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

The forgotten pattern lock on Xiaomi Redmi is a situation that thousands of users face every day. PIN-If you have a code or a fingerprint, a lock pattern is not always easy to recover from memory, especially if you haven't changed it in a long time. Fortunately, the manufacturer has provided several formal and informal ways to unlock, but each of them has its own nuances: from data loss to the risk of “bricking” the device.

In this article, we will review all the current unlocking methods (including those that work on the new Redmi Note 12/13, Redmi 10/11 and POCO X5), evaluate their safety and speed, and give checklists for preparation. Importantly, some methods require pre-binding Mi Account or enabled debugging over USB — if you did not do this in advance, some instructions will not be available.

Warning: on devices with a bootloader locked and Mi Cloud synced, the chances of unlocking without losing data are near zero. If your Redmi falls into this category, prepare to reset before factory settings.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most reliable and secure method is to use a Xiaomi account (Mi Account), which works on all Redmi models, if:

• 📱 Device connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔗 Mi Account was linked to phone before lockdown.
• 🔒 The phone was not disabled parameter Find the device in the security settings.

Instructions:

1. On the lock screen, click Forgot Password? (or Forgot pattern? on English firmware).
2. Select the option to Sign in via Mi Account.
3. Enter your username (email or phone number) and password from your Xiaomi account.
4. Confirm your login via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
5. Create a new pattern lock or PIN-code.

✅ Pros: does not require data reset, works without a PC, supported by Xiaomi officially.

❌ Cons: If you don’t remember the data from Mi Account or turned off synchronization, the method will not work.

⚠️ Note: On custom firmware devices (e.g. LineageOS), the Mi Account unlock function may be disabled. №3 (Fastboot).

2. Reset the pattern lock via Recovery Mode (without loss of data)

This method is suitable for devices that enable debugging over USB (ADB) and access to a PC. It allows you to delete a file with a pattern lock without completely resetting, but requires prior preparation.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and tool ADB.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 The phone should be on debugging. USB (In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI Press 7 times, then return to the Additional Settings → For developers).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Redmi to your PC via USB.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type in: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key rm /data/system/locksettings.db rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm reboot
3. After rebooting, the pattern lock will be reset.

⚠️ Important: If the debugging is USB It wasn't turned on beforehand, it won't work. MIUI 14+ The path to the key files may be different.

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC|Download the platform ADB (Android SDK)|Enable debugging on USB phone-on|Prepare original USB-cable-->

3. Hard Reset (full reset) via Recovery Mode

If previous methods didn't work, the radical solution is factory reset, which will erase all data on the device, including photos, contacts and apps, but is guaranteed to unlock the phone.

How to perform Hard Reset:

1. Turn off Redmi (press the power button for 10 seconds).
2. Press the Volume Up + Power combination and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and Recovery Mode menu appear.
3. Use the volume buttons for navigation and the power button to select the Wipe Data (or Factory Reset) item.
4. Confirm the action by choosing Yes.
5. After reset, select Reboot System.

✅ Pros: works on 100% of devices, does not require a PC or account.

❌ Cons: Total data loss, on new models (Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) You may need to enter your Mi Account password after resetting.

⚠️ Warning: Hard Reset devices with a bootloader may be asked to enter Mi Account data even if you haven't tied it up, this is anti-theft protection, and you'll need official unlocking through the service center.

4. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

The method is suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader. If you previously unlocked it through the official Mi Unlock Tool, you can delete the pattern lock through the command in Fastboot mode.

What you need:

• 🖥️ PC with installation ADB and Fastboot.
• 🔌 USB-cable.
• 📱 Unlocked bootloader (checked by the command fastboot oem device-info - Device unlocked: true).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to log into Fastboot Mode.
2. Connect the device to the PC and type in the terminal: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase locksettings fastboot reboot
3. After rebooting, the pattern lock will be removed.

⚠️ Risks: Wrong commands in Fastboot can lead to a device's "brick." If you're not sure, use other ways.

💡

Before working with Fastboot, back up the userdata section with the command fastboot pull /userdata backup.img. This will help restore data in case of an error.

5. Use of service codes (for older models)

Some older Redmi models (e.g. Redmi 4X, Redmi Note 4) have service codes to reset locks, but newer devices (2020 and later) don’t.

List of codes (check relevance for your model):

❌ Restrictions: On MIUI 12+ Service codes are locked, and they don't work if you have a password on your device. SIM-map.

6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If all of these methods don't work, the official way is to go to the service center, and that's for:

• 🔒 Devices with locked bootloader and disabled synchronization.
• 📱 Phones that have a Mi Account request after Hard Reset.
• 💼 Enterprise devices with security policies (e.g., Redmi for Business).

What will be required:

• 📄 Check or warranty card (if the device is guaranteed).
• 🆔 Passport of the owner (to confirm ownership).
• 🔑 Mi Account data if the phone is linked to the account.

💰 Cost: In official service centers Xiaomi unlocking costs 1,500-3000 rubles (2026), on informal services the price may be lower, but the risk of damage to the device is higher.

⚠️ Note: Some "masters" offer to unlock Redmi through the firmware custom Recovery (for example, TWRP). This violates the warranty and can result in a loss. IMEI. The official service center never uses such methods.

💡

If the Find Device function is activated on the phone, it will take no more than 30 minutes to unlock the service center, and without it, the process can take 3-5 days due to checks.

Comparison of Unlocking Methods

To choose the best way, compare them by key parameters:

* Depends on the reason for the lock.

Frequently asked questions