A situation where the owner of a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone cannot access his device due to a forgotten password, PIN-It's a common occurrence, and it can happen after a long period of downtime, a spontaneous change of security, or a trivial inattention, at which point the screen becomes an impassable barrier that hides all contacts, photos, and important data.
Fortunately, MIUI and HyperOS have several access recovery mechanisms that don’t require deep programming knowledge. However, it’s important to understand that most effective methods involve completely removing user data from the device’s internal memory, a necessary security measure to protect the owner’s information in the event of a phone theft.
Before you take any drastic action, you need to weigh the risks and choose the right way. In some cases, if you turn on synchronization, you can save the data, in others you will have to put up with losing files to regain control of the gadget. Below we will discuss in detail all the current methods of unlocking, from standard to advanced.
Preparation for the discharge procedure and important nuances
Before you start the process of Hard Reset or reset through the recovery menu, you need to make sure that the device is ready. The main requirement is that the battery charge should be at least 50-60%. Interrupting the reset procedure due to battery discharge can lead to serious file system errors or even turn the phone into a brick.
And you also have to remember that account binding, because if you've searched for a device on your phone, you'll need to reset your Google account or Mi Account that you've synced before, which is an anti-theft mechanism that you can't get around with simple formatting.
⚠️ Note: All of the methods described below result in the complete removal of photos, contacts, messages and installed applications. Make sure you have a backup of important data in the cloud in advance, if possible.
It is important to distinguish between program reset via settings (which is currently impossible without logging in) and hardware reset with buttons. Since access to the settings menu is closed, we will use physical control buttons.
There is a myth that extraction SIM-It's not like that. Xiaomi's security mechanisms store lock data in a secure partition of memory that doesn't depend on external media.
Resetting password through Recovery mode (standard method)
The most common and reliable way to return access to the device is to use the built-in Recovery Mode menu, which loads independently of the main operating system, allowing you to clean up even when the screen is locked. Most Redmi Note, Mi and POCO models use a combination of buttons to enter this mode.
The login process may vary depending on the shell version. On new devices with HyperOS or fresh MIUI 14, the system may require confirmation via the volume button before entering the menu, which is an additional protection against accidental reset.
☑️ Algorithm of actions in Recovery
Once you enter the menu, you will see a list of options in English or Chinese, navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button, you need to find Wipe Data or Clear Data.
Then the system will warn you of the consequences. Select Wipe All Data and confirm the action. The formatting process takes 5 to 15 minutes. Once completed, the phone automatically restarts, and you will see the screen of the initial setting, as when you first turned on.
What to do if the menu is in Chinese?
Use the “Find Device” (Mi Cloud) function
If your smartphone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network) and it has the Find Device feature enabled, you can perform a remote reset via the Mi Cloud web interface.This method is convenient in that it does not require physical contact with the phone buttons if it lies somewhere within reach of the network.
To do this, go to the official i.mi.com website from a computer or other smartphone. Sign in with the same Mi Account that was used on the locked device. In the interface, select your device from the list.
| Function | Description of action | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Sound. | Includes maximum signal volume | Internet on the phone |
| Lockdown | Set a new screen password | Mi Account |
| Erase the data | Complete resetting of settings (Wipe) | Internet and account |
| Sound. | It is useful if the phone is lost in the room. | Connection required |
| Lockdown | Change the forgotten code to a new one | It doesn't work on all models. |
| Erase the data | Hard Reset via the cloud | Delete all photos and contacts |
Select the Erase option. Once confirmed, the command will be sent to the device. Once the phone is online, it will reset. Importantly, this method only works if the phone is on and has an active connection.
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If the phone is off or has no internet access, the reset command via Mi Cloud will be automatically executed as soon as the device is online.
Google Find My Device Resets
Google services are an alternative to Xiaomi’s ecosystem, and if you have a Google account activated on a locked smartphone and geolocation enabled, you can use Find a Device, which is especially effective if you don’t remember your Mi Account password, but remember Google data.
Go to android.com/find and log in to your account. The system will try to locate the phone. From the menu on the left or bottom, select the option Clean the device. This is similar to a factory reset.
It’s worth noting that in recent versions of Android and MIUI shells, Google sometimes doesn’t allow a reset unless the device was pre-authorized with Find My Device.
⚠️ Warning: After being reset via Google or Mi Cloud, the phone will require you to enter a password from a Google account that was synced before being blocked. FRP (Factory Reset Protection, which cannot be avoided without your account information.
Specifics of unlocking Redmi and POCO models
Redmi and POCO devices often have slight differences in the Recovery login procedure. For example, some Redmi Note 9, 10 and 11 series models require you to click the button combination specified on the screen (usually Volume Up + Power) to confirm the entry to the recovery menu.
POCO models are more aggressive in their security behavior, and if you mistype your password several times, your phone may lock up for a certain period of time (30 seconds to several hours), in which case you should wait until the timer ends so as not to trigger a full account lockdown.
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It is critical for POCO and Redmi to remember the Mi Account password, as the security of these brands is strictly monitoring the device’s association with the cloud.
Also, POCO owners should be careful when choosing a region in the initial menu after the reset, some features may be limited depending on the country chosen, although this has little effect on the operation of the unlocked phone.
FRP (Google Account Lock) and its solution
After successfully resetting your settings, you may encounter an activation screen that requires you to enter a password from a Google account previously synced to your phone. This is FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection, designed to prevent thieves from using stolen phones after a reset.
If you remember your Google login and password, just type it in. If you don't remember the data, or if you bought your phone with your hands and don't know your account history, the situation gets complicated. You can officially restore access only through the Google account recovery form.
There are technical ways to bypass FRP through special utilities on a PC (such as the SamFw Tool or Mi Unlock Tool), but they require a computer, cable, and certain skills.