When you pick up your Xiaomi smartphone and it meets you with a lock screen that requires a pin or a pattern lock that you have forgotten, it can cause panic. This is a common problem that Redmi and Poco users have faced from different years of release. Fortunately, the Android operating system architecture and the MIUI shell provide several scenarios for restoring access to the device, even if you do not remember the login data.
Before we take any drastic action, we need to understand that most of the methods of complete reset will lead to the permanent deletion of all user data. Photos, contacts, correspondence in messengers and installed applications will be erased. The only way to save data without a password is to have a previously made backup in the cloud Mi Cloud or Google Drive. If such a copy is not available, the priority is to return the functionality of the gadget, not save files.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all available unlocking methods, from standard reset via the Recovery menu to more complex methods using a computer. We will also touch on the topic of anti-theft protection, which may require you to enter a password from a Mi Account even after a reset. Be careful when following instructions, as incorrect actions can lead to software errors.
Device preparation and risk assessment
The first step before any partition manipulation is to assess the current state of the smartphone. If the device is switched on and reacts to the presses, but does not let beyond the lock screen, your options are limited, you will need to charge the battery to at least 60%, since the formatting process of the data partition is energy intensive and should not be interrupted.
It's also important to check if the phone is linked to a Google or Mi Account, and if Find Device was active, the reset will require you to enter a login and password from an account that was previously synchronized, a mechanism that protects against theft, and you can't get around it with simple methods.
⚠️ Note: If you have bought a phone with your hands and do not know the passwords from previous accounts, unlocking may not be possible without contacting the seller or service center with a check to buy.
To perform some methods, you may need a computer with Windows operating system and a good one. USB-It is desirable to use the original cable or quality analogue, supporting data transfer, not just charging.
Reset via Recovery (Hard Reset) menu
The most common and effective way to bring your phone back to life is to use the built-in Recovery Mode, which works even when the touch screen is partially non-functioning or the system is loading cyclically, and the main condition is that the phone must be completely turned off.
The process of logging into the Recovery menu on Xiaomi devices is standardized, you need to pinch a certain combination of buttons and hold them until the brand logo appears, and then you will open a menu with English text, where the navigation is carried out by volume buttons and the choice is by the power button.
☑️ Checklist before reset
The sequence of actions is as follows:
- 🔌 Turn off the smartphone completely and disconnect the charging cable.
- 🔘 Press the Volume Up button and the Power button at the same time.
- ⏳ Hold both buttons until the Mi or Redmi logo appears, then release the power button while continuing to hold the volume.
- 📱 When the main Recovery menu appears, use volume buttons to move the cursor to the Wipe Data item.
After selecting Wipe Data, click the power button to confirm. The system can offer several options, among which you need to choose Wipe All Data. Confirm the action by selecting Confirm. The formatting process will take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, after which the phone will prompt you to return to the main menu (Back to Main Menu) or reboot (Reboot).
⚠️ Attention: On new versions MIUI (12, 13, 14) and HyperOS, logging into Recovery mode may require unlocking with a screen key or password from the Mi Account directly in the recovery menu.
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Hard Reset method through Recovery is a regular and safest way to reset, but on modern versions of firmware may require confirmation by the account owner.
Use the “Find Device” (Mi Cloud) function
If your smartphone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network) and synced with Mi Cloud is enabled, you can perform a remote reset. This method is convenient because it does not require physical access to the device buttons, if it, for example, is getting stuck on the lock screen, but the network catches.
To do this, you will need any other device (computer, tablet or phone of a friend) with Internet access. You need to go to the official website of the Xiaomi cloud service. Authorization is possible only under the Mi Account that is linked to the locked phone.
Algorithm of action:
- 🌐 Go to i.mi.com and log in to your account.
- 📲 Select the Find Device section (Find the device).
- 🗑️ In the list of devices, select your smartphone and click the Erase Device button (Erase data).
Once the command is confirmed, the phone will receive a signal to perform a complete reset, which can take some time, depending on the speed of the connection, and it is important to understand that if the phone is turned off or in flight mode, the command will be executed as soon as the device appears on the network.
What to do if a website writes “Device Offline”?
It is worth noting that this method also requires knowing the password from the Mi Account. If you forget it, you will first have to use the procedure of recovering access via email or phone number on the Xiaomi login page.
Unlocking the Google Find My Device
An alternative to Xiaomi’s branded service is Google’s standard tool, which runs on all certified Android devices and often proves effective if Mi services have been disabled or glitches. The principle of operation is similar to the Mi cloud: a remote command to erase data.
To use this method, the phone must be linked to a Google account and geolocation and data transfer must be enabled, and you can check for binding by trying to log into the same Google account from another device.
Instructions for use:
- 🔍 Go to the page. android.com/find browser-wise.
- 🔐 Log in to the Google account that was used on the locked phone.
- ⚙️ In the menu on the left, select your device and click Clear Device (Erase Device).
Google will warn you that all data will be deleted, and once confirmed, the process will begin. Unlike Mi Cloud, Google's services sometimes allow you to reset even when the phone is asleep, waking it up to receive a command.
If none of the cloud methods worked, it could be that the phone is disabled or has no access to the network, leaving only hardware reset or debugging tools.
Reset via ADB (for advanced users)
The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) method requires pre-training, and is only effective if the phone has pre-enabled the Developer Menu and activated USB debugging, and if these items were not enabled before locking, this method will not work.
You will need a computer with drivers installed. ADB and USB-When you connect your phone, you need to put it into debugging mode (usually through a combination of buttons when the screen is off or through the Recovery menu if you have access to the device). ADB Sideload).
adb reboot bootloader
adb reboot recovery
adb shell recovery --wipe_dataCommands are entered in the Windows command line or Linux/Mac terminal. The first command puts the phone into bootloader mode, the second command moves to retrieve mode, the third command initiates a reset. However, modern versions of Android restrict the execution of wipe commands from ADB for security purposes, requiring confirmation on the phone screen, which makes this method less relevant for unlocking a forgotten password.
| Method | A PC is needed. | I need Internet on my phone. | Data retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recovery Mode | No. | No. | No. |
| Mi Cloud | No (browser needed) | Yes. | No. |
| Google Find | No (browser needed) | Yes. | No. |
| ADB Command | Yes. | Not necessarily. | No. |
The problem of activating Mi Account after resetting
Once you successfully run Hard Reset and reboot, the phone will start as new, but if you have a Mi Account entered before the device is reset and protection is enabled, the system will require you to enter a password from it at the initial setup stage, which is Anti-theft protection.
Entering the wrong password several times can temporarily block the possibility of login. If you remember the login, but forgot the password, use the link "Forgot the password?" on the login screen. Recovery is possible through the linked phone number or backup email.
If you bought a used phone and you don't know the previous owner's password, things get complicated: Without removing the device from the trusted list of the old owner's account, you can't legally unlock it, and service centers can also refuse service without a check confirming ownership.
⚠️ Note: Mi-account hacking software that can be found online is 99% virus or fraudulent.
The only legal way to do this is to call Xiaomi official support with a box and a check to buy, and employees can remotely untie the device from your account if you prove that you own it.