Xiaomi Redmi 4X It's still one of the most popular budget smartphones, even years after it was released, a reliable hardware device with a 4100 mAh battery and good performance. But what if you forget your password, your pattern lock, or your computer? PIN-The situation is complicated if the device is enabled binding to Mi Account — without it, even after resetting the settings, the phone can remain locked.
In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to unlock Redmi 4X (codename santoni), including methods with data saving and forced reset via Fastboot or Recovery. You will also learn how to bypass Mi Account lock after a hard reset and what to do if the phone does not respond to the connection to the PC. Instructions are suitable for all versions of firmware (MIUI 8/9/10/11/12) and types of lock: PIN, pattern lock, fingerprint.
1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)
If your Redmi 4X has a Xiaomi account tied up (Mi Account) and your phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network), you can use the official access recovery function, which works even if you forget your pattern lock or PIN, but remember the data from the account.
How to do this:
- 📱 Enter the wrong password/key 5 times in a row until the message “Forgot the password?” or “Unlock via Mi Account” appears".
- 🔑 Click on the restore button and enter email/phone associated with Mi Account and password.
- 📧 A confirmation code will arrive on the linked email or number - enter it in the appropriate field.
- 🔓 After successful authentication, the phone will unlock and you will be able to set a new password.
⚠️ Note: If the device has the “Find Device” function enabled, additional confirmation may be required after unlocking via Mi Account. SMS Also note that this method doesn’t work without the Internet — if Wi-Fi is disabled, connect to the network via the emergency call menu (type ##4636## and select “Wi-Fi information").
If you don’t remember the Mi Account, try to restore access via account.xiaomi.com, which requires access to the email or phone number you provided when you register, and in the extreme case, try contacting Xiaomi support and confirming ownership of the device (checks or IMEI data are required).
2. Reset password via Recovery (without loss of data)
If Mi Account is lost and unlocking through official methods is not possible, you can try resetting your password through Recovery Mode. On Redmi 4X, this does not always work, but in some cases allows you to reset the screen lock without deleting user data (photos, contacts, messages).
Instructions:
- Turn off the phone with a long press on the power button.
- Press both Volume Up (+) and Power, hold on for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.
- Select the language (if required) from the menu, then go to the "Wipe & Reset" section (or "Clear Data" in older versions).
- Select "Wipe Lock Settings" or "Erase Lock Password" (the name may vary).
- Confirm the action and restart the phone (Reboot).
If there is no such item on the menu, try an alternative method:
☑️ Preparing for resetting through Recovery
⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI The "Wipe Lock Settings" option is missing, and you'll have to do a full Wipe All Data reset, which will delete all the data from the internal memory, and you may need to enter data from Mi Account if it was previously linked after such a reset! If resetting via Recovery doesn’t help, move on to the next method – unlocking via Fastboot. 3. Fastboot Unlocking is the most reliable method, but it requires connecting the phone to your computer and installing special drivers: 🔒 You forgot your password and don’t remember your Mi Account. 📵 The phone does not respond to touch (the sensor does not work). 🔄 We need to refashion the device completely: 💻 Windows computer (7/8/10/11). 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original). 📦 Firmware archive for Redmi 4X (Choose the version of Fastboot). 🛠️ MiFlash utility. 🔧 Drivers. ADB/Fastboot. Step-by-step: Install drivers ADB/Fastboot Unpack the downloaded firmware into a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\Redmi4X\). Turn off the phone, then press the volume down (-) + Power to log into Fastboot Mode (a hare in a hat-eared image will appear). Connect your phone to your PC. In MiFlash, click Select and point the way to the firmware folder. At the bottom of the program, select Clear All or Save User Data (data saving, but it doesn't always work). Press Flash and wait until the process is over (5–10 After successful firmware, the phone will restart automatically. Firmware mode Is data saved? Is Mi Account required after resetting? Clean All ❌ No (full reset) ✅ Yes, if the account was linked to Save User Data ✅ Partially (photos, files) ✅ Yes Clean All and Lock ❌ No. ❌ No (but locks the bootloader) ⚠️ Note: If the phone requires Mi Account data to be entered after firmware and you don’t remember it, you will need to use lock bypass (see section 5). If MiFlash is an error, check the drivers or try another one. USB-port. 💡If MiFlash doesn’t see the phone, try running the program on behalf of the administrator or installing drivers manually through Device Manager (find the device with the exclamation point and update the driver). 