How to reset Xiaomi if you forget the password from the Mi Account

The situation when the owner of a Xiaomi smartphone can not unlock the device because of a forgotten password or pattern lock is one of the most stressful. It becomes especially difficult if the lock screen appears a message to enter the Mi Account data, and the memory refuses to prompt the desired characters. The MIUI security system is designed to protect the user’s personal data from theft, but sometimes this protection turns against the owner of the gadget.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible ways to bypass locking and completely reset the device. You will learn how a normal data reset differs from unlocking the bootloader, what risks exist when using third-party programs and how to properly prepare the device for the Hard Reset procedure so as not to turn the phone into a useless “brick”.

Why Xiaomi requires a password after resetting

Many users mistakenly believe that a simple reset via the Recovery menu will completely clean the phone and remove all protections. However, modern versions of the MIUI shell are equipped with an activation mechanism that links the device to the owner's account. If you entered a Mi Account and turned on the Internet before reset, then after formatting the data, the system will require authorization in this profile.

It's a defense mechanism designed to make it harder for attackers to steal a smartphone, and even if a thief tries to reflash the device or reset the settings, they will encounter an activation screen, which means that simply "wiping everything" will not be enough, either to remember the data or to use more sophisticated methods of bypassing through the Fastboot mode.

It's important to understand the difference between locking your screen and locking your account. If you forget the unlock pin, resetting will help. But if you forget the password from the Xiaomi cloud service that you need after you turn it on, a standard reset is powerless without additional actions.

⚠️ Note: Attempts to guess the Mi Account password repeatedly in a row can lead to temporary or permanent blocking of the account itself by the Xiaomi security server.

There is a myth that shutting down the internet immediately after a reset will help avoid checking. In practice, this rarely works and only on very old versions of Android. In current builds of MIUI 12, 13, 14 and later, verification can occur at the first attempt to connect to Wi-Fi or even some time after turning on if the device has ever “seen” the network.

Preparation of the device for the discharge procedure

Before you start taking drastic measures, you need to make sure you have completed all the preparatory steps. Unprepared reset can lead to the loss of important contacts, photos and documents that were not synchronized with the cloud.

If you have the option to get into the settings menu (for example, the phone is unlocked, but you want to reset your account password for sale), be sure to unwrap the device. To do this, go to Settings → Mi Account → Exit. Entering a password at this stage will remove the device’s binding to the servers, and after resetting the authorization request will not appear.

In a situation where access to the settings menu is closed, preparation is reduced to providing stable power and finding the original food. USB-Cheap cables may not provide enough current for the firmware mode, leading to an error at the most inopportune time.

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Use only the original cable or high-quality analogue with thick wires. Thin power-bank charging cables are often not suitable for data transfer in Fastboot mode.

Remember that after the reset you will need the Internet. get the password from the Wi-Fi network in advance or make sure that SIM-The card has access to the mobile Internet, as activation is impossible without a connection to the server.

Method 1: Recovery Mode (Hard Reset)

The most common way to return a device to factory status is to use the recovery menu, which erases all user data, including photos, apps and settings, but does not always remove the Mi Account lock if it has already been activated.

To enter Recovery mode on most Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, you need to turn off the device and then press the button combination. Usually a Volume Up button and a power button. Hold them simultaneously until the Mi logo appears, after which the power button can be released while keeping the volume.

In the menu that appears, you can navigate with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. You need to find Wipe Data or Clear Data. Some versions of Recovery require you to select a language (English), then go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data → Confirm.

Once the reset is confirmed, the formatting process will begin, which can take anywhere from 30 seconds to several minutes, and when it is completed, the phone will automatically reboot. If the system requires the Mi Account password during the welcome stage, then the Find Device protection is active, and this method did not help bypass the lock, but only cleared the data.

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Hard Reset deletes data, but does not untie the device from the Xiaomi server, unless previously logged out of the account in the settings.

Method 2: Unlock with Fastboot and Mi Unlock

If a standard reset doesn’t work, the only official way to unblock the bootloader is to unlock the bootloader using the Mi Unlock Tool, a process that completely reflashes the security sections and removes the account binding, but it’s more complicated and time-consuming.

The main condition is that the phone must be allowed. OEM-If the phone is locked and you can’t log in, this method may not work, as the Allow Unlock feature in the Developer menu must be activated in advance. However, if the phone just asks for a password after reset, but the menu is available (rare case), or if you plan to flash through the flashbox. EDL, this way is relevant.

The process is this: download Mi Unlock to your computer, log in to the same Mi Account as your phone, switch your smartphone to Fastboot mode (usually by pressing Volume Down + Power), connect the cable to your PC and press Unlock in the program.

The biggest problem for beginners is the wait timer. Xiaomi artificially limits the speed of unlocking. After the first attempt, you may be told to wait 72 hours, 7 days, or even 30 days. You can't get around this wait officially, you just have to wait without untiing your account from the device in the settings.

⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader via Mi Unlock results in the complete deletion of all data from the device, and it can also disrupt some banking applications and services Google Pay (although in recent versions). MIUI situation has improved).

Alternative methods and service codes

There are many tips on how to use service codes online, such as ##7780## or ##34971539##. These codes are designed for engineering menus and camera resets or factory resets, but on modern versions of MIUI they are often blocked or require a password confirmation that you just forgot.

There is also a method of resetting via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) if the device has been pre-enabled debugging over USB. the adb shell pm clear com.android.providers.settings command can reset settings, but on a locked screen this cannot be done without authorization.

Some users resort to changing the region or date through the restore menu if it allows you to choose a language, but this only works on very specific, vulnerable versions of firmware. In 2026-2026, such security holes are quickly closed.

If nothing works, you can go to an authorized service center, and if you have a check and a box, they can run a service flashing that will remove the lock on the hardware level.

Possible problems and errors in the discharge

Users often experience errors during device recovery, with the most common being “Can’t verify update” or a hover on the Mi logo, which could mean that the data recording process has been interrupted or the system partition has been damaged.

Another common problem is the “Account verification error” when you have an Internet connection, which occurs when Xiaomi servers are temporarily unavailable or if the device is on a stolen list, in the first case, changing the DNS or using another Wi-Fi network helps, in the second case, only proving ownership.

If the phone goes into an endless bootloop after reset, the system partition may have been damaged, in which case only flashing through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility and the pre-downloaded stock firmware for your particular model will help.

It's important to distinguish between software and hardware errors. If the phone gets hot or doesn't respond to buttons at all, it may not be the password that's the problem, but the volume button or the plume malfunctions.

How to Secure Data in the Future

To avoid being in a similar situation again, you need to set up a backup system. Xiaomi offers an built-in cloud, but also effectively use Google Photos for media files and Google Drive for documents.

Write your credentials to a secure location, whether it's a paper notebook you keep at home or a password manager on another device, and forgetting your Mi Account password is easy, especially if you rarely change it or use complex character combinations.

Check your device association status regularly in your account settings. If you sell an old phone, be sure to remove it from the list of trusted devices on i.mi.com, which will prevent future conflicts and security issues.

⚠️ Warning: Never buy used Xiaomi phones if the seller can’t demonstrate the exit from the Mi Account in the settings.You risk getting a locked device that can’t be used.

Use biometrics (fingerprint, facial recognition) as your primary unlocking method, but remember to enter your primary password periodically so that the system doesn’t forget it, which is especially true after you reboot your device.