How to Reset Your Xiaomi Password Through Your Computer: 3 Ways to Work

Introduction: Why a computer is the best way to unlock

A forgotten password on Xiaomi is a problem that thousands of users face every day. Unlike a reset via Mi Account (which requires a tied account and email/SMS access), unlocking through your computer works even if you completely lost access to the device and do not remember the data from your Xiaomi account. This method is suitable for all models of the brand, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

The main advantages of computer reset:

• 🔓 It works without a Mi Account (in some cases)
• 📱 Supports devices with damaged screen (if any) USB-debugging was included)
• ⚡ Faster than waiting for a response from Xiaomi’s support team (which may require proof of ownership)
• 🛠️ The ability to recover data after unlocking (with the right approach)

In this article, we will look at the three official methods of resetting passwords through a PC, their pros/cons, and give recommendations for data retention. Importantly, the procedure requires preliminary preparation - read carefully each section to avoid a breeze (complete loss of health) of the device.

Method 1: Unlocking through Mi Unlock Tool (official method)

This is Xiaomi’s recommended method, which works on most devices with Qualcomm and Mediatek processors.Mi Unlock Tool removes the account binding and resets all locks, but requires prior preparation.

Requirements:

• 🖥️ Windows computer 7/10/11 (64-bit)
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (undamaged)
• 📱 Battery charge > 60%
• 🔑 Xiaomi account that was linked to the phone (if the phone is blocked on Mi Account)

Step-by-step:

1. Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website (the version should match your model).
2. Turn off the phone. Press Volume down + Power to enter Fastboot Mode.
3. Connect the device to a PC. Android Bootloader Interface should appear in the Device Manager.
4. Launch the Mi Unlock Tool and log in with the same account as your phone.
5. Follow the instructions of the program. It takes 5-15 minutes.

Make sure your phone is debugging USB (if the screen is running) | Download Qualcomm/Mediatek drivers for your model | Disable antivirus (it can block Mi Unlock Tool) | Prepare a second phone for 2FA (if two-factor authentication is enabled)

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⚠️ Note: If the phone was purchased less than 72 hours ago, Xiaomi will block the unlock via Mi Unlock.

Method 2: Reset password through ADB (for devices with debugging enabled)

If your Xiaomi previously had USB debugging enabled (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to unlock developer options), you can reset your password through ADB without losing data.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 Stores all data on the phone (photos, messages, applications)
• 🚀 It runs on 90% of Xiaomi models (including older Redmis). 4X, Mi A1)
• 🛡️ It does not require a Mi Account.

Instructions:

1. Install Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC.
2. Connect your phone to your computer and confirm your trust in the device (if the screen is running).
3. Open the command line in the adb folder 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
4. After resetting, the password will be reset.

⚠️ Note: On new models (Xiaomi) 13T, Redmi Note 12 Pro+) after resetting the password through ADB You may need to re-authorize your account in Mi Account, if you don't remember your account details, use method 1 or 3.

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If, after resetting your password, your phone asks for an old PIN to be encrypted, enter any 4-digit code, and the system often accepts it as temporary.

Method 3: Hard reset via Fastboot (full cleaning)

This is an extreme method that removes all data from your phone, including photos, contacts and apps, and only use it if the first two methods fail or you don’t have access to Mi Account.

When to apply:

• 🔒 Your phone is locked on your Mi Account and you don’t remember the data
• 📵 The screen is not working (but) USB-port)
• ❌ Debugging by USB not included

Instructions for complete discharge:

1. Turn off the phone. Press Volume down + Power to enter the Fastboot.
2. Connect the device to the PC and check its detection by the command: fastboot devices
3. Run full reset: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

After the reboot, the phone will look like new, you will need an initial setup. On models with MIUI 14 and later after a hard reset, you may need to enter data from the previous Mi Account (even if you do not remember it), in which case, contact Xiaomi Support with proof of purchase.

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Hard reset via Fastboot is the only way to unlock Xiaomi if USB debugging is disabled and Mi Account is not available, but it results in complete data loss.

How to avoid blocking in the future: 5 tips from experts

To avoid the problem of forgotten passwords again, follow these guidelines:

Preventive measures:

• 🔐 Use a fingerprint or facial recognition as an additional way to unlock.
• 📧 Link two emails to your Mi Account (main and backup).
• 📱 Turn on the settings. → Google → Backup for Automatic Data Saving.
• 🔧 Check the debugging routinely USB (3 months).
• 📝 Write it down. PIN-code SIM-Mi Account cards and password in a secure location (e.g., Google Keep with encryption).

If you often forget passwords, consider using a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password.These apps let you store data encrypted and sync it between devices. Xiaomi owners also have a built-in password store in Settings → Passwords and Security available.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even when following instructions, users often make mistakes that lead to a device blinking or not being able to unlock.

⚠️ Note: If after a failed unlock the phone stopped turning on (black screen, vibration without image), do not try to sew it yourself.

Data recovery after password reset

If you managed to unlock Xiaomi but the data was lost, there are several ways to recover it. success depends on whether backup features were enabled.

Recovery methods:

• 🔄 Google Account: Contacts, calendars and some settings are synced automatically. check Google Contacts and Google Drive.
• 📱 Mi Cloud: If backup was enabled (Settings) → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup, restore data through Settings → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge.
• 💾 Local Backup: If you created a backup through Settings → System system → Backup, connect your phone to your PC and copy files from the folder MIUI/backup/AllBackup.
• 🛠️ Recovery software: You can use DiskDigger or EaseUS MobiSaver to extract photos and videos (root rights required).

If backups are not available, the chances of data recovery are minimal. On new Xiaomi models with an F2FS file system (such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra), even professional recovery programs are often powerless, so regular backups are the only reliable way to protect.

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To check if backup is enabled in Mi Cloud, go to i.mi.com and log in under your account. Devices will show the date of the last backup.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions