How to unlock Xiaomi Redmi 4 if you forget your pattern lock or password: all working methods

The forgotten password on the Xiaomi Redmi 4 smartphone (or its 4A/4X/4 Pro modifications) is unpleasant, but fixable. The main thing is not to panic and not to try to guess the combination dozens of times: after 5-10 unsuccessful attempts, the device will lock for 30 minutes, and then may even require a factory reset. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of unlocking, from the simplest (through Mi Account) to radical (full reset via Fastboot).

It's important to understand that not all methods will save your data. If your phone is synced with Mi Cloud, the chances of recovering contacts, photos and notes after unlocking are higher. But local files (messaging apps, games, documents stored in the device's memory) are likely to be lost. The only way to save data when unlocked is to use the ADB method, but it only works if USB debugging was previously enabled.

Before you start, check:

• 🔋 Battery charge (at least 50% - this is critical for methods with firmware).
• 📶 Availability of backup (if backup was done through Mi) PC Suite or Google Account).
• 🔑 Access to the email linked to the Mi Account (if the phone was linked to it).

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (if the phone is tied)

The fastest and safest way is to use Xiaomi’s official Find Device feature, which only works if:

• 📱 The phone was tied to Mi Account (even if you don't remember it).
• 🌐 Mobile Internet or Wi-Fi (to communicate with Xiaomi servers) was enabled on the device).
• 🔒 The “Find Device” feature was not manually disabled in the settings.

Instructions:

1. Go to i.mi.com from a computer or other phone.
2. Sign in with the same account as the blocked Redmi 4.
3. In the menu, select the locked device (if there are several).
4. Click “Unlock the device” and confirm the action.
5. Wait 5-10 minutes – the phone unlocks automatically (you need a connection to the network).

If nothing happens after pressing the button:

• 🔄 Update the page and try again.
• 📶 Make sure your phone has internet (you can turn on mobile data via the notification panel if it is available).
• 🕒 Wait up to 30 minutes – sometimes Xiaomi servers process a request with a delay.

⚠️ Note: If the phone was purchased from hand and linked to someone else's account, this method will not work, in which case you will have to contact the previous owner or use other methods (see below).

2. Recovery Mode reset (data loss)

If Mi Account doesn't work (or the phone isn't tied), the next step is to hard-reset the Recovery menu, which erases all the data on the device, including apps, settings, and files in internal memory, and the SD card won't be affected.

How to Sign In to Recovery Mode on Xiaomi Redmi 4:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds if it doesn't respond).
2. Press the Volume Up (+) and Power button at the same time.
3. Hold on for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and menu appear in English/Chinese.

Further action:

• 🔧 Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.
• 📛 Select Wipe Data (or Wipe & Reset in newer versions).
• 🔄 Confirm the reset by choosing Wipe All Data.
• 🔙 After completion, select Reboot to restart.

The first download after the reset will take 5-10 minutes. If the phone has been stuck on the logo for longer than 15 minutes, repeat the procedure or try the method through Fastboot (see the next section).

Turn off phone |Clamp Volume+ and Power |Wait for Recovery |Select Wipe Data |Confirm reset |Reboot device-->

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi firmware may require data entry from the Mi Account that was previously tied after resetting via Recovery.If you don't remember them, use the Fastboot firmware method.

3. Unlock via Fastboot (for power users)

If the previous methods didn't work, you're left with the Fastboot mode, which requires a computer, USB-It is possible to use cables and special tools, but it is guaranteed to bypass the lock (including binding to Mi Account.

What you need:

• 💻 Windows computer (or Mac/Linux driverless ADB).
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (not cheap charging!).
• 📥 Firmware for Redmi 4 (download from the official Xiaomi website).
• 🛠 The Mi Flash Tool (download here).

Step-by-step:

1. Install the Mi Flash Tool and ADB drivers on your computer.
2. Unpack the downloaded firmware (file with the extension.tgz or.zip) in a folder without Cyrillic characters.
3. Turn off the phone and press Volume Down (-) + Power to enter the Fastboot (the image of a hare in a hat-eared will appear).
4. Connect the phone to the computer.
5. In the Mi Flash Tool, click Select and specify the path to the firmware folder.
6. Select Clean All mode and press Flash.
7. Wait for the end (5-10 minutes) and the phone to restart.

If the Mi Flash Tool is making an error:

• 🔌 Check the cable and port USB (better USB 2.0 on the back of the PC).
• 🔄 Reinstall the driver manually through Device Manager.
• 📥 Download a different firmware version (e.g. Global Stable instead of China).

4. Unlock through ADB (if debugging was enabled)

The only way to unlock the Xiaomi Redmi 4 without losing data is to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), but it only works if you have enabled USB debugging in the developer's settings before locking. If not, skip this section.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB on your computer (download Platform Tools from Google).
2. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
3. Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd).
4. Enter the commands in order: adb devices (should display your device) adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key or for password: adb shell rm /data/system/password.key
5. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

After the reboot, the lock will reset, but all the data will remain in place. If the command does not work, try an alternative method:

adb shell


su




rm /data/system/locksettings.db




rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal




rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm




reboot

⚠️ Attention: On new versions MIUI (12 and above) this method may not work due to enhanced security, and some firmware also require root rights that are disabled by default.

1. Switch USB connection mode to File Transfer (if available in the notification curtain).

2 Enter the command adb kill-server, and then adb start-server.

3. Use another USB-cable (preferably original).-->

5. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If all of the above methods did not help (or you are afraid of breaking something), you can contact the official service center Xiaomi.

What will be required:

• 📄 Check or warranty card (if the phone is guaranteed).
• 🆔 Passport (to confirm possession).
• 💳 From 500 to 2000 rubles (cost depends on the model and the complexity of unlocking).

How to find a service center:

1. Go to the Xiaomi Service website.
2. Choose a country and a city.
3. Check the addresses and reviews (it is better to choose a center with a rating above 4.5).

Advantages of using the service:

• ✅ Data retention guarantee (in some cases).
• ✅ Official firmware without the risk of installing “left” software.
• ✅ Possibility to check the phone for other malfunctions.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Cost (sometimes comparable to the price of a used phone).
• ❌ Waiting time (from 1 day to a week).
• ❌ The risk of failure if the phone was blacklisted (stolen/lost).

Comparison of Unlocking Methods

💡

If you have synced with Mi Cloud on your phone, you can restore contacts, notes and some files through the Cloud app on the home screen after unlocking.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When unlocking the Xiaomi Redmi 4, users often face typical problems.

1.The phone is not included in Recovery/Fastboot

• 🔋 Check the battery power (below 20% – will not come in).
• 🔄 Try a different button combination (on some versions of Redmi) 4X It's up. Loudness up. + Loudness down + Nutrition).
• 🛠 If the buttons are not working, the plume may be faulty (requires repair).

2. Mi Flash Tool is giving an error

• 📌 “Couldn’t find fastboot” error – check the drivers or try another one USB-port.
• 📌 Flash Not Done – Download another firmware version (e.g. Fastboot instead of Recovery).
• 📌 Anti-rollback error means you are trying to flash an older version MIUI, You can download a new firmware than the one you're looking at now.

3.After reset, requires an old Mi Account

• 🔑 If the phone was tied to an account and you don’t remember it, then only the firmware through Fastboot with a full reset remains).
• 📧 Try to restore access to your account via account.xiaomi.com (forgot password button?»).

4.The phone got stuck after firmware

• 🕒 Wait 20–30 minutes (first load can be long).
• 🔄 If it doesn’t work, repeat the firmware or try another version. MIUI.
• 🔋 Check the battery (the phone may have run out during the process).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions