How to reset Xiaomi to factory settings if you forgot the password MI-Account: 4 working methods

Forgot the password from MI-You can’t unlock your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO? The situation is familiar to many: the phone requires you to enter account details after a reset, update, or even accidental reboot. Without the right password, the device turns into a “brick” – the camera does not work, there is no access to contacts, and most importantly, it is impossible to install new applications or update the firmware.

In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to reset Xiaomi to factory settings, including bypassing the lock. MI-Important: Not all methods are suitable for new HyperOS models or the latest versions MIUI 14/15 — We will specify the limitations and nuances for each instruction, and you will learn how to save data before reset (if the phone is still partially working) and what to do if after the procedure the device again requires a password.

We warn you right away: some methods require technical skills (working with ADB, firmware through Fastboot), if you are not sure, you should contact the Xiaomi service center, but for most users, the standard tools we described below will also suffice.

1. Reset via Recovery Mode (no password) MI-account)

The easiest way to get Xiaomi back to factory settings is to use Recovery Mode, which works on 90% of models until 2022, but may not work on new devices with HyperOS or those tied to an account via Mi Cloud Lock.

To enter Recovery:

• 🔋 Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds if it freezes).
• 🔄 Keep the Volume up. + Food before the appearance of the Mi logo.
• 📱 Select the language (usually English or Chinese) on the screen).
• 🔧 Go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (use volume buttons for navigation, power for selection).

Once the reset is confirmed, the phone will restart. MI-The device has been activated with the Find Device function, which requires one of the alternative methods described below.

Bypassing the lock MI-account ADB (power-user)

If resetting via Recovery didn’t help and the phone still requires a password, you can try to delete the file with account data via Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method only works when the debugging is enabled. USB (USB Debugging) before lockdown.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (use the original cable).
2. Open the command line (CMD) in the folder with ADB (you can download from the official site).
3. Enter the commands in turn: adb shell su rm /data/system/gesture.key rm /data/system/locksettings.db rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm reboot

If the password has not disappeared after rebooting, try to delete the file. /data/system/mi_account.xml (only for older versions MIUI!). Warning: Mistakes can lead to complete data loss or “bricking” of the device.

3.Reset via Fastboot (if Recovery is blocked)

On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro), standard Recovery can be blocked by the manufacturer, in which case the firmware through Fastboot, a mode that allows you to reinstall the system without a password, will help.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi website (choose the Fastboot version).
2. Unpack the archive in a folder with Fastboot tools (for example, Mi Flash Tool).
3. Transfer the phone to Fastboot mode: adb reboot bootloader Or manually: Keep Volume down + Power when turned on.
4. Connect the device to your PC and launch the Mi Flash Tool. Select the firmware folder and press Flash.

It takes 5-10 minutes, and when you reboot, it's like new, but it's deleted, and if you do that, you get a password request. MI-account, which means that the device has activated the binding to the account via Mi Cloud – you will need official unlocking (see section 5).

4. Use of service codes (for older models)

On Xiaomi devices until 2019 (e.g. Redmi 4X, Mi A1), service codes for resetting are sometimes triggered.

• 📞 ##7780## - soft reset (saves media files).
• 📞 *2767*3855# — Full reset (removes everything, including firmware!).
• 📞 ##3646633## - Engineering menu (for experienced users).

If the codes don't work, the manufacturer has disabled them in newer versions of MIUI. Don't try to enter random combinations - this can damage the firmware.

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Before entering service codes, check the phone model in Settings → About Phone. Some codes only work on certain chipsets (e.g. Qualcomm or Mediatek).

5. Official unlock via Mi Unlock (if nothing worked)

If all previous methods fail, the last option is to officially unlock the Mi Unlock Tool.

• 🔗 Tie-to-device MI-Account (even if you forget your password, you can restore it via email).

Instructions:

1. Go to the Mi Unlock website and download the utility.
2. Sign in to the same thing. MI-account that is linked to the phone.

If you have a handheld phone and you don’t know the previous owner’s details, you can’t unlock it via Mi Unlock, which means you can only contact the service center with proof of purchase (e.g., a photo of an IMEI box).

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Official unlocking is the only legal way to bypass the Mi Cloud Lock on new Xiaomi models (2021 and later).

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you reset Xiaomi, users often face typical problems, and we put them together in a table with solutions:

If your problem is not described in the table, check the phone's IMEI (type *#06#) and specify the model.Perhaps there are specific instructions for your device on the 4PDA or Xiaomi.EU forums.

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Before resetting, check if the phone is tied to the operator (for example, MTS or Beeline).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions