How to unlock Xiaomi Redmi phone if you forgot your Mi Account: a step-by-step guide

A forgotten Mi Account password on Xiaomi Redmi can be a serious problem: the phone is locked after resetting settings, firmware or even a normal reboot. The system requires you to enter a username and password from your Mi Account account, without which access to the device is impossible. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of unlocking, from official recovery methods to alternative solutions for power users.

It's important to understand that Xiaomi is actively fighting unauthorized access to devices, so many of the loopholes of the past are already closed. However, even in 2026 there are still working options - the main thing is to choose the right one for your situation. We will look at methods for different scenarios: when you have access to mail / phone from an account, when they are not, and what to do if the phone is bought from hand and tied to someone else's Mi Account.

Why Xiaomi Redmi requires a Mi Account after a reset

Mi Cloud Lock was introduced in Xiaomi as a security measure against theft. After hard reset or firmware, the system checks whether the phone has previously been activated with the account. If so, requires authorization. This applies to all Redmi models, starting with the Redmi Note 3 (2016) and later.

The main reasons for blocking:

• 🔄 Resetting settings via Recovery Mode or in the phone menu
• 📱 Firmware of the device via Fastboot or EDL Mode
• 🔋 Replacement of the motherboard (sometimes requires re-activation)
• 📦 Buying a used phone with a tied account

A critical feature of 2026: Xiaomi has tightened security policies, requiring ID verification (passport details) to be unlocked through official channels if an account was created less than 72 hours ago, making it difficult to restore access, but not impossible.

Official method: restore access to Mi Account

If you have access to an email or phone number linked to your Mi Account, start with an official recovery. This is the safest method, and doesn't require technical skills.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to the recovery page: account.xiaomi.com/pass/forgetPassword
2. Enter an email or phone linked to your account
3. Select the confirmation method: code on email or SMS
4. Create a new password (minimum 8 characters, with capital letters and numbers)
5. Log in on your phone with new data

If you do not remember the attached email/phone:

• 📧 Try all your main mailboxes (Gmail, Mail.ru, Yandex)
• 📱 Check it out. SMS-messages on other phones (code may have been sent there)
• 🔍 Use the “Forgot email?” feature on the recovery page.

⚠️ Note: If an account was created via Facebook or Google, try logging in through these services. Xiaomi retains its social media binding even after resetting your password.

Unlocking through Xiaomi Service Center

If the official recovery did not help, contact an authorized service center, which is the only legal way to unlock the phone without access to the account.

What will be required:

• 📄 Passport of the owner of the phone (to confirm the purchase)
• 🛒 Check or warranty card (if the phone was bought with a new one)
• 📱 The Redmi itself is locked (with battery on)
• 💳 Payment for services (cash or bank card)

The process takes 1 to 3 business days, the service center sends a request to Xiaomi, where they check the owner's data, and after confirmation, the phone is unlocked software without losing data.

⚠️ Warning: Unofficial service centers may offer less than the cost of unlocking, but there are consequences ranging from loss of warranty to total loss of data. Xiaomi has official centers in every major city - check the list on the website mi.com/ru/service.

Unofficial Unlocking Methods (for Power Users)

If the official methods don't work, there are alternative methods, they require technical skills and can lead to data loss or firmware corruption, and use them at your own risk.

The most common methods are:

Method 2: Using vulnerabilities in Recovery

On some models (Redmi 6/6A, Redmi Note 7) you can bypass the lock through a modified TWRP Recovery.

1. Download TWRP for your model from twrp.me
2. Install it via Fastboot (Team: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img)
3. Download to TWRP (Power + Volume Up buttons)
4. Delete the files /data/system/mi_account.db and /data/system/miui_activation_info.xml
5. Reboot the phone.

Method 3: Firmware through Fastboot

For models with unlocked bootloader (Redmi Note 8 Pro, POCO F1, etc.), you can flash clean firmware through the Mi Flash Tool:

1. Download the official firmware from https://new.c.mi.com/global/miuidownload/index


2. Unpack the archive in a folder.




3. Download your phone to Fastboot (Power + Volume Down)




4. Connect to the PC and run the Mi Flash Tool




5. Select the firmware folder and press "Flash"

⚠️ Note: Fastboot erases all data on your phone. If you have enabled Find My Device, your phone may lock again after you connect to the Internet.

💡

Before you run the firmware, check the bootloader status with the command fastboot oem device-info. If the answer is Device unlocked: true, you can flash any firmware. If false, you first need to unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock application (requires an account binding).

What to do if you bought a used phone with someone else's Mi Account

Buying a phone with your hands often comes as a surprise in the form of a tied Mi Account, in which case official recovery methods will not help – you need to contact the previous owner.

Algorithm of action:

1. Contact the seller and ask:

If the seller does not reply:

• 📝 Keep your correspondence and check (if any) to contact the police for fraud
• 🛒 Check if the warranty is valid (sometimes stores help unlock the warranty)

If it is not possible to contact the seller, only informal methods of unlocking (see the previous section) or contacting the service center with purchase documents remain.

💡

When buying a used Xiaomi phone, always check if it is untied from the Mi Account. ask the seller to reset the settings with you and make sure that after the restart, the phone does not require authorization.

How to Avoid Banning Mi Accounts in the Future

To avoid the problem of a locked phone, follow the simple rules:

Basic precautions:

• 🔐 Use a password manager (such as Bitwarden or KeePass) to store data from Mi Account.
• 📧 Link backup email and phone to your account
• 🔄 Regularly (every 3 months) update your password
• 📱 Before selling the phone, it is necessary:

Additional advice:

• 📁 Backup important data (Settings) → Additionally. → Backup)
• 🔧 Put the debugging on. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB)
• 📝 Save it. IMEI Phone number (#06#) in case of loss

If you frequently reflash your phone, unlock the bootloader in advance through the official Mi Unlock app. This will save you from locking problems after unsuccessful firmware experiments.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Mi Account