How to unlock Xiaomi Mi 8: all ways to remove the lock screen and account Mi

A forgotten password, a locked pattern lock, or a long-lost Mi Account are problems that one in five Xiaomi Mi 8 owners face. The 2018 smartphone is still popular, but its security system can turn a common oversight into a serious headache. Unlike the new models, the Mi 8 does not support unlocking through Google Find My Device (due to the lack of Google services on global firmware), and official recovery methods often require confirmation via an attached number or email.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways of unlocking, from standard (via Mi Account and Fastboot) to alternative (bypassing locks through EDL and third-party tools), focus on methods that work even without access to mail or phone number, and also explain how to minimize data loss. Importantly, some procedures require technical skills — if you are not sure about your abilities, it is better to contact a service center.

1 Unblocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most legal and secure method is to restore access through the attached Mi Account, which is suitable if you remember the username (email or phone number) and can get a confirmation code. On the Xiaomi Mi 8, this method works 80% of the time, but there are nuances:

• 🔑 If the phone is connected to a mobile network or Wi-Fi, the system will prompt you to enter your account information after 5 failed attempts to unlock.
• ⚡ When you reset your password through the official Mi website, the code can come to a backup email or number, even if the main one is not available.
• ⚠️ If two-factor authentication is enabled on the device, you will need access to the Mi Authenticator app or backup codes.

Step-by-step:

1. On the locked screen, tap Forgot password? (or Forgot password? on English firmware).
2. Choose the recovery method: via SMS, email or backup account.
3. Enter the confirmation code received on the linked number or mail.
4. Create a new password or pattern lock.

⚠️ Note: If the phone was bought from hand and tied to someone else's Mi Account, official unlocking is impossible without the consent of the previous owner. EDL service-seeking.

2. Recovery Mode reset (data loss)

If Mi Account access is lost and the phone is not synced to Google (or is Chinese firmware), a hard reset via Recovery Mode remains, which removes all data from the device, including photos, contacts and installed apps, but is guaranteed to remove the lock.

On Xiaomi Mi 8, the entrance to Recovery is done by a combination of buttons. SIM-card and memory card to avoid damage.

Turn off the phone (press Power + Volume up for 10 seconds) |

Extract. SIM-card and flash drive (if available)|

Charge your phone to at least 30% |

Prepare a backup (if you have access to the PC)-->

Resetting instructions:

1. Turn off your phone. Press the Power Button and Volume up for 10 to 15 seconds at the same time until the Mi logo appears.
2. From the Recovery menu, select the language (usually English or Chinese).
3. Go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (or → in Chinese firmware).
4. Confirm the action by selecting Confirm.
5. After reset, select Reboot to reboot.

If the phone needs to enter the Mi Account password again after reset, then the device has activated reset protection (FRP), in which case only unlocking through Fastboot or EDL mode will help.

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Before resetting, try connecting your phone to your PC through USB-Sometimes the Xiaomi Mi 8 allows you to copy photos and contacts even in a locked state (if previously allowed debugging). USB).

3. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

The method via Fastboot is suitable if:

• 🔓 The bootloader was unlocked on the phone (Bootloader).
• 💻 You can access a computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and the Mi Flash Tool.
• 📥 You have the original firmware for the Mi 8 (the version must match the current one).

Warning: Mistakes in Fastboot can turn your phone into a "brick" If you're unsure of your skills, skip this section.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install the official firmware for Xiaomi Mi 8 (select the Fastboot version, not Recovery).
2. Install Xiaomi and Mi Flash Tool drivers on PC.
3. Turn off the phone. Press Volume Down + Power to enter Fastboot Mode (a hare in a hat-eared image will appear).
4. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable.
5. Run the Mi Flash Tool, select the downloaded firmware and press Refresh. The device must be determined.
6. At the bottom, select Clean All (full reset) and click Flash.

⚠️ Note: If Bootloader is blocked, Mi Flash Tool will give an error, in which case you will need an official unlock through the Xiaomi website (you need a Mi Account tied to the phone at least 30 days ago).

Once the firmware is successfully installed, the phone will reboot in a factory state, and if the lock was connected to the Mi Account, it will be able to bypass it only if the firmware is not Chinese. MIUI China FRP-lockdown remains).

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Use the same firmware version as the current one on your phone. Fastboot firmware can cause an anti-rollback error and break the device.

4. Bypassing locking through EDL mode (for power users)

EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is a "emergency" firmware mode that allows you to bypass locking even on a locked Bootloader. It works through a special cable (EDL cable) or short circuit contacts on the board, a risky method, but sometimes the only one possible.

What will be required:

• 🖥️ Windows PC and Qualcomm Drivers HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
• 📂 Firmware for Mi 8 in.mbn or.elf format.
• 🔌 EDL-cable (or ability to solder to close contacts).
• 🛠️ Mi Flash Tool or QFil.

Instructions:

1. Turn off your phone. If you use it. EDL-cable, connect it to your PC and phone (usually you need to press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. If there is no cable, disassemble the phone and close the EDL contacts on the motherboard (for the Mi 8, these are points next to the battery, marked as EDL or TEST).
3. In Windows Device Manager should appear record Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
4. Start the Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware and press Flash.

After successful firmware, the phone will turn on without locking, but:

• ✅ All data will be erased.
• ✅ Blocking Mi Account and FRP will be removed.
• ❌ Possible problems with IMEI, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (if the firmware was picked up incorrectly).

5. Alternative methods (without loss of data)

If you need to unlock your phone without resetting, try these methods. They don't work on all firmware, but in some cases, they help bypass the lock.

Method 1: By Call (for older versions of MIUI)

1. Call the locked phone from another device.
2. Take the call, then quickly open Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times to activate Developer Mode).
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
4. Connect your phone to your PC and use ADB to delete the lock file: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key
5. Reset the device.

Method 2: Google Account (if your phone is synced)

On the global firmware Mi 8 (with Google services), after 5 failed attempts to enter a password, the button Forgot the pattern lock?. The system will prompt you to enter data from the Google Account associated with the phone.

• 📧 The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔄 The device is synchronized with Google.
• 🔒 Google account passwords are remembered by you, not the previous owner.

⚠️ Attention: On Chinese firmware (MIUI China) this method does not work – instead of Google, you use authorization through Mi Account.

6. What should I do if nothing helps?

If all of these methods fail, you have three options:

1. Use paid online services. Sites like miaccount.unlock or xiaomitool.com offer a remote Mi Account unlock for $5 to $15, with the risk of fraud or installing malware on your PC.
2. If the Mi 8 is locked at the hardware level (for example, after a failed firmware in EDL), it will cost more to recover than the smartphone itself, in which case it is more profitable to sell it for spare parts (display, camera, battery).

Before you take your phone to the service, check:

• 📄 A check or a warranty card (accelerates the process).
• 🔋 Battery status (if the phone doesn't turn on, unlocking may not be possible).
• 🔧 Physical damage (cracks, dents – some services refuse to work with such devices).

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If the phone is stolen or lost, unlocking through Xiaomi service centers is not possible – you will need to contact the police with a report of theft.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi Mi 8