How to Unlock a Xiaomi Phone Without Losing Data

When your favorite Xiaomi Redmi or POCO suddenly requests a password you have forgotten, it can throw anyone out of the loop. Panic often pushes you to take rash actions, such as completely resetting your settings, which is guaranteed to destroy all photos, contacts and correspondence. However, in the arsenal of modern mobile operating systems and services of the Chinese manufacturer, there are loopholes and official methods to restore access to the device.

Before you start taking action, you need to take a sober look at the situation and understand what kind of protection is on your gadget. PIN-The choice of the method of bypassing depends on the type of protection, and in most cases, saving user files remains possible if you act on a proven algorithm.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the current ways to remove the lock screen Xiaomi without losing data, relying on the functionality of MIUI and standard security protocols Android. We will look at both standard means of recovery through cloud services, and specific methods that require a connection to a computer. It is important to understand that no method provides a hundred percent guarantee, but compliance with the instructions significantly increases the chances of a successful result.

Use the β€œFind Device” function from Google

The easiest and least traumatic way to restore access is to use Google's built-in service. If a locked smartphone has logged in to a Google account and geolocation enabled, you have a real chance of unlocking the screen remotely, and you'll need any other gadget with Internet access, whether it's a computer, tablet or a friend's phone.

You need to go to the official Google Find My Device website and log in under the same account that is used on the locked device. The system will try to determine the location of the gadget, after which the control menu will appear on the screen. Here we are interested in the option β€œBlock the device”, which allows you to set a new temporary password, replacing the old forgotten code.

⚠️ Note: This method will only work if the locked phone is connected to a mobile network or Wi-Fi. If the device is in aeronautical mode or without a SIM card, the command from the server will not be executed.

After you set a new password through the web interface, wait a few minutes and try to enter new data on the smartphone screen. If everything goes well, you will get access to the system and can change the security settings in the Settings menu. β†’ Passwords and security. It's a standard method that doesn't require a Root license or a warranty violation.

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Make sure that the data transfer is enabled on the locked phone, otherwise the lock command will not reach the device.

Unlocking through Xiaomi Mi Cloud

Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi devices often neglect to create a Mi Account, considering it unnecessary, but in critical situations it becomes a lifeline.Mi Cloud service has functionality similar to Google, but specifically sharpened under the shell of MIUI. If you remember the username and password from your Mi Account, the recovery process will take minutes.

Go to i.mi.com from any browser and log in to your profile. From the main menu, select Find Device. The system will display a list of all the gadgets associated with your account. Select a locked smartphone from the list to see the available management actions.

  • πŸ”’ Lock: Allows you to set a new screen password if the current one is forgotten.
  • πŸ”Š Sound: Turns on the maximum signal volume to find the phone if it's anywhere near.
  • πŸ—‘οΈ Cleanup: An extreme measure that deletes all data (use only if other methods have not worked).
  • πŸ“ Disappearance mode: Locks the device and displays a message on the screen with contacts for communication.

Use the lock function to specify a new code. After successful synchronization with the Xiaomi server, the old pattern lock or PIN-It is important to note that after this procedure, the phone may require re-authorization in the Mi Account the next time you reboot, which is a standard measure of protection against theft.

πŸ“Š What type of lock is on your Xiaomi?
pattern lock
Digital. PIN-code
Fingerprint.
Password Mi Account

Debugging method USB and ADB-team

For more advanced users who have pre-installed USB debugging in the developer menu, the powerful Android Debug Bridge (ADB) toolkit is available, which allows you to interact with the system at a low level and, in some cases, delete files responsible for storing passwords without affecting user information.

To implement this method, you will need a computer with drivers installed ADB and USB-Connect your smartphone to your PC. If the device trusts that computer (there was a "Always Allow from this computer" check box previously), you can send commands. Open the command line or the terminal in the tool folder. ADB.

adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key


adb shell rm /data/system/password.key




adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db

Executing these commands deletes files that store pattern lock and password hashes. Once rebooted, the device can let you log in without entering the code or with any code entered. However, this method does not work on all versions of MIUI, since modern Android security versions restrict access to system files without Root rights.

What if the ADB can’t see the phone?
If you connect your computer to the device, but the ADB doesn't display the device, you may not have drivers installed. Download the Xiaomi ADB Driver universal driver from the developer's official website or use third-party collectors like Minimal ADB and Fastboot. Also check the cable, it should support data transfer, not just charging.

Using Safe Mode to Remove Malware Applications

Sometimes the locking is not caused by a forgotten password, but by a virus or an incorrect application that blocks the interface, in which case Safe Mode boot helps, in which the system downloads only the basic components, ignoring third-party programs.

To log into Safe Mode on Xiaomi, you usually need to press the off button on the lock screen (if there is access to the menu) or use a combination of volume buttons when booting, depending on the model. Once logged in, go to Settings β†’ Apps and uninstall recently installed or suspicious programs.

β˜‘οΈ Safe mode operations

Done: 0 / 4

Once you remove the problem software, do the usual restart, and if the lock was caused by a software failure, the phone will be restored, which is especially effective if the lock screen looks out of the box or contains ads, which is typical of blocking viruses.

Comparison of Access Restoration Methods

To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have organized the basic methods into a table, and pay attention to the requirements for each method: Internet presence, knowledge of accounts or technical skills.

MethodI need Internet on my phone.I need a PC.Risk of data lossDifficulty
Google Find My DeviceYes.No (browser needed)No.Low.
Mi CloudYes.No (browser needed)No.Low.
ADB TeamsNo.Yes.No (if successful)Tall.
Safe ModeNo.No.No.Medium
Hard ResetNo.No.100% (all removed)Low.

As you can see from the table, cloud-based methods are the most secure for data, but require pre-configuration. PC methods provide more control, but require technical literacy. The last resort is always a full reset, which is guaranteed to remove the lock, but destroys the information.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I unlock Xiaomi without the internet?
The official methods of Google and Mi Cloud are not, because the command must come from the server, but if the phone is enabled to debug over USB, you can try the methods through ADB without an active connection to the network, relying on local files of the system.
What happens if you enter the wrong password many times?
The MIUI security system will begin to increase the time interval between input attempts. After many failed attempts, the phone may offer a reset via a Mi Account or completely lock for a long time (from 30 seconds to 24 hours).
Will Google Unlock Work if the Phone is Turned Off?
No, the command won't be executed until the device is turned on and out, but if you have remotely locked it will be applied when the phone is turned on and connected to the Internet.
Will the reflashing help remove the screen lock?
Fastboot or Recovery Mode flashing is equivalent to a full Hard Reset, which will remove the screen lock, but will result in the complete removal of all user data if it was not synced to the cloud before.

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The main rule of security is to regularly synchronize important data with Mi Cloud or Google Drive, which will allow you to recover information even in the event of a complete reset of the device.

To sum up, modern Xiaomi smartphones have layered security systems. While this makes it difficult to forget your password, these same mechanisms protect your personal information from unauthorized persons. Try not to turn off the device search features and always remember the data from your main account.

⚠️ Warning: Beware of third-party programs that promise to crack any password in 5 minutes, at best they will be useless, and at worst they contain viruses or steal your data.