How to unlock Xiaomi Redmi 4X if you forget your password: all the working methods of 2026

Forgetting your smartphone password is a bad situation, but it can be fixed. Especially if you're talking about the Xiaomi Redmi 4X, a model that is still popular due to its reliability and low price, the main thing is not to panic or try to find a combination at random: after 5 failed attempts, the phone will lock for 30 seconds, and after 20 - it can completely erase all data. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of unlocking, from the simplest to the most radical, taking into account the features of MIUI firmware and hardware limitations of the Redmi 4X.

It's important to understand that not every method will work for you. For example, if you haven't tied up a Mi Account or enabled USB debugging, some options will not be available. We've arranged the ways from the safest (save data) to the riskiest (with a full reset), and in this article you'll find unique information about unlocking through the EDL engineering menu, which is rarely mentioned in standard instructions.

1 Unblocking through Mi Account (the safest way)

If your Redmi 4X was linked to a Xiaomi account, this is your chance to get back access without losing data, and it works even if you don’t remember the password from the account — you can restore it via email or phone.

How do you check if your account is tied? After 5 failed attempts to enter your password, the lock screen will appear on the button Forgot your password? If it is not, your account is not tied, and this method will not work. If you have a button, follow the instructions:

• 📱 Click Forgot Password? on the Lock screen.
• 🔑 Enter a login (email or phone) from your Mi Account.
• 📧 Confirm the recovery via email or SMS (code will come to the tied number).
• 🔓 Create a new password for your phone or remove the lock completely.

⚠️ Note: If you bought your phone with your hands, the previous owner may not have deleted your account, in which case, unlocking your Mi Account is impossible without your consent. FRP (Factory Reset Protection, and the phone will require login/password from your old account.

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If you don’t remember which email is linked to Mi Account, try to restore it through Xiaomi’s official website: account.xiaomi.com.

2.Reset via Recovery Mode (Hard Reset)

If your Mi Account is not tied or you can't retrieve it, the next step is hard reset through Recovery Mode, which will remove all data from your phone, including photos, contacts and apps, but will return access to the system. On Redmi 4X, you log in to Recovery Mode via hardware buttons.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds).
2. Press both Loudness up (+) and Nutrition at the same time.
3. Hold the buttons until the Mi logo and menu appear in English/Chinese.
4. Use volume buttons for navigation and power for selection.
5. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (on some Factory Reset firmware).
6. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 4X firmware MIUI 10 and newer after a reset, you may need to enter data from Mi Account if it was previously linked. FRP (Factory Reset Protection: If you don’t remember your account details, your phone will turn into a brick, which can only be unlocked through Xiaomi’s official service or through special tools like Mi Flash Unlock.

Make sure your phone is at least 50% charged.

Save the IMEI (written on the box or under the battery)

Prepare data from Mi Account (if tied)

Download stock firmware for Redmi 4X (in case of errors)

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3 Unlocking via Fastboot and Mi Flash Tool

If Hard Reset is not working because of FRP-lock, or the phone doesn't boot even in Recovery Mode, but you have the option of running a firmware through Fastboot, USB-Xiaomi cable and special software, suitable for power users, as the wrong actions can finally "kill" the phone.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install the Mi Flash Tool (the official utility from Xiaomi).
2. Download stock firmware for Redmi 4X (The version should match your model, santoni_global_images_... global version).
3. Turn off the phone and press Volume Down (-) + Power to enter Fastboot Mode (a hare in a hat-eared image will appear).
4. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
5. Launch the Mi Flash Tool, select the downloaded firmware and press Refresh – the program must detect the device.
6. Select Clean All mode and press Flash.

The process will take 5-10 minutes. After the reboot, the phone will be like new, but without being tied to the old account (if the firmware is official and suitable).

4. Unlock via ADB (if USB debugging is enabled)

This is one of the few ways to save data on your phone, but it only works if you've previously enabled USB Debugging in your developer settings. If you don't know what it is, skip this section.

Instructions:

1. Connect Redmi 4X to your PC via USB.
2. Open the command line (Windows: Win + R → cmd).
3. Enter the commands in order: adb shell su rm /data/system/gesture.key rm /data/system/password.key rm /data/system/locksettings.db rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm reboot
4. After resetting, the password will be reset.

⚠️ Attention: On new versions MIUI (12+) This method may not work because of the increased protection, and some firmware also requires root rights that are available on Redmi. 4X It is difficult to get without unlocking the loader.

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ADB-The method is the only way to unlock the phone without losing data, but it requires you to pre-set the debugging. If you haven't turned it on before, move on to other methods.

5 Unlocking through EDL (Engineering Menu)

The method for advanced users when other methods have not helped. EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is an emergency boot mode that allows you to flash the phone at a low level even if it does not turn on. On the Redmi 4X, EDL entry is possible through the circuit of contacts on the board or using a special cable.

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect actions in EDL This method is recommended only if you understand the risks and have experience with Qualcomm devices.

Instructions:

• 🔧 Download the firmware for Redmi 4X in.mbn format (e.g, prog_emmc_firehose_8917.mbn).
• 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC in mode EDL (You may need to disassemble your phone and close contacts with Test Point).
• 💻 Use the Mi Flash Tool or QFil to Firmware through Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
• ⚡ After firmware, the phone will restart in factory condition.

Detailed guides on working with EDL can be found on forums like 4PDA, but remember: this is an extreme method, and without skills it is better to contact a service center.

Mi Account|Hard Reset|Fastboot|ADB|EDL|Never tried-->

6.Official Unlocking Through Xiaomi Service Center

If all the self-unblocking attempts have failed, the last option is to contact the official Xiaomi service center, which is the most reliable, but also the longest way.

• 📄 Document confirming the purchase (checks, warranty card).
• 📱 The phone itself (preferably with the original box).
• 💳 Willingness to pay for the service (the cost of unlocking is from 1000 to 3000 rubles depending on the region).

The service center will be able to:

• 🔓 Unlock the lock without losing data (if possible).
• 🔧 Switching the phone to the official firmware.
• 🛡️ Remove the link to the old Mi Account (if there is evidence of ownership).

⚠️ Note: Unofficial services often offer "unblocking through" EDL" It costs 500-800 rubles, but you shouldn't risk it, because incompetent actions can damage your phone.

7.How to avoid blocking in the future

To avoid having a forgotten password, follow these tips:

• 🔐 Use a fingerprint or facial recognition as an additional way to unlock (you can configure in Settings). → Screen locking).
• 📝 Write your password to a secure location (such as Google Keep or a notebook stored in the cloud).
• 🔄 Regularly back up data through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
• 🔗 Link your Mi Account and make sure you have access to the email/repair-phone.
• 🔧 Turn on Debugging. USB (In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI Press 7 times, then return to Additional → This will help unlock the phone through the developers. ADB future.

Also avoid:

• ❌ Install unofficial firmware without unlocking the bootloader (this can lead to a "brick").
• ❌ Buying phones from hands without resetting to factory settings (risk of residual binding to someone else's Mi Account).
• ❌ Use simple passwords like 1234 or 0000 – easy to pick up.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking the Redmi 4X