After performing Hard Reset on Xiaomi smartphones, users often encounter a security lock screen that requires entering data from a previously synchronized Google account.This protection system, known as FRP (Factory Reset Protection), was implemented to prevent unauthorized users from using stolen or lost devices. If you forget your email password or change your device but do not untie your account in advance, the phone turns into a “brick”, refusing to let the owner into the system.
Making matters worse, MIUI and HyperOS have different features than stock Android, making standard bypassing methods less efficient. You'll have to go through several stages of verification, where the system will insist on verifying identity. You won't be able to ignore this request - without authorization, the functionality of the smartphone will be completely unavailable, except for emergency calls.
In this article, we will discuss in detail legal and technical ways to solve the problem, ranging from restoration of access through standard procedures to specialized methods of resetting. It is important to understand that each step requires care, as an error in the sequence of actions can lead to repeated locking or the need to flash the device through the computer.
⚠️ Note: All of the methods described below are intended solely to restore access to personal devices. Using these instructions to unlock other people's phones is illegal and punishable by law.
Why Xiaomi requires an account after a reset
FRP is activated automatically the moment you first add a Google account to your device, and from that moment on, a unique device identifier will link to your profile in the search giant’s databases. When you try to reset your settings via the Recovery menu or button combination, the system will mark this process as potentially dangerous unless you have previously uncoupled the settings menu.
On Xiaomi devices, the situation is complicated by the presence of dual protection: in addition to Google, Mi Account authorization is often required. If the phone was enabled to search for the device, the lock can be even tighter. IMEI-activation server code: If the data is not matched or the account is not entered, access to the desktop remains closed.
Modern versions of Android (10, 11, 12, 13 and later) have significantly improved security patches. Methods that worked a couple of years ago, such as simple bypasses through date or time settings, now almost do not function without specific vulnerabilities in a particular security patch, which is why the success of unlocking depends on the version of Android and the release date of the security patch installed on your Xiaomi.
Preparation before the start of the unlocking procedure
Before you start taking active action to remove the lock, you need to make sure that the hardware and software are ready. Chaotic attempts to enter passwords can lead to temporary blocking of the ability to log in for hours or even days.
Make sure the device is at least 60 percent charged, the process of repairing or flashing can take time, and a sudden power outage at a critical moment can damage system partitions, and you will need a stable Wi-Fi connection, since most methods are tied to interacting with Google servers or downloading the necessary components.
☑️ Checklist of preparation for resetting the account
If you have the opportunity, try to remember your password. Often users change it in panic, forgetting the current version. Check the saved passwords in the browser on your computer or in the password manager on another device. Entering incorrect data more than 5-10 times can activate a security timer that will block any login attempts for 24 hours.
Standard Recovery Method via Gmail
The most obvious and safe way is to restore access to your account. On the greeting screen after reset, select your language and connect to the Wi-Fi network. When you request an account confirmation, click on the link "Forgot your password?" or "Login Issues?", the system will redirect you to the Google recovery page.
You will be offered several options for confirming your identity that you have set up previously:
- 📱 Receiving code through SMS by the attached phone number.
- 📧 Sending the code to a backup email address.
- 🔔 Sign-in confirmation via a notification on another Android device where you log in to that account.
- 🗣️ Voice confirmation via Google Assistant (if configured).
Once you successfully enter the confirmation code, you will be asked to create a new password. Remember it or write it down. Go back to the Xiaomi lock screen and enter the updated data. The system will contact the server, verify validity and unlock the device, which works 90% of the time if you have access to backup communications.
⚠️ Note: If you have changed your phone number and do not have access to backup email, standard recovery may not be possible, in which case Google may request answers to classified questions if they have been installed.
Using Mi Account to Unblock
Xiaomi smartphone owners often ignore the creation of Mi Account, considering it unnecessary, but in a situation with FRP, it can be a salvation. If the device was enabled to search for the device, the lock may require entering the username and password from the Mi Account, not Google.
To reset binding via the web interface:
- Go to the official i.mi.com website from a computer or other phone.
- Sign in under your Mi-account.
- Go to the “Find Device” section.
- Select the locked device from the list and click “Delete from your account” or “Erase data”.
Once you remove the device from the list on the server, go back to the locked phone. Press the Update button or reboot the device. When you reconnect to the network, the phone will see that the link is removed, and let you go. If your phone doesn’t connect automatically, try entering it. SIM-a card of another operator, as sometimes a lock may be linked to a specific network profile.