A situation where the Xiaomi Mi smartphone suddenly requests a forgotten pattern lock or PIN-The code is one of the most stressful for the owner, the device becomes a brick, and contacts, photos and banking applications are completely blocked. MIUI HyperOS and HyperOS have a high level of security, which makes it impossible to easily bypass the lock without losing data.
In most cases, the only way out is to completely reset the device to factory settings, which deletes all user files but returns the device to work, and it is important to understand that once reset, the system will require you to confirm ownership of the device through the Google or Mi Account account to which the phone was linked.
There are several proven ways to get back access to the device, and the specific method depends on whether USB debugging is enabled, whether the phone is tied to the Xiaomi Cloud service, and which version of the operating system is installed, and we will discuss in detail each of the available algorithms below.
⚠️ Note: All of the methods described below result in the complete deletion of data from the internal memory of the smartphone. If you have important information that you haven’t saved, try to find a way to back up your file system via the cloud or computer before resetting.
Use the "Find Device" function via Mi Account
The most civilized and secure way to unlock is available to those users who have pre-created Mi Account and activated Find Device, a method that allows you to remotely erase the lock data without having to physically access the recovery menu, and you'll need a computer or other smartphone with Internet access.
You need to go to the official i.mi.com cloud service website and log in under the same account that is used on the locked phone. After logging in, select Find Device. From the list of your gadgets, select the desired Xiaomi Mi model. From the management menu that appears, select the option "Wipe Data".
- 📱 Make sure the locked phone is connected to Wi-Fi or mobile internet, otherwise the command will not be executed.
- 🔒 The system will require you to enter a password from Mi Account to confirm the deletion operation.
- 🔄 After successful cleaning, the device will restart and start as new, without asking for the old screen password.
This method only works if the device has enabled the appropriate option in the cloud settings. If the phone is offline, the command will be executed automatically as soon as it appears on the network. This is the most preferred option, since it does not require complex manipulation of the buttons.
What to do if you forget your Mi Account password?
Reset via Recovery (Hard Reset)
The classic method, which works on 99% of Xiaomi devices, regardless of the state of the software part, uses the system partition Recovery Mode, which is loaded separately from the main operating system, and uses physical buttons on the smartphone body to enter this mode.
The login procedure may vary depending on the model. Most modern Xiaomi Mi and Redmi models require you to turn the device off completely. Then press both the Volume Up and Power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, but keep the volume down until the Main Menu menu appears.
☑️ Algorithm of actions in Recovery
In the menu, you can navigate with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. You need to find the Wipe Data item and select it. Then the system will request confirmation - select Wipe All Data. After the cleaning process, select Reboot -> Reboot to System.
⚠️ Attention: On new versions MIUI (12, 13, 14 and HyperOS) when you try to log in to Recovery, you may be asked to enter the unlock password. This is a new security measure. If the system requires a password that you have forgotten, this method through the buttons will not help - you will need to use Fastboot and PC.
Unlocking through Fastboot and Mi Unlock Tool
If a standard Recovery reset is blocked or requires a password, you can use Fastboot mode.This low-level mode allows you to interact with the phone directly through the computer. However, successful Bootloader unlocking usually requires a device pre-binding to the Mi Account and a wait of 7 to 30 days (depending on the region and the company's policy for 2026).
First, turn your smartphone into Fastboot mode. Turn off your phone, then press the Volume Down and the power button at the same time, and you'll see a picture of a hare repairing an android on the screen, and you'll see the message: FASTBOOT. Connect the device to the computer through the original USB-cable.
The official Mi Unlock Tool must be installed on your PC. Launch the program and log in to your Mi Account. If the device is tied and the waiting period has expired, press the Unlock button. The process will take a few minutes. Once the bootloader is unlocked, you can perform a clean firmware installation, which will completely remove the forgotten password.
fastboot oem unlock
fastboot erase userdata
fastboot rebootThese commands in the command line (with ADB/Fastboot installed) can also be used to force the data partition clean if the bootloader has already been unlocked before. Enter them sequentially, waiting for each operation to end.
Google Find My Device Services
An alternative way that works is if you have a Google account activated and geolocation enabled. Google’s Find My Device service allows you to control your device remotely. Although the direct password reset feature of the screen has been eliminated for security reasons in recent Android versions, the option of a full remote reset (Erase Device) has remained.
Go to android.com/find from any other device, log in to the Google account that is the main one on the locked phone, try to locate the gadget, and select the "Erase Device" option from the menu on the left.
Once confirmed, the phone will be commanded to reset completely, all data, including the pattern lock, will be deleted. It is important to note that the phone must be online. If it is turned off or off, the command will be executed the first time you connect to the Internet.
- 🌐 Requires a stable Internet connection on a locked device.
- 📍 Geolocation should be enabled in the phone settings before locking.
- 🔐 You need to remember the password from the Google account to log in to the service.
This is a good way to do this, because it doesn't require a computer at hand, just any smartphone or tablet with a browser, but it's powerless against Factory Reset Protection (FRP), which we'll talk about later.
FRP (Google Account Verification)
After performing a data reset (Hard Reset), modern Xiaomi smartphones activate the FRP protection system. When you first boot, the system will require you to enter a password from a Google account that was synchronized with the phone before the reset. This is done to protect against theft: if a thief steals the phone and dumps it, he will not be able to use it.
If you remember your Google login and password, just type them in. You have problems if you forget that login too, and then you can't log in with standard methods. There are workarounds, but they depend on the specific version of Android and the security patch.
One of the most popular methods is the use of TalkBack or special methods. APK-Files that allow you to access your Wi-Fi settings and browser to reset your account. However, with each security update, Google closes these vulnerabilities. Current versions of HyperOS often require the use of specialized paid software for service centers.
| Method | Data retention | A PC is needed. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Cloud (Remotely) | No (only reset) | No. | Low. |
| Recovery Mode | No. | No. | Medium |
| Fastboot + Mi Unlock | No. | Yes. | Tall. |
| Service centre | Maybe. | No. | Low. |
💡
Keep checks and boxes from the machinery, the original box with the IMEI-With the code and the purchase receipt, the official proof of ownership of the device. With these documents, the authorized service center Xiaomi can remove the lock. FRP officially.
Professional tools and service use
When software methods are exhausted and account access is lost, the call to professionals is left: Service centers use licensed hardware such as UnlockTool, Chimera or Octoplus, which allows you to interact with the device's processor at a deep level, sometimes bypassing account verification or reframing IDs.
Using these tools at home is risky; improper firmware can lead to the loss of the IMEI recovery capability, making it impossible to work on mobile networks; and many “cracked” versions of programs contain viruses or miners.
If the phone is warranty-free but locked due to a forgotten password, Xiaomi’s official service center may refuse free service, as this is considered an unwarranted case (a software failure due to the user’s fault).
⚠️ Warning: Don't try to open the case of your smartphone to solder memory chips yourself if you don't have experience. This is guaranteed to deprive you of warranties and is highly likely to permanently disable the device. Modern memory chips are soldered and often cryptographically tied to the processor.
💡
The most reliable way to avoid blocking problems is to regularly back up important data to the cloud and write passwords to a trusted password manager or paper notebook.