How to remove the pattern lock from Xiaomi Redmi Note 4

The situation when the owner of Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 can not get into the system because of a forgotten pattern lock, is quite common. The lock screen is an important element of personal data protection, but it becomes an insurmountable barrier for the user himself when losing a password. Modern Android smartphones, especially with a shell MIUI, have several levels of protection, which makes the process of restoring access not always trivial.

Owners of Redmi Note 4 devices often find that standard unlocking methods that work for other brands may not work here because of the Mi Account link, but because of security reasons, so that the stolen phone cannot be easily reflashed, there are a number of proven ways to regain control of the gadget, ranging from simply entering a password from an account to completely resetting the settings through the engineering menu.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods relevant to the 2016-2017 model, we will look at both the gentle options that allow you to save photos and contacts, and the radical measures necessary in difficult cases. It is critical before starting any action to make sure that the battery charge of the device is at least 50-60%, so that a sudden shutdown does not turn the software problem into hardware.

Using Mi Account to Remotely Unblock

The most civilized and safest way to unblock is to use the manufacturer’s Find Device service, which only works if the Redmi Note 4 has pre-enabled the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data) and signed in to your Mi Account, and if these conditions are met, you don’t have to resort to complicated button manipulations.

To start the process, you need to take any other computer or smartphone that has access to the network, and you need to go to the official website of the cloud service of Xiaomi, where the system will require authorization: enter the same login and password that was used on the locked phone, and after successfully logging in, a list of all the associated devices will be displayed in your personal account.

Find your Redmi Note 4 in the list and select Unlock. The system will send a command to the device and the pattern lock will be automatically deleted. This method is ideal because it does not require deleting user data. However, if the phone is offline, the command will only be executed after its next connection to the network.

It's worth noting that Find Device has limitations, and if the phone can't see the network, it won't work, and there may be limited functionality in some regions or firmware versions, but it's the first step that anyone who's on Xiaomi who's in a situation with a forgotten password should take.

Resetting settings via Recovery Mode

If the remote method didn’t help or was not set up in advance, the only guaranteed option is a full reset (Hard Reset), which will delete all user data, including photos, contacts and apps, but will return the phone to work. On the Redmi Note 4, the recovery mode is entered by a combination of physical buttons.

To enter the Recovery menu, you need to turn off your smartphone completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, continuing to hold the volume. In a few seconds, a multi-point menu will appear on the screen, controlled by volume buttons (up/down) and power button (select).

From the Recovery menu, select a language (usually English or Chinese), then go to Wipe Data. The system will warn you that all data will be deleted. Confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data. Once the process is complete, the phone will offer reboot. The first start after the reset can take up to 5-10 minutes.

⚠️ Note: After resetting the settings on modern versions MIUI protection FRP (Factory Reset Protection: The phone will require you to enter a password from a Google account or Mi Account that was previously synced.

Unlocking through USB debugging (ADB)

For advanced users who have previously included USB Debugging in the Developer Menu, there is a method of deleting the key file without losing data, which requires a computer with ADB drivers installed and the cable itself, and if debugging was not enabled before locking, this method, alas, will not work.

Connect your smartphone to your PC and open the command line in the ADB tool folder. You will need to enter a command to delete the system file that stores the pattern lock. The path to the file usually looks like /data/system/gesture.key or /data/system/locksettings.db. The command to delete is as follows:

adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key


adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db




adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal




adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm

Once the commands are executed, you need to restart the device. In some cases, especially on older versions of Android, this allows you to reset the password. However, on Redmi Note 4 with an updated MIUI, this method is often blocked by access rights if the phone was not rooted before.

It's important to understand that working with ADB requires caution. An error in the team's syntax can lead to the wrong files being deleted. If you're not sure about your actions, it's better to use a standard Recovery reset. However, for power users, this is the only chance to save data without flashing it.

Use of service center and official unlocking

In situations where the user does not remember the pattern lock or account passwords, and the data on the phone is critical, the only way out is to contact an authorized service center.

To contact the service, you will need to provide proof of ownership of the device, usually the original packaging, purchase checks or warranty card. Without documents, employees can refuse service because there is a risk of working with stolen devices. The cost of the service varies depending on the complexity of the MIUI protection.

Official Unlock Bootloader unlocking through MIUI is also an option, but it requires a 7 to 30 day wait and a tied account. If the phone is already locked with a pattern lock, unlocking the bootloader without logging in is not possible, so this method is more suitable for preventive measures or flashing after Hard Reset.

Mi Account Problems After a Reset (FRP Lock)

Often, after you do Hard Reset, you're confronted with an activation screen, where the phone requires you to enter a password from a Google account or a Mi Account, which is FRP (Factory Reset Protection) security, and if you don't remember the password, the phone becomes a brick for the average user.

Restoration of access is possible only through the password recovery procedure on the site of Google or Xiaomi. Go to the site from another device, enter an email and follow the instructions for resetting the password. After changing the password, you may need to wait 24 hours before trying to log in on the dropped phone - this is a security measure.

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If you have changed your Google account password but your phone doesn't accept it, try connecting to another Wi-Fi network (e.g., sharing the internet from another phone). IP-Addresses help bypass caching of old security data.

There are many bypasses (FRP Bypass) that exploit vulnerabilities in the system. There are many for Redmi Note 4, but they depend on the specific version of Android (6.0, 7.0 or 8.0) and the version of MIUI. Finding a current video guide for "FRP bypass Redmi Note 4 [your version of MIUI]" can help, but requires technical skills.

⚠️ Note: Using third-party programs to bypass FRP (So-called "boxes" or paid utilities) carry the risk of viruses infecting your computer.

Prevention and backup

To prevent the situation with the forgotten key from catching you by surprise in the future, you need to set up regular backups. MIUI There is a built-in tool “Mi Backup”, which allows you to save data on the SD-Regular backup creation ensures that even with a full reset, you will only lose data accumulated since the last copy.

It’s also a good idea to write your graphics keys and passwords to a safe place, like a paper notebook or password manager on your computer. Using biometrics (fingerprint or facial recognition) on the Redmi Note 4 is handy, but remember: After restarting, the phone will still require the input of a pattern lock or PIN-code.

Make sure that the phone number associated with the account is up to date, as confirmation codes often come through SMS, which will make it easier to restore access in a critical situation.

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Regular synchronization of contacts and photos with Google or Mi Cloud is the only way to ensure the safety of data in case of any system failures or forgotten passwords.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)