The situation when you forget the pattern lock or digital PIN code on your smartphone, familiar to many owners of Xiaomi equipment. Especially acute problem if the device is locked, and access to the account Mi no or you do not remember its data, in such cases, the screen turns into a black box, hiding all your contacts, photos and important files.
Fortunately, Android and MIUI have multiple recovery mechanisms, but it's worth noting that removing a password in 99% of cases will result in a complete data reset. It's almost impossible to save information without first syncing with the cloud if encryption is enabled.
In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of bypassing locks. We will look at both standard reset means and more complex technical options that require connection to a computer. Attention: all actions you do at your own risk, so carefully follow each step of the instructions.
Official reset via Recovery menu
The most reliable and safe way to get back access to a smartphone hardware is to use a regular recovery menu, which doesn't require an internet connection at the time of the procedure, but requires physical access to the control buttons, and if your phone responds to presses but doesn't let you in, it's perfect.
To enter Recovery mode, you need to turn the device off completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power, while continuing to keep the volume. The screen will show a menu with several points, which is controlled by the volume buttons, and the selection by the on button.
⚠️ Note: Wipe Data will delete all user files, including photos, music and installed applications.
From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data and then Wipe All Data. The system will ask you to confirm the action, often requiring you to press Confirm several times. Once the cleanup process is complete, select Reboot. The phone will reboot as new, and when you initially set up, you will be prompted to enter an old Google or Mi Account if reset protection was enabled.
☑️ Checklist before reset
Use of Mi Cloud Find Device
If your smartphone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network) and it has a device search feature enabled, you can unlock it remotely. This method is effective if you remember the username and password from your Mi Account account, but you can not unlock the screen.
Go to the official i.mi.com website from any other device (computer or phone). Log in with your Mi Account. In the interface, select the locked device from the list and find the Delete Data or Erase Device button. Once the command is confirmed, the phone will receive a signal for a full reset.
This works even if the phone's screen is turned off, the main thing is the network. However, if the Find Device function was disabled in the phone's settings in advance, this method will not work, and it is worth considering that after resetting the phone may require you to enter a password from the Wi-Fi network to which it was previously connected to, to reactivate.
- 📱 Pre-authorization of Mi Account on the device is required.
- 🌐 It is necessary to have an active connection to the Internet.
- 🔒 The “Find Device” function must be active in the security settings.
Once the operation is successful, the phone will reboot, and you can reconfigure it by logging in to your account, and all the data that wasn't synced to the cloud before it was locked will be lost forever.
Reset the lock via Google Find My Device
An alternative to Xiaomi’s branded service is Google’s standard tool, which is similar to remote commands to erase data, which often works more stable if the phone is tied to a Google account, even if Xiaomi’s services fail, and requires Internet access on a locked gadget.
Go to android.com/find and log in to the Google account that was the primary one on the locked phone. The system will try to locate the device. If the status is "Online", select the option "Clean the device" from the menu on the left or bottom. Confirm the action by entering the password from the account again.
What to do if the phone is offline?
It is important to understand the difference between locking a screen and locking an account: a reset via Google will delete the pattern lock, but can activate FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection, which means that once turned on, the phone will require you to enter a password from the Google account that was synced before the reset.
If you don't remember the password from your Google account, it will take longer to restore access, you'll have to use the password recovery procedure through the mail or phone number associated with your account, and without this step, the phone will remain a "brick" with protection against theft.
Using ADB to delete password files
For advanced users, there is a method to try to unblock without completely resetting data, but it only works on older versions of Android (typically up to 6.0-7.0) and requires pre-enabled debugging over USB.
You'll need a computer with ADB drivers installed and a USB cable itself. Connect your phone and type in the command line to check the connection: adb devices. If the device is displayed, you can try to delete the key file.
adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.keyFor digital passwords or PINs, the file name may differ, such as password.key or locksettings.db. Once the command is executed, you need to restart the device. On modern versions of MIUI with encryption enabled, this method is unfortunately ineffective, since access to the /data/system partition is closed at the kernel level without unlocking.
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Before any ADB commands, make sure that the Xiaomi USB Driver is installed on the phone, otherwise the computer will not see the device in debugging mode.
It should be noted that on the new models of Redmi and Xiaomi with the shell MIUI 12, 13, 14 and above, access to the file system through ADB without confirmation on the screen ("Allow debugging?") is impossible, so this method remains relevant only for fairly old models or specific scripts with custom firmware.
Comparison of Unlocking Methods
The choice of the particular method depends on your situation: whether you remember the accounts, whether there is Internet and how new the phone model is. Below is a table that will help you quickly navigate the available options and their requirements.
| Method | We need the Internet. | I need a PC. | Data retention | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recovery Mode | No. | No. | No. | Low. |
| Mi Cloud | Yeah (on the phone) | No. | No. | Low. |
| Google Find | Yeah (on the phone) | No. | No. | Low. |
| ADB Command | No. | Yes. | Maybe (rarely) | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, the most universal method is Recovery, because it doesn't depend on external factors like the network or the status of accounts, but it does guarantee loss of information, and the other methods are more remote control than hacking tools.
Bypassing Mi Account and protecting FRP
Once you reset, you might come across an activation screen where the phone requires you to enter a password from a Mi Account that was synced earlier. This is anti-theft protection. If you don't remember the password, you can't officially unlock the phone, you'll need a purchase check to contact the service center.
There are workarounds (FRP Bypass, which often varies depending on the Android version and security patches. APK-It is not practical to describe specific security holes, however, as Xiaomi quickly closes them.
⚠️ Attention: Use of informal circumvention tools FRP (Mi Unlock Tool in bypass mode, paid services can lead to a complete lock of the device on the Internet IMEI virus-producing.
If the phone is hand-built and has someone else's account on it, the only legal way is to contact the seller to untie the device remotely. Buying "detached" phones with a guarantee of bypassing locks is often a lottery where winnings are not guaranteed.
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Having a purchase check is the only 100% way to restore access to a device if the Mi Account password is forgotten after a reset.
Prevention and backup
To prevent the situation with the forgotten password from being taken by surprise, it is important to create regular backups. MIUI There's a built-in tool called Backup and Restore. It lets you save your settings, SMS, call logs and even applications for internal memory or SD-map.
It is recommended to set up automatic sync of contacts and photos with Google Photos and Mi Cloud. In this case, even if you have to do a full reset, you can quickly restore your digital life by simply logging in to your account when you first set up.
Also, don't use overly complex graphic keys that are difficult to replicate from memory in a stressful situation. Biometrics (fingerprint, facial recognition) is convenient, but always keep in mind a simple digital code that is easy to enter if your hands are gloved or wet.
- ☁️ Enable synchronization of contacts with Google account.
- 📸 Set up autoload photos to the cloud.
- 📝 Write down the PIN code in a safe place (not in your phone’s notes!).
Checking backups regularly is a good habit. Try to restore a couple of contacts on another device to make sure the backup is really working and the data isn't damaged.