How to Reset Mi Account on Xiaomi if You Forgot

The situation when the owner of the device is faced with the lock Mi Account, is one of the most stressful for users of the Xiaomi ecosystem. This happens not only when buying a used gadget, but also in cases where the person has not used his phone for a long time, changed his phone number or simply forgot complex login data. The MIUI security system is designed to protect the owner’s personal data from theft, which makes the process of unlocking without a password quite difficult, but not impossible.

It’s important to understand that account binding is a fundamental layer of protection known as Find Device. If a phone has been lost or stolen, it’s the feature that allows you to track its location or remotely erase data. However, if you are the legitimate owner and simply lost access to your account, you will need to go through verification or use specialized reset methods, which we will detail in this article.

Before you start taking action, you need to clearly understand the difference between a forgotten password from the lock screen and a forgotten password from the Xiaomi cloud service. In the first case, you just need to perform Hard Reset, in the second case, the system will require authorization after rebooting. Ignoring this nuance can lead to the fact that the device will turn into a “brick” with blocked access to the interface.

Official Recovery Method through Mi Account

The safest and most recommended method by the manufacturer is to use the official recovery page, which doesn't require the phone itself, it's enough for any device with Internet access, so you have to go to id.mi.com and select the "Forgot Password" option, and the system will offer several verification options that you chose when you signed up.

Most often, recovery requires access to a linked phone number or a backup email address, and if you have a SIM card in your hand, it takes a few minutes to do this: you request it. SMS-You enter the code in the field and you can set a new password. After that, on a Xiaomi smartphone, you just need to enter new data in the settings menu or when you initially set it up after resetting.

⚠️ Note: If you have changed your phone number and have not had time to untie the old one from your account, the standard recovery is through SMS In this case, the system will require a code from a number that no longer belongs to you.

If the number is lost but you have access to the mail, the procedure is similar, but if none of the contact details are available, the official website will offer a support form, you will need to provide scans of documents confirming the purchase of the device, or other information that will help identify you as the owner.

Use the “Find Device” function to unlock

There is a lesser-known but effective way to reset your phone if it's on and connected to the Internet. Find Device not only tracks your gadget, but also manages it. Go to i.mi.com from your computer or other phone, log in to your Mi Account.

In the service interface, select your device from the list. If geolocation is correctly determined, you will have an action menu available to you. Here lies an important nuance: the Erase Data feature will remove all information from the phone, but can also remove the activation lock if Xiaomi servers receive a signal that the owner has successfully cleaned.

After the erasure command, the phone will restart. In some versions of MIUI, this action automatically untie the device from the account, allowing it to be configured as new. If the system requests a password again after turning on, then this method in your firmware version did not work, and deeper intervention will be required.

• 📱 Make sure your phone is on the internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 🌐 Use only the official mi.com or i.mi.com website to manage your device.
• 🔄 The data erasure command is performed remotely and requires confirmation.

Reset via Engineering Menu and Recovery Mode

If you can't restore your account, a radical but often necessary method is a full reset via Recovery Mode, which allows you to clean the device's memory at a low level, and you need to turn off your smartphone and press the key combination to log in: usually an on and Volume Up button.

Once the Mi logo appears, you can release the power button by keeping the volume down, you'll be taken to the Main Menu main menu, you'll be able to navigate with volume buttons, and the power button confirms the choice, and you'll need to find Wipe Data and select Wipe All Data.

⚠️ Warning: This procedure permanently deletes all photos, contacts and apps. Before you start, make sure you have backups of important data in the cloud or on your PC.

The system will ask you to confirm the action, often requiring you to type in the word yes or select Confirm. After completing the cleaning process, which can take a few minutes, select Reboot -> Reboot to System.

The most critical moment comes after the reboot, and if the protection function was active, you'll see an activation screen that requires you to enter the Mi Account password that was previously used on this device, and that's the barrier that we're trying to overcome.

Mi Account (Activation Lock) bypass

If a phone requires a password after a reset, and you don't remember it, things get complicated. Xiaomi doesn't officially provide tools to bypass that protection without proof of ownership. However, there are technical ways that often depend on the version of MIUI and the type of processor (MediaTek or Snapdragon).

For devices based on MediaTek, the method of temporary bypassing through vulnerabilities in the authorization protocol is often used. The essence of the method is to connect the phone to the PC in Preloader mode and use special software (for example, MCT Bypass or analogues) that sends commands that block the password request.

For Snapdragon processors, the procedure can be more complicated and often requires unlocking the bootloader.The official unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool requires waiting 168 hours (7 days) from the time of binding the acca.-->> If you're forgotten, you can't officially unlock the bootloader, because you need to log in.

It is important to note that bypass methods are temporary. After the next complete reset or firmware update, the lock can return, so if you manage to log in, first create a new account and link the device to it to avoid problems in the future.

Using ADB and Fastboot for advanced users

For those familiar with the command line, ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and Fastboot tools offer additional features. If USB Debugging was pre-enabled on the phone, you can try to delete the system files responsible for checking the account through console commands.

However, on current versions of MIUI 12, 13, 14 and higher, access to the file system via ADB is limited in normal mode. You will need Fastboot mode, which is called by pressing the power button and the volume button when the phone is turned off. In this mode you can reflash the device, but you will not be able to write your partitions without an unlocked bootloader.

There are specific commands that sometimes help to restart the activation process or change the region, which in rare cases allows you to skip the welcome screen. For example, the adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.MiuiCloudAccountSettingsActivity command may try to call the account menu, but more often than not, it will simply return you to the lock screen.

A more effective method through Fastboot is to run the stock global firmware version if the region of the device and firmware do not match (for example, a phone from China with global firmware).

When it is necessary to contact the service center

If none of the software methods worked, the only legal and guaranteed way is to contact an authorized Xiaomi service center, which is especially true if the device was bought new, but the access to the account is lost irrevocably (for example, the account belonged to another person who does not communicate).

The service staff have access to internal databases and tools that allow you to untie the device from the account at the server level, but only if you confirm ownership. You will need the original check, warranty card or purchase agreement, which indicates IMEI or serial number of the device.

⚠️ Note: Only work with official service centers. “Masters” in radio markets or untested workshops can use creaked versions of software that contain viruses or “beacons” that steal your data in the future. Engineers reflash the device, change the identification in memory (in some cases), and unlock Find Device. Once returned, the phone will be completely clean, like from the store, and ready to register for a new account. 💡Always save the electronic version of the check on a cloud drive or send it to yourself by email when buying equipment. Paper checks fade and lose quickly, and without them the service can refuse service. To prevent the situation “forgetting the password” does not happen again, it is important to properly configure the security of your Xiaomi device immediately after purchase. It could be an extra email that you check rarely but don't lose, or a backup phone number of a close relative. ID (A digital ID and a password to a safe place, such as a paper notebook or password manager. Many users forget even the login, especially if it was created automatically when the phone was first turned on (for example, a set of numbers instead of a name). 🔒 Enable two-factor authentication for enhanced security. 📝 Keep your account information in a safe place outside of your phone. 📱 Check the list of trusted devices in security settings regularly. Also, don't use passwords that are too simple, which are easy to guess, but don't make them so complicated that they can't be remembered. 💡The best protection against blocking is knowing your credentials and having access to your linked numbers and mails. Regularly update your contact details in your Mi Account profile. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Will Mi Account reset if you just flash your phone? Regular firmware reflash (change version) MIUI) Without unlocking the bootloader will not delete the account binding. The lock is stored on the server and is tied to the server. IMEI. Once the firmware is in place, the phone will request authorization again when it first turns on? Technical support via phone or chat does not have the right to remove devices from your account without going through the password recovery procedure. They can only send instructions to restore access. What to do if you bought a phone with someone else's account? The only legal way is to contact the seller and ask him to remotely remove the device from his list through the i.mi.com website. If the seller does not contact, return money and refuse to purchase, since it is legally extremely difficult to unlock such a phone. Will FRP reset programs on Xiaomi? FRP reset programs (Google Lock) often do not work with Mi Account. These are different levels of protection for the specialized Miox service, and dongle users after the time is used for the payment centers? The lock is active continuously until the device is authorized, and even if the phone is turned off for a year, when it is turned on and connected to the Internet, it will still request a password from the account to which it was associated before the reset.