How to reset Xiaomi without a password: the complete guide

A situation where the owner forgets the password, pattern lock or PIN-The unlock code is one of the world's most stressful modern technology. The smartphone turns into a brick, access to contacts, photos and banking applications becomes impossible. POCO This is especially important because of the aggressive security policy. MIUI HyperOS, which integrates Mi Account with your device.

There are several proven methods of access recovery, but none of them is universal for all versions of the firmware. Some methods allow you to save user data, while others require full formatting of internal memory. The choice of a specific algorithm of actions depends on whether the debugging mode over USB was turned on before locking and whether the phone is linked to the manufacturer's cloud service.

In this article, we will take a look at all possible scenarios, from Google’s regular tools to Recovery’s engineering menus, how to bypass protection, what risks exist when using third-party software, and why deleting your Mi Account before resetting is a critical step to avoid blocking activation.

Device preparation and risk assessment

Before you start active reset actions, you need to clearly understand what kind of lock you are facing. If the screen requires you to enter an unlock password, but allows you to use the notification curtain or emergency menu, the chances of success are much higher. In the case when the device requests the password of the Google account or Mi Account after rebooting (FRP Lock), the situation becomes more complicated and requires more complex manipulation.

It's important to realize that most methods, especially Hard Reset, result in the complete deletion of all data. Photos, instant messengers, saved passwords and files will be permanently lost if you haven't synced with the cloud before, so if you have the slightest chance of remembering a combination or using your fingerprint to log in to create a backup, you should use this first.

It is also worth checking the presence SIM-Some methods of verification through Google Find My Device or Mi Cloud require an active Internet connection. If the phone is completely locked and has no access to the network, the range of available tools is narrowed to methods that work locally via buttons or special cables.

⚠️ Warning: Before performing any reset actions, make sure that the battery is at least at least 40-50%. Interrupting the formatting process due to battery discharge can cause damage to the file system and the inability to load the operating system.

πŸ“Š Have you ever had a smartphone lock?
Yeah, I forgot my password.
No, I always remember the codes.
Blocking Google account
I only use biometrics.

Method 1: Reset by Google Find My Device

This is the easiest and most secure way to do this, but it requires a few prerequisites: first, the locked phone must have the Internet enabled; second, the device must have a Google account activated, and you must know the username and password from it; and third, the Find Device function must have been pre-activated in the security settings.

To implement the method, take any other gadget (computer, tablet or phone friend) and go to the official website of the service Google Find My Device. Log in under the same account that was used on the blocked Xiaomi.

In the device management interface, select the option "Erase Device" (Erase Device), the system will warn you that all data will be deleted, after confirmation, the command will be sent to the smartphone, and it will automatically restart in factory reset mode. This will remove the pattern lock, password and PIN-code, but will also erase all files.

  • πŸ”‘ Requires an accurate login and password from a Google account linked to the phone.
  • πŸ“Ά It is necessary to have an active connection to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
  • πŸ—‘οΈ All user data is deleted without the possibility of recovery.

Once the process is complete, the phone will return to factory settings, and when you first set up, the system will ask you to enter a password from your Google account to confirm the owner's rights (FRP protection), and if you enter the correct data, access to the system will be restored.

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If your phone is not connected to Wi-Fi, try inserting it. SIM-card with a tariff having an internet packet so that the reset team can pass through the mobile network.

Method 2: Hard Reset with Recovery Mode

The most common method, which works even when the Internet is turned off and there is no access to cloud services, is based on the built-in Recovery Recovery menu, which is available at the low-level software level of the device, which is universal for all Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi models.

To enter recovery mode, you need to turn off your smartphone completely. Then press the button combination. On most modern models, this is the simultaneous pressing of the Volume Up and Power buttons. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, after which the power button can be released while keeping the volume.

When the Main Menu appears, the volume buttons (up/down) control the menu, and the choice of item is confirmed by the power button. You need to find the Wipe Data section and select it. Then the system will suggest you select Wipe All Data. Confirm the action by selecting Confirm.

β˜‘οΈ Checklist before Hard Reset

Done: 0 / 4

The formatting process can take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. When it's finished, the screen will say "Data wiped successfully." After that, select Reboot and then Reboot to System. The phone will restart, and the initial setup process will take longer than usual, as the system will reassemble the database.

⚠️ Warning: After resetting via Recovery on Android 5.0 and higher, protection will work FRP (Factory Reset Protection: Without entering a password from a Google account that was synced to your phone before the reset, you won’t be able to log in.

Method 3: Remote reset via Mi Cloud

Owners of Xiaomi devices have the advantage of having their own ecosystem: If a phone has a Mi Account enabled and Find Device enabled, the reset can be done via a browser on any computer, a method similar to Google services, but often works more consistently on devices of the brand.

Go to the official i.mi.com website and log in to your Mi Account. Select the "Find Device" section in the interface. Select the locked smartphone from the list on the left and display its last known location (if geolocation is enabled).

At the bottom of the screen or in the device control menu, find the "Erase" or "Wipe Data" button. Pressing this button will send a command to forced reset. The main condition is that the phone must be turned on and connected to the Internet. If the device is offline, the command will be executed automatically as soon as it is released to the network.

ParameterGoogle Find My DeviceMi Cloud Find DeviceRecovery Mode
I need Internet on my phone.Yes.Yes.No.
Data retentionNo.No.No.
Account dependencyGoogleMi AccountNo.
Difficulty of implementationLow.Low.Medium

The advantage of the method through Mi Cloud is that it also allows you to try to unlock the screen without deleting data if the "Device Lock" function was configured in advance, but in the case of a forgotten password, it is the full erasure function that is most often used.

What to do if Mi Cloud says "Device Offline"?
If the device is offline, the reset command will remain in the server queue. SIM-A card with the Internet or connect your phone to Wi-Fi (if known), the command will run automatically.

Method 4: Reset via ADB (for advanced users)

This method is suitable only for those users who had been enabled before the blocking USB" (USB Debugging) is in the developer menu. If this option is not activated, the method will not work. It allows you to delete the file with the lock key without fully formatting user data, although newer versions of Android are doing this less and less.

First, you will need a computer with drivers installed. ADB and Fastboot, and USB-Connect your smartphone to your PC. Open the command line (CMD) PowerShell in the tool folder ADB. Enter the adb device command to check the connection. If the phone screen has a debugging confirmation window and you were able to accept it (which is difficult with a locked screen, but it is possible on older versions). MIUI), The list will display the serial number of the device.

There is a team that tries to delete the system file that stores the pattern lock: adb shell rm. /data/system/gesture.key. For PIN-The code or password files may be called password.key or locksettings.db. After the command is executed, you need to restart the device with the command adb reboot.

adb shell pm clear com.android.settings

Executing this command resets the Settings application settings, which in some cases (depending on the MIUI version) can remove the password requirement at start. However, on modern HyperOS and MIUI 13/14 shells, this method is often ineffective due to the enhanced protection of the /data partition.

  • πŸ’» It requires a computer and installed SDK Platform Tools.
  • βš™οΈ It only works when the debugging is included. USB lock-in.
  • πŸ“‰ The efficiency on new versions of Android is going to zero.

Method 5: Use of engineering menus and special codes

Some users are looking for magic codes to enter into the emergency call menu to reset their settings. Indeed, there are codes like ##7780## or ##7378423## that can open the service menu. However, on a locked password screen, the dialing field is often unavailable, or availability is limited only to emergency calls.

If you manage to get into the dial menu (e.g. via SOS), type in the code ##7780##. On some older models, this causes you to reset your application settings and return to the factory version of the firmware without deleting personal files (photos, music). But beware: on newer models, this code can initiate a complete reset without warning.

A more reliable but difficult way is to log into the engineering menu through button combinations when downloading, but the standard Recovery described in the second section is a safer and more official alternative to these manipulations.

⚠️ Warning: Never enter codes found on questionable forums unless you are sure of their purpose.Some combinations can instantly (format) a phone without the possibility of canceling, and in the worst case, damage the basic radio modulation (IMEI).

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The most reliable way to unlock without losing data is only possible if you have enabled debugging over USB or synchronization with Mi Cloud before locking. Otherwise, formatting is inevitable.

Bypassing FRP (Google Account Lock) after resetting

Once you successfully reset your password with any of the above methods, you'll come across a welcome screen, and when you connect to Wi-Fi, you'll need to enter a Google account that was synced to your device earlier, which is FRP, and you won't get around it.

If you know the username and password, just type them in. If the phone is bought from hand and the previous owner hasn't untie the device, you'll have to contact it. There are technical ways to bypass FRP through vulnerabilities in the system (using TalkBack, special applications via Bluetooth or OTG cables), but they require deep technical knowledge and are constantly closed by Google security updates.

The official way to unlock a forgotten Google account is to provide a check for the purchase of the device to an authorized service center. Specialists can remove the lock legally, confirming the right of ownership of the gadget. Using "service" accounts or paid programs to reset FRP carries the risk of installing malware.

Xiaomi models also have a Mi Account binding, and if the phone says, "This device is locked" after the reset and requires a Mi Account password, it's officially impossible to unlock the device without it, and it's a server-level anti-theft protection.

What happens if you enter the wrong Mi Account password many times?
If you have multiple failed password attempts, your account may be temporarily blocked by Xiaomi’s security system to protect against matching, and your device may be flagged as suspicious, requiring additional verification via SMS or email.
Can I unlock Xiaomi with my fingerprint if I forget my password?
No, it's a myth. Biometrics (fingerprint, face) are just a convenient substitute for password entry, and if you reboot your phone or 72 hours after you last entered your password, the system will force you to enter a digital code, a PIN or a pattern lock, without which biometrics will not work.
Will the warranty be reset with Hard Reset?
Hard Reset is not a reason to refuse warranty service, as it is a regular function of the operating system. However, if custom firmware was installed during the reset or previous actions, a Root right was obtained or the bootloader was damaged, the guarantee will be lost.
How to avoid blocking in the future?
Write your password to a safe place (password manager, paper notebook). Be sure to add an alternative email and phone number to your Google and Mi Account settings. Make sure that Find Device is active and that your contact and photo backup is working correctly.

To sum up, resetting Xiaomi without a password is a real procedure, but it requires understanding the consequences. The most effective and safe method for the average user is Hard Reset via Recovery, followed by entering account data. Take care of your data and use cloud services so that at a critical moment you do not lose important information.