How to unlock Xiaomi Redmi 4X if you forget your graphical password: the full guide

Forgetting a graphical password on a smartphone is a frustrating situation, but it’s not a hopeless one. Especially when it comes to the Xiaomi Redmi 4X (codenamed santoni), a 2017 model that is still popular due to its reliability and low price tag. The main problem is that the manufacturer has not provided an official way to reset the lock through a Google account (as on most Android devices), so standard tips like “enter your email password” won’t work here.

In this article, we will discuss all working methods of unlocking, from the simplest (via the tied Mi Account) to the radical (full reset via Fastboot). Importantly, some methods require prior preparation (for example, enabled debugging over USB), others are suitable even if the phone is completely locked. On Redmi 4X with MIUI 12+ firmware and the newer method of resetting via Recovery may not work due to increased protection against unauthorized access.

Before you start, answer two questions:

1. Is your Xiaomi account (Mi Account) linked to your phone?
2. Is USB Debugging enabled on the device (in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version, tap 7 times)?

The answers depend on which method is right for you.

1 Unblocking through Mi Account (if the account is tied)

The safest and most official way is to use the attached Mi Account, which works even if USB debugging is disabled, but requires:

• 📱 Access to another device (PC, tablet or second phone) with Internet access.
• 🔑 Login and password from Xiaomi account used on blocked Redmi 4X.
• 📶 Connecting a locked phone to a Wi-Fi or mobile network (if you have a SIM-card).

Instructions:

1. On the locked screen Redmi 4X enter the wrong pattern lock 5 times in a row, and the message will appear: "Try again in 30 seconds" and the button Forgot the password?.
2. Click Forgot Password? → Select Unblock through Mi Account.
3. Enter your username (email or phone) and password from your Xiaomi account. If two-factor authentication is enabled, confirm your login via SMS or email.
4. After successful authorization, the phone will prompt you to create a new pattern lock or PIN-code.

⚠️ Note: If you've previously reset your phone via Recovery or Fastboot, Mi's account may have uncoupled, in which case the method won't work, even if you remember the login details.

If the button Forgot the password? does not appear:

• Try connecting your phone to charge and repeat entering the wrong password.
• Make sure the device is connected to the internet (the network indicator at the top of the screen).
• On some MIUI firmware, the button appears only after 10 unsuccessful attempts.

2. Recovery reset via Recovery (if debugging over USB is disabled)

If Mi Account is not tied or you don't remember the login details, the next step is to reset through Recovery Mode. This method will delete all data from the phone, but return access to the system. The Redmi 4X uses Xiaomi's stock Recovery, so the instruction is universal.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone with a long press on the power button (about 10 seconds).
2. Press the Power button + Volume up at the same time and hold for 5-7 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons - you will be taken to the Recovery menu (navigation is carried out by volume buttons, the choice is by the power button).
4. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data → Confirm.
5. Once the reset is complete, go back to the main menu and select Reboot → Reboot to System.

What's important to know:

• 🔄 This method removes all data: photos, contacts, messages and installed applications.
• 🔒 If the phone was enabled Mi Account protection, after reset, you will need to enter the Xiaomi account data for activation.
• ⚡ On some firmware MIUI 12+ The Wipe Data can be blocked, in which case you go to the Fastboot method.

Turn off the phone from charging

Press the power and volume buttons up

Wait for the vibration and the Mi logo

Select Wipe Data (volume buttons)

Confirm reset (power button)-->

⚠️ Note: If after resetting the phone requires the entry of Mi Account data, and you do not remember them, the only way out is to contact the Xiaomi service center with purchase documents.

3. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

The method via Fastboot is suitable if:

• Recovery reset failed (Wipe Data is blocked).
• You are ready to use the PC and the Mi Flash Tool utility.
• You have the original. USB-cable (undamaged, with data transmission support).

What you need:

• 💻 Computer running Windows 7/10/11 (on macOS/Linux There may be problems with drivers).
• 🔌 Installed Xiaomi drivers (you can download from the official website).
• 📁 Firmware for Redmi 4X (santoni) in.tgz or.zip (download from Xiaomi Firmware Updater).
• 🛠 Mi Flash Tool (see the latest version on the forums) 4PDA or XDA-Developers).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone and put it in Fastboot mode: press the Power button + Volume down for 5-10 seconds. The screen will appear a hare in a hat-eared (Fastboot logo).
2. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-Make sure that the Android Bootloader Interface is installed in the Windows Device Manager.
3. Unpack the downloaded firmware in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\Redmi4X\).
4. Launch the Mi Flash Tool, press Select and specify the path to the firmware folder.
5. At the bottom of the program, select Clean All mode and press Flash.
6. Wait for the process to be completed (5-10 minutes) and the phone will reboot automatically.

Warnings:

• 🚨 Do not turn off the cable during firmware - this will lead to a "brick" (breakdown of the software part).
• 🔧 If the Mi Flash Tool is an error 0x80070002, Try running the program on behalf of the administrator or using another version of the utility.
• 🔄 After the firmware, the phone will be like new – you will need to reconfigure MIUI and restore the data from the backup (if it was).

4.Using ADB (if USB debugging was enabled)

If the Redmi 4X has been activated by USB debugging before locking, you can delete the file with the pattern lock via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which saves data but requires pre-preparation.

What do you need?

• 💻 Computer with installed ADB-Drivers (part of Android) SDK).
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable.
• 📱 Phone with a charge of at least 30% (so as not to run out during the process).

Instructions:

1. Connect Redmi 4X to your PC via USB.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type: 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
3. If the pattern lock is not gone after the reboot, repeat the commands by replacing gesture.key with password.key (for example, for the first time). PIN-code).

Possible problems:

• 🔒 If the su command doesn't work, then there's no root rights on the phone.
• 🚫 If ADB This is an error called device unauthorized, which means that the device is debugged. USB It's not been confirmed on the phone before. It's not a solution. We'll have to use other methods.

💡

If after deleting the key files, the phone still asks for a password, try entering any graphical pattern - sometimes the system skips after resetting the files.

5. Alternative methods (for experienced users)

If none of these methods work, radical measures remain, requiring technical skills and can lead to a loss of warranty or a phone failure.

Ways for the advanced:

More about the EDL Mode method:

• 🔧 You need to transfer the phone to Emergency Download Mode (closing contacts on the board or a special cable).
• 📥 Switch to the Mi Flash Tool with Clean All and Lock mode.
• ⚠️ Risk: if the wrong actions the phone can turn into a "brick" (will not turn on).

⚠️ Attention: The methods of disassembling the phone or closing contacts are only for experienced users. If you are not sure about your skills, you should contact the service center. 4X In the official centers of Xiaomi starts from 800 rubles.

6.How to avoid blocking in the future

To avoid the problem of forgotten password, follow the following simple rules:

• 🔐 Use it. PIN-code instead of a pattern lock, it is easier to remember.
• 📝 Write passwords in a secure location (for example, in the Bitwarden or KeePass password manager).
• 🔄 Regularly back up through Settings → System system → Backup.
• 📱 Attach Mi Account and enable data synchronization.
• 🔧 Activate Debugging on USB (in case of future problems).

How to enable USB debugging on Redmi 4X:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. Tap the MIUI version 7 times in a row until the message “You became a developer” appears.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Activate the debugging switch over USB and confirm the action.

💡

Even if you don’t plan to unlock, the USB debugging enabled and the tied Mi Account will make it much easier to restore access to your phone in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)