Unlocking someone else’s smartphone Xiaomi: step-by-step methods and legal nuances

Faced with a situation when you need to unlock Xiaomi, which does not belong to you by documents? This can be a device bought from hand without resetting the settings, a gift with a forgotten password or the phone of a relative who lost access. It is important to understand that any attempt to circumvent the protection without the consent of the owner may violate the law (Article 272 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on illegal access to computer information).

In this article, we will look at all the possible methods of unlocking Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, from official to technical workarounds, and explain which ones are safe for data and which will lead to a complete reset. Particular attention will be paid to models with a chip MediaTek and Qualcomm Snapdragon, because the algorithms for unlocking them are fundamentally different.

1. Official ways to unlock through Xiaomi

If you have access to an email or phone number linked to your Mi Account, start with them. Xiaomi provides several legal tools to restore access:

🔑 Recovery of Mi Account Password: Go to account.xiaomi.com, select “Forgot your password?” and follow the instructions. You will need access to your linked mail or SMS.
📧 Confirmation via backup email: If the main mail is not available, the system may suggest sending the code to a backup address (if it was specified during registration).
📞 Link to Xiaomi support: if there is a purchase check or box with IMEI You can contact the support team through the form on the website.

For models Xiaomi 12/13 series and newer, there is a strong protection: even after a reset via Fastboot, you will need to enter data Mi Account, previously associated with the device, and this applies to devices with HyperOS (the new firmware that replaced MIUI from 2026).

📊 How did you get a Xiaomi smartphone that you need to unlock?

I bought it by hand.

Gift/inheritance

Found a phone.

Another option

2 Unlocking through Recovery (Hard Reset) mode

The most radical, but versatile method is a full reset via Recovery Mode.It works on all Xiaomi models, but has critical flaws:

🚨 All data: photos, contacts, messages and installed applications are deleted.
🔒 Mi Account is required: on new devices after reset, you will need to enter account data associated with the previous one.
⚠️ Does not work on a locked bootloader: if the phone does not load beyond the Mi logo, you first need to unlock the Bootloader.

Instructions for discharge:

Turn off your smartphone.
Press the Power button + Volume up for 10-15 seconds at the same time until the Recovery menu appears.
Use volume buttons to navigate, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

☑️ Preparation for Hard Reset

Make a backup (if the phone is turned on)Charge the battery by at least 50%Make sure you have Mi Account data (if required)Connect to Wi-Fi for check after reset

Done: 0 / 4

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13 Pro)+) After a reset, you may need to confirm via Mi Cloud even if you don’t have a password on your lock screen, which is due to Xiaomi’s security policy, introduced in 2023.

3. Bypass the lock screen via ADB (for Android 5-10)

If the smartphone is enabled debugging on USB (USB Debugging, you can try to delete the file with the password through ADB. The method only works on older versions. MIUI (up to 12.5) and requires a computer.

Algorithm of action:

Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (original!).
Open the command line (cmd) and enter:

adb shell


su




rm /data/system/gesture.key




rm /data/system/locksettings.db




rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal




rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm




reboot

After the reboot, the lock screen should disappear.

❌ Nana MIUI 13+ HyperOS does not work because of the changed password storage structure.
⚠️ Root rights are required, which are not available on most production devices.

What if the ADB can’t see the device?

Make sure you have Xiaomi drivers installed (you can download it on the official website). USB-Enable Charge Only mode, then select File Transfer again in the notification curtain.

4 Unlock Bootloader: When it is necessary

If the smartphone is locked at the bootloader level (this device is locked appears), you will need an official unlock Bootloader. Xiaomi allows you to do this, but with restrictions:

⏳ Waiting 7-30 days: You have to wait until you link your Mi Account to your device (depending on the model).
📱 Owners only: Confirmation will be required through SMS or email linked to an account.
🔧 Mi Unlock Tool: Download the utility from the official website and follow the instructions.

Step-by-step:

Install Mi Unlock Tool on Windows PC.
Download the phone to Fastboot mode (clamp Power + Volume down).
Connect the device to your PC and launch the utility. Sign in under the same Mi Account as you do on your phone.
Press Unlock and wait until it is completed (usually 10-15 minutes).

Once you unlock Bootloader, the smartphone will be reset to factory settings, and all data deleted, and the warranty will fly off if it was still valid.

5. Alternative methods: risks and limitations

On the Internet, there are often offers to use:

🔓 Paid unlock services (e.g. DC-Unlocker or Octoplus): the cost ranges from 10 to 50$, But there's no guarantee of success. Many services require that you mail the device.
📱 Firmware through EDL-Mode: runs on Qualcomm chips, but requires an authorized Xiaomi account and special equipment (EDL cable).
🛠️ Replacement of the motherboard: the last option if the phone is locked at the hardware level IMEI. Cost: 30-70% of the price of a new device.

⚠️ Note: Use of informal firmware (e.g. through TWRP) On new Xiaomi models (2022 and later), the device’s eMMC memory is often permanently blocked, and the phone can only be restored in a service center with a replacement chip.

Method	Cost	Risk of data loss	Is a Mi Account Required?	It works on new models.
Recovery of Mi Account Password	Free of charge.	No.	Yes.	Yes.
Hard Reset via Recovery	Free of charge.	Yes (100%)	Yes (for activation)	Yes.
Unlocking Bootloader	Free of charge.	Yes (100%)	Yes.	Yeah (with waiting)
ADB (delete gesture.key)	Free of charge.	No.	No.	No (only MIUI <12.5)
Paid services (EDL, DC-Unlocker)	10–50$	Maybe.	Depends on the service.	Partially.

Legal aspects: what the law says

In Russia and most CIS countries, unlocking someone else's smartphone without the owner's consent is qualified as illegal access to computer information (Article 272 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

💰 Fine up to 200,000 rubles.
⚖️ Correctional work up to 1 year.
🚔 In some cases - imprisonment up to 2 years (if proven intent to steal data).

Exceptions:

📄 You are the legal owner (there is a check, a contract of sale).
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The phone belongs to a close relative (confirmation required).
🔄 The device was purchased as used with the consent of the previous owner for unlocking (written confirmation is required).

If you find a phone, the best option is to contact the police or the operator (by IMEI you can find the owner), in which case it will be considered an offence to unlock yourself.

💡

Even if you successfully unlocked someone else’s Xiaomi, the first time you connect to the Internet, the device can be blocked again through Mi Cloud services.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When trying to unlock, users often face typical problems:

🔌 «Invalid token in Mi Unlock Tool: means that Mi Account is not tied to the device.
📵 Phone is not defined in Fastboot: check drivers, cable and port USB. On Windows, sometimes disabling driver signatures helps.
🔄 Cyclical reboot after firmware: So the firmware is not suitable for your model. MIUI or HyperOS from Xiaomi's website.
🔒 «Device is locked after Hard Reset: New devices require Mi Account data entry even if the password on the lock screen is reset.

⚠️ Warning: If after unlocking Bootloader, the phone stopped booting, do not try to flash it again - this can lead to damage to the partition EFS (stored IMEI). In this case, it will be impossible to restore the network (calls, mobile Internet) without specialized equipment.

💡

Before any firmware manipulation, save a backup copy of the EFS partition via TWRP (if installed) to help restore the IMEI in the event of a crash.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

Can I unlock Xiaomi without losing data?

On devices with MIUI 12.5 and later or HyperOS, no. The only chance of saving data is if USB debugging (ADB) has been enabled and you can delete password files manually. On older versions (before MIUI 11), Safe Mode resets sometimes help, but this is rare.

What to do if you forget your Mi Account email?

Try to restore access through the linked phone number. If this does not help, contact Xiaomi with a photo of the box (where IMEI is visible) or purchase check. Without proof of ownership, you can not restore the account.

Does unlocking work through services like DC-Unlocker?

Yes, but with reservations: MediaTek chips (like the Redmi Note 11) have better odds. Qualcomm Snapdragon (like the Xiaomi 12 Pro) often require Firehose authorization, which only official service centers have.

How do I know if my Xiaomi Bootloader is unlocked?

Turn off the phone, then press Power + Volume down. If the bottom of the screen says Unlocked, the bootloader is unlocked. If Locked, you'll need an official procedure through the Mi Unlock Tool.

Can I unlock Xiaomi through a service center without a check?

No, official Xiaomi service centers require proof of ownership (check, IMEI box or purchase agreement). Without documents, you will be denied the service. Alternatively, informal workshops, but they do not provide guarantees and can use illegal methods.