How to Reset Xiaomi’s Screen Lock Password: The Complete Guide

The situation where Xiaomi smartphone stops letting the owner to the data happens more often than it seems.Forgotten pattern lock, mis-entered PIN-A code or a system malfunction can turn a device into an inaccessible brick, especially if you have important contacts, photos or work documents inside. MIUI HyperOS is equipped with powerful security protocols that do not allow you to easily bypass protection.

But there's always a way out. There are several proven methods of access recovery, depending on the device model and presets. Some methods allow you to save personal files, others require a complete memory cleanup in order to return to the factory state. In this article, we will discuss all the current algorithms of actions so that you can choose the most suitable option.

Before you start taking action, it's important to understand what kind of lock you're facing, whether it's a standard lock screen, a Mi Account account, or even a bootloader lock, and diagnosing the problem properly will save you time and nerves, and we'll look at both software methods over the Internet and hardware options for resetting through the engineering menu.

⚠️ Attention: Most complete reset methods result in the permanent removal of all data from the internal drive. If you have the ability to sync with the cloud before you try to unlock, do so immediately.

Use the Find Device function to remotely unlock

The most civilized and secure way to regain access to the device is to use Xiaomi’s Find Device cloud service, which only works if the locked smartphone has the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data) turned on and logged in to the Mi Account, allowing you to remotely control the device, determine its location and, most importantly, erase data or change the lock password.

You'll need to access a computer or other smartphone to start with, go to the service's official website and log in to the same account that's used on the locked gadget, and the interface will duplicate the basic controls available on the device itself, and if the system sees your phone, you'll see its model and approximate location on the map.

From the control menu, select the option "Wipe Data" (Erase Data) which initiates a command to completely reset the device to factory settings. Once the phone is rebooted, it will be clean, like from the store, and will request a password from the Mi Account to confirm ownership, the pattern lock or digital code will be deleted.

• 🌐 Make sure the device is connected to the network, otherwise the command will not execute.
• 🔑 You will need a password from your Mi Account, not from Google.
• 📱 The method works even if the phone screen is broken, as long as the touchscreen partially reacts.
• 🔄 After resetting, the phone will automatically restart.

💡

If the phone is not connected to the Internet, the command will be executed automatically when the network is on, and do not turn off the device so that it can receive a signal at the earliest opportunity.

Recovery Mode (Hard Reset)

If cloud services are unavailable or the Internet is off, Recovery Mode comes to the rescue, a low-level system built into the firmware of every Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO smartphone. It allows for deep diagnostics and resetting to bypass the operating system. It's universal and works on all models, from the old Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 14.

To enter recovery mode, you need to turn off your smartphone completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then the power button can be released, while continuing to hold the volume button. In a few seconds, a menu with several points in English will appear on the screen.

Navigation in this menu is done with volume buttons (up-down), and the option is selected with a power button. You need to find the Wipe Data string and select it. The system will alert you to the loss of data and ask you to confirm the action, often requiring you to enter the word yes or just press Confirm. After the cleaning process, select Reboot to restart.

Note that new versions of MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS may require you to enter an unlock code in the recovery menu, which is a code you create yourself when you first enter Recovery mode, or it may match the password from the screen if this option has been activated. If you do not remember this code, a standard reset via Recovery may not be available.

Unlocking with Google Find My Device

An alternative to Xiaomi’s own service is Google’s security system. If you log in to your Google account and geolocate on your locked smartphone, you can use Find My Device. It’s similar to Xiaomi’s method of remotely erasing data, but there’s an important caveat: Once you reset, your phone will require you to enter the password from the Google account that was synchronized last.

This is especially effective if you don't remember your Mi Account password, but remember your Gmail email data perfectly. Go to the service's website from any device, select your smartphone from the list, and click "Clean the device." The process will take a few minutes if you have a stable connection.

It is important to understand the difference between simply locking the screen and protecting against theft. Factory Reset Protection (FRP) is a mechanism that prevents the use of a stolen phone after a reset. So without knowing the password from a Google or Xiaomi account, you will not be able to unlock the device even after full formatting.

Using ADB to remove lock files

For advanced users, there is a method to reset a password without losing data, but it only works under strict conditions: The phone must have the option “Debug over USB” on the developer menu in advance, and the computer must have authorization to access the device. If these conditions are met, you can use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) toolkit.

Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-Open the command line on your computer in the folder with the installed ADB. Enter a command to access the file system. The method is to delete the system files that store password hashes and graphic keys. Once deleted and rebooted, the system will forget that the password ever existed.

adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key


adb shell rm /data/system/password.key




adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db

This method does not work on modern versions of Android 10-14 with default encryption, because without unlocking the screen, access to the file system is closed. However, on older models of Redmi or Mi with Android 7-9 firmware, the method can be a lifesaver. If debugging by USB was not enabled in advance, this path is closed.

• 💻 Driver installed required ADB computer-based.
• 🔓 It only works if the debugging has been previously included. USB.
• 📉 Efficiency on new devices is close to zero.
• ⚡ It allows you to save photos and contacts when successful.

Features of unlocking different models Xiaomi

Xiaomi’s lineup of devices is huge, and security behavior may vary depending on the series. Budget models of the Redmi series often have less stringent restrictions in older versions of the software, while the flagships of the Mi and Xiaomi series come with additional layers of protection, including motherboard binding.

On devices with high refresh rate screens and underscreen fingerprint scanners, software failures sometimes occur when the touchscreen stops responding to password input. In such cases, a forced reboot of the power button (hold 10-15 seconds) is recommended, after which it is worth trying to enter the password again.

And foldable devices like the Mix Fold, which can be different because of the form factor, and if you own a rare model, you should look for specific instructions for your form factor before resetting the data, because the combinations of buttons may differ.

Prevention of blocking and backups

The best way to deal with the problem is to prevent it. Regularly backing up to the Mi Cloud or Google Drive cloud ensures that even if you reset completely, you don't lose important contacts and notes. Set up automatic synchronization of photos and documents so that they are saved in real time.

It is also recommended to write down your PIN-It's convenient to draw a pattern lock on a piece of paper and store it in a safe place that's not accessible to outsiders. Biometrics (fingerprint, facial recognition) is convenient, but it doesn't replace the fully digital password that the system periodically needs to enter to verify identity.

Remember to check your account information periodically, if you change your phone number or email, make sure to update this information in the Mi Account security settings, which will make it easier to restore access in a critical situation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)