How to reset Xiaomi to factory settings if you forget your password

The situation when the owner of the Xiaomi smartphone suddenly finds the inability to unlock the screen due to a forgotten PIN-When a computer code, pattern lock, or complex password is encountered with alarming regularity, it becomes a locked "brick" that seems to be completely lost, causing panic among many users.

However, the Android operating system, and in particular the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, provides several mechanisms for restoring access in emergency cases.Resetting is a radical, but often the only way to bring the gadget back to life, although this process will inevitably lead to the complete removal of all user data stored in internal memory.

Before you take any drastic action, it is important to understand that none of the methods described below will save photos, contacts or correspondence unless they were previously synced with cloud storage. The only way to save data when the screen is locked is pre-sync with Mi Cloud or Google Photos. Further instructions will help you safely bypass the lock and return the device to working condition.

Preparation for discharge procedure and precautions

Before you start the forced reset procedure, it is crucial to make sure you have completed all the necessary preparatory steps to avoid additional issues with activating the device after the reboot.Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with a powerful Anti-Theft protection system, which requires you to enter the account data used earlier on the device after the memory cleanup process is completed.

If you don’t remember the password from your Mi Account or Google account, it can take a considerable amount of time to restore access and require contacting customer support with purchase checks. Make sure the battery is at least 50-60%, as interrupting the flashing or reset process due to a discharge can damage system partitions.

• 🔋 Check the battery level and, if necessary, connect the device to the charger on the 30-40 minutes before.
• 📝 Write down or remember the username and password from Mi Account and Google Account tied to your smartphone.
• 💾 Make sure you have access to SIM-card whose number was registered in Mi Account (for confirmation codes).
• 🔌 Find original or quality USB-cable if you plan to use your computer to unlock.

⚠️ Warning: Recovery reset completely destroys all data in internal memory, including photos, music, downloaded files and installed applications.

It is also worth considering that after resetting the phone may require connecting to the Wi-Fi network of the same location where it was used previously, or entering a password from the previous Wi-Fi for security purposes Google FRP. This is a standard measure of protection against theft, and circumvent it by legal means without the owner’s data is almost impossible.

Recovery Menu Reset (Hard Reset)

The most common and effective way to unlock Xiaomi without access to the system is to use a special boot mode known as Recovery Mode, which is built into the firmware of each device and allows you to perform low-level operations such as cleaning the cache, updating the software or a full data reset (Wipe Data).

To enter this mode, most Xiaomi models, such as the Redmi Note, Poco or Mi, use a combination of physical buttons. You need to completely turn off the smartphone and wait for the vibration, then press the volume button and the power button simultaneously, holding them until the Mi logo or recovery menu appears.

Once you successfully log in to the Recovery menu, you can navigate with volume buttons (up/down) and the power button confirms the choice of item. In some new versions of HyperOS, the menu can support touch control, but you shouldn't rely on it if the screen is partially not working. You need to find the Wipe Data item and select the Wipe All Data option.

The system will request confirmation of the action, because it's a critical operation, and once confirmed, the formatting process will begin, which can take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, and when it's done, the phone will automatically restart, and you'll see the screen of the initial setup, just like when you first turn on the new device.

Using Xiaomi Find Device for Remote Reset

If you have difficulty physically accessing the buttons or prefer the software method, you can use the Xiaomi Find Device cloud service, which only works if the locked phone is connected to the Internet (via a mobile network or Wi-Fi), it has geolocation enabled and the device search function is activated in the Mi Account settings.

To do this, you'll need any other smartphone, tablet or computer with Internet access. Go to the official Mi Cloud website, log in to the same Mi Account that's used on the locked device. In the service interface, select your device from the list of available gadgets.

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If the phone is offline, a reset command will be sent as soon as the device is online. You can send a command and wait for a execution notification.

In the device management menu, find the Delete Data button or Wipe Device. The system will warn you that all data will be deleted and the device unlocked. Once confirmed, the command will go to the smartphone, and it will automatically begin the reset process, ignoring the password set on the lock screen.

This method is especially useful if the volume buttons on the device are faulty or crash. However, if the phone was dropped through the Recovery menu by an individual, an attacker will not be able to use this method to remotely lock, but you will not be able to unlock it remotely without accessing the menu.

Reset via computer and ADB platform (for advanced)

For users who previously included on their Xiaomi mode USB-debugging (USB Debugging) in the "Developers" menu, there is a possibility of resetting via a computer using the Android Debug Bridge toolkit (ADB). This method does not require a login to Recovery, but requires drivers and a platform installed. SDK PC-only.

Connect your smartphone to your computer through USB-Open the command line (Terminal in the macOS/Linux or CMD/PowerShell in Windows) in a folder with installed ADB. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices. If a window appears on the phone screen requesting debugging permission and you previously ticked "Always allow", the device will be determined.

adb shell am start -a android.settings.SECURITY_SETTINGS


adb shell pm clear com.android.settings

While direct wipe data via ADB is difficult to use without root rights for security reasons, you can try resetting the lock screen settings by clearing the system settings application data. However, on modern versions of Android with disk encryption, this method is often ineffective for completely bypassing the password, but can help with specific system bugs.

A more reliable option for advanced users is to use Fastboot mode. Going to Fastboot (pressing the power button and reducing the volume when the phone is turned off) and connecting the device to the PC, you can use the Xiaomi utility ADB/Fastboot Tools to run fastboot erase userdata commands. This is guaranteed to delete the data partition, but requires an unlocked bootloader, which is impossible to do on a locked phone without prior preparation.

The problem of activating Mi Account and Google FRP

After successfully performing Hard Reset or remotely erasing data, a modern Xiaomi smartphone will confront you with an activation screen, a security mechanism designed to make life difficult for the thieves who stole the phone, and the system will require you to enter a password from Mi Account, which was synchronized with the device before the reset.

If you enter the wrong password several times, your account may be temporarily blocked. In the event of a complete loss of access to your account, the only legal way to unlock it is to submit a receipt for the purchase of the device to a Xiaomi authorized service center.

⚠️ Note: Attempts to bypass the Mi Account or Google lock FRP Using unofficial patches, service cables (Test Point) or paid programs from the Internet often leads to the complete inoperability of the motherboard ("bricking") or the installation of malware.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)