How to Unblock Xiaomi If You Forgot Your Password – Restore Your Data with Google

Why Standard Methods Don’t Work for Xiaomi

A forgotten password on a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that one in five users encounter at least once in their lives. But if on most Android devices, unlocking through Google accounts works out of the box, then owners of Redmi, POCO or Mi often face unpleasant surprises. It is all about the branded MIUI shell that blocks standard access recovery mechanisms. For example, after 5 failed attempts to enter a password, the system can completely hide the option “Forgot your password?”, and if you try to reset through Find My Device, you need confirmation through the same locked screen.

The key problem is FRP (Factory Reset Protection), which Xiaomi has implemented more tightly than other manufacturers. Even if you remember the username and password from Google, the system may refuse to accept them, giving out errors like “This device was reset. It is impossible to log in” or “Incorrect account.” In this article, we will discuss the unique ways for Xiaomi to bypass blocking through Google accounts that work on MIUI 12-14 (including global and Chinese versions of firmware), and explain why some “universal” instructions from the Internet do not work.

Preparation: What to check before unlocking

Before you try to restore access, make sure your case is suitable for unlocking through Google.

• 📱 The phone was not reset to factory settings (if it was, a bypass will be required). FRP).
• 🔑 Your device has a Google account attached (even if you don’t remember it, it’s on your system).
• 🌐 Internet access (Wi-Fi or mobile network) must be displayed on the locked screen icon network.
• 🔋 Battery charge over 30%, at a discharge below this threshold MIUI may interrupt.

If one item fails, the Google method won’t work, for example, on Xiaomi 12T Pro or Redmi Note 11 with Chinese firmware (CN ROM), the recovery option through Google’s account can be disabled at the system level, in which case you will have to use alternative methods (about them at the end of the article).

⚠️ Note: If the lock screen displays a message "Device locked by administrator", this means that the phone is controlled via the device. MDM (Mobile Device Management – corporate control system, in which case it is impossible to unlock through Google: contact your organization’s administrator.

Method 1: Standard Recovery with Forgot Password? (works on 60% of devices)

This method is suitable for Xiaomi smartphones on global firmware (Global ROM) with MIUI version no older than 13. On newer versions (MIUI 14+), the option can be hidden.

1. On the lock screen, enter any password 5 times in a row until the message "Try again in 30 seconds" appears.
2. Under the password field, you'll see a button called "Forgot your password?" and click on it.
3. Select the option “Restore via Google” (on some devices – “Login to Mi Account”).
4. Enter the data from the Google account that was linked to the phone before the lock, which is critical: if you added an account after you set the password, the system will not accept it.
5. After successful authorization, the phone will offer to create a new password or disable the lock altogether.

If you don’t have the “Forgot Password” button in step 3, try:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone (press the power) + Volume Up for 10 seconds).
• 📶 Connect to another Wi-Fi network (sometimes) MIUI Blocks the option at a weak signal).
• 🕒 Wait 1-2 hours on some models (POCO X3 Pro, Redmi 9A) The option appears with a delay.

Method 2: Unlock with Find My Device (for MIUI 14 and later)

On devices with MIUI 14 and higher (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi Note 12 Pro+), the standard method often doesn’t work, and Google’s Find My Device service will help, but with reservations:

1. Go to your computer or other phone at https://www.google.com/android/find.
2. Sign in with the same Google account as a blocked Xiaomi.
3. In the list of devices, select your smartphone, and if you don't have one, you're not tied to your account or your phone is not connected to the Internet.
4. Click on “Block the device” (yes, even if it is already locked).
5. Enter a new temporary password (e.g. 12345678) and confirm.
6. On a blocked Xiaomi, enter this temporary password. If everything goes well, the system will prompt you to create a permanent one.

Important nuance: on some models (POCO F5, Xiaomi 12S) After entering the temporary password, an error may appear "Incorrect" PIN-code." This means that:

• 🔐 Two-factor authentication is enabled on the phone (2FA) For a Google account, try entering code from SMS or an authenticator application.
• 🔄 The device was dropped earlier and now requires a bypass FRP (see method 4).

Method 3: Bypassing Recovery Mode (for advanced users)

If the first two methods didn’t work, you can try unlocking Xiaomi through Recovery mode without losing data. This method is suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader, but does not require root rights. Importantly, on some models (Redmi K50, Xiaomi 11T), after such manipulations, anti-rollback can work, which will lead to the “bricking” of the phone.

Instructions:

1. Turn off your phone. Press Power + Volume Up to enter Recovery Mode.
2. Select a language (if there is one) and go to Advanced → File Manager.
3. Find the file /data/system/gesture.key (for the pattern lock) or password.key (for the PIN/password) and delete it.
4. Reset the phone. Once downloaded, the password should reset.

If there are no gesture.key or password.key files, try to delete locksettings.db in the same folder. MIUI 14 These files can be stored in /data/system_de/0/locksettings/.

⚠️ Note: On phones with data encryption (on by default on the MIUI 12+) Deleting the lock keys will result in loss of access to all files, even if the phone is unlocked. Before this procedure, make sure that the encryption is disabled (check Settings). → Additionally. → Encryption).

Method 4: Bypass FRP (if the phone has been reset)

If you or someone else has already reset your phone via Recovery or Fastboot, when you turn on Xiaomi will require you to enter data from the last synchronized Google account. FRP-- Bypass her on the lock. MIUI harder than on "pure" Android, but possible:

The most reliable way to avoid data loss is to use Mi Account:

1. On the FRP screen, select Add Account (if you don’t have one, connect your phone to Wi-Fi and try again).
2. Instead of a Google account, try signing in through your Xiaomi account (Mi Account) if it was linked.
3. If the system requests a confirmation code but the SMS does not arrive, use the backup email or Mi Account app on another device.

To bypass ADB (computer required):

1. Connect your phone to your PC, install Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools drivers.
2. Enter in the command line: adb shell am start -n com.google.android.gsf.login/ com.google.android.gsf.login.LoginActivity
3. The phone will open a Google login window – log in.

adb shell content insert --uri content://settings/secure --bind name:s:user_setup_complete --bind value:s:1

This command tricks the system into skipping the setup step, and once it restarts, the phone can run without locking.-->

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even with the right actions, unlocking Xiaomi through Google can end in error.

• 🚫 Wrong account error: Make sure you enter data from the same account that was first added to your phone. If there are multiple accounts, try each one in turn. MIUI 14+ Only the main account (the one through which the first setting was performed) can work).
• 🔄 Cyclical reboot after reset: If the phone is constantly rebooted after entering the password, then the firmware is damaged. The solution is to flash the phone through Fastboot with data storage (use the Mi Flash Tool with the option). clean_all_lock).
• 📵 No Internet connection: On a locked screen MIUI It can hide the Wi-Fi icon. To get it back, press the Power. + Volume Down for 10 seconds – it will reset the network’s temporary settings.
• 🔒 Requested. PIN from SIM-Cards: If the phone requires PIN from SIM, But you don't remember it, so you can pull out the map. FRP unrelated SIM-PIN.

On the Xiaomi 13/13 Pro and POCO F5 models with MIUI 14, the error "Device locked. Wait 72 hours" may appear. This is a temporary lock after multiple failed input attempts.

• ⏳ Wait for the specified time (timer will reset only after connecting to the Internet).
• 🔧 Reset the date and time through Recovery (select Wipe) → Format Data, but it will delete all data!).
• 📡 Connect to another network (sometimes the lock is reset when you change) IP).

💡

If the phone gives an error "This device has been reset. It is impossible to log in", it means that a reset has previously been performed via Recovery or Fastboot. In this case, unlocking through Google is impossible - FRP bypass is required (see Method 4).

Alternative methods (if Google doesn’t help)

If all of these methods fail, radical measures remain, and they are suitable for cases where:

• 🔐 There is no linked Google account on the phone.
• 📱 The device is running on Chinese firmware (CN ROM).
• 🔧 Previous methods led to looped reboot.

Options for action:

1. Reset via Safe Mode: Press the Power before the turn off menu appears, then hold the "Switch off power" until the prompt to go to Safe Mode appears. In this mode, you can delete the lock files (see Method 3).
2. Using Mi Unlock Tool: If the bootloader is unlocked on the phone, you can use the official Mi Unlock Tool to reset your password. Download it from Xiaomi and follow the instructions. Importantly, the tool only works with the Mi Account associated with the device.
3. Firmware via Fastboot: Download the full firmware (Fastboot) ROM) For your model from en.miui.com, select the option in the Mi Flash Tool clean_all (It saves data, and it runs the phone. 80% Devices but require an unlocked boot loader.

For the Redmi Note 8/9/10 and POCO X3, there is a hardware method for bypassing FRP through Test Point, but it requires disassembling the phone and is only suitable for advanced users. If you are not sure about your skills, you should contact a service center.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions