How to unlock a Xiaomi phone if you forget the pattern lock: all ways 2026

Forgot the graphical password on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO? The situation is familiar to many: you put a complex pattern for security, and a couple of weeks the phone is locked after unsuccessful attempts to enter. Fortunately, the manufacturer has provided several formal and informal ways to unlock — from restore through the Mi Account to completely reset. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods for 2026, including nuances for different models and versions of MIUI.

It's important to understand that not all ways will save your data. For example, Hard Reset will completely clean your phone's memory, and unlocking through ADB can only work when USB debugging is enabled. We will describe each option in detail, its pros and cons, and give recommendations on how to avoid blocking in the future. If you are not sure about your technical skills, start with the simplest methods (sections 1–2) and then move on to the most complex ones.

Note: instructions are suitable for most Xiaomi devices, including the Mi 11/12/13 series, Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO F3/F4/F5 and others based on MIUI 12/13/14. For older models (until 2018), some methods may not work due to outdated firmware.

1 Unblocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most secure and recommended method for Xiaomi is to use a tied Mi Account.

• 🔹 The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔹 Remember the username and password from the Mi Account.
• 🔹 The device is synchronized with Mi Cloud.

After 5 failed attempts to enter the pattern lock, the button Forgot the password? (or Forgot pattern?) will appear on the screen.

1. Enter the email or phone number associated with your Mi Account.
2. Confirm your identity through SMS-code.
3. Create a new pattern lock or PIN-code.

If you have forgotten your password? No, try entering the pattern at random 5-10 times in a row. On some firmware, the option only appears after multiple errors.

⚠️ Note: If you don't remember Mi Account details, don't try to guess the password. After 10 failed attempts, the account can be blocked for 24 hours.

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Before unlocking, check if the phone has enabled the "Find Device" option in the Mi Cloud settings, which will speed up the process of access recovery.

2. Reset the pattern lock via Find My Device (Google)

If your Xiaomi has a Google account attached, you can try to reset the lock through Find My Device, which does not work on all models, but it is worth trying:

1. Go to Find My Device from a computer or other phone.
2. Sign in with the same Google account as on the blocked device.
3. Select your Xiaomi from the list of devices.
4. Click Lock the device and set a new one. PIN-code.
5. Enter this PIN on a locked phone.

Please note: this method will only work if:

• 📱 Phone's connected to the Internet.
• 🔄 Option Find the device in Google settings enabled.
• 🔑 There is no additional lock on the device via Mi Account.

On some Xiaomi models (especially the MIUI 14), this method may not work due to manufacturer limitations.

3. Unlock through ADB (for power users)

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) method is suitable if the phone is debugging on USB and has access to a computer.It is one of the few ways to unlock Xiaomi without losing data, but it requires technical skills.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi and ADB-tools drivers.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• ⚡ Included debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to activate the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the computer.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (Mac/Linux) in the adb folder.
3. Enter the commands in order: adb shell su rm /data/system/gesture.key rm /data/system/locksettings.db rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm reboot
4. After rebooting, the pattern lock will be reset.

⚠️ Attention: If debugging is on USB It wasn't activated in advance, it won't work. Don't try to activate it on a locked phone, it's impossible without unlocking it.

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC|Download ADB-tools from the official website|Check the debugging on-line USB (if the phone is unlocked)|Prepare original USB-cable

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4. Hard Reset (full reset)

If other methods fail, the hard reset is the complete deletion of all data from the phone, a radical but reliable way to unlock that works on all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi 9, POCO X3, Mi 11 and others.

Instructions for MIUI:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the buttons Power + Volume up at the same time (on some models - Power + Volume down).
3. Wait for the Mi logo to appear and release the buttons – you will be in Recovery mode.
4. With the help of volume buttons, select Wipe Data (or Clear Data) and confirm with the power button.
5. Select Wipe All Data and wait until the process is complete.
6. Restart the phone (Reboot).

Once reset, the phone will be as new as new — all data, including photos, contacts and apps, will be deleted. If you have synced with Mi Cloud or Google, some of the information can be restored after re-authorization.

⚠️ Note: On some devices with MIUI 14 after Hard Reset, you may need to enter data from the associated Mi Account.If you do not remember the username / password, the phone will remain locked (this is protection against theft).

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Hard Reset is the only method that is guaranteed to work on any Xiaomi, but it results in total data loss.

5. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced)

If Recovery is not available or not working, you can try unlocking your phone via Fastboot mode.This method requires an unlocked bootloader and is suitable for users who have previously activated this option.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Power + Volume down until the Fastboot logo appears.
3. Connect your phone to a computer with ADB and Fastboot installed.
4. Open the command line and type: fastboot oem unlock fastboot flashing unlock (some models only require a second command).
5. Confirm the unlock on the phone (if you receive a request).
6. Reboot the device: fastboot reboot

Once the bootloader is unlocked, you can flash custom Recovery (like TWRP) and manually delete the pattern lock files, but this is only suitable for advanced users - wrong actions can turn the phone into a brick.

Important: on new Xiaomi models (released after 2021), unlocking the bootloader requires binding to the Mi Account and waiting 7-15 days after submitting an application.

6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If none of these methods work, you have to go to the official service center, and this is true if:

• 🔐 Phone is tied to Mi Account, but you don't remember the data.
• 📱 The device is in the Hard Brick state (not enabled).
• 🔧 You are afraid to manipulate your own firmware.

The service center will be able to unlock the phone, but will require proof of ownership (checks, box, warranty card). On some models (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro+), unlocking is possible only through official channels due to enhanced protection.

The cost of the service varies from 500 to 2000 rubles depending on the model and complexity of the work, in some cases, you may need to flash the device, which cancels the warranty.

On Xiaomi models with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra), self-unlocking without official tools is impossible - special equipment of the service center is required.

7.How to avoid blocking in the future

To avoid the problem of a forgotten pattern lock, follow the simple rules:

• 🔑 Use it. PIN-code instead of graphical pattern – it is easier to remember.
• 📱 Link your phone to Mi Account and Google (this will make it easier to unlock).
• 🔄 Regularly back up through Settings → System system → Backup.
• 📝 Write your password to a secure location (for example, a password manager).

We also recommend you to enable the Smart Lock option in your security settings, which automatically unlocks your phone in trusted places (such as at home or work) via GPS or connected devices (smart watches, Bluetooth headphones).

If you often forget passwords, set up biometric authorization, such as fingerprint or facial recognition. On Xiaomi models with MIUI 14, this data is stored in a secure chip and not reset with Hard Reset.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi