How to Reset Xiaomi Phone Settings If You Forgot Your Password: The Complete Guide

Why Xiaomi Phone Is Locked and What to Do

The forgotten password on Xiaomi’s smartphone is a nasty but solvable situation. Redmi, POCO or Mi devices today use complex security mechanisms that block access not only to the screen, but also to system functions. The reasons for blocking can be several: from banal forgetfulness to failures after the MIUI update. It is important to understand that each method of unlocking has its own nuances, from losing data to the need to confirm your Mi Account.

If you're in this situation, don't panic. The manufacturer has a few official ways to restore access, and there are alternative solutions for emergencies. However, a reset via Recovery Mode or Fastboot will result in complete deletion of data from internal memory - photos, contacts and applications will be lost if there was no backup. In this article, we will discuss all current methods, including those that work without a Xiaomi account.

Method 1: Unblocking with Mi Account (if an account is linked)

The easiest and safest way to do this is to use a Mi Account attached, which is useful if you remember the username and password from the Xiaomi account you used on your phone, which takes no more than 5 minutes and requires no technical skills.

To unlock the device:

• 📱 On the lock screen, tap the button Forgot the password? (or Forgot password? on English firmware).
• 🔑 Enter the email or phone number associated with the Mi Account, then the password.
• 📧 Confirm the entrance through SMS or email (depending on your account security settings).
• 🔓 After successful authorization, the system will prompt you to create a new password or PIN-code.

If the buttons Forgot the password? no, then the device has disabled Find Device in the Mi Account settings, in which case you will have to use other methods.

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If you don’t remember the password from Mi Account, try to restore it through the official account.xiaomi.com. Use the backup email or phone number provided when registering.

Method 2: Hard Reset via Recovery Mode (Data Loss)

When Mi Account is not available, it is a hardware reset via recovery mode, which works on all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5 and the flagship Mi 11/12/13.

Resetting instructions:

1. 🔋 Turn off the phone with a long press of the power button (or Power). + Volume Up if the device is getting stuck).
2. 🔄 Squeeze the combination of Volume Up + Power and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. 📱 In the Recovery Mode menu, select the language (usually English or Chinese).
4. 🗑️ Go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (or Wipe All Data) → Chinese-made).
5. ✅ Confirm the action with a swipe or a choice of Confirm.
6. 🔄 After completing the reset, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

Turn off the phone (hold the power button for 10+ seconds)

Click Volume Up + Power before the Mi logo appears

Choose English in Recovery Mode

Find Wipe Data (not to be confused with Wipe Cache!)

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⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) After the reset, you may need to enter data from the Mi Account that was previously tied (FRP). If you do not remember your account information, you will have to use Fastboot or contact the service center.

Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for power users)

If Recovery Mode is not available or requires Mi Account confirmation, you can use Fastboot mode.This method is more complex, but effective for bypassing FRP. You will need a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and the Mi Flash Tool utility.

Step-by-step:

1. 🖥️ Download and install Mi Flash Tool (official utility from Xiaomi).
2. 📥 Download the firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website (select the Fastboot version).
3. 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC by holding Volume Down + Power until the image of a rabbit in a hat appears (Fastboot Mode).
4. 🛠️ In Mi Flash Tool, click Select and point the path to the unpacked firmware.
5. 🔄 Select Clean All mode and press Flash.
6. ⏳ Wait for the process to be completed (5-10 minutes) and the automatic reboot.

⚠️ Note: New models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T or POCO F5) The bootloader may need to be unlocked through the official Xiaomi website, without which the Fastboot firmware will end in error. The unlocking process takes up to 72 hours and requires binding to the Mi Account.

Method 4: Bypassing the lock through ADB (if debugging is enabled)

If the phone has previously been activated debugging USB (USB Debugging, you can try to reset your password through ADB (Android Debug Bridge is suitable for users who have previously connected a device to a PC for development or modifications.

Instructions:

1. 🖥️ Install Android SDK Platform Tools on your computer.
2. 📱 Connect your locked phone to your PC via USB-cable.
3. 🐍 Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with the platform-tools and type:

adb shell


su




rm /data/system/gesture.key




rm /data/system/password.key




rm /data/system/locksettings.db




rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal




rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm




reboot

After the reboot, the password will be reset, but the data will be saved.

⚠️ Attention: On new versions MIUI 13/14 This method may not work because of the increased security, and it also requires root rights to execute commands, which are not available on all devices.

Method 5: Contact Xiaomi Service Center

If all of the above methods fail, the last option is to contact an authorized Xiaomi service center.

• 🔒 Device locked. FRP (Requires data from Mi Accounts that are not available).
• 📱 Phone does not respond to button combinations to log in to Recovery or Fastboot.
• 🔧 Software malfunctions after failed reset.

In the service center, engineers can:

• 🛠️ Reset your settings through special hardware (e.g. Mi Authorized Tool).
• 📄 Provide official proof of ownership (if the phone is warranty).
• 🔄 Reflash the device with the preservation of the warranty (as opposed to independent actions).

The cost of the service varies from 500 to 2000 rubles depending on the model and complexity of the work. On the official website of Xiaomi you can find the nearest service center by link.

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Contacting the service is the only legal way to unlock your phone if you have forgotten your Mi Account password and do not work reset via Recovery/Fastboot.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to reset a password, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and how to solve them:

1. Error "This device is locked" in Fastboot Reason: not unlocked bootloader Solution: apply for unlock through the official Xiaomi website (requires binding to Mi Account).
2. Recovery Mode does not open Reason: wrong button combination or hardware failure Solution: Try Volume Up + Power or Volume Down + Power (on some models).
3. After reset requires the old Mi Account Reason: activated FRP protection. Solution: use Fastboot with full flashing or contact the service.
4. Phone not determined by computer Reason: no drivers or damaged USB-Solution: install drivers manually or try another cable.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and later some methods (e.g. deleting files through ADB) They may not work because of the changed structure of the system folders, and in this case, the only reliable way is a Fastboot firmware or a service center.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions