How to unlock Xiaomi device if you forget your password

The situation when the owner of Xiaomi can not access his smartphone because of a forgotten password, is quite common. The lock screen is designed to protect personal data from prying eyes, but sometimes it becomes an insurmountable obstacle for the owner. Depending on the version of the MIUI operating system and the presence of a tied account, the ways of restoring access can vary significantly.

Modern Android security algorithms have made it almost impossible to bypass locks without data loss. Resetting remains the most reliable method to ensure that a device is brought back to life. However, before resorting to radical measures, it is worth checking out less aggressive options that can save your information.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the current methods of unlocking Xiaomi and Redmi gadgets. We will consider both software methods through Google and Mi Cloud services, and hardware reset via the recovery menu. It is important to understand the risks of each method so as not to aggravate the situation.

Using Mi Account to Remotely Unblock

The most civilized and safe way to restore access is to use the Mi Cloud cloud service, which only works if the locked device has logged in to Mi Account and activated the Find Device function, and the smartphone must be connected to the Internet via a mobile network or Wi-Fi.

To start the procedure, you must go to the official i.mi.com website from any other device (computer or tablet). Enter the username and password from your Mi Account. If the data is correct, the system will prompt you to select the device from the list of associated gadgets. From the control menu, select the option "Unlock" or "Wipe Device" (Clean the device).

Once the site has confirmed the action, the command will go to the smartphone. If all conditions are met, the device will automatically reset the screen password and reboot. In some versions of MIUI, this feature may require confirmation via SMS or an additional email for security.

⚠️ Note: Remote unlocking through Mi Cloud often results in the complete removal of all data from internal memory.Photos, contacts and applications will be erased unless backup was made in advance.

Importantly, after this procedure, when turned on, the phone can request a password from a Google or Mi Account account it was previously synced with, a standard anti-theft protection known as FRP (Factory Reset Protection).

Reset with Recovery Mode (Hard Reset)

If you can’t access cloud services, the only option is Hard Reset, which is run through the Recovery System Recovery menu, and works on most Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO models, regardless of the firmware version.

To enter recovery mode, you need to turn off your smartphone completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then the power button can be released, while keeping the volume still. When the Main Menu menu appears, the volume buttons will serve as navigation (up/down), and the power button will serve as confirmation of choice.

In the menu that opens, select Wipe Data, then confirm the action with Wipe All Data. The system will warn you of the irreversibility of the process. Once you have cleaned, select Reboot -> Reboot to System. The phone will reboot as new, without passwords or user data.

• 📱 Turn off the device completely before the procedure begins.
• 🔋 Make sure that the battery charge is at least 30-40%.
• 🖐️ Use the original cable or just the case buttons, without connecting to a PC (in some cases).
• ⏳ Wait for the process to be completed without interrupting the meal.

Note that newer versions of MIUI 12, 13, 14 and higher may require you to enter a password from your Mi Account even after resetting via Recovery, which is designed to protect against theft: if a thief steals your phone, you will not be able to use it even after resetting your settings.

Unlocking with Google Find My Device

The alternative to Xiaomi's service is a standard tool from Google, which is similar to the first one, but uses a Google account that was the main one on the device. Go to android.com/find and log in at the right email address.

If the device is online, the map will show its location. In the menu on the left, select the "Erase Device" option. This command will delete all data and reset the lock password. After the reboot, the phone will ask you to enter the password from the Google account to confirm ownership.

This is especially effective if you don't remember the password from your Mi Account, but you remember the Gmail data well, but as in the previous case, the data will be irretrievably lost if the sync was not enabled.

Use of USB debugging (ADB)

This method is only suitable for advanced users and works only in one case: if before blocking the menu "Developers" was activated debugging over USB and the computer was given permission to access.

You'll need to install ADB and Fastboot drivers on your computer, and you'll need to connect your smartphone with a cable. You can try to delete the file that stores the access keys from the command line.

adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key

Depending on the type of lock:

adb shell rm /data/system/password.key

Once you have completed the command, restart the device.The lock screen should disappear or accept any code entered. On modern versions of Android (10 and above), this method often does not work due to changes in the file system structure and increased security requirements.

⚠️ Attention: Attempts to use ADB Don't download the dubious software that promises "magic unlocking" -- most often viruses or a waste of time.

Unlocking the lock through Safe Mode

Sometimes the problem isn't with the system password, but with a third-party application that has set its lock screen or caused a conflict, and Safe Mode can help, and only system applications are downloaded in this mode.

To get into safe mode on Xiaomi:

1. Press and hold the off button on the lock screen (if there is access to the menu) or press the off button on the case before the menu appears.

2. Press and hold the "Switch off" item on the screen.

3. there will be a request to switch to safe mode - confirm.

If the phone boots with Safe Mode in the corner, try accessing the settings. If you can, uninstall the recently installed apps, especially those that require administrator rights or control the screen. After deleting, restart the phone as normal.

• 🛡️ Safe mode disables all third-party launchers and blockers.
• 🗑️ Allows you to remove the virus application causing the blocking.
• 🔄 It does not help if the system pattern lock is installed or PIN-code.

Prevention and backup

To avoid future problems with loss of access, it is important to back up regularly, and MIUI has a built-in backup tool that can be configured to automatically save data to the Mi Cloud cloud or to your computer.

It is also recommended to write your passwords in a secure place or use password managers. Don't use too simple combinations that are easy to forget, but don't make them too complex if you're afraid to forget. Biometrics (fingerprint, face unlock) should be set up as an additional, but not the only, login method.

💡

Set up automatic synchronization of contacts and photos with Google Photos and Google Contacts, which will allow you to recover the most important information even after you completely reset your phone to factory settings.

Regularly checking your accounts will also be helpful, making sure you remember the password of your Mi Account and the email attached to your device, which are keys to your digital home, and losing them can be a serious problem.

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The only way to unlock a modern Xiaomi without a password is to completely reset your data, so a regular backup is more important than ever.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)