How to unlock Xiaomi Mi 8: From Password to Mi Account – Full Guide 2026

Xiaomi Mi 8 is the iconic smartphone of 2018, which is still in demand thanks to powerful hardware and support for custom firmware. But even such reliable devices are sometimes blocked: a forgotten pattern lock, an input error. PIN-This article contains 5 working ways to unlock the Mi 8 (codename dipper) on any version. MIUI (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS).

It is important to understand that the methods differ depending on the type of lock. If you forget the screen password, a reset via Recovery or Find Device will suit. If the phone requires a username from the previous owner (Mi Account Lock), you will need workarounds through Fastboot or official deletion of the account. We will analyze each case with the characteristics of the Xiaomi Mi 8 bootloader (unlocked / locked).

Warning: some methods lead to data loss or require technical skills, and if you're not sure, go to a service center, but for most users, our instructions will be a saving from the brick without unnecessary costs.

1. unlock the screen: reset password through Mi Account

The easiest way is if your Xiaomi account is tied to the Mi 8 (even if you don’t remember the screen password).

• 🔗 The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 📱 The device is synchronized with Mi Cloud.
• 🔑 Remember the username/password from the Mi Account tied to the phone.

Instructions:

1. On the lock screen, tap Forgot Password? (or Forgot Password).
2. Select Sign in to Mi Account and log in.
3. Confirm unlocking via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
4. Create a new one. PIN-code.

If the buttons Forgot your password? no, try entering the wrong password 5 times in a row, and then the system will offer alternative login options.

💡

If you do not have access to the linked phone number or email, restore them through the official account.xiaomi.com. Use backup email or answers to check questions.

⚠️ Note: If the Mi 8 was bought hand-held and tied to someone else's account, this method will not work. EDL.

2. Recovery Mode reset (data loss)

If the Mi Account is not tied or you don't remember the data from it, you have a hard reset through the recovery mode, which erases all the data on the phone, including photos, messages and apps, but it works even without an account link (unless there is a Mi Account Lock).

How to get to Recovery on Xiaomi Mi 8:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds).
2. Press Volume Up + Power and hold for 5-7 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons and you will see the Recovery menu (in Chinese or English).

Next:

• 🔧 Select Wipe Data (or Chinese firmware).
• 🔄 Confirm the reset by selecting Wipe All Data.
• 🔙 After completion, press Reboot to reboot.

If you request Mi Account after reset, you have Factory Reset Protection (FRP) activated on your device, and then move on to the next section.

Turn off the phone.

Clutch Loudness up + Nutrition

Wait for the Recovery menu (Mi logo)

Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data

Confirm the reset and reset-->

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI The Wipe Data item can be hidden. If it is not available, try selecting English first (the menu language) or using the method with Fastboot (section 4).

3. bypass Mi Account Lock via Find Device (official method)

If after reset, the Mi 8 requires a login from the previous owner, this means that the device activated the protection of Mi Account Lock. Officially, you can only bypass it through the Find Device service, but this requires access to the account that was associated with the phone.

If your phone is yours, but you have forgotten your account details:

1. Go to i.mi.com from your computer.
2. Sign in to your Mi Account (restore access if you forget your password).
3. In the Devices section, find your Mi 8 and select Delete Device.
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

After that, reboot the phone, the Mi Account Lock protection will be removed. If the device is purchased from hand and the previous owner has not untied the account, it is impossible to officially unlock it, in which case informal methods remain (sections 4 and 5).

Reset via Mi Account

Recovery Mode

Find Device

Fastboot

EDL Mode

Until you unlocked it.-->

4. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

If the Mi 8 isn't unlocked through Recovery or Find Device, the Fastboot method remains, USB-All data will be deleted, but the method bypasses Mi Account Lock (if the bootloader is unlocked).

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (better from the set).
• 🛠️ Utilities. ADB and Fastboot (download from Android site).
• 📄 Fastboot firmware ROM Mi 8 (download from the official Xiaomi website).

Step-by-step:

1. Install ADB/Fastboot on your computer and unpack the firmware archive into the platform-tools folder.
2. Turn off the Mi 8 and press Volume Down + Power to enter the Fastboot (a hare in a hat-eared hat will appear).
3. Connect the phone to your computer and check the connection with the command: fastboot devices If the device is determined (the serial number will appear) – continue.
4. Start the firmware with the command (replace). flash_all.bat the current file name from the archive): flash_all.bat or Linux/macOS:./flash_all.sh
5. Wait for the end (5-10 minutes). The phone will reboot automatically.

If you have an anti-rollback error during firmware, you are trying to install an older version of MIUI than the one on your phone, in which case download a newer firmware or use the EDL method (section 5).

5. Unlocking through EDL Mode (extreme case)

EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is an emergency boot mode that allows you to flash your phone even with a locked bootloader. This is the most complex method, but it works in 90% of cases when other methods are powerless. Attention: wrong actions can turn the Mi 8 into a brick!

What you need:

• 💻 Windows computer (for MiFlash).
• 🔌 USB-Type C Cable (required original!).
• 🛠️ MiFlash program (download here).
• 📄 Firmware EDL For Mi 8 (see the forums) 4PDA or XDA-Developers).
• 🔧 Qualcomm 9008 Driver (manually installed).

Instructions:

1. Install MiFlash and Qualcomm 9008 driver.
2. Turn off the Mi 8 and connect it to your computer, holding Volume up + Volume down (the phone won't turn on - that's fine).
3. In Device Manager, check if the Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 device has appeared.
4. Start MiFlash, select the firmware folder and press Refresh – the device must be determined.
5. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (10-15 minutes).

If the process is successful, the phone will restart to the clean system, and if there is an error, check the firmware version (should be EDL-compatible) or repeat the steps with another cable.

💡

The EDL method is the only way to unlock the Mi 8 with a locked bootloader and a tied Mi Account, but it requires strict adherence to instructions and proper firmware.

⚠️ Attention: Use EDL may result in loss IMEI or network problems. IMEI In Settings → If it's missing, restore it through Engineer Mode or QCN-file (instructions are available on the 4PDA).

6. Alternative methods: bypass without loss of data

If you need to unlock the Mi 8 without resetting, try these methods (they don’t always work, but sometimes they do):

Method 1: Reset password through ADB (if debugging is enabled)

If USB debugging was previously enabled on the phone, you can delete the password file via ADB:

adb shell


su




rm /data/system/gesture.key




rm /data/system/password.key




reboot

After rebooting, the lock screen will disappear.

Method 2: Use of Unblocking Services

On forums (for example, 4PDA) there are paid services that remotely remove Mi Account Lock by IMEI. The cost is from 300 to 1000 rubles. Risk: fraudsters can take money and not do the work. Choose trusted artists with positive reviews.

Method 3: Contact Xiaomi Service Center

If the phone is warranty or you can confirm the purchase (check), the official service center Xiaomi can unlock the device.

• 📄 Check or box with serial number.
• 🆔 Passport (for proof of identity).
• 📱 The phone itself (even when locked).

The cost of the service is from 1000 to 3000 rubles, depending on the region.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi Mi 8