A situation where access to a smartphone is restricted due to a forgotten pattern lock or digital key PIN-The code is one of the most stressful for the owner of the gadget, especially for popular models like Xiaomi Redmi 3, which are still actively used due to their reliability. Device locking can happen at the most inopportune moment when an urgently needed phone for an important call or access to a banking application is needed.
Fortunately, the Android operating system architecture that runs the MIUI shell has multiple levels of access recovery. Resetting to factory settings is a radical but often the only way to regain control of the device. It's important to understand that most methods will require the complete deletion of user data, so you need to be mindful of the process.
In this article, we will take a look at all the current methods of unlocking Redmi 3, from standard Google features to engineering menus, learn how to proceed if the device does not respond to touch or if the Mi Account was not tied in advance, and restore access is possible even in difficult cases, if you follow the algorithm of actions.
Preparation for the procedure of unlocking the device
Before you start taking action to unblock, you need to assess the current state of the smartphone. If the Xiaomi Redmi 3 is still responding to commands, but you just don't remember the code, try to remember whether you have linked a Google account or Mi Account. Having synchronization greatly simplifies the task, allowing you to use remote management methods.
However, if you plan to use the Hard Reset method, which is the most versatile for this model, it is worth preparing technically.You will need to ensure a stable battery charge, since interrupting the reset process can damage the file system. The battery charge shall be at least 50-60% safe-to-operate.
β οΈ Note: All of the methods described below, related to resetting via Recovery or Fastboot, result in the complete deletion of all user data (photos, contacts, applications).
It is also worth finding the original in advance. USB-cable, if you need to connect to a computer to use the Mi Flash Tool utility or ADB-Poor quality cables often cause connection breaks, which is critical when firmware or reset memory partitions.
βοΈ Ready to dump
Method One: Reset via Recovery Menu
The most common and effective method for Redmi 3 is to log in to Recovery mode, a special diagnostic menu that is sewn into the phone's memory regardless of the main operating system, and you need to turn off the smartphone completely to enter, and then pinch the key combination.
On the Xiaomi Redmi 3, the standard combination is to simultaneously press the Volume Up and Power buttons. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, after which the power button can be released while holding the volume key. In a few seconds, the Recovery Mode menu will open.
Navigation in this menu is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. You need to find Wipe Data or Wipe & Reset. Depending on the version of MIUI, the interface may differ, but the logic remains the same: search for the option to clean the data.
- π Select the Wipe Data item with the volume button and confirm with the power button.
- π Select Wipe All Data for a complete reset.
- π The system will ask for confirmation: select Confirm.
- π Wait until the process is over and select Back to Main Menu, then Reboot.
Once rebooted, the phone will look like new, just out of the store. The pattern lock and all passwords will be deleted along with the user partition. This is the price of Android security, which doesn't store the encryption keys in plain sight.
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If the Recovery menu doesnβt open in the standard way, try connecting the phone off to the charger or computer via USB, and then pinch the button combination.
Using a Mi Account to remove the lock
Xiaomi smartphone owners often neglect to register Mi Account, but in a lock situation this can be a salvation.If the blocked Redmi 3 was signed in to Mi Account and enabled the function "Find the device", you can delete the password remotely.
You'll need a computer or other smartphone to do this, go to the official i.mi.com cloud site, log in using the same login and password that was entered on the locked phone, and the system will suggest you select the device from the list.
In the device management interface, find Wipe Device, which commands the phone over the Internet. If Redmi 3 is connected to the network (Wi-Fi or mobile data), it will reset and reboot without a password.
| Parameter | Requirement | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Account: | I'll be sure. | Check it out. |
| Network connection | Wi-Fi or 4G/3G | Critically. |
| Finding function | Must be active. | Check it out. |
| Battery charge | Anybody. | Never mind. |
The good thing about this method is that it doesn't require physical interaction with the phone buttons, which is true if the volume key is faulty, but if the phone is off or doesn't have Internet access, the command will only be executed after the network is on.
What to do if you forget your Mi Account password?
Unlocking the Google Find My Device
An alternative to Xiaomiβs ecosystem is Googleβs standard service, which, because Redmi 3 runs on Android, syncs with your Google account by default. If youβve signed in to Google Play and geolocated on your device, you can use Find My Device.
Go to android.com/find from any browser. Sign in to the Google account that was used on your smartphone. If the phone is online, you'll see its location and three management options: Call, Lock, and Clear the Device.
We're interested in the Erase Device option, which is similar to Hard Reset, which erases all data, including passwords and keys, and is the only legal way to get around lockdowns without losing data is not possible on modern versions of Android for security reasons.
- π Requires an active Internet connection on the phone.
- π§ You need an accurate login and password from Google.
- π± GPS It may be off, but the data transfer must be working.
It's worth noting that after this cleaning, when you first turn on, the phone will require you to enter the password from the Google account from which the reset was made. FRP (Factory Reset Protection).
Fastboot and PC Method: for Advanced Users
If the standard Recovery menu is unavailable or damaged, you can use Fastboot mode. On Xiaomi Redmi 3, it allows you to interact with your phone at a low level through your computer. To enter, press the Volume Down button and connect. USB-plug-in.
You'll see a picture of a hare repairing an android that says FASTBOOT. You'll need an ADB/Fastboot driver installed to work with. Connect your phone, open the command line in the utility folder.
fastboot devicesIf the computer sees the device, you'll see the serial number. Next, you can try to erase the data section by command:
fastboot erase userdataβ οΈ Attention: Using Fastboot commands requires caution. A command error (e.g., erasing a boot partition) can turn a phone into a brick".
This method is effective when the volume buttons are unstable and do not allow you to log in to Recovery, but allow you to log into Fastboot. It is also useful if a software failure blocks the login to the recovery menu.
FRP and Google account issues after reset
After successfully resetting your password and first downloading Redmi 3, you may encounter an activation screen.Google's security system will require you to enter a password from an account that was synced to your phone before the reset. FRP (Factory Reset Protection).
If you remember your username and password, just type them in. If your account is unknown or lost, the activation process will block your device, and in such cases, Redmi 3 (which runs on older versions of Android 5.1/6.0) has been vulnerable.
One of the methods of bypassing (relevant for older versions of firmware):
- On the welcome screen, click 7 times on the Android version (if available) or use TalkBack.
- Try inserting. SIM-card of another operator and accept the terms and conditions.
- Use Googleβs voice assistant by calling it with the long home button (if menu allows), and ask to open your settings or browser.
However, the most reliable way to get a forgotten Google account is to contact a service center with a check to prove ownership of the device, and resetting FRP with software methods on modern security patches is becoming increasingly difficult.
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FRP protection is designed to protect the ownerβs data in case of theft, so it is impossible to circumvent it without account data by legal means.