How to unlock Xiaomi Redmi 4X if you forget the password from the lock screen: all working methods

Forgetting your smartphone password is a bad situation, but it's fixable, especially if you're talking about the Xiaomi Redmi 4X (codenamed santoni), which is still popular among users due to its reliability and low price, and the key is not to panic and not try to guess the combination at random: after 5 failed attempts, the device will lock for 30 seconds, and after 20 - can completely erase all data.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to unlock Redmi 4X, from the simplest (via Mi Account) to the most radical (full reset via Fastboot). Each method is accompanied by step-by-step instructions, risk warnings and tips on how to avoid data loss. Importantly, some methods require preliminary preparation, such as a tied Xiaomi account or enabled USB debugging. If you are not sure which method will work for you, flip through to the end, there is a comparison table with the pros and cons of each option.

1 Unblocking through Mi Account (if the account is tied)

The safest and most official way is to use a Xiaomi account if it was tied to the phone before locking, a method that works even without an internet connection on the device itself, as authorization goes through Xiaomi servers.

To unlock Redmi 4X through Mi Account, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Enter any password on the lock screen 5 times in a row until the message “Forgot the password?” or “Unlock via Mi Account” appears".
• 🔑 Click on this inscription – the login and password entry window from your Xiaomi account will open.
• 📧 Enter your email or phone number linked to your device, and then your password. If you forget your data, restore it through account.xiaomi.com.
• ✅ After successful authorization, the phone will unlock and you will be able to set a new password.

⚠️ Attention: If on Redmi 4X Device Protection (in security settings) has been enabled, and once unlocked through Mi Account, you may need to enter the old password again.

The advantage of this is that you can save all the data on your phone, but it only works if you:

• 🔄 Mi Account was tied to device prior to lockdown.
• 📶 The phone has access to a mobile network or Wi-Fi (to verify account details).
• 🛡️ No resets were performed via Recovery – this untied the account.

2. Recovery Mode reset (data loss)

If Mi Account is not tied or you don’t remember the login details, the next option is a hard reset via the Recovery menu, which removes all data from the phone, including photos, contacts and installed apps, but is guaranteed to unlock the device.

Instructions for Xiaomi Redmi 4X:

1. 🔋 Turn off the phone with a long press on the power button (10-15 seconds).
2. 🔄 Press the power button and volume button at the same time (+) before the appearance of the Mi logo (usually 5-10 seconds).
3. 📱 Release the buttons – you will be taken to the Recovery Mode menu (English or Chinese).
4. 🖱️ Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selecting a point. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
5. ✅ Confirm the action (usually the item Confirm or Yes).
6. 🔄 After reset, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

⚠️ Note: Some of the Redmi firmware 4X After resetting via Recovery, you may need to enter Mi Account data if the account was previously linked, this is theft protection (Mi Cloud Lock), in which case you will have to use Fastboot or contact the service center.

If the Recovery menu is in Chinese, focus on the location of the items:

• 🧹 (Wipe Data - reset.
• ↩️ (Back) - back.
• ✅ (Confirm - confirm.

Turn off the phone from charging

Make sure the battery is at least 30% charged

Prepare a backup of important data (if available)

Remember Mi Account information (if the account is linked)-->

3. Unlock via Fastboot (for power users)

The method via Fastboot is suitable if:

• 🔧 The phone was debugging on. USB (USB Debugging).
• 💻 Access to a computer with Xiaomi drivers and tools installed ADB/Fastboot.
• 📦 You are ready for possible data loss (depending on the selected teams).

For the Redmi 4X (Santoni), the procedure is as follows:

1. 🔌 Connect your phone to the PC via USB-cable.
2. 🖥️ Press the power button. + Volume reduction (-) for 10 seconds to enter Fastboot Mode (the image of a hare in a hat-eared hat will appear).
3. 📂 On the computer, open the command line (Win) + R → enter cmd) and go to the folder with ADB (for example, cd C:\platform-tools).
4. 🔍 Enter the command to check the connection: fastboot devices If the phone is determined (the serial number will appear), continue.
5. 🔄 For password reset without data loss (does not work on all firmware): fastboot erase frp fastboot reboot If it doesn't work - perform a full reset: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

After the reboot, the phone will be unlocked, but all data (except files on the memory card) will be deleted. If the fastboot erase frp command did not help, then it is on your firmware. FRP-Factory Reset Protection is implemented differently – you will need firmware through the Mi Flash Tool.

4.Use of unlocking services (paid and free)

If the self-help methods didn't work, you can turn to online services or unlock programs, which fall into two types:

1. Xiaomi’s official services, such as the Mi Unlock Tool, only work to unlock the bootloader, but can help if the problem is firmware.
2. Third-party utilities, such as Mi Account Unlock Tool or Xiaomi Tool V2, promise to bypass Mi Cloud Lock, but often require payment and do not guarantee the result.

Risks of using third-party services:

• 💸 Fraud – Many sites ask for payment for “unblocking” but fail to comply.
• 🦠 Viruses – programs may contain malicious code.
• 🔒 Account Lock – Xiaomi may ban your Mi Account for using unofficial tools.

If you decide on this method, follow the rules:

• 🔍 Look for feedback on the service on forums (for example, 4PDA or MIUI SU).
• 🛡️ Use a virtual machine or a separate PC to run questionable programs.
• 💳 Do not pay in advance – only after confirming the result.

💡

Before using third-party utilities, check if your Redmi 4X is under warranty.A self-unblocking through informal tools can void warranty obligations.

5. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If all of these methods fail, the last option is the official service, and the advantages of this method are:

• 🔧 Guaranteed result: experts unlock the phone without risking damage.
• 📄 Preservation of the guarantee (if it is still valid).
• 🔒 Data security – no personal information is leaked in certified centers.

How to prepare for a visit to the service:

1. 📋 Take with you documents on the phone (checks, box, warranty card).
2. 🆔 If the phone was bought from hand, check if it is tied to someone else’s Mi Account.
3. 💰 Check the cost of the service by phone - in some centers, unlocking costs from 500 to 2000 rubles.

The addresses of official Xiaomi service centers in Russia can be found on the website mi.com/ru/service. Average unblocking time – from 1 before 3 days.

⚠️ Note: If the phone was purchased abroad (for example, on AliExpress or on a trip), Russian service centers may refuse service.

Unlocking methods comparison: what to choose?

To make the choice easier, we have collected the key characteristics of each method in the table:

For most users, the best course of action is:

1. Try Mi Account (if the account is tied).
2. If it doesn’t help, reset it via Recovery (preparing for data loss).
3. If you have the skills, use Fastboot.
4. In the extreme, go to the service.

💡

If the phone has been enabled with data encryption or protection through the Mi Cloud, unlocking without loss of information is almost impossible, in which case resetting via Recovery or Fastboot is the only way out.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking the Redmi 4X