How to unlock Xiaomi if you forget your password: step-by-step instructions 2026

A forgotten password on a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that thousands of users face every day, especially when the phone stores important data such as photos, correspondence or work documents, and fortunately, the manufacturer has provided several formal and informal ways to reset the lock without resorting to service centers.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven methods to reset Xiaomi without a password, from standard recovery via Mi Account to advanced technical solutions for power users. Importantly, the effectiveness of each method depends on the device model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11, etc.), the version of MIUI and the presence of a linked account. Some methods can lead to data loss, we will warn you about this in advance.

If you are looking for a solution for a particular model or firmware version, use a page search (Ctrl+F) with keywords: Fastboot, Recovery, EDL or Mi Flash. For owners of devices with a Qualcomm chipset and MediaTek, the instructions will be different – this is also taken into account in the manual.

1.Reset via Mi Account (official method)

The safest way to unlock is to use a tied Mi Account, which works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with MIUI 10 and later if:

• 📱 Device connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔑 Remember the username and password from Mi Account.
• 📲 On the phone, synchronization with the account is enabled (checked in Settings). → Mi Account).

To reset the password:

1. On the locked screen, tap Forgot Password? (or Forgot Password).
2. Choose Restore through Mi Account.
3. Enter the login (email or phone number) and password from the account.
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
5. Follow the instructions on the screen to create a new lock password.

⚠️ Note: If you've previously untied your device from your account or changed your firmware to custom, this method may not work. №2 or №3.

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If you do not remember the password from Mi Account, restore it through the official website account.xiaomi.com. Use the attached email or phone number.

2. Hard Reset via Recovery Mode (Data Loss)

Factory reset is a radical but versatile method that works on 90% of Xiaomi devices.Consider: all data on the phone will be permanently deleted, including photos, apps and settings.

• 🔐 You don’t remember the password from your Mi Account.
• 📵 Find My Device is disabled on the device (otherwise you will need to enter a login after resetting).
• 🔧 You don't care about the phone data.

Instructions for Redmi, POCO and Mi (relevant to MIUI 12/13/14):

1. Turn off the phone with a long press of the power button.
2. Click the combination: For most models: Volume up + Power. For older devices (until 2018): Volume up + Volume down + Power.

Mi

Recovery

Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.

Wipe Data → Wipe All Data

Factory Reset

Confirm

Reboot → Reboot to System

⚠️ Warning: Devices with Find My Device enabled may require data entry from the Mi Account that was previously tied after reset. If you don't remember them, the phone will turn into a brick (it won't work without unlocking through the device). EDL).

Turn it off. SIM-card and memory card (if any)

Charge your phone at least 50%

Prepare a backup of the data (if you have access to another device)

Make sure you know the username/password from Mi Account (if it was linked)

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3. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

Fastboot is suitable for devices that block access to Recovery or require a cleaner reset, requiring a computer with ADB/Fastboot drivers installed and a USB-TypeC cable (or MicroUSB for older models).

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ It works even if you forget your Mi Account password (but not on all models).
• 🔧 Allows you to sew custom Recovery (TWRP) discharge.
• 📱 Suitable for devices with damaged firmware.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Android SDK Platform-Tools (or 15 Seconds ADB Installer).
2. Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to log into Fastboot Mode.
3. Connect the device to the PC via USB.
4. Open the command prompt (cmd) in the adb folder and type: fastboot devices If the device is determined, continue. If not, install the drivers.
5. For reset, type: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

Some models (Redmi Note 8 Pro, POCO F1) may require an OEM Unlock to unlock the bootloader.

• Enable Developer Options (Tap 7 times on the Build Number in Settings → About Phone).
• Activate OEM Unlock and USB Debugging.
• In Fastboot, type in fastboot flashing unlock

4. Unlock via EDL Mode (for Qualcomm chipsets)

EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is a “hidden” firmware mode that is used to recover devices with Qualcomm chipsets (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 NFC, Mi 10T). It allows you to flash official firmware through the Mi Flash Tool, bypassing the screen lock.

Important: This method requires:

• 🖥️ Windows computer.
• 🔌 USB-TypeC Cable (Better than the original).
• 📄 Official firmware for your model (downloaded from the official Xiaomi website).
• 🔧 Mi Flash Tool and Qualcomm Drivers HS-USB QDLoader 9008.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Volume Down and connect the cable to your PC. Hold the buttons for 10-15 seconds until the Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 appears in Device Manager.
3. Install the driver for QDLoader (you can download here).
4. Open the Mi Flash Tool, select the downloaded firmware (.tgz or.zip format).
5. Press Refresh – the program must detect the device.
6. Select Clean All (full reset) and press Flash.
7. Wait for the end of the firmware (5-10 minutes) and the phone to restart.

⚠️ Attention: Firmware through EDL Resets all data, including IMEI Some models may require recovery after the procedure. IMEI via the engineering menu (#4636##).

Reset via Mi Account

Hard Reset in Recovery

Fastboot

EDL Mode

None of the above.

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5. Use of TWRP for resetting (data retention)

If you have custom Recovery (TWRP) installed on your device, you can reset your password without losing data.This method is suitable for users who have previously unlocked the bootloader and installed TWRP.

What will be required:

• 📱 Device fitted TWRP.
• 💾 Backup of data (recommended).
• 🔌 Cable for connecting to a PC (optional, for copying files).

Instructions:

1. Turn off your phone and press Volume Up + Power to enter TWRP.
2. In the main menu, select Advanced → File Manager.
3. Go to /data/system folder.
4. Delete the following files (they are responsible for locking the screen): gatekeeper.password.key gatekeeper.pattern.key locksettings.db locksettings.db-wal locksettings.db-shm

Reboot → System

Once rebooted, the password will be reset and the data will remain in place.If TWRP requests a password when mounting /data, use this guide to bypass.

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Installing TWRP requires an unlocked bootloader and can result in a loss of warranty. Use this method only if you are confident in your actions.

6. Alternative methods (for specific cases)

If none of the above methods worked, try alternative solutions:

6.1 Unlocking through Find My Device (Mi Cloud)

If your device has Find My Device enabled and it is connected to the Internet, you can:

1. Go to i.mi.com.
2. Sign in with your Mi Account.
3. Select the locked device and press Erase Device.
4. Confirm the action - the phone will be reset remotely.

The cost of unlocking: from 1000 to 3000 rubles (depending on the model and region).

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi