How to Reset All Settings to Xiaomi If You Forgot Your Password: The Complete Guide 2026

A forgotten password on a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that thousands of users face every day, especially when a device is locked after several failed attempts to enter, and important data remains inside. Fortunately, there are several formal and informal ways to get your phone back, even if you don’t remember the pattern lock or the key. PIN-code.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of resetting settings on Xiaomi (including the Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models) without data loss – where possible – and with full formatting if there is no other way out. It is important to understand that the unlock procedure depends on the version of MIUI, the presence of a tied Mi Account, the status of the bootloader and even the region of purchase of the device. For example, smartphones for the Chinese market often require additional steps.

Before you start, check whether your phone is connected to the Internet (via Wi-Fi or mobile network), whether the battery is at least 50% charged, and if you have a backup of important files. If not, try the methods first without resetting data.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most secure and recommended method for Xiaomi is to use a tied Mi Account, which works if:

• 📱 The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 🔑 You remember the username and password from Mi Account that was tied to the device.
• 🔄 Find Device has been activated in the settings.

Instructions:

1. On the lock screen, click Forgot Password? (or Forgot Password?).
2. Select Sign in via Mi Account and enter your details.
3. Confirm your login via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
4. Follow the system instructions to create a new password or reset the current one.

If the buttons Forgot your password? no, try entering any password 5 times in a row - after that, a hint should appear about unlocking through the account. On some firmware (for example, MIUI 14 for the global version), this method works even without the Internet, if the account was synced earlier.

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If you don’t remember the password from Mi Account, restore it through account.xiaomi.com. Use the linked email or phone number.

2. Recovery Mode reset (without password but with data loss)

If the Mi Account is not tied or you don't remember the login details, the only reliable way is to hard-reset the Recovery Mode, which will delete all the data on the phone, including photos, messages and installed apps, but will return access to the device.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone with a long press on the power button (or a combination of Power + Volume Increase if the sensor does not respond).
2. Press the Power button + Volume Up at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons when you see the Recovery Mode menu (usually in English or Chinese).
4. Use the volume buttons for navigation and the power button to select the Wipe Data (or Clear Data) item.
5. Confirm the action by choosing Wipe All Data or Yes.
6. After the process is complete, select Reboot to reboot.

On newer models (Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 12 and later), the Recovery menu can be in Chinese. Look for characters (clean data) or (restore factory settings). If you are not sure, take a picture of the screen and use a translator from the picture (for example, Google Lens).

Turn off the phone (hold the power button for 10+ seconds)

Charge the battery by at least 30%

Prepare. SIM-Card or Wi-Fi password to set up after resetting

Make sure there are no important unsaved data on your phone

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Reset via Mi Account

Recovery Mode

Fastboot

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3. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

If Recovery Mode is not available (for example, due to a damaged firmware) or the phone gives an error MIUI version cannot be installed on this device, you can use Fastboot mode, USB-Cable and basic knowledge of working with the command line.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect commands in Fastboot can turn your phone into a brick, and use this method only if you are confident in your actions or follow a proven instruction.

Instructions:

1. Install Mi Flash Tool and ADB/Fastboot drivers on your PC (you can download from the official Xiaomi website).
2. Turn off the phone and press Power + Volume Down to enter Fastboot Mode (the image of a hare in a hat-out of a hat will appear).
3. Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
4. Open the command prompt (cmd) and type: fastboot devices If the device is identified (its serial number appears), continue. If not, check the drivers.
5. Enter the command to reset: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

Some models (such as the POCO F5 or Xiaomi 12T) may require an OEM Unlock bootloader to be unlocked.

• 🔓 Turn it on. OEM Unlocking in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — press 7 times, then return to the additional settings → For developers).
• 🔗 Link your device to Mi Account in the Mi Unlock Status menu.
• ⏳ Wait 7-14 days (on new devices Xiaomi introduces a mandatory delay before unlocking).

4. Reset via "Find the device" (Mi Cloud)

If you have Find Device enabled on your phone, you can remotely reset your settings via the Mi Cloud web interface, which works even if the phone is turned off, but requires:

• 🌐 Access to the Internet on a blocked device (at least for a short time).
• 📍 Related Mi Account with Administrator Rights.
• 🔋 Battery charge of at least 15%.

How to reset:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select a locked phone from the list of devices.
3. Click Delete Data (Erase Device)
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email.
5. Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 30 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: After a remote reset, the phone may require you to enter data from the Mi Account that was on it before. If you do not remember the username / password, restore them in advance, otherwise the device will remain locked even after the reset.

5. Alternative methods (for older models)

Xiaomi smartphones before 2018 (e.g. Redmi 4X, Mi 5) sometimes run workarounds that have been closed in new firmware.

If none of the methods worked, it is possible that your phone has reset protection activated (FRP — Factory Reset Protection means that after the reset, the device will require input from the last Mi Account tied:

• 🔑 Restoring access to Mi Account (via email or email) SMS).
• 🛠 Contact Xiaomi Service Center with proof of purchase (check, box).

6. What should I do if nothing helps?

If all of these methods have not yielded results, there are two options:

1. Official service center: In Russia and CIS countries, there is a network of Xiaomi service centers, where you can unlock the phone under warranty (if it is valid) or for a fee: 📄 Passport or other document confirming possession. 🛒 Check or box from the phone (for proof of legal purchase). 💳 Payment for the service (from 1000 to 3 000 rubles depending on the model).

The addresses of the centers can be found on the website mi.com/ru/service.

Informal services

There are workshops that specialize in unlocking Xiaomi through exploits or hardware manipulations (for example, flashing EEPROM), the cost of such a service is from 2 000 to 10 000 rubles, but there are risks:

• 🚨 Loss of warranty (if any).
• 🔧 Possible damage to the phone in unqualified intervention.
• 📱 Data leakage if the wizard copies information from memory.

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If the phone is bought by hand, the previous owner can remotely lock it through the Mi Account even after a reset.Before buying a used Xiaomi, always check the status of the device on the site. mi.com/ru/verify.

7.How to avoid blocking in the future?

To avoid the problem of forgotten passwords again, follow these tips:

• 🔐 Use biometric unlocking (fingerprint or facial recognition) in addition to PIN-code.
• 📝 Write passwords in a secure location (for example, in the Mi Password Manager or Google Passwords password manager).
• ☁ Link Mi Account and enable data synchronization (photos, contacts, messages).
• 🔄 Regularly back up through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.
• 📱 Set up a Smart Lock to automatically unlock in secure places (such as at home).

It's also useful to know:

• On Xiaomi with MIUI 12+, you can configure Emergency Information (in lock settings) where you specify a spare phone number for communication in case of loss.
• If you often forget passwords, install the Mi Remote app – it sometimes lets you unlock your phone through Xiaomi smart devices (like the Mi Band bracelet).

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi