How to unlock Xiaomi phone if you forget your password: 5 ways to save data

A forgotten password on a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that one in five users encounter, according to service center statistics from 2026. The main problem is not the lock itself, but the risk of losing personal data: photos, correspondence, documents. Most guides on the network offer a radical reset via Recovery Mode, but this erases all information from the device. In this article, we will examine 5 legal ways to unlock your data, from official Mi Account tools to technical workarounds through ADB and Fastboot.

It’s important to understand that the effectiveness of the method depends on the phone model, the version of MIUI and whether recovery functions have been activated before. For example, on devices with MIUI 14+ and Snapdragon processor, additional options are available, while on budget models with MediaTek, the choice is limited. We analyzed user reviews and Xiaomi technical documentation to sift out outdated tips (like “call your phone from another device”) and focus on working solutions.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most reliable and recommended way Xiaomi uses is a tied Mi Account, which works on all models, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and Xiaomi 13, if:

• 📱 The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔑 Mi Account was tied to the device before being blocked.
• 📧 You have access to an email or phone number linked to your account.

Instructions:

1. On the lock screen, tap Forgot password? (or Forgot password? on English firmware).
2. Choose Restore through Mi Account.
3. Enter your username (email/phone) and password from your account. If you don't remember your password, use the recovery function at account.xiaomi.com.
4. Confirm the unlock via SMS or email code.

⚠️ Note: If the Find Device function is activated on the phone, after 5 failed attempts to enter the password, the device may lock for 24 hours.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Does not require technical skills.
• ✅ Stores all the data on the phone.
• ✅ It works even on the latest versions. MIUI 15.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Requires an active internet connection.
• ❌ It won’t work if your Mi Account wasn’t tied in advance.

2. Unlock through ADB (for advanced users)

If the Mi Account is not tied or the phone is not connected to the network, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for debugging Android devices. This method is suitable for models with USB debugging enabled (the option is debugging by USB in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version, tap 7 times to unlock the developer mode).

What you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB Tools.
• 🔌 USB-cable (original to avoid connection problems).
• ⚡ Phone with a charge of at least 30% (to avoid shutdown during the process).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device appears in the list, go further.
4. Delete the file with the password (works on the MIUI 12-14): adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key adb shell rm /data/system/password.key adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm
5. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 15 and new models (Xiaomi) 14, Redmi Note 13) This method may not work because of the increased protection, so try the alternative command: adb shell am start. -n com.android.settings/.ChooseLockGeneric It opens the password change menu, but requires confirmation through a pattern lock (if it was installed earlier).

If your phone is still locked after rebooting, try repeating the steps or move on to the next method.

3. Use of Fastboot mode (for devices with unlocked bootloader)

Fastboot is a method that is suitable for users who have previously unlocked a bootloader on their Xiaomi, a common practice among custom firmware enthusiasts, and if the bootloader is locked, it won't work.

How to check the status of the loader:

• Turn off the phone.
• Press the Power button + Volume down to log into the Fastboot.
• Connect the device to your PC and type the command: fastboot oem device-info If the answer has the line Device unlocked: true, the bootloader is unlocked.

Instructions for unlocking:

1. Download the official firmware for your model (choose the Fastboot version).
2. Unpack the archive in a folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command for firmware without loss of data: fastboot flash all -w Key -w clears only the cache, but saves user data.
4. Wait for completion (10-15 minutes) and restart your phone: fastboot reboot

If after firmware the phone asks for a password, try to enter any character - sometimes the system resets the lock automatically.

4. Bypass locking through Safe Mode (if a third-party launcher is installed)

A little-known but effective way is to load your phone into Safe Mode, which temporarily disables all third-party apps, including some types of screen locking, and works if:

• 📲 The phone has an alternative launcher (for example, Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher).
• 🔓 Screen locking is implemented through third-party software (not standard) MIUI).

How to log in to Safe Mode:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the power button before the Xiaomi logo appears.
3. Once the logo appears, pinch and hold Volume down until the phone boots up.
4. In the lower right corner of the screen will appear the inscription Safe Mode.

Further action:

• Go to Settings → Applications.
• Find the app responsible for blocking (like AppLock) and uninstall it.
• Or reset the default launcher settings.
• Restart your phone in normal mode.

⚠️ Warning: Safe Mode disables all user applications, including instant messengers and banking programs. Do not try to log into accounts - this may lead to a temporary blocking on suspicion of hacking.

💡

If you can’t log in to Safe Mode the first time, try using the Power Button + Volume up + Volume down combination at the same time. On some models (like the Redmi 9A), this works better.

5. Restoration of access through the Xiaomi Service Center (guarantee case)

If all of these methods do not work, you can contact the official Xiaomi service center.

• 📱 Warranty phones (usually up to 12 months from the date of purchase).
• 🔐 Devices with Find Device enabled and Mi Account tied.
• 📄 Check or purchase confirmation (not necessary, but speeds up the process).

What needs to be done:

1. Find the nearest service center at mi.com/global/service.
2. Take it with you: 📄 Passport or other identity document. 🛒 Check or warranty card (if any). 📧 Login and password from Mi Account (if the account is linked).

data-free

Cost of service:

• 🆓 Free – if the phone warranty and lock occurred due to the fault of the user.
• 💰 500 to 2000 rubles – if the warranty has expired or the device was purchased informally.

What not to do: Common mistakes

When trying to unlock Xiaomi, users often take actions that make things worse, and this is strictly forbidden:

• 🔨 Recovery Mode (Wipe Data) Reset – This will delete all data without recovery capability.
• 🔧 Using unofficial firmware - can lead to a "brick" (breakdown) of the phone.
• 💳 Paying for the services of questionable “masters” – scammers often promise to unlock, but just reset the phone to factory settings.
• 🔋 Battery extraction – on modern Xiaomi it is impossible without disassembly of the case, which cancels the warranty.

Also avoid:

• 📶 Repeatedly entering the wrong password – this can lead to a complete locking of the device on the device. 24-48 hours.
• 🔄 Firmware updates through OTA in a blocked state – this will not remove the lock, but can erase the data.

💡

If the phone is locked after failing to unlock, don't panic. Wait 24 hours - usually the temporary lock is automatically removed.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi