How to unlock Xiaomi Redmi 7 if you forget your password: the full guide 2026

Forgetting your smartphone password is a frustrating situation, but it’s not a hopeless one. Especially if you’re talking about the Xiaomi Redmi 7, a 2019 model that’s still popular due to its price-performance balance, the key is not to panic and try to find a combination at random: after 5 wrong attempts, the system will lock the device for 30 seconds, and after 10, it may require you to enter the Mi Account or even suggest resetting.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to unlock Redmi 7, from the simplest (if you have a Xiaomi account attached) to the most radical (full reset via Fastboot). Each method is illustrated with screenshots and warnings about possible risks, such as data loss or bootloader locking. Importantly, if the phone is encrypted, some methods may not work without a complete memory cleanup.

Before you start, check:

• 🔋 Battery level (minimum 30%, otherwise the risk of "bricking" the device)
• 📶 Backup of important data (unlocking often leads to loss of it)
• 🔑 Access to email/phone linked to Mi Account (if an account was created)

1 Unblocking through Mi Account (if the account is tied)

The safest and fastest way is to use a Xiaomi account, which works if:

• 📱 The phone was tied to Mi Account before being locked
• 🌐 Internet access (via Wi-Fi or mobile network)
• 📧 Remember your email and password (or you can restore them)

Instructions:

1. On the lock screen, tap the Forgot Password button (or Forgot Password?).
2. Select the recovery option through Mi Account.
3. Enter your email/phone and account password, and if you don't remember, use the recovery function at account.xiaomi.com.
4. Confirm your login via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
5. Follow the instructions on the screen to reset the lock password.

✅ Pros of the method: does not require data reset, works on most firmware MIUI (including MIUI 12/13 for Redmi 7).

❌ Cons: If the account is not tied or you do not remember the login details, the method will not work.

💡

If Xiaomi asks to enter CAPTCHA when you restore your account, but the picture does not load, try changing your browser or using a VPN (server in China or Singapore).

2. Reset password via Recovery Mode (without loss of data)

This method is suitable if you do not remember the password, but remember PIN-It's a code or a pattern lock that's been used before. It works because of a feature. MIUI: In some versions of the firmware, you can reset your password through the recovery menu without erasing user data.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone with a long press on the power button.
2. Press the Volume Up + Power combination and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.
3. Select the language (if required) from the menu, then go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe Password (or similar).
4. Confirm the action. The phone will reset and the password will be reset.

⚠️ Note: This method does not work on all versions. MIUI. If the Recovery menu does not have Wipe Password, move to the next method, and note that after resetting the password, you may need to re-attach your fingerprints.

3. Complete reset via Hard Reset (erases all data)

If the previous methods didn't work, the radical solution is Hard Reset, which will return the phone to factory settings by deleting all the data, including photos, messages and installed apps, which works 100% of the time, but requires caution.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off Redmi 7.
2. Press Volume Up + Power and hold until the Recovery menu appears.
3. Use the volume buttons for navigation and the power button for selection. Go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
4. Confirm the action (it may be necessary to enter) PIN-code SIM-maps, if they are installed).
5. After reset, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

⚠️ Note: if the phone has enabled data encryption (the Encrypt Phone option in the security settings), after Hard Reset, the device may require the old password to be entered to decrypt).

4. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

If Redmi 7 is encrypted or Hard Reset doesn't help, you'll have to reflash your phone via Fastboot mode, USB-cable and basic knowledge of working with ADB On devices with a locked bootloader (Bootloader), this method will not work without official unlocking through Xiaomi.

What you need:

• 💻 Windows computer (or Mac/Linux driverless ADB)
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (poor cables may interrupt the connection)
• 📁 Firmware for Redmi 7 (download from the official website)
• 🛠 Tools: Mi Flash Tool, ADB and Fastboot

Instructions:

1. Install ADB and Mi Flash Tool drivers on PC.
2. Unpack the downloaded firmware (file with the extension.tgz or.zip) in a folder without Cyrillic characters.
3. Turn off your phone and put it in Fastboot mode: Press Volume Down + Power.
4. Connect Redmi 7 to your computer. Android Bootloader Interface should appear in the Device Manager.
5. Open the Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware folder, and press Refresh. The device must be determined.
6. At the bottom, select Clean All mode and press Flash.
7. Wait for the process to finish (5-10 minutes) and the phone will reboot automatically.

⚠️ Note: if the bootloader is locked, the Mi Flash Tool will give an error, in which case you will first have to unlock it through the official Xiaomi website (the process takes up to 72 hours.

Install the drivers ADB|Download firmware for Redmi 7 (version Global/China)|Connect the original USB-cable|Disable the antivirus (can block the Mi Flash Tool)|Charge your phone at least to 50%-->

5. Unlock Bootloader (if Fastboot doesn't work)

If you try to flash your phone through Fastboot and you see a Device is locked error, it means that the bootloader is locked. Xiaomi blocks it by default to protect against unauthorized access. To unlock, you need to get permission from the manufacturer.

The process takes up to 3 days and requires:

• 📱 Linked Mi Account (same as on the phone)
• 🌐 Stable Internet connection
• 🔧 Mi Unlock Tool (download from the official website)

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Mi Unlock Tool on PC.
2. Put Redmi 7 in Fastboot mode (Loudness down + Power).
3. Connect your phone to your computer and start the Mi Unlock Tool.
4. Sign in to your Mi Account (should match your phone account!).
5. The utility will check if you can unlock it. If everything is okay, press Unlock.
6. Wait for a confirmation email or SMS (may be in 72 hours).
7. After unlocking, repeat the firmware through the Mi Flash Tool.

✅ Important: Once the bootloader is unlocked, all data on the phone will be erased, and Xiaomi warranty will be canceled, and some features (such as Find Device) may stop working.

💡

Unlocking Bootloader is the only way to flash the phone through Fastboot if it has been blocked by the manufacturer.Without this step, all attempts lead to the Device is locked error.

6. Alternative methods (if nothing has worked)

If standard methods don't work, you can try less obvious solutions, but note that they don't work for all cases and may require more knowledge.

Method 1: Use ADB (if USB debugging is enabled)

If you have enabled USB Debugging in the developer settings before blocking, you can try resetting your password through the ADB command:

adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key


adb shell rm /data/system/password.key




adb reboot

Once rebooted, the password will be reset, but this method only works on older versions of MIUI (up to MIUI 10).

Method 2: Contacting a service center

If the phone contains critical data and self-unlocking seems risky, contact the official Xiaomi service center.

• 📄 Document confirming the purchase (check or warranty card)
• 🆔 Passport of the owner
• 💳 Payment for the service (from 1000 to 3 000 rubles depending on the region)

Service centers have access to special unlocking tools without losing data (in some cases).

Method 3: Using third-party tools

You can find programs like Mi Account Unlock Tool or D&G Unlock Tool that promise to unlock without losing data on the Internet, and we don't recommend using them for a few reasons:

• 🛡 Risk of installing malware on a computer
• 🔒 Possibility of permanently locking your phone (if the tool uses incorrect methods)
• 💰 Often require payment for the "full version"

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When unlocking the Xiaomi Redmi 7, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

⚠️ Warning: If the phone stops turning on or freezes on the Mi logo after unlocking, don't panic. Try flashing it over Fastboot again or pinching Volume Up. + Power for 20 seconds for forced reboot.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions