The forgotten password on the Xiaomi Redmi Note is a bad situation, but it is solvable. Even if you have never faced unlocking your smartphone, our instructions will help you regain access to the device, the main thing is not to panic and carefully evaluate which method will suit you.
How you unblock it depends on a few factors: whether your Mi Account is tied to your phone, whether you have USB debugging enabled, whether you have backup, and we'll look at all the current methods, from the simplest (via your Xiaomi account) to the most radical (full reset via Fastboot).
If you're afraid of breaking something, don't worry. Modern Redmi Note smartphones (including Note 10/11/12/13) are protected from random unlock errors, but never use questionable software to "hack" your password - they can contain viruses or permanently lock the device.
1 Unlocking with Mi Account (the safest way)
If your Redmi Note is tied to your Mi Account and your phone has Internet access (Wi-Fi or mobile), it will take no more than 5 minutes to unlock, a method that works on all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi Note 8 Pro, Note 9S, Note 10 Pro and later.
The algorithm is simple:
- 🔑 Enter any password 5 times in a row until the message “Forgot the password?” or “Unblock through Mi Account” appears".
- 📧 Click on this link and enter the username/password from your Xiaomi account (the same as used in Mi Cloud).
- 📱 Once you have successfully logged in, the phone will unlock automatically, and all data (photos, messages, apps) will remain in place.
⚠️ Note: If you do not remember the data from Mi Account, try to restore access through the official website account.xiaomi.com. Use the linked email or phone number. Do not use third-party services to restore the account - this can lead to the locking of the device on the Internet. IMEI.
2.Reset via Recovery Mode (Hard Reset)
If the Mi Account is not tied or you don't remember the login details, you'll have to do a hard reset, which will remove all the data from your phone, including photos, contacts and apps installed, but it works on any Redmi Note model, even if the USB debugging is disabled.
Step instructions:
- Turn off the phone with a long press of the power button (or Power + Volume Up if the screen is unresponsive).
- Press the Power Button and Volume up for 10-15 seconds at the same time until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.
- Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
- Confirm the action (usually you need to choose Confirm or Yes).
- After reset, select Reboot → Reboot to System.
The phone will reboot in factory condition, and you will be asked to configure it as new when you first turn on, and if you previously had a Mi Account tied, you may need to enter data to prove ownership (Factory Reset Protection, FRP).
☑️ Preparation for Hard Reset
3. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)
The method via Fastboot is suitable if:
- 🔧 The phone was debugging on. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to unlock the developer options).
- 💻 You have a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and Mi Flash Tool program.
- 📥 You can download the official firmware for your Redmi Note model.
⚠️ Attention: Fastboot misuse can turn your phone into a brick.If you're not sure about your skills, you should contact the service center.
Step-by-step:
- Download the firmware for your model from the official MIUI Downloads website (choose the Fastboot version, not Recovery).
- Unpack the archive in a folder on your computer (e.g., C:\MIUI\).
- Turn off your phone and press Power + Volume Down to enter the Fastboot (the image of a hare in a hat-eared will appear).
- Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable.
- Run the Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware folder, and press Refresh. The device must be determined.
- Press Flash and wait for the process to end (5-10 minutes).
Once you flash it, it'll turn on in the factory state. FRP-Blocking if it has been activated.
What if the Mi Flash Tool can't see the phone?
4.Using ADB (if USB debugging was enabled)
If USB debugging was activated on your phone before locking, you can try to delete the password file via ADB. This method does not work on all versions of MIUI, but it is worth trying.
You'll need:
- 🖥️ Computer installed ADB (It is part of Google’s Platform Tools).
- 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
- 📱 Phone with a charge of at least 50%.
Instructions:
- Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the folder with ADB.
- Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device is determined, continue.
- Delete the file with the password: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key or for newer versions of MIUI: adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm
- Reboot your phone: adb reboot
After the reset, the password should be reset, and if not, try repeating the steps or using another method.
💡
If the adb device command doesn’t show your phone, try reinstalling the driver or using another one. USB-Sometimes it helps to restart the computer.
5. Official Xiaomi Service Center
If all self-unblocking attempts fail, contact the authorized Xiaomi service center, which is the most reliable, but also the longest way.
- 📄 Checks or warranty card (if the phone is guaranteed).
- 🆔 Passport or other identity document.
- 📱 The phone itself with a charge of at least 20%.
Xiaomi service centers can unlock a phone even without data loss, as long as they have access to the company’s internal tools, but they will have to pay for this service (from 500 to 2000 rubles depending on the model and complexity).
🔍 How to find an official service:
- Go to the Xiaomi Service website.
- Choose your country and city.
- Check the reviews of the service center before your visit.
💡
Xiaomi’s official service centers never ask for Mi Account passwords or credit card details to unlock, and if you’re offered such services, they’re scammers.
Comparison of Unlocking Methods
| Method | Mi Account required | PC required | Loss of data | Difficulty | It works on all models. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Through the Mi Account. | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ⭐ Very simple. | ✅ Yes. |
| Hard Reset (Recovery) | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ⭐⭐ Just | ✅ Yes. |
| Fastboot | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | ⭐⭐⭐ Medium | ✅ Yes. |
| ADB | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hardly. | ❌ No (only with debugging) |
| Service centre | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ❌ No (usually) | ⭐ Very simple. | ✅ Yes. |
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When you unlock Redmi Note, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and how to solve them:
- 🔄 "The phone doesn't turn on after Hard Reset -- maybe the battery's gone. Connect the charger and wait 10 to 15 minutes, then try again.
- 🔌 "Computer doesn’t see phone in Fastboot – check the cable (better use the original), install Mi Phone Manager drivers and disable antivirus.
- 🔒 "After reset, the old password is required. FRP-Enter the data from the Mi Account that was tied to the phone.
- 📱 "Sensor in Recovery Menu is not working – use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.
⚠️ Note: If after unlocking the phone asks to enter a Google account (on models with Android 5.1)+), And you don't remember him, that's it. FRP-Google locks, which can only be circumvented through Fastboot or service centers "FRP Bypass Tool – These often contain viruses.