4. Bypassing Mi Account lock after reset One of the most common problems after Redmi reset 4X — requesting data from Mi Account, even if you don’t remember them. This is the result of Factory Reset Protection (FRP), There are a number of ways to get around it, but they all require a certain amount of technical skill. Method 1: Using a test menu (EDL Mode: This method works on firmware MIUI It may not work for newer versions. Turn on your phone and wait for the Mi Account window to appear. Click on "Emergency Call" and then enter the code ##3646633##. From the engineering menu, select Connectivity. → USB Port Settings and activate Manufacture Mode. Connect your phone to your PC and use the Mi Account Unlock Tool (download on forums) 4PDA or XDA-Developers. Method 2: Through firmware in EDL-It's a more robust, but sophisticated method: 🔧 Cable USB-AM (enter EDL Mode). 💻 MiFlashPro or QFil. 📦 Firmware in.mbn format for Redmi 4X. Instructions: Turn off your phone. Close the Test Point contacts on the motherboard (you need to disassemble the phone) or use a special cable. Connect the phone to your PC, it will be identified as Qualcomm. HS-USB QDLoader 9008. In MiFlashPro, select firmware and press Flash. ⚠️ Attention: Entrance EDL Mode on new firmware can be blocked. If the phone is not identified as QDLoader, try using an authorized Xiaomi developer account (there is a paid one at some service centers). EDL They can permanently destroy your phone. EDL Mode?EDL (Emergency Download Mode is a Qualcomm chip-based emergency boot mode that allows you to flash through the device even when the bootloader is damaged, and is used by service centers to restore bricks". However, on new versions MIUI entrance EDL blocked without authorization Xiaomi. 5. Alternative methods of unlocking If none of the above methods worked, you can try less common, but sometimes effective methods. 1: Through ADB (if debugging is on USB) If the phone has previously been activated USB, You can delete the file with the password through ADB: 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 reboot, the screen lock will be reset. 2: If the phone is tied to the Mi Account, but you do not remember the data, you can contact the official Xiaomi service center with documents confirming the purchase (check, warranty card, box with a box of information). IMEI). In some cases, they can help unlock the device, but it takes anywhere from a few days to weeks. Method 3: Using third-party forum programs (e.g., using a third-party program, 4PDA) You can find tools like Xiaomi Tool. V2 Or the Mi Account Bypass Tool, which automates the process of bypassing the lock: 🛡️ Risk of catching a virus or spyware. 🔧 Not all programs work on new firmware. 💰 Some of the tools are paid (for example, Miracle Box). 💡If the phone is locked after reset due to Mi Account, and official methods do not help, the most reliable way is to run through the firmware. EDL Mode with an authorized account, however, requires disassembling the device or a special cable. 6. How to avoid blocking in the future to avoid the problem of forgotten password on Redmi 4X, follow these tips: 🔐 Use a password manager (such as Google Password Manager or KeePass) to store PIN-codes and graphic keys. 📝 Write down your Mi Account (email and password) to a secure location. 🔄 Regularly back up important data via Mi Cloud or Google Drive. 🛠️ Disable the Mi Account binding if you are selling your phone (in settings: Accounts) → Mi Account → Delete the account). 📱 Activate Debugging on USB (In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI Press 7 times, then return to the Additional Settings → For developers. It's also useful to know: 🔋 If your phone is dead in a locked state, charge it to at least 20%, otherwise resetting via Recovery may not work. 📶 If the mobile network does not work after reset, check the settings. APN Or re-flash the modem module. 🔄 After bypassing Mi Account, it is recommended to immediately untie the old account and link a new one to avoid re-blocking. FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Redmi 4X ❓ Can I unlock Redmi? 4X No data loss? Yes, but only if: Recovery has "Wipe Lock Settings." USB (then can be used ADB). You remember the data from Mi Account (official reset does not delete files. ❓ The phone after the reset asks for the old password. What to do? It means that the reset was incorrect. Try: Repeat the reset via Fastboot with the choice "Clean All." Swipe the phone through EDL Mode (requires disassembly or special cable) Contact the service center with documents on the phone. ❓ Can you bypass Mi Account without a computer? No, all working bypass methods require a PC connection. However, you can try: Restore access to Mi Account through account.xiaomi.com. SIM-Internet card and try unlocking via Find Device (if the function has been activated). ❓ Why does MiFlash give out a firmware bug: 🔌 Incorrectly installed drivers (try Xiaomi’s official drivers). 📂 The path to firmware contains Cyrillic or gaps. 🔒 Phone is not in Fastboot mode (check if the connection indicator is on). 🛠️ The cable or USB-Solution: Try another cable, port or PC. ❓ How to know if the bootloader is unlocked on Redmi 4X? To check: Enter Fastboot Mode (Loudness Down) + Nutrition). Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command: fastboot oem device-info If the answer has the line Device unlocked: true, the bootloader is unlocked.