How to unlock Xiaomi phone after resetting: the full guide 2026

Why Xiaomi is blocked after a reset

Hard resets on Xiaomi, Redmi, or POCO smartphones are often the only way to bring a device back to life after crashes, viruses, or slowdowns. However, many users are faced with the unpleasant surprise that after a reboot, the phone requires you to enter a password from a previously associated Mi Account — even if you don’t remember it. This is not a bug, but a MIUI security feature that links the device to the owner’s account.

The reason for the lock is because Xiaomi's security policy is that after the reset, the system checks whether the device belongs to the same user as before the cleanup. If the account data does not match or there is no Internet connection, the phone is blocked. Especially when you buy used gadgets where the previous owner did not untie his Mi Account. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of unlocking, from official to engineering.

It is important to understand: methods differ depending on the model, version MIUI Type of lock (password, pattern lock, PIN-For example, on Xiaomi. 12T s MIUI 14 can work unlocking through Fastboot, and on the Redmi Note 10 with MIUI 13 - only through EDL-We'll look at universal solutions, but check for accuracy to see if your model is compatible.

Method 1: Unlock with the official Mi Account

The most legal and secure method is to use data from the Mi Account that was linked to the phone before the reset. If you remember the username (email or phone number) and password, follow the instructions:

1. On the locked screen, select Unlock with Mi Account (can be called Unlock with Mi Account).
2. Enter the email or phone number associated with the account.
3. Please provide your password. If you forgot, use the recovery function at account.xiaomi.com.
4. Confirm unlocking via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).

If your phone is not connected to the internet, connect it to Wi-Fi or insert it. SIM-A mobile Internet card. Some models (POCO X3, Redmi 9A) You may need to restart after connecting to the network.

⚠️ Note: If the previous owner didn't delete your account and you don't know his or her details, this won't work.

• ✅ Pros: does not require technical skills, retains the guarantee.
• ❌ Cons: will not help when buying a used phone with a tied someone else’s account.

Method 2: Unlocking via Fastboot (without data loss)

If the official method doesn’t work, try unlocking your phone via Fastboot mode.This method works on most Xiaomi models (except for the new flagships with a locked bootloader). ADB/Fastboot original USB-cable.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your phone. Press Volume down + Power before the Fastboot logo appears.
2. Connect the device to the PC. Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd).
3. Check the connection command: fastboot devices If the device is determined (the serial number will appear), continue.
4. Enter the command to unlock: fastboot oem unlock On some models (Xiaomi 11T, Redmi K40) you may need an additional command: fastboot flashing unlock
5. Confirm the action on the phone (if you receive a request).

If the process is FAILED (remote: 'Device is locked'), then the bootloader is locked, and official permission from Xiaomi will be required (see method 4).

Install ADB/Fastboot drivers on PC|

Download and unpack archives from Platform Tools|

Enable debugging over USB in the developer settings (if the phone is not already locked)|

Use the original USB-cable (not charging!)-->

Method 3: Use EDL mode (for advanced users)

EDL-Emergency Download Mode is an emergency boot mode that allows you to flash your phone even with a locked bootloader. The method is suitable for devices where previous methods did not work, but requires an authorized Xiaomi account (for new models) or special boxing (for example, UFi Box, Medusa Pro).

How to log into EDL:

• Turn off the phone.
• Press the buttons Volume up + Volume down + Power at the same time.
• Connect. USB-The device will be identified as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.

To run through EDL, you will need:

1. Download branded firmware for your model (for example, from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater site).
2. Use the Mi Flash Tool or QFil utility for firmware.
3. Choose clean all and lock (total clean) or clean all (to save data).

⚠️ Note: Incorrect Firmware Through EDL If you don't have experience, you should go to the service center. On Xiaomi 13 Ultra and newer models. EDL-The system is blocked without authorization.

Method 4: Official permission to unlock the bootloader

Since MIUI 12.5, Xiaomi has tightened its policy of unlocking the bootloader, requiring official permission for most models via en.miui.com/unlock, which takes up to 72 hours and requires:

• 📧 Mi Account tied to phone.
• 📱 Connecting your phone to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔗 Device-to-account binding (must be active for at least 30 days).

Step-by-step:

1. Go to the unlock page and log in.
2. Download the Mi Unlock Tool and install it on your PC.
3. Turn on OEM Unlocking on your phone in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers).
4. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode and start the Mi Unlock Tool.
5. Enter your account details and wait for SMS confirmation.

If you see a message saying "This device is bound to another account," it means that the phone is linked to another account, in which case only a call to the previous owner or service center will help.

💡

If you don't have access to the previous owner's account, try contacting them via social media or the marketplace where they bought the phone, and often people agree to remove the link remotely through the Mi Account website.

Method 5: Alternative methods (ADB, account bypass)

If the standard methods didn't work, you can try bypassing the lock via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for devices with USB debugging enabled before reset, and if debugging was disabled, it won't work.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line.
2. Check the connection: Adb devices
3. Delete the lock files (not working on all versions of MIUI): adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key rm /data/system/locksettings.db rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm reboot

To bypass Mi Account after reset sometimes helps to replace the file miui_daemon through TWRP (But this method requires a:

• Unlocked bootloader.
• Installed TWRP Recovery.
• Ruth or superuser rights.

On forums (for example, 4PDA) you can find patches for specific models, but using them is fraught with the risk of damage to the system.

💡

Bypassing your account through ADB or TWRP only works on older versions of MIUI (up to 12.5).On new firmware, Xiaomi has closed these loopholes, so the chances of success are minimal.

What to do if nothing helps: service center and guarantee

If all of these methods fail, there are two options:

1. Contact Xiaomi Service Center, which requires a purchase check or previous owner’s details to unlock, may help in some cases even without documents, but this depends on the policy of the particular service.

Remember: self-unlocking attempts can lead to loss of warranty. If the phone is warranty, you should immediately contact the official service. Also note that on models with a locked bootloader (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi K60), unlocking without Xiaomi permission is impossible.

⚠️ Note: On phones with a qualifying chip (such as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2), trying to firmware through informal tools can lead to a hardware blocker (hard-brick), which can not be fixed even in the service.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi