How to remove the password from the Xiaomi phone, if you forgot: all ways to unlock

A forgotten password on a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that thousands of users face every day. It is especially frustrating when the phone contains important data and access to it is blocked. Fortunately, there are legal ways to unlock it that do not require contacting the service center. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of deleting passwords from Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, including models with MIUI 12-14 and older versions.

It's important to understand that some methods cause total loss of data -- photos, contacts, messages -- so before you start the procedure, assess the risks and try the safe options first. If you're syncing with Mi Cloud on your phone, the chances of recovering data after unlocking are much higher.

We do not recommend using dubious password hacking software – they often contain viruses or malware. All of the methods described below are based on official Xiaomi tools or standard Android features.

1 Unblocking through Mi Account (if an account is linked)

The easiest and safest way to use a tied Mi Account works if you have previously logged in to a locked phone and remember your login/password.The method is suitable for most models, including Xiaomi 13/12/11, Redmi Note 12/11/10 and POCO F5/X5.

Instructions:

• 🔹 On the lock screen, click Forgot Password? (or Forgot Password? on English firmware).
• 🔹 Select Log in via Mi Account and enter data from the linked account.
• 🔹 Confirm the unlock through SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
• 🔹 Set a new password or pattern lock.

If the buttons Forgot your password? no, try entering any password 5 times in a row - after that, a recovery link should appear. Some models (for example, Redmi 9A) may need a Wi-Fi connection to activate the function.

⚠️ Note: If the phone was purchased from hand and the previous owner did not untie his Mi Account, unlocking through the account will not be possible without his data).

2.Reset to factory settings via Recovery Mode

If Mi Account is not tied or you don't remember the data from it, the radical method is hard resets through recovery mode, which will delete all data from the phone, including photos, apps and settings, use it only as a last resort.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone with a long press of the power button.
2. Press the button combination: 🔹 For most models: Volume up + Food (