into account the features of the latest versions of MIUI 14/15 and the Redmi Note 12, POCO F5, Xiaomi 13T and others.

It’s important to understand that if your phone has encryption enabled (Settings → Additional → Encryption), then after resetting through Recovery, all information will be lost without recovery. So first check if your Xiaomi is connected to the Mi Cloud – this can save photos and contacts.

Method 1: Unlocking with Mi Account (official method)

The most reliable and recommended way Xiaomi is to use a tied account Mi Account. It works on all devices with MIUI, including Redmi 10/11, POCO X5 and flagship Xiaomi 12S Ultra. The main condition: the phone must be connected to the Internet (via Wi-Fi or mobile network), and you remember the username and password from the account.

Instructions:

• 🔄 On the lock screen, enter any pattern lock 5 times in a row. The system will give a message "Try again in 30 seconds".
• 📱 At the bottom of the screen will appear the button "Forgot your password?" or "Restore access" - click on it.
• 🔑 Enter the email or phone number associated with the Mi Account, then the password. If two-factor authentication is enabled, confirm the login via the SMS or the Mi Security app.
• ✅ After successful authorization, the system will prompt you to create a new pattern lock or PIN-code.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ It does not work if the phone is not connected to the network (disabled). Wi-Fi/mobile).
• ❌ If your Mi Account was not previously linked to your device.
• ❌ Some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi) A2 With Android One, this method is not available.

⚠️ Note: If you bought the phone with your hands, the previous owner may not have deleted his Mi Account. In this case, unlocking through the account is impossible - you will need to contact the service center with proof of purchase.

Method 2: Recovery Mode (Hard Reset)

Hard Reset is a radical method that erases all data on the phone, including apps, photos and settings, and should only be used if other methods have not worked, and access to the Mi Account is not available. 9A, POCO M4 Pro and Xiaomi 11 Lite NE.

Step-by-step:

1. 🔋 Turn off the phone with a long press of the power button (10-15 seconds).
2. 🔄 Press the button combination to enter Recovery Mode: For most models: Power button + Volume up. For older devices (like Redmi). 4X): Power button + Loudness up + Loudness down.

Mi

Recovery

Wipe Data

Wipe All Data

Factory Reset

✅ Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed (5-10 minutes.

After Hard Reset, the phone will require you to enter data from Mi Account if you previously enabled the "Mi Cloud Lock" function. Without an associated account, you will not be able to unlock the device!

Method 3: Unlocking through ADB (for advanced users)

If the phone has USB debugging enabled (Settings → About Phone → MIUI → 7 times press to activate Developer Mode, then Settings → Additional → Developer → USB debugging), you can try unlocking the device via ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This method saves data, but requires a computer and basic knowledge of working with the command line.

Instructions:

1. 🖥️ Install it on a PC. ADB Fastboot Tools by Google.
2. 🔌 Connect your phone to your computer through USB-cable (original or high quality).
3. 📂 Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (macOS/Linux) in the adb.exe folder.
4. 🔍 Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the phone is determined, execute: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key Then restart the device: adb reboot

After rebooting, the pattern lock will be reset, but may need to enter PIN-Mi Account code or password (if set).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13+ And with File-Based Encryption enabled, this method can lead to data loss or looped reboot. Before using, check if your device is encrypted in Settings. → Additionally. → Encryption.

💡

If the adb device command doesn’t show your phone, try reinstalling Mi drivers. USB Driver or use another driver USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).

Method 4: Use Find Device (Remote Unlock)

If the "Find device" function is enabled on the phone (Settings) → Mi Account → Find the device, you can try to unlock it remotely through the Mi Cloud web interface, which works even if the phone is not connected to Wi-Fi, but has mobile Internet.

How to do this:

1. 🌐 Go to i.mi.com and log in to your Mi Account.
2. 📍 In the "Find the device" section, select a locked phone.
3. 🔓 Click "Unlock the device" and confirm the action through SMS email.
4. ✅ The phone will be given a command to reset the pattern lock, and after the reset, you can set a new password.

The average unlock time at the service center is 1 to 5 business days, and some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F5 Pro) may have an extended warranty covering software failures.

⚠️ Warning: Avoid informal services that offer low-cost Mi Account bypassing, often involving fraud or unlicensed software installation, which will result in loss of warranty and risk of data leakage.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to unlock Xiaomi, users often make critical mistakes that can make things worse, and here are the most common ones:

1. 🔋 Discharge phone during Hard Reset: If the battery runs out during reset, the device can go to a "brick" state. Always charge the phone to at least 50% before manipulation.
2. 🔌 Use of non-original USB-cable ADB: Cheap cables often don't support data transfer, only charging, which leads to "device not found" errors in the data transfer system. ADB.
3. 📱 Trying to flash your phone without unlocking the bootloader: On new Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) The bootloader is locked. Fastboot firmware without official unlocking will cause an "anti-rollback" error".
4. 🔒 Delete gesture.key file on encrypted device: If in Settings → Additionally, encryption is enabled, deleting this file will make the phone unusable without a complete reset.

To minimize the risks, always back up your data via Mi Cloud or adb backup (if debugging is enabled).It is also helpful to record your phone's IMEI (printed on the box or available via *#06#) so that you can restore communication in the event of a system crash.

💡

If you buy Xiaomi with your hands, be sure to check if the previous Mi Account is untied. Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Account and try adding your account. If the system asks you to enter a password from your old account, the phone is locked.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions