How to remove a password on a Xiaomi phone: an expert guide

The situation of a smartphone owner being unable to log in because of a forgotten key is one of the most stressful in the digital world: the device becomes a brick, access to contacts, photos and banking applications is instantly blocked, but the Xiaomi ecosystem, like any Android device, has access recovery mechanisms, although they require certain actions from the user.

Before we get to the radical measures, it’s worth understanding the nature of locking. Current versions of the MIUI shell and HyperOS have serious security protocols that tie the device to your Mi Account and Google account. This means that simply resetting your settings through the recovery menu may not give an instant result without knowing the credentials. However, there are proven algorithms for taking back control of the gadget.

In this guide, we will go into detail all legal and technical ways to unlock, and we will look at methods from standard password recovery through the cloud to complete data reset via Recovery mode.

Preparation of the device before the discharge procedure

Any manipulation of system partitions or password resets requires preparation. If the phone is still touch-sensitive and you can log in to the menu but just don't remember the code for the lock screen (like logging in to a gallery or app), the situation is solved easier, but if access to the system is completely blocked, the focus shifts to external tools and accounts.

The first thing to do is make sure that the battery is on, that the reset or flashing process should not be interrupted by the discharge, that the optimal level is above 60%, and that if the phone is turned off and not charged, it may be deeper than just a forgotten password.

It's also critical to remember your Mi Account, and once you reset your settings, you'll have theft protection, and your phone will ask for the username and password of an account that was previously synchronized with your device, and without that, it's almost impossible to unlock your device without going to the service center with your purchase checks.

⚠️ Warning: Trying to guess the password will cause the device to be temporarily locked for 30 seconds, 1 minute, or even an hour, and don’t rush to enter combinations at random, this will only complicate the recovery process.

Method 1: Reset via Mi Account (remotely)

The most civilized and secure method that allows not only to remove the lock, but also to save data (if synchronization is enabled) is using the cloud service Xiaomi Cloud. This method works only if the locked phone was turned on the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data transfer) and activated the function "Device Search".

To implement this method, you will need a computer or other smartphone with Internet access. Go to the official website of the cloud service i.mi.com. Sign in using the same Mi Account that was entered on the locked device. Security system can request confirmation of login via SMS or email.

Once you've successfully logged in to the cloud interface, find the Find Device menu, which will show your device's location if it's online. From the action list, select the option to Clean Data, PIN-screen-lock code.

• 📱 Open your browser and go to i.mi.com.
• 🔑 Enter the username and password from Mi Account.
• 📍 Select a locked device from the list.
• 🗑️ Click the “Clear Data” button (Wipe Data).

Once the command is sent, the phone must receive a signal and reset, the screen will go out, and the device will reboot without asking for a password, but all files, photos and applications not stored in the cloud will be permanently lost.

Method 2: Hard Reset with Recovery Mode

If access to the cloud is not possible, the only option is to force resets through the Recovery Recovery menu, a method that is universal for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models. It erases all user data, returning the phone to a factory state.

To get into the Recovery menu, you need to turn off your smartphone. Then press the button combination: usually Volume Up + Power Button. Hold them until the Mi or Redmi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, continuing to hold the volume key until the menu appears.

In the Recovery menu, the touch screen usually doesn't work. Navigate with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice of item is confirmed by the power button. You need to find the Wipe Data item and select it. Then confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data.

The cleaning process can take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. Once completed, the Data wiped successfully message will appear on the screen. Select Reboot -> Reboot to System. The phone will restart, and the initial setup will begin, as when you first turn on.

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Hard Reset removes the screen password completely, but requires knowledge of the Mi Account password when you first set up the system due to activation protection.

Method 3: Unlocking via Fastboot and PC

For advanced users who have a Bootloader unlocked, partition resets can be made via Fastboot mode, which is more complicated and requires a computer with ADB and Fastboot drivers installed. If the bootloader is locked (standard situation), this method will only reflash the device, but will not remove account protection.

To enter Fastboot mode, turn off your phone and press the Volume Down combination + The power button, and you'll see a picture of a hare fixing an android, or a sign that says, FASTBOOT. Connect the device to the computer through USB-cable.

On your computer, open the command line (Terminal or CMD) in the folder with the ADB tools. Enter a command to check the connection:

fastboot devices

If the device is determined, you can try to erase the partition that stores the lock data (does not work on all versions of Android and requires an unlocked bootloader):

fastboot erase userdata

Once you complete the command, type fastboot reboot to reboot. It is worth noting that on current versions of MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS, this method is often blocked by security, and the phone will still request a Google or Mi Account after the reboot.

Method 4: Reset by Find My Device (Google)

An alternative to Xiaomi’s cloud is a service from Google. If your phone has a Google account active and geolocation enabled, you can use the standard Android tool to delete data, a method similar to resetting through the Mi Cloud, but using the search giant’s infrastructure.

Go to android.com/find from any other device, log in to the Google account that was the primary one on the locked smartphone, and if the phone is online, you'll see it on the map.

In the side menu, select the option to Clear the device (Erase Device). The system will warn that all data will be deleted. Confirm the action. The smartphone will receive a command and perform a full reset, including removing the lock password.

• 🌐 Go to the site. android.com/find.
• 📧 Sign in to the right Google account.
• 📱 Select the device in the list from above.
• 🧹 Click "Clean the device».

Important: After this procedure, the phone will require you to enter a password from the Google account to confirm ownership (FRP protection). If you do not remember this password, access to the phone will be permanently lost.

⚠️ Warning: Clean Device only works when you are actively connected to the Internet. If the phone is off or in flight mode, the command will only be executed after the network is on.

Mi Account and FRP activation problem after reset

Many users who successfully reset passwords through Recovery face a new obstacle: the activation screen, which is FRP (Factory Reset Protection) and similar Mi Account protection. The phone requires you to enter the username and password of the account that was synchronized with the device before the reset.

This is done so that the stolen phone can’t be simply reflashed and sold, and if you forget your Mi Account password, you’ll have to restore it through the Forgot Password procedure on id.mi.com, with access to your linked phone number or email.

In cases where access to the account is lost completely (number lost, mail deleted), official unlocking is possible only at an authorized Xiaomi service center.

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Keep the box and electronic checks for at least 1 year, the only way to prove ownership of the device when you lose access to your accounts.

What NOT to do when trying to unlock

In the pursuit of access to the phone, users often make mistakes that turn a software problem into a hardware problem. There are many "miracle programs" on the Internet that promise to unlock any phone in 5 minutes, most of which either contain viruses or require payment without giving a result.

It is strongly recommended not to download and run dubious utilities from unverified forums.You risk not only losing money, but also infecting your computer with malware that can steal passwords from banking applications entered on your PC.

Also, don't try to disassemble the phone and turn off the plumes or take out the battery (if it's not removable) in the hope of resetting memory. In modern Xiaomi smartphones, data is stored on memory, which does not lose information when the power is turned off. You only risk damaging the case or plumes.

• 💻 Do not use “crack” programs to unlock.
• 🔌 Don't turn off the cable. USB firmware.
• 🔨 Don’t try to disassemble your phone without experience.
• 💸 Don’t transfer money to unknown persons for an “unlock code».

The only safe way is to use the official tools and methods described above, and if none of them worked, the only way is to use the service center.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions