How to unlock Xiaomi phone if you forget your password: the full guide

The situation when the screen of a Xiaomi smartphone suddenly requires you to enter an access code, and the memory completely refuses to play it, is familiar to many users. This can happen after a system update, a long pause in use of the device or banal distraction. Modern versions of the MIUI shell and the Android operating system provide a high level of protection, making it impossible to easily log in without authorization. However, you should not panic, since there are several proven ways to restore access to your gadget.

In most cases, the solution depends on whether the Mi Account was set up in advance or the Google profile was tied. If you have taken care of the data synchronization in advance, the unlock process will go as smoothly as possible and perhaps even without losing personal information, otherwise you will have to resort to more radical measures, including a complete reset to factory state.

It is important to understand that security bypassing techniques are constantly being improved by developers for the sake of security, so old methods may stop working on new versions of firmware. Android version 9 and above is significantly stricter on access rights than its predecessors. Below we will discuss in detail the current algorithms of actions for various locking scenarios.

Using a Mi Account to Reset a Lock

The most civilized and secure way to regain access to the device is to use the Find Device feature integrated into the Xiaomi ecosystem, which only works if the locked phone has logged in to the Mi Account and enabled the device search function, and an active Internet connection, whether it is a mobile network or Wi-Fi, is also a prerequisite.

To start the procedure, you need to go to the official website of the cloud service from any other device that has access to the network, you will need to enter the username and password from your account in the interface of the site, and if the data has been forgotten, you can also restore it through the standard password reset procedure on the mail associated with the account.

Once you have successfully logged in, the system will suggest you select a device from a list of connected gadgets. When you select your locked smartphone, you will see a control menu where the unlock option is available. Pressing the appropriate button will send a command to the phone and the lock screen will be removed.

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Make sure that the data transfer is enabled on the locked phone, otherwise the command from the server will not reach the device.

It's worth noting that once unlocked, the system may require you to re-enter your Mi Account password the next time you boot, which is a standard Android security measure to protect your device in the event of a theft, and if the phone is not connected to the network, this method will not work, and you will have to look for alternative solutions.

Google Find My Device Resets

If you didn't log in to your Mi Account, but you have a Google profile active on your device, you can use the branded search engine service, the mechanism of action is similar to the previous method, but the management is through the Google infrastructure, and this is especially true for devices where synchronization with the Xiaomi cloud was disabled by the user.

Go to Google Find My Device and log in to the account that was the main one on the locked smartphone, and try to determine the location of the device and its status, and if the device is online, you will be given a set of commands, including “Clean the device”.

Selecting a cleanup option will delete all user data, including photos, contacts and apps, but also remove a pattern lock or digital password.This process is irreversible, so it is only suitable for those who have backups of important information or are willing to sacrifice data to return to the working state of the phone.

⚠️ Warning: After resetting via Google, the device will work protection FRP (Factory Reset Protection: When you first set up your phone, you will need to enter a login and password from a Google account that was previously synced.

It is important to distinguish between a simple password reset and an account deletion. Google does not allow you to simply “erase” the password, it performs a complete data section cleanup, which means that Factory Reset is the only way to unblock if other methods are not available.

Hard Reset via Recovery Mode

When remote methods fail due to lack of internet or forgotten accounts, the only proven option is a Recovery Mode reset, which is built into the firmware of every Xiaomi smartphone and allows you to perform low-level operations with the system, regardless of the state of the interface.

To enter recovery mode, you need to turn the device off completely, then you need to press the combination of buttons: usually a Volume Up button and a Power button, hold them until the Mi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, while continuing to keep the volume.

Recovery can be controlled by both a sensor (in some versions) and volume buttons to move and a power button to confirm the selection. You need to find Wipe Data or Clear Data. In new versions of MIUI, you may need to enter a special confirmation code that is displayed on the screen through a virtual keyboard.

The cleaning process takes between seconds and a couple of minutes, after which the phone automatically restarts. The first run will take longer than usual, as the system performs the initial file setup, and do not interrupt this process and do not try to turn off the phone until the welcome screen appears.

Unlocking via PC Suite and Fastboot

For more advanced users who do not want or can not use the Recovery menu, there is a method of interaction with the computer. the official Mi PC Suite utility (or its international version) allows you to control the device, but Fastboot mode is more often used in conjunction with the command line or specialized software to unlock a forgotten password.

To put the phone into Fastboot mode, you need to turn off the smartphone and press the Volume Down and power button at the same time. The screen will show an image of a rabbit repairing an android, indicating a successful entry into bootloader mode, in which the device is ready to receive commands from an external PC.

Connecting your phone to your computer through high-quality USB-cable, you can try to reset partitions through ADB-commands, unless the bootloader is locked or the appropriate protection is enabled on the device. However, it is worth noting that on modern global firmware, this method often requires an unlocked bootloader, which in itself is a complex procedure.

Using third-party flasher programs such as Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools can help remove some system limitations, but they rarely allow you to bypass the lock screen without losing data on new versions of Android. The main function of these tools in this context is to prepare the device for flashing, which is also a method of resetting a password.

Specifics of different versions of MIUI and Android

The unlocking procedure depends on the version of the software installed. Old devices with MIUI 9 or MIUI 10 had vulnerabilities that allowed you to reset the password through the recovery menu without losing data or through special codes in the dialer. However, with the release of MIUI 12, MIUI 13 and later, these holes were closed.

Modern shells have enhanced encryption protection, meaning that the pattern lock or password is part of the user partition encryption key. Without the correct code, data cannot be physically read by the system, making any attempts to “save photos when reset” technically impossible without knowing the password.

Users of Chinese firmware (CN) should be especially careful, as it often lacks the built-in service Google Find My Device, and unlocking is possible only through a Mi Account, which must be linked to a Chinese phone number.

⚠️ Note: Trying to reflash the phone to an older version MIUI Downgrade on modern models is blocked by anti-rollback. Attempting to install the old firmware can lead to a complete "bricking" of the device.

If you own flagship models like Xiaomi 13 or Xiaomi 14, the chances of successfully circumventing your password without losing data are zero.The only legal and working method is a full reset (Wipe Data), which is guaranteed to remove the forgotten access code.

What to do if your phone requires a post-reset account (FRP)

After you do Hard Reset, many users are faced with an activation screen where the system requires you to enter a password from a Google account that was synced before the reset. This is FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection, designed to prevent the use of stolen devices. If you don't remember the password from your Google account, recovering access becomes a difficult task.

In this case, you need to use the procedure to restore access to your Google account through any other browser or device. Going to the Google account recovery page, follow the instructions for verifying your identity. This may involve entering a backup email, answering a secret question or confirming through a notification on another device where you log in to this acc.

There are specialized services and tools to circumvent FRP, but they are highly skilled and risky. Often, these methods only work on specific versions of Android security patches. On devices with a security patch older than 2026, most FRP bypass exploits have already been closed.

If you cannot restore access to your account, the only official way is to contact the service center with documents confirming the purchase of the device (check, warranty card), the service employees can unblock the device by making sure that the phone belongs to you.

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Protection FRP It is impossible to bypass a simple reset of router settings or replacement SIM-cards, as the binding goes to the hardware identifier and the account in the cloud.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)