How to unlock Xiaomi, if you forgot the password – save data

A forgotten password on a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that one in five users face. The main problem is that a standard reset through Recovery leads to the removal of all data — photos, contacts, messages. But there are ways to get around the lock without losing information if you act carefully and with an understanding of the mechanisms of protection of MIUI.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for unlocking Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO – from official (via Mi Account) to technical (via ADB and Fastboot). Importantly, the effectiveness of the method depends on the version of MIUI, the phone model and whether previously included features like Find Device or debugging by USB. Not all methods are universal – somewhere you need a computer, somewhere a second device is enough.

Before you start, check:

• 🔋 Battery level (minimum 30% – when discharged during the procedure, the phone can lock permanently).
• 📶 Availability of stable Internet (for methods with Mi Account or Find Device).
• 💻 Access to PCs with Xiaomi drivers installed (for the ADB/Fastboot).

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most reliable and secure method is to use a linked Mi Account, which works if:

• 📱 The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔑 You remember the username and password from Mi Account (or you can restore access).
• 🔄 Find Device has been activated in the settings.

Instructions:

1. On the locked screen, tap Forgot your password? (or Forgot password?).
2. Choose Restore through Mi Account.
3. Enter your email/phone and account password, and if you don't remember, use the recovery function at account.xiaomi.com.
4. Confirm unlocking via SMS or email (depending on security settings).

⚠️ Note: If the phone is not connected to the network, this method will not work, and Xiaomi can request confirmation through a second trusted device (if two-factor authentication is enabled).

2.Use Find Device (Remote Unlock)

Find Device, the equivalent of Google's Find My Phone, not only allows you to find a lost phone, but also unlock it remotely.

• 🌍 Phone's connected to the Internet.
• 🔗 Mi Account is linked to your device.
• 📍 Find Device is activated in settings (Settings) → Mi Account → Find Device).

How to unlock:

1. Go to i.mi.com from any device.
2. Sign in with the same Mi Account as you do on your phone.
3. In the list of devices, select a locked smartphone.
4. Click Unlock Device (or Unlock Device).
5. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

⚠️ Warning: After remotely unlocking, the phone may require you to enter the old password the next time you turn on. ADB (section).

💡

If Find Device doesn’t find the phone, check if geolocation and mobile data are enabled on the locked device. Sometimes sending an SMS with the locate command to the phone number helps (if the feature is supported by your model).

3. Unlocking through Safe Mode (for older versions of MIUI)

Safe Mode allows you to temporarily disable third-party applications, including the screen blocker.This method works on Xiaomi with MIUI version 9-11 (on new firmware, the vulnerability is eliminated).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone with a long press of the power button.
2. Hold the Volume button down (-) and the Power button at the same time until the MI logo appears.
3. Release the power button, but keep Volume down until the phone boots in Safe Mode (the bottom left corner will have an inscription).
4. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Screen Lock.
5. Set a new password or turn off the lock.
6. Restart your phone in normal mode.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 12+ This method doesn't work -- Xiaomi has closed the vulnerability, and when you log out of Safe Mode, the old password can be rebuilt.

4. Unlock through ADB (for advanced users)

If the phone previously had USB debugging enabled (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 taps → Additional → For developers → USB debugging), you can delete the password file via ADB.

What you need:

• 💻 A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 🔌 USB-cable (original to avoid connection problems).
• 📱 Phone with debugging enabled USB.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
2. Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd).
3. Enter the commands in order: adb shell su rm /data/system/gesture.key rm /data/system/locksettings.db rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm reboot
4. After the reboot, the phone will be unlocked.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 13+ This method may not work due to the changed structure of the lock files, and root rights are also required, which are disabled by default on most Xiaomi.

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC| Download ADB Tools (platform-tools)|Enable debugging over USB on your phone |Connect your phone with the original cable-->

5. Unlock via Fastboot (for tech-savvy)

The method through Fastboot is suitable if debugging by USB is disabled, but there is access to the bootloader mode. Minus: you need an unlocked bootloader, otherwise Xiaomi will lock the phone forever.

How to check if the bootloader is unlocked:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume down (-) + Nutrition until the hare appears in the Fastboot (logo).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command line: fastboot oem device-info
4. If the answer is Device unlocked: true, the bootloader is unlocked.

Instructions for unlocking:

1. Download the firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website.
2. Unpack the firmware and find the boot.img file.
3. In the command line type: fastboot flash boot.img fastboot reboot

⚠️ Warning: Wrong firmware through Fastboot can turn a phone into a brick, a method only recommended for advanced users.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If all of these methods fail, there are two options:

1. Contact Xiaomi Service Center. Official centers can unlock the phone on documents (passport + check), but the data is likely to be lost.
2. Reset your phone with Recovery. This will delete all data, but it will return access to the device. To do this: Turn off your phone. Press Volume Up (+) + Power until the Recovery menu appears. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro) after reset via Recovery, you may need to enter the old Mi Account password (protection) FRP). If you don’t remember your account details, your phone will become a brick".

💡

Before resetting via Recovery, make sure to check if the phone is tied to the Mi Account. If so, restore access to the account in advance, otherwise you risk losing the device forever.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi