How to unlock Xiaomi if you forget your password: the full guide 2026

A forgotten password on Xiaomi is a situation that one in five users encounter. According to statistics from service centers, 18% of device lock requests are due to loss of access due to a forgotten pattern lock or a lost pattern lock. PIN-The problem is compounded by the fact that modern smartphones Redmi, POCO Mi and Mi use hardware encryption, which means that improper attempts to unlock can lead to complete loss of information.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways to unlock Xiaomi without a password, from official methods using a Mi Account to alternative solutions for devices without an account binding. Special attention will be paid to data preservation: you will learn how to do without a reset to factory settings, and where it is inevitable. All instructions are tested on models from 2022-2026 and correspond to the latest updates to MIUI 14/15.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most reliable and recommended way for Xiaomi is to use a tied Mi Account, which works on all devices with MIUI, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and Mi 13, provided that:

• 📱 Device connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔑 You remember the username and password from Mi Account (or you can restore them).
• 🔄 On the smartphone was previously enabled synchronization with the account.

If these conditions are met, follow the instructions:

1. On the lock screen, click Forgot Password? (or Forgot Password? on English firmware).
2. Select the option to Sign in via Mi Account.
3. Enter your email/phone and account password. If you don't remember your password, click Forgot your password? and follow the recovery instructions.
4. After successful authorization, the system will offer to create a new lock password.

⚠️ Note: If the device is enabled Find Device, after 5 failed attempts to log in via Mi Account, the smartphone can lock for 24 hours).

On models with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra) after unlocking via Mi Account, additional verification by SMS may be required - this is a measure of protection against unauthorized access.

2.Reset via Recovery Mode (no Mi Account)

If your Mi Account is not tied or you don’t remember the login details, the only official way to unlock it is to hard-reset the device through Recovery Mode, which will delete all data on the device, including photos, contacts and apps, but will return access to the smartphone.

The instructions are suitable for all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi 10C, POCO M5 and Mi 11 Lite:

Turn off your smartphone (clip Power + Volume up for 10 seconds)

Connect the charger (the battery must be charged at least 30%)

Prepare. SIM-mobile internet card (required to be set up after resetting)

Make sure you have a backup of important data (if it was created earlier)

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1. Turn off your smartphone. To do this, press the Power and Volume button up simultaneously for 10-15 seconds.
2. Press the button combination to enter Recovery Mode: 🔋 For most models: Nutrition + Loudness up. 🔋 For POCO F4/F5 redmi K50: Nutrition + Loudness up + Loudness down (hold) 8–10 seconds).

Recovery

Wipe Data

Clear Data

Nutrition

Reboot

Once rebooted, the smartphone will suggest configuring it as new. If you previously had a Mi Account tied, you may need to enter account details to confirm ownership (this is a measure of protection against theft).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14+ Recovery Reset Protection can be activated (FRP). If you do not remember the Mi Account, the smartphone will remain locked. in this case, contact the service center with proof of purchase.

3 Unlocking through Find Device (remote)

If your Xiaomi has Find Device enabled, you can unlock it remotely via a web browser, which works even if your smartphone is not connected to Wi-Fi, but requires:

• 🌍 Access to the Internet on a blocked device (mobile network or Wi-Fi).
• 🔑 Data from Mi Account tied to smartphone.
• 📍 Enable geolocation (not necessarily, but speeds up device search).

Step-by-step:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in to your Mi Account.
2. In the Find Device section, select a locked smartphone from the list.
3. Click Unlock Device (Unlock Device)
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email (depending on the account security settings).
5. Wait for a notification of successful unlocking (can take up to 5 minutes).

After that, the smartphone unlocks, and you can set a new password, and note that this method does not work if the device is turned off or has no access to the Internet.

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If Find Device is disabled but you have access to another device with the same Mi Account, turn it on in advance. Go to Settings → Mi Account → Find the device and activate the option.

4. Alternative methods (for advanced users)

If the official methods didn't work, you can try alternative solutions, they require technical skills and are not suitable for all models, and below are the methods confirmed by users on the XDA Developers and 4PDA forums for devices on MIUI 12-15.

Unlocking through ADB (without data loss)

This method works if the smartphone was previously enabled debugging USB (USB Debugging.It allows you to delete a password file without resetting.Suitable for Redmi Note 11, POCO X3 Pro and other models with unlocked loader.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with drivers installed ADB and Fastboot.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB locked-in.

Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB.
2. Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd) and execute the commands: 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 reboottings.db-shm
3. After resetting, the password will be reset.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14+ And with File-Based Encryption enabled, this method can lead to data loss or a download cycle. Before using it, check if your model supports this method on forums.

4.2 Unlock via Fastboot (for unlocked bootloader)

If your Xiaomi has a Bootloader Unlocked, you can flash custom recovery (TWRP) and manually delete the password. This method is suitable for enthusiasts and requires:

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (checked by the command fastboot oem device-info).
• 🖥️ Established ADB and Fastboot on PC.
• 📄 File. TWRP for your model (downloaded from the official website twrp.me).

Instructions:

1. Transfer the smartphone to Fastboot mode (clip Power + Volume down).
2. TWRP: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img fastboot reboot recovery
3. In TWRP, go to Advanced → File Manager and delete files: /data/system/gesture.key, /data/system/password.key, /data/system/locksettings.db.
4. Reset the device.

This method saves data but violates the warranty and can lead to problems with the data. OTA-Use it only if other methods have failed.

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Unlocking via Fastboot or ADB is only suitable for users with technical skills. For most Xiaomi owners, the best solution is Mi Account or Recovery reset.

5 Unlocking through Xiaomi Service Center

If none of these methods work, you have to contact the official Xiaomi service center, which is the most reliable, but also the longest way, and service engineers can unlock the device even without the data from the Mi Account, but this will require:

• 📄 Document confirming the purchase (check, warranty card or box with IMEI).
• 🆔 Passport of the holder (to confirm the identity).
• 💰 Payment for the service (cost varies from 500 to 2000 rubles depending on the model).

The unlocking process in the service takes 1 to 5 business days, and in some cases, it may be necessary to send the device to a regional center (for example, for the Xiaomi 13T or POCO F5 Pro with new chips).

The advantage of the service center is that it can unlock without the risk of building the device, but it will be lost 90 percent of the time because engineers reset the original software completely.

6.How to avoid blocking in the future

To avoid the problem of forgotten passwords again, follow these tips:

• 🔐 Use biometric unlocking (fingerprint or facial recognition) as a backup option.
• 📝 Write your passwords in a secure location (e.g. Google Password Manager or KeePass).
• 🔄 Regularly back up through Settings → The phone. → Backup.
• 📧 Attach Mi Account and enable Find Device.
• 🔧 Turn it on. USB Debugging (for advanced users) in case of alternative unlocking.

We also recommend setting up a Smart Lock in MIUI – this feature can be found in Settings → Password and Security → Smart Lock. It allows you to automatically unlock your smartphone in trusted places (for example, at home or at work) via GPS.

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MIUI 15 has introduced Emergency Access, which allows you to add a button to the lock screen to call a trusted number, which will help unlock the device if you forget your password, but remember the phone number of a friend or relative.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi