How to unlock a passwordd Xiaomi: official and alternative methods

The forgotten password on Xiaomi is a situation that thousands of users face every day. Unlike other brands, Mi, Redmi, POCO have a unique security system associated with the Mi Account. This complicates the unlock process, but also provides several official ways to solve the problem. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, from the simplest reset via Find Device to the complex manipulation of Fastboot and EDL.

It's important to understand that modern Xiaomi models (starting with MIUI 12 and later) use hardware encryption, which means that any password reset without a backup will result in the loss of personal files — photos, messages, contacts. But if your goal is simply to regain access to the device, rather than save data, all of the methods described will work.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most reliable and recommended method by Xiaomi is to use a tied Mi Account, which works if:

• 📱 The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network)
• 🔑 You remember the username and password from Mi Account that was tied to the device.
• 📍 Find Device has been activated in the settings

Instructions:

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com and log in.
2. Select the Find Device tab (or Find the device in the Russian version).
3. In the list of devices, find the locked smartphone and press Unlock.
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email (depending on the security settings).

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If you have two-factor authentication enabled, prepare backup codes or access to a generator application (Google Authenticator, Mi Auth) in advance.

⚠️ Note: The method does not work if:

• 🚫 The Internet is disabled (even if the device is disabled) SIM-The card is active, but there is no network)
• 🔄 Mi Account has been deleted or blocked
• 🔒 The phone was bought from hand and the previous owner did not untie his account.

Battery charge > 20%|Stable Internet connection on PC/phone|Access to email/SMS confirm|Absence VPN (It can block Xiaomi services)-->

2. Reset password via Recovery Mode (without data loss?)

Many users mistakenly believe that resetting through Recovery saves data. In fact, starting with MIUI 11, this method results in full formatting of internal memory due to hardware encryption. However, if you don't need files, just access to the phone, it's a good way to do it.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the smartphone with a long press of the power button.
2. Press the combination of Loudness up + Power and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select the language (usually English by default).
4. Go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data and confirm the action.
5. After reset, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro) after the reset, you may need to enter data from the Mi Account that was previously tied, if you do not remember them, the phone will turn into a brick".

3. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

The method via Fastboot is suitable if:

• 🔧 You have access to a computer with drivers installed ADB/Fastboot
• 📥 You can download the official firmware for your model
• 🔓 On the device unlocked OEM Unlock (if not, the method will not work)

Algorithm of action:

1. Download and install Android SDK Platform Tools.
2. Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
3. Open the command line in the folder with fastboot and execute: fastboot oem clean_all For new models, fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache
4. Reboot the device with command: fastboot reboot

⚠️ Note: On devices with a locked bootloader (Redmi Note 12, Xiaomi 13), this method will lead to a high risk of a new download. BRICK (Check the lock status with the command before use:

fastboot oem device-info

If the answer is Device unlocked: false, the method is not suitable.

4.Use of EDL (Extreme Danger Level) mode

EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is the “last frontier” for unlocking Xiaomi, allowing you to flash the device directly, bypassing all protections, but has critical risks:

• 💥 The ability to turn the phone into a “brick” in case of firmware error
• 🔒 New models (MIUI 14+) Requires an Authorized Developer Account
• ⚖️ Violates the terms of the warranty (if it is still valid)

Instructions for experienced users:

1. Download the firmware in.tgz format for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website.
2. Install the Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 driver (instructions are available on 4PDA).
3. Connect your phone to your PC in EDL mode (usually by closing contacts on the board or via adb reboot edl if you have access to the system).
4. Use the Mi Flash Tool to Firmware the File flash_all.bat.

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EDL is the only way to unlock Xiaomi if you forget your Mi Account password and disable Find Device, but it requires technical skills and can lead to loss of warranty.

📌 Important: Starting with 2023 Xiaomi has tightened its protection in the past year EDL. Now for firmware requires authorization through the official developer account (EDL Authorized Accounts that are worth ~$5-10 in specialized forums.

5. Alternative methods (with limitations)

If the official methods don't work, you can try workarounds, and their effectiveness depends on the model and version of MIUI:

5.1 Unlocking through Google Find My Device

It works if:

• 🔗 Find My Device from Google is enabled on the phone
• 📶 The device is connected to the Internet
• 🔑 You remember the data from the Google account linked to the phone

Go to the Find My Device page, select a locked device and click Lock the device, then enter a new password.

5.2. ADB reset (if debugging is enabled)

If you activated USB Debugging before blocking, you can try:

adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key


adb shell rm /data/system/password.key




adb reboot

After the reboot, the password will be reset, but this method only works on older versions of MIUI (up to the 10th inclusive).

5.3. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

Official service centers can unlock the device if there are:

• 📄 Check or guarantee card
• 🆔 Passport holder
• 📱 IMEI Devices (indicated in documents or on a box)

The cost of the service: ~ 1000-3000 rubles. Term: 1-5 days.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When trying to unlock Xiaomi, users often face typical problems:

⚠️ Warning: If you see a message saying "This device is bound to a Mi Account. Please log in with the account used previously" - it means that the phone is tied to someone else's account:

1. Find the previous owner and ask to untie the device.
2. Contact the service center with proof of purchase (if the phone is officially purchased).

7.How to protect Xiaomi from future lockdown

To avoid repeated unlocking problems, follow these tips:

• 🔐 Use a fingerprint or facial recognition as an additional way to unlock.
• 📝 Write down your Mi Account password to a secure location (for example, Bitwarden or KeePass password manager).
• 🔄 Regularly back up through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.
• 📱 Enable Find Device in your Mi Account settings.
• 🔧 Unlock. OEM Unlock in Settings → For developers (in case of future firmware).

📌 Useful Life Hack: If you are afraid to forget your password, set a spare PIN-code in the security settings. It works even if the main way to unlock is blocked.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions