Unlock Xiaomi when you lose your password from Mi-account: all working methods

Forgot the password from Mi-account and can not unlock Xiaomi? the situation is familiar to many users, especially after a long break in using the device or buying a used smartphone. Locking your Mi Account isn't just a security guard, it's a real headache if you don't remember the login details. PIN-code, here will not help even reset via Recovery: the system will require you to enter the username and password from Mi-account immediately after the restart.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to unlock, from official (via Xiaomi) to technical (using the Fastboot and Mi Unlock Tool). It’s important to understand that some methods require preparation, such as having a backup of data or access to a computer. If you’ve never connected a device to an account or bought a phone “by hand”, the chances of success are lower, but they are.

Before you start, answer two questions:

1. Do you have access to an email or phone linked to a Mi-account?
2. Was the device enabled with Find Device?

The answers will determine which method will be more effective, and now to the details.

1.Official method: Restore access to Mi-account

If you remember an email or phone number tied to your account but forgot your password, this is the easiest way to do it. Xiaomi provides a standard recovery procedure similar to other services.

Go to account.xiaomi.com/pass/forgetPassword. Enter your email or phone number, then follow the instructions. You will receive a link or SMS with a confirmation code. Importantly, if your account is linked to a Chinese number (+86), it is almost impossible to restore it without access to this number.

After successfully restoring your password, simply enter it on the lock screen of Xiaomi. the device unlocks automatically, and all data (photos, messages, applications) will remain in place.

⚠️ Note: If you are recovering your password, you ask for an old password or a check question, it is a sign that you created your account before 2018, in which case, contact Xiaomi with proof of ownership of the device (check, box, IMEI).

If password recovery didn’t help (e.g., no email/phone access), go to alternative methods.

2 Unlocking through Mi Unlock Tool (PC required)

Mi Unlock Tool is the official Xiaomi utility designed to unlock the bootloader, but it can also be used to bypass Mi-account locks if the device was previously linked to another account (for example, when buying a used phone).

This method will require:

• 🖥️ Windows computer (7/10/11)
• 🔌 USB-cable (original or high quality)
• 📱 Phone with a charge of at least 60%
• 🔧 Mi Unlock Tool (download only from the official website!)

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone, then press Volume Down + Power to enter Fastboot mode.
2. Connect the device to the PC via USB.
3. Launch the Mi Unlock Tool and log in to your Mi Account (not the one that locked the phone!).
4. The utility will automatically determine the model of the device. Press Unlock.
5. Wait until the process is complete (usually takes 5-10 minutes) and the phone will reboot.

If the utility gives an error "Couldn't unlock" or "Account not bound to this device", then the previous owner did not untie the account. EDL-regime (see section 5).

Download the latest version of the utility from the official website

Make sure your phone is debugging via USB (if you had access)

Disable the antivirus on the PC (it can block the work of the utility)

Use the back. USB-port (for stable connection)

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Bypassing locking through Recovery mode (limited effectiveness)

Recovery is a classic way to unlock Android devices, but on Xiaomi with Mi-account tied, it only works 30% of the time, because once reset, the system will again require you to enter your account information.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery.
3. Choose a language (usually English or Chinese).
4. Go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
5. Confirm the reset. After the reboot, check if the system requests a password from Mi-account.

If the lock is still locked after the reset, then the account is rigidly tied to the device, in which case only firmware through EDL or contacting the service center will help.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models after 2020 (e.g. Redmi Note 10, POCO X3 Pro resetting via Recovery almost always results in re-locking, and this method is only effective for older devices (up to the Mi 8).

4. Use Find Device (if the function has been activated)

If you have Find Device enabled on your locked phone, you can try unlocking it remotely.

1. Go to i.mi.com.
2. Sign in to your Mi Account (if you forgot your password, restore it according to the instructions in Section 1).
3. In the list of devices, select a locked phone.
4. Press Unlock Device (unlock device).

The method only works if:

• 📶 The phone is connected to the Internet (via Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔋 Battery level above 15%.
• 📍 Find Device was activated before blocking.

If the phone is not displayed on the site or the unlock button is inactive, then the function is disabled, and this method will not work.

Recovery of Mi-account password

Mi Unlock Tool

Reset via Recovery

Find Device (Remote Unlock)

None of the above.

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5. Firmware through EDL-The mode (for experienced users)

EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is an emergency firmware mode that allows you to reflash your phone even with a locked bootloader. The method is complex but reliable: once you have firmware, the device will be “clean”, without being tied to Mi-account. Suitable for all Xiaomi models, including new ones (Redmi Note 11, POCO F4, etc.).

What you need:

• 🖥️ Windows PC and Qualcomm Drivers HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
• 📂 Firmware for your model (download from xiaomifirmwareupdater.com).
• 🔧 Mi Flash Tool or QFil.
• 🔌 Type-C Cable with Support EDL (Ordinary might not work).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Close the Test Point contacts (their location depends on the model; for the Redmi Note 9, these are the points next to the charging connector).
3. Connect your phone to your PC – Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 should appear in the Device Manager.
4. Start the Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware and press Flash.
5. Wait until it's finished (10-20 minutes) and the phone will reboot in factory condition.

⚠️ Risks of the method:

• 🚨 The wrong firmware can turn your phone into a brick".
• 🔄 After the firmware will be installed a global version MIUI (Maybe not the freshest).
• 📱 The warranty on the device will be cancelled.

6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If all of the above methods fail, the last option is to contact the official Xiaomi service center, which is the only legal way to unlock, unless you are the first owner of the device.

What will be required to unlock:

The cost of the service varies from 1,000 to 3,000 rubles depending on the model and region, and in some cases, the service may refuse if the phone is listed in the database of stolen devices.

✅ Pros of the method:

❌ Cons of the method:

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The official service is the only way to unlock if the phone was bought from hand and the previous owner did not untidy the Mi-account. Other methods may not work due to the rigid binding of the account to the device.

Comparison of Xiaomi Unlocking Methods

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi

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Before buying a used Xiaomi, always check if the Mi-account is untied! ask the seller to make a reset to your eyes or check through the Settings menu → Mi Account → Sign out. If the seller refuses, there is a high probability that the phone is locked.