How to unlock Xiaomi phone if you forget your digital password: all the working ways

A forgotten password on a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that one in five users encounter, according to service center statistics. Especially relevant is the problem for owners of Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Mi 11 models, where the default is to bind the Mi Account account to a lock screen. Unlike the iPhone, where unlocking requires a mandatory connection to iTunes, Xiaomi has several alternative ways - from recovery through an official account to using Fastboot mode.

The main difficulty is that after 5 failed attempts to enter a password, the MIUI system (versions 14 and later) automatically locks the device for 30 minutes, and then offers only a full reset. However, even then, there are ways to save data - if you have already enabled debugging over USB or activated synchronization with Google. In this article, we will discuss all current methods of unlocking, including those that work without losing files, and also warn about the risks associated with informal firmware.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most reliable and recommended Xiaomi method is to use a tied Mi Account. It works on all devices with MIUI 12+, including Redmi 10C, POCO F4 and Xiaomi 13T. The main condition: the phone must be connected to the Internet (via Wi-Fi or mobile network), and you remember the username and password from the account.

Instructions:

• 🔄 On the lock screen, click Forgot your password? (appears after 5 failed attempts).
• 📧 Enter the email or phone number associated with the Mi Account.
• 🔐 Confirm the entrance through SMS-account code.
• 📱 Create a new screen lock password.

⚠️ Note: If two-factor authentication is enabled on the device, you will need to enter code from the Mi Security app or SMS. Without access to the second factor, unlocking is impossible.

This method is guaranteed to work on all models released after 2019, but has a limitation: if the device was bought from hand and the previous owner did not untie his Mi Account, unlocking will become impossible without his data.

2. Reset password via Google Find My Device (for Android 10+)

If your Xiaomi has Google Account sync and Internet access enabled, you can use Find My Device, which is suitable for Android 10 and later devices (including MIUI 12-15), but has an important limitation: once you reset your password, you will need to enter data from Mi Account if it was tied.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to Find My Device from a computer or other phone.
2. Sign in with the same Google Account that is linked to a blocked Xiaomi.
3. Select your device in the list (if there are several).
4. Click Device Lock → Enter a new password (temporary).
5. Confirm the action. In 1-2 minutes, the password on the phone will be updated.

⚠️ Important: This method does not work on devices with the Internet turned off or the Find Device feature disabled in Google’s settings, and once unlocked, you may need to re-attach your fingerprint or face.

Make sure your phone is connected to the internet.

Check if geolocation is enabled (not necessarily, but speeds up the process)

Use the same Google Account as you do on your phone

Remember a new password, it will replace the old one.

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3. Unlock through Recovery Mode (with data loss)

If previous methods failed, it remains hard to reset via Recovery mode, which removes all data from the device, including photos, messages and installed apps, but is guaranteed to unlock the phone, and is suitable for all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi 9A, POCO M4 Pro and Xiaomi 12 Lite.

How to perform the reset:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds).
2. Press the Power button + Volume up at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (volume buttons) and confirm the choice with the power button.
4. Go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data and confirm the action.
5. After reset, select Reboot to reboot.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) K50) After a reset, you may need to enter data from the Mi Account, even if it was not previously tied.

4 Unlocking via Fastboot and Mi Flash Tool (for advanced)

This method is suitable for users who previously had debugging enabled on the USB (USB Debugging and unlocked bootloader, which allows you to reflash the device without losing data, but requires a computer and special tools. Not recommended for beginners - the wrong actions can turn the phone into a brick".

Tools required:

• 🖥️ Windows computer 10/11 (For the Mi Flash Tool).
• 🔌 Cable USB (original, undamaged).
• 📦 Mi Flash Tool Programming.
• 📄 Fastboot firmware ROM For your model (download from Xiaomifirmwareupdater.com).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone and put it in Fastboot mode: pinch Power + Volume down.
2. Connect the device to your computer and start the Mi Flash Tool.
3. In the program, click Select and specify the path to the unpacked firmware.
4. Select Clean All (Saves Data) or Clean All and Lock (Full Reset) mode.
5. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Note: Fastboot firmware will void warranty if the device was purchased less than a year ago, and on models with a locked bootloader (Redmi Note 9 and later) will require official permission to unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool.

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Before you run your firmware, check the MIUI version on the manufacturer's website. Installing inappropriate firmware (e.g. global firmware on the Chinese model) can cause network or camera problems.

5. Alternative methods (with risks)

If the official methods did not help, some users resort to non-standard solutions, we will list them for completeness of information, but do not guarantee the performance and warn about possible risks:

5.1. Use of ADB (only if debugging is enabled)

If the phone has previously been activated debugging over USB, you can try to delete the file with the password through ADB.

adb shell


su




rm /data/system/gesture.key




rm /data/system/password.key




reboot

Once rebooted, the password will be reset, but this method only works on Android 9 and below (like Redmi 7 or Mi A2).

Bypassing the lock via EDL Mode (9008)

EDL (Emergency Download Mode) mode allows you to flash the device even with a locked bootloader, but requires special equipment (Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008) and knowledge of QFil or Mi Flash Pro commands. This method is often used by service centers, but for independent use it is extremely risky.

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No alternative method offers a 100% guarantee of unlocking, and risks include data loss, firmware damage, or a complete failure of the device.

6. What should I do if nothing helps?

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

1. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center. 📄 Documents confirming the purchase (check, warranty card) are required). 💰 The cost of unlocking: from 1,500 to 5 000 rubles (depending on the model and region). ⏳ Timeframe: 1-3 working days.

Buying a new phone.

If the device is old (such as the Redmi 4X or Mi 5) and the data on it is not critical, it is sometimes cheaper to buy a new model than to pay for unlocking and repairing.

Before you bring your phone to the service, check if it has an extended warranty (e.g., Xiaomi Care).

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi