The situation of a smartphone owner facing a lock screen after a hard reset is one of the most stressful in the world of mobile technology. You just performed your device's Hard Reset in hopes of speeding up its operation or removing the virus, but the Android security system required you to enter a password from your Mi Account, which you, alas, do not remember. It's not just a nuisance, it's a full-fledged digital lock that turns your gadget into a useless piece of plastic and glass.
The Find Device security mechanism was introduced by Xiaomi to protect user data in the event of theft or loss of a gadget. However, it is often the legitimate owners who are locked behind the board due to trivial forgetfulness or lack of linking the phone number to the account. It is important to understand that it is impossible to simply bypass this protection through the standard menu - the system is designed to exclude unauthorized access.
In this article, we will look at all the legal and technical ways to restore access, from official password reset procedures to more complex methods of unlocking through service utilities. You will have to be patient, as the process can take from a few minutes to a couple of days, depending on the method chosen and the availability of supporting documents.
⚠️ Warning: Attempts to unlock a device using unofficial paid services on the Internet often result in your identity being stolen or malware being installed on your computer.Be extremely careful with files labeled as "Mi Account Unlock Tool" from unverified sources.
Why a password request occurs and how protection works
An account request only appears if the device logged in to Mi Account before resetting and the Find Device function is activated. When formatting internal memory, system files are deleted, but the cloud-based information remains in the secure partition. After rebooting, the smartphone communicates with Xiaomi servers and checks the lock status.
The main purpose of this protection is to render the stolen phone useless to the attacker. Even if a thief tries to reflash the device, server verification will prevent him from activating the device without the owner's credentials. For the average user, this means that a standard reset via Recovery menu does not remove the lock, but only restarts the verification process.
There are several types of blockages that are important to distinguish:
- 🔒 Screen locking (Pattern/PIN) — removed from the full data reset.
- 🔒 Mi Cloud Lock – requires entering a password from the cloud service after resetting.
- 🔒 Bootloader Lock – prevents the installation of custom firmware, but does not interfere with the normal operation of the system.
If you are a type two person, the standard Safe Mode bypass or Adb commands in most current versions of MIUI are no longer working.The security system is constantly updated to close vulnerabilities that made it easy to bypass verification in previous versions of Android.
Official Recovery Method through Mi Account
The most reliable and secure way to retrieve your device is to retrieve your password through the company's official channels, and if you have access to a phone number or email that was linked to your account, it will take no more than 10-15 minutes to complete the process, and you will need to go to the official account management portal.
Go to account.xiaomi.com and click on the "Forgot password" button, and the system will offer multiple options for verifying identity. SMS-A code that comes to the linked number or a reset link to a backup email. Enter the data exactly as it was recorded.
After a successful password change, take the time to enter new data on a locked phone. Servers take time to sync statuses. It is recommended to wait about 30-60 minutes before trying to log in again. In some cases, you need to completely disconnect from the Wi-Fi network and use mobile Internet for initial verification.
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If the phone number is no longer available, try using the restore function through a trusted device if you have it logged in to your Mi Account.
If the phone doesn’t unlock automatically, try re-entering the settings menu if possible, or wait for the security timer to expire.
Use of service unlocking by IMEI
In cases where email and phone access is lost completely, the only legal way is to unblock service, which requires official support from Xiaomi or authorized partners, and you will need to provide proof of ownership of the device so that the service staff can remove the account link from the server.
To start, you'll need to find a smartphone box or a purchase check, and the label of the box shows the IMEI and the serial number of the device, which must match the data in the system, and without these documents, a support call is likely to be useless, because the company cares about the safety of its users.
The process is as follows:
- Find a check or warranty card that lists IMEI.
- Take a close-up of the documents and the machine itself.
- Send a request through the feedback form on the site or contact the service center.
- Expect to be checked by security personnel.
⚠️ Note: Never buy any unblocking services IMEI Only the account holder or authorized service can officially delete the link if there is a check, and any other offers are either fraud, exploiting vulnerabilities that will soon be closed.
It is worth noting that this method is not instantaneous. Document checks can take from a few days to a week, but this ensures that once unlocked, you will get a fully functional device without the hanging restrictions and risks of re-locking.
☑️ Documents for service
Differences in methods for different versions of MIUI
The unlock procedure and the rigor of the check depend on the version of the operating system installed. MIUI. Old versions (MIUI 10, 11 and early versions 12) were vulnerable to using special scripts or button combinations to skip the welcome screen. MIUI 13, 14 and the new HyperOS, have significantly enhanced protection.
In current firmware, account verification is done at the bootloader and server login level. Even if you manage to get into the Recovery menu and clear the data, the system will request confirmation when you first download it. Attempts to use old methods from YouTube 2018-2020 on new Redmi Note 12, 13 or Xiaomi 13/14 series phones often only lead to a cyclical reboot.
Comparison of approaches depending on the version of the software:
| MIUI/HyperOS version | Type of protection | Possibility of circumvention | Recommended method |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI 10 - 11 | Basic | High (via ADB/Test Point) | Unlocking scripts |
| MIUI 12 - 12.5 | Medium | Low (depending on the security patch) | Change of DNS / Scripts |
| MIUI 13 - 14 | Tall. | Critically low | Official password reset |
| HyperOS 1.0+ | Maximum | Absent (without server) | Service center / Check |
Older users are more fortunate because there are more software tools available for them, but if you own the flagship of this year, you shouldn’t count on the magic button in the program – only interaction with the Xiaomi server will give you results.
What is Test Point?
Technical aspects and work with Fastboot mode
For more advanced users who are trying to use specialized unlocking software, you need to understand Fastboot mode. It's a diagnostic mode that allows you to interact with the phone at a low level, and you can enter it by simultaneously pressing the volume down button and the power button when the device is off.
Many Mi Account Lock removal tools require that you put the device in this mode, and you'll see a picture of a hare repairing an android on the screen, and you'll see the words FASTBOOT. You can connect the phone to your computer and you can run console utilities or graphical shells that send commands to the device.
But the myth is that you can't just send a command to delete an account via Fastboot on a locked phone, either by using an unlocked bootloader (which you can't unlock without logging in) or by using an authorized Mi Account with the right of an engineer in an unlocker program.
If you do decide to use third-party utilities (for example, Mi Unlock Tool for official unlocking of the bootloader), remember about time limits. Official unlocking of the bootloader is possible only 168 hours (7 days) after linking the phone number to the account in the developer settings.
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Unlocking the bootloader and unlocking the Mi Account are two different processes: the first is for firmware, the second is for accessing the system after a reset.
Prevention and backup
To never end up in the situation described in this article, it is important to prepare your device in advance. Digital hygiene involves regularly updating contact details and creating backups. Your Mi Account settings should always have an up-to-date phone number and a backup email.
It is recommended to periodically check the status of the Find Device function. If you plan to sell your phone or transfer it to another person, be sure to log out before resetting. To do this, go to Settings → Mi Account → Log out and enter a password. Only then you can safely format the memory.
The basic safety rules for Xiaomi owners:
- 📝 Write passwords from important accounts to a safe place (notebook, password manager).
- 📲 Only link your current phone numbers to your account.
- 🔄 Regularly update your backup mail in case you lose access to your main mail.
- 🚫 Do not buy used Xiaomi phones without checking for someone else’s Mi Account.
Compliance with these simple rules will save you from the hours you spend restoring access and the possible financial costs of service centers, and remember that the security of your data is primarily in your hands.