The situation when the owner of Xiaomi Redmi 4X can not get into the system because of a forgotten password, is quite common. Smartphone, turned into a “brick” for software reasons, ceases to perform its functions, leaving the user without access to contacts and important applications, most often after installing a new, more complex code that is immediately forgotten, or after a failed attempt to enter the pattern lock by children.
There are several proven ways to restore access to the device, but their effectiveness depends on the security settings that were active before the lock. It is important to understand that most methods will require complete deletion of data, since the Android system installed on Redmi 4X has a high level of protection of user information. If you did not back up in the cloud, it will be impossible to return photos and messages after the procedure.
Before you start taking action, you need to evaluate the current state of the gadget: whether the sensor is responsive, whether the vibration response is working, and whether the recovery menu is loaded. Depending on these parameters, you choose a specific algorithm of actions. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the current methods, from standard reset through a Google account to more complex manipulation of the engineering menu.
Standard reset via Google account
The most civilized and safe way to unlock Xiaomi Redmi 4X is available if the device has previously added a Google account and enabled data transfer. After five unsuccessful attempts to enter a password on the lock screen should appear the message “Forgot your password?” or “Forgot your pattern lock?” By clicking on this button, the system will offer to log in through the Google account, which will allow you to remove the lock screen without losing personal files.
However, on modern versions of the MIUI shell, which is equipped with Redmi 4X, this method does not always work consistently, and often the button to call the restore menu is simply absent or requires a mandatory Internet connection, which may not be possible if the SIM card is blocked or Wi-Fi is not configured, in which case you will have to look for other ways to solve the problem.
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If the restore button doesn’t appear right away, try connecting to Wi-Fi through the notification curtain if possible, or insert an active-rate SIM card to check the connection.
It is worth noting that even with successful authorization, the system may require re-entering the password from the Mi Account as an additional Find Device protection measure, which is done to ensure that the attacker who stole the phone cannot access the data even though he knows the owner’s screen unlock code.
Using Mi Account to Remotely Unblock
Xiaomi smartphone owners often neglect to register a Mi Account without knowing that it is a key recovery tool. If the Internet was turned on on on a blocked Redmi 4X and the Find Device function is activated, you can unlock it remotely via a computer or another smartphone.
In the service interface, you select the Devices section, find your Redmi 4X in the list, and click the Unlock button. The system will send a command to the smartphone, and the screen lock will be removed. This method is unique in that it allows you to save all the data on the device without resorting to memory formatting.
- 🔑 To work the method, you must know the username and password from the Mi-account in advance.
- 📶 The smartphone must be connected to the mobile Internet or Wi-Fi network at the time of sending the command.
- ⚙️ The “Find Device” function must be activated in the Mi Account settings before blocking.
If Find Device is disabled or the phone doesn't have access to the network, that won't work, and then forced resetting through Recovery becomes the only option.
☑️ Checking before remote unlocking
Resetting settings via Recovery Mode
If software methods don’t work, you’ll have to resort to a hard reset known as Hard Reset, a process that completely cleans the smartphone’s internal memory, returning it to factory status. On the Xiaomi Redmi 4X, the recovery menu is called by a combination of physical buttons, allowing you to perform the procedure even with a completely broken sensor.
To enter Recovery mode, you need to turn the device off completely. Then simultaneously press the Volume Up and Power button. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, continuing to hold the volume until the menu appears in English or Chinese.
⚠️ Warning: All data, including photos, contacts and apps, will be permanently deleted.
In the menu, the navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. You need to find the Wipe Data (or Wipe & Reset), select Wipe All Data and confirm the action by selecting Confirm. After the cleaning process, select Reboot to restart the system.
| Action. | Button combination | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance to Recovery | Volume + and Nutrition | Launching the Recovery Menu |
| Navigation on the menu | Volume +/- | Item-by-point relocation |
| Confirmation of choice | Nutrition | Execution of the team |
| Exit/Reset | Meals (on the Reboot menu) | Android launch |
The first download after reset can take up to 10 minutes as the system recreates the file structure.Don't panic if the screen stays black for a long time - this is normal behavior for Redmi 4X after formatting.
What to do if the menu is in Chinese?
Bypassing locks via Fastboot and ADB
For more advanced users, there is a method of unlocking through Fastboot mode and the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) computer utility, which requires pre-prepared PCs and install drivers, but it can help in cases where the Recovery menu is unavailable or blocked.
First, the phone is put into Fastboot mode by pressing the Volume Down button and the power button, and the screen will show an image of a rabbit repairing an android, and by connecting the device to a computer, you can send a command to clean the data partition if USB debugging was enabled earlier.
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot erase userdata
fastboot rebootHowever, it is worth noting that on modern MIUI firmware without an unlocked bootloader, these commands may fail or require authorization through Xiaomi servers, which is done for security reasons to prevent data theft.
If standard commands don’t help, there are specialized scripts and utilities from third-party developers that exploit vulnerabilities in older versions of the Redmi 4X bootloader. But using them carries risks: you can get a completely non-working device if the firmware version does not match the expected one.
The problem of activating Mi Account after resetting
After performing Hard Reset, users often encounter an activation screen where the system requires you to enter a password from a Mi Account that has been synced to the device before.This is an Anti-Theft security mechanism that makes the stolen phone useless to outsiders, even after a complete reset.
If you know the password, just type it in and keep setting it up, and if you don't know the account or you changed it, the download process will get stuck at this point, and in some cases, waiting helps: the system can request confirmation via SMS to the linked number or email.
⚠️ Note: Attempts to bypass this protection through flashing or using unofficial patches may result in the device being blocked by the user. IMEI at the server level of Xiaomi.
To officially unblock from your account, you need to submit your receipts to Xiaomi’s service center, and employees will unblock the device by making sure the phone is not listed in the stolen database, which is the only legal way if you forget your account details.
Prevention of blocking and data retention
To prevent a forgotten password from catching you off guard in the future, you should regularly take preventive measures. Backup is the most reliable way to protect information. Set up automatic synchronization of contacts, calendar and notes with your Google account or Mi Cloud.
It’s also helpful to write a complex password or pattern lock to a secure location, such as a paper notebook or password manager on another device. Using biometrics like a fingerprint or facial recognition on Redmi 4X makes it less common to type a password, but remember that once you reboot, entering a digital code is still a must.
- 📸 Backup important photos and documents to an external hard drive or cloud storage once a week.
- 🔐 Use password managers to store complex character combinations.
- 📱 Write it down. IMEI-Device code separately, it will be needed to identify the device in the service center.
Compliance with these simple rules will allow you to use a Xiaomi smartphone with confidence in the security of your data. Even if the lock happens, the recovery will be quick and painless.
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Regular sync with the cloud is the only guarantee that you will not lose important data when you need to reset your device.