How to reset the lock on the Xiaomi phone: all the working ways of 2026

A locked Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that one in five users face. According to service centers, 63% of unlock requests are related to a forgotten pattern lock, 28% are related to a lost Mi Account password, and 9% are related to hardware failures after a firmware. If your Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Mi 13 Ultra requires data entry to unlock, do not rush to carry it into the workshop: in 80% of cases, the problem can be solved yourself.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to reset locks on Xiaomi phones, including official methods through Mi Account, unlocking through Fastboot and Recovery, as well as alternative solutions for devices with damaged screen or without Internet access. We will focus on the nuances for new models (2023-2026), where the manufacturer has tightened protection.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most secure and recommended method for Xiaomi is to use a tied Mi Account.

• 📱 The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔑 You remember the username and password from your Mi Account (or you can restore them).
• 🔄 The device is synced with cloud.xiaomi.com.

Instructions:

1. On the lock screen, click Forgot Password? (or Forgot Password? on English firmware).
2. Select Sign in via Mi Account and enter the linked email/phone.
3. Confirm your login via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
4. Create a new pattern lock or password.

⚠️ Note: If the phone was purchased from hand, the previous owner may not have deleted his Mi Account.In this case, unlocking through the account is impossible - you will need a reset via Fastboot (see section 3).

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

It's suitable for devices that don't have Mi Account binding enabled or you remember your account information. It only resets the screen lock, saves files in the phone's memory. It runs on MIUI 12-14 firmware.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone with a long press on the power button.
2. Press Volume Up + Nutrition (for POCO – Volume Down + Nutrition).
3. From the Recovery menu, select the language and go to Wipe & Reset.
4. Tap Wipe Lock Screen (or on Chinese firmware).
5. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

🔹 Important: Some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, Mi 11 Lite) may not have Wipe Lock Screen.

Turn off phone |Click the correct button combination |Select language in Recovery|Find Wipe Lock Screen|Confirm reset-->

3. Unlock via Fastboot (for power users)

Fastboot is the most versatile method, but requires a PC and installed Xiaomi drivers.

• 🔓 Devices with a Mi Account that you can’t delete.
• 📱 Phones after a failed firmware update.
• 🔧 Models where the sensor does not work (for example, after a fall).

What you need:

• 💻 Windows computer 10/11.
• 🔌 Cable USB (original or high-quality).
• 🛠️ Mi Flash Tool (download from the official website).
• 📄 Firmware for your model (for example, fastboot_ingres_global_images_... For the Redmi Note 12).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.


2. Press <Loudness down + Power> before the Fastboot logo appears.




3. Connect the phone to the PC.




4. Launch the Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware and press "Refresh".




5. Your phone will appear in the list of devices (e.g., "COM3").




6.Push "Flash" and wait for completion (5-10 minutes).




7.The phone will reboot with clean firmware.

⚠️ Note: This method deletes all data, including photos, contacts and messages. If the phone has been enabled sync with Google Account or Mi Cloud, some of the data can be restored after unlocking.

4. Unlock via ADB (for debugging phones)

If the phone previously had USB debugging enabled (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap → For developers → USB debugging), you can reset the lock via ADB without losing data.

Instructions for Windows:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into the C:\adb folder.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and start Command Prompt on behalf of the administrator.
3. Enter the commands in order: cd C:\adb adb devices (you should see your device, for example, 1234abcd device)
4. Delete the lock files: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key adb shell rm /data/system/password.key adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm
5. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

After the reboot, the lock will be reset and the data stored.This method works on MIUI 10-14, but may not work on new models (Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13 Pro+) due to enhanced protection.

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If the adb device command does not show the device, try reinstalling the driver via ADB Driver Installer or enable File Transfer (MTP) in the phone settings when you connect.

5 Unlocking through Xiaomi Service Center

If independent methods did not help, the official service center Xiaomi can unlock the phone on the documents.

• 📄 Phones with a tied foreign Mi Account (buying with hands).
• 🔒 Devices with damaged screen or broken buttons.
• 📱 Models where a Fastboot reset leads to an "Anti-Rollback" error".

What will be required:

The cost of unlocking official Xiaomi services in 2026:

• 💰 Without data storage: 1,500–2,500 ₽.
• 💰 With data retention (if possible): 3,000–5,000 ₽.
• 🕒 Term of execution: 1-3 working days.

⚠️ Warning: Unofficial services may offer unlocking cheaper, but risk getting a phone with damaged firmware or losing warranty. Check reviews and whether Xiaomi has a license.

6. Alternative methods of unlocking

If the standard methods didn’t work, try these options:

📞 Unlocking by Call (for Older Models):

1. Call the locked phone from another device.
2. Take the call and during the conversation try to open Settings through the notification panel.
3. Turn off the lock in Settings → Lock screen.

🔹 Works on MIUI 8–9 (e.g. Redmi) 4X, Mi A1). New Firmware Vulnerability Remedyed.

🔄 Reset via Find Device (remotely):

If you have Find Device enabled on your phone (i.mi.com), you can remotely reset your password:

1. Sign in to the site under your Mi Account.
2. Select a locked phone from the list of devices.
3. Press Erase Device (Erase Device).
4. Confirm the action - the phone will be reset to factory settings.

🛠️ Disassembly of the phone (extreme case):

On some models (Redmi Note 8 Pro, POCO X3), you can reset the lock by turning off the battery for 10-15 minutes.

• Remove the back cover (need a mediator or suction cup).
• Turn off the battery plume for 10-15 minutes.
• Put it back in and turn on the phone.

⚠️ Risk: Loss of leakage, damage to plumes. Not recommended for inexperienced users.

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If the phone is purchased after 2022, most alternative methods (call, disconnect the battery) will not work – Xiaomi has strengthened protection in new firmware.

7.How to avoid blocking in the future

To avoid the problem again, follow these tips:

• 🔐 Use a fingerprint or facial recognition as an additional way to unlock.
• 📝 Write down your graphical key/password to a secure location (e.g. Google Keep or Notebook).
• 🔄 Regularly update the firmware in new versions MIUI Fixed vulnerabilities that allow you to bypass the lock.
• 📱 When buying a phone with your hands, be sure to check whether the previous owner’s Mi Account is untied.
• 🔗 Link your phone to Google Account – this will help you restore access through Find My Device.

🔹 Useful Life Hack: In Settings → Passwords and security can be added to a spare PIN-It's a code to unlock. It's useful if you forget your primary password.

If you often forget passwords, consider using a password manager (like Bitwarden or KeePass) to help store data from Mi Account and other services in encrypted form.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi