How to unlock Xiaomi phone if you forgot your password – without resetting your settings

A forgotten password on a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that one in five users face. The main problem: standard unlock methods (for example, through Mi Account) often require a factory reset, which means losing all data — photos, messages, contacts. But there are alternative ways to get around the lock without a complete reset if you act quickly and correctly.

In this article, we will look at 7 proven methods that work on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models (including new devices on MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS). Importantly, the effectiveness of methods depends on the firmware version, root rights and security presets. Some methods require preparation in advance (for example, enabled debugging over USB), but we will also tell you what to do if the phone is locked “touch”.

Warning: None of these methods guarantee 100% results, but the chances of unlocking a device without losing data are 60-80% if you follow the instructions correctly, starting with the simplest and safest methods, gradually moving to more complex ones.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official way without reset)

If your Xiaomi has a Mi Account attached (even if you don’t remember the password), this is the most legal way to unlock your phone without losing data. MIUI 10 and newer, but there are nuances.

Algorithm of action:

• 🔹 Enter any password on the lock screen 5 times in a row - the message "Forgot the password" will appear?".
• 🔹 Click on the Unblock button via Mi Account (or similar).
• 🔹 Enter. email/If you don't remember, use the password recovery function at account.xiaomi.com.
• 🔹 Confirm the entrance through SMS Once you've successfully logged in, the phone unlocks without resetting.

Critical note: if the device is enabled with the "Device Protection" function, you may need to enter an old password after unlocking via Mi Account or PUK-code SIM-This defense mechanism came into existence in the MIUI 12 and later. If you don't remember PUK — contact the communications operator.

⚠️ Note: If the phone was bought with hands and the previous owner did not untie his Mi Account, it is officially impossible to unlock it - you will need to contact the Xiaomi service center with purchase documents.

2.Use Smart Lock (if configured in advance)

Smart Lock is an Android feature that automatically unlocks your phone in a “trusted” environment (such as at home, when you connect to a specific Wi-Fi network or Bluetooth device).

How to check:

• 📍 Bring your phone to the place where you normally connect to a trusted Wi-Fi network (home, work).
• 🔊 If you previously added a trusted Bluetooth device (earphones, smart watches), connect it.
• 👤 Check if facial/fingerprint recognition is enabled – sometimes it works even when the screen is locked.

If the phone is unlocked through a Smart Lock:

1. Go to Settings immediately → Lockdown and protection → Password.
2. Remove or change the old password to a new one (write it down!).
3. Disable Smart Lock if you don’t plan to use it – it’s a security vulnerability.

💡

If you have a Mi Band or Xiaomi Watch smartwatch, try bringing it to your phone — sometimes it works like a trusted unlocker.

3. Unlock via ADB (USB debugging required)

The method works only if the phone has been pre-enabled to debug USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 taps to unlock the developer mode, then enable debugging). If this is done, you can delete the file with the password through the computer.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (original!).
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) and type: Adb devices If the device appears in the list – go further.
3. Enter the commands in turn: 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 start without a password.

Challenges and solutions:

• 🛑 If the su command doesn't work, you don't have root rights. Try skipping it.
• 🛑 On the new versions MIUI 14+ The path to the files may be different. Alternative command: adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.ChooseLockGeneric She'll call the password change menu.

⚠️ Warning: On HyperOS devices (2026), this method may not work due to enhanced protection.

Make sure the debugging is done USB was activated before the lockdown|Download and install ADB Tools on PC|Use the original USB-cable|Check if the device is determined by the adb device command|Have a backup copy of the data (in case of failure)-->

Password bypass through Recovery Mode (TWRP)

If you have a custom TWRP recap on your phone, you can manually delete password files, a technique that requires technical skills and is suitable for advanced users.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone (press Power + Volume up for 10 seconds).
2. Press Power + Volume up to enter Fastboot mode, then select Recovery.
3. In TWRP, go to Advanced → File Manager.
4. Delete files: /data/system/locksettings.db /data/system/locksettings.db-wal /data/system/locksettings.db-shm /data/system/gesture.key /data/system/password.key
5. Reset the phone. Once turned on, the password should reset.

If the TWRP isn’t installed, it can be flashed through Fastboot, but this will result in data resets on new Xiaomi models (due to a locked bootloader).

5 Unlocking through service codes (for older models)

On Xiaomi devices until 2018 (based on MIUI 8/9), service codes for password resetting were sometimes triggered. Modern models block this method, but on older smartphones you can try:

List of codes:

• 📞 ##7780## - Resetting (not always working without data loss).
• 📞 ##3646633## - Engineering menu (some firmwares have the option to reset passwords).
• 📞 ##4636## - Test menu (rarely helps, but you can try it).

If the code worked:

1. In the engineering menu, look for Security or Lock Screen.
2. Select the option Reset Password or Clear Lock.
3. Reboot the phone.

Important: on new devices, these codes either don't work or they lead to a complete reset. Don't use them on phones with MIUI 12+.

6.Use of the "Find Device" function (Mi Cloud)

If you have the Mi Cloud service on your phone, you can try unlocking it remotely, and it works even if the phone is not connected to the Internet now, so you need to have syncs active earlier.

Instructions:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in to your Mi Account.
2. Select a locked phone from the list of devices.
3. Press Find the device. → Lockdown.
4. Enter a new password (or reset an old one).
5. Wait 5-10 minutes and restart your phone – the password should be updated.

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Does not work if the phone is turned off or in flight mode.
• 🚫 Some of the scalings require confirmation through SMS.
• 🚫 If the phone hasn’t synced with Mi Cloud for more than 30 days, the feature may not be available.

💡

Find your device is the only official way to unlock without losing data, unless you remember the Mi Account password, but your phone is tied to the cloud.

7. Contact Xiaomi Service Center (extreme case)

If none of the methods worked, you can contact an authorized Xiaomi service center, which is the only legal way to unlock your phone without losing data if:

• 📄 You have a check or a warranty card confirming your purchase.
• 🔐 The phone was not stolen (checked by the IMEI).
• 📱 The device does not include Anti-Theft (anti-theft).

What will be required:

1. The owner's passport.
2. Documents on the phone (box, check, warranty).
3. Device IMEI (you can find out by dialing *#06# on another phone if yours is completely locked).

The cost of the service varies from 500 to 2000 rubles depending on the model and region, in some cases, the service can offer free unlocking if the phone is warranted.

⚠️ Warning: Unofficial services ("home repairs") often use illegal unlocking methods that can result in a loss of warranty or lockdown. IMEI. Contact only the centers with official status Xiaomi.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi