How to reset settings on blocked Xiaomi: methods and instructions

When Xiaomi is locked and the system is not accessible, it can be one of the most stressful for the owner, and there are many reasons: a forgotten pattern lock, a failure in the MIUI or HyperOS operating system, a lock on a Google or Mi Account account, or even an accidental activation of parental controls, in which cases the only way out is often a forced reset of the device to factory settings, which allows you to delete forgotten passwords and bring the gadget back to life.

However, the Hard Reset procedure on a locked device has its own nuances, which are critically important to consider: Unlike a regular reset via the settings menu, the interface is closed, so all actions will have to be performed through the Recovery Mode system recovery menu. It is important to understand that this process will completely destroy all user data, including photos, contacts and applications, if they were not stored in the cloud.

Before taking decisive action, you need to assess the risks and prepare the device. Modern versions of Xiaomi firmware have enhanced protection, so a simple reset may not remove the lock if you have enabled the function "Find the device". However, for most cases of locking the screen or system errors, this method is the only effective solution. Below we will discuss in detail all the stages of preparation and direct reset.

Preparation of the device and necessary conditions

The first step before any manipulation of system software is to ensure stable power. The reset process, although it takes a little time, requires that the battery be charged at least 50-60%. If the device runs out at the time of overwriting system files, this can lead to irreversible consequences, including turning the smartphone into a "brick." Connect the phone to the original charger and make sure that the charge indicator is active.

The second important aspect is understanding the type of lock, so if the phone is locked with a Mi Account account with search enabled, it will require you to enter the username and password from that account when you first activate it, and without that data, it will be almost impossible to unlock the device without going to the service center with a check for a purchase, and if you forget only the screen pin or pattern lock, the reset will solve the problem completely.

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If you have access to a Mi Cloud account, try first to remotely unlock the device through the Find Device feature on your computer, this may save your data.

It's also worth preparing a computer with internet access.Although the reset itself is done with buttons on the case, you may need a PC to check lock status or download drivers if you decide to use software unlock methods via ADB or Fastboot.Make sure the USB cable is sound and capable of transferring data, not just charging the battery.

• 🔋 Charge your smartphone to at least 60% to avoid a sudden shutdown.
• 🔐 Remember the data from Mi Account and Google account if they were linked.
• 💻 Prepare your computer in case you need to work with drivers.
• 📱 Make sure that SIM-The map is removed to avoid conflicts during the reboot.

Entering Recovery mode on Xiaomi smartphones

To reset on a locked device, we need to go to a special menu called Recovery Mode, a low-level operating system built into the phone’s memory that allows you to control boot, clear the cache and reset. On Xiaomi and Redmi devices, this mode is entered by a combination of physical buttons, since the touch screen at the time of onset does not work.

The login procedure is standard for most models, but requires precision and a certain speed of action. First, the device must be completely turned off. If the phone freezes and does not respond to the switch off, you need to press the power button and hold it for about 10-15 seconds until the screen vibrates or quenches. Once the screen is out, immediately proceed to the next step.

There are two types of recovery menus: standard Recovery and extended TWRP (if installed earlier). We are interested in the manufacturer's stock menu. Once the Mi or Redmi logo appears, the power button can be released, but the Volume Up button should be held until a menu with a few items in English or Chinese appears on the screen. If you are on the menu with an image of an Android robot and the inscription "No command", press and hold the power button, then press the volume up once.

⚠️ Attention: In the Recovery menu, the touch screen does not work! Navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and selecting a point with a short press of the power button.

Resetting instructions through Recovery Menu

Once you've successfully logged in to the recovery menu, you'll see a list of options. Depending on the firmware region (Global or Chinese), the menu may be in English or Chinese. To reset the settings, you'll need Wipe Data. If you have a Chinese firmware version, look for the characters that correspond to the cleanup, or use the compliance table below.

Select Wipe Data with volume buttons and confirm the choice with the power button. The system will warn you that all data will be deleted. You will be asked to choose the cleanup option. In most cases, Wipe All Data mode is available, which performs a full cleanup. After selecting this option, the system will ask you to confirm the action, often requiring you to press the confirmation button again or select Confirm.

The cleaning process can take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. The screen will display the progress bar. Upon completion, the phone will automatically return to the main Recovery menu. Here you need to select the topmost item - Reboot, then Reboot to System. The first on-set after the reset will last longer than usual, sometimes up to 5-7 minutes, as the system recreates configuration files.

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Once the reset is confirmed, the process can no longer be interrupted by turning off the phone, otherwise there is a risk of damage to the file system.

Bypassing the Mi Account and Google FRP lock

Xiaomi's current smartphones are heavily protected against theft, and if the device has been turned on and the Mi Account is activated, the phone will need to reset through Recovery when it first starts, and this is Find Device protection. Google's FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection works the same way, requiring you to enter a password from the last synchronized Google account.

If you know the passwords, it's okay. But if the device is hand-held and the previous owner hasn't untied the account, or you just don't remember the data, the situation gets complicated. The official way to unlock it is to provide a check of purchase to a Xiaomi authorized service center, and the service can remotely untie the device from the account when you confirm ownership.

There are software-based methods of bypassing, but they require specific conditions. For example, for older versions of MIUI, it can sometimes help to reset the date and time through the restore menu (if there is such an option) or exploit vulnerabilities in the availability menu when you first set up. However, on current versions of HyperOS and fresh security patches, these holes are closed. Using third-party software to “cut” the account (Mi Account Bypass) is often temporary or requires an unlocked bootloader, which is impossible to obtain on a locked phone.

• 🛡️ FRP Lock protects the phone from flashing without the owner’s account.
• 📄 Check of purchase is the only legal way to remove the lock Mi Account.
• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader makes it easier to unblock FRP, but requires prior preparation.
• ⚠️ Software bypasses may contain viruses or stop working after updating.

Alternative methods: Mi Unlock and Fastboot

If a standard Recovery reset doesn't help or the device only boots to the logo, you can try Fastboot mode. In this mode, the phone connects to the computer and controls via the PC. To log into the Fastboot on the phone turned off, press both the power and volume down buttons before an image of a rabbit repairing an android appears.

The official Mi Unlock Tool is designed to unlock the bootloader, which automatically performs a complete data reset, but it requires:

1. Having a Mi Account tied to the device.
2. Wait 7 to 30 days after applying for unlocking.
3. The ability to log in at least once to link the account (which is impossible without a reset with a locked phone).

However, if the phone is locked with a pattern lock, but the Mi Account is active and you know the password, you can try to unlock the bootloader through the computer, which will delete all the data and remove the lock on the screen. If the phone is locked with the Mi Account, then the Mi Unlock Tool will not help to bypass it, but only confirm the binding.

fastboot devices


fastboot oem unlock

These commands are entered in the PC command line after connecting the phone in Fastboot mode. The second command initiates the unlock process, but without prior permission in the phone settings (via the Developer Settings), it will not work.

Possible problems and ways to solve them

During the reset process, users may encounter various errors, one of the most common is Bootloop (cyclic reboot), where the phone is constantly hanging on the logo. If the phone does not boot after reset and wait longer than 15 minutes, the system partition may be damaged, in which case a complete firmware reflash of the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility and the official firmware in.zip or.tgz format is required.

Another problem is the message, "This Mi Account is associated with this device," immediately after the reset, which means that the Find Device function was active, and it's very difficult to get around it on new models, and some users try to change the region and language when they first set up, skip the Wi-Fi connection steps to get to the desktop, but these methods are unstable and depend on the specific version of MIUI.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone was stolen and locked remotely by the owner, any reset attempts will not help access the device.

Also worth mentioning is the problem with the touchscreen in Recovery mode. If the sensor does not respond to the pressing of the volume buttons (although it should not be needed in Recovery, but some models with virtual navigation buttons may have conflicts), try connecting it. USB-Hub with a normal computer mouse. Xiaomi smartphones support OTG, and the mouse cursor can appear on the screen, allowing you to control the menu.

In case the phone does not respond to the Recovery login buttons at all (the screen is black, there is no vibration), it may be a hardware problem: it may be a deep battery discharge, a malfunction of the on button or a damage to the plume, in which case a software reset is impossible, and diagnostics at the service center are required.

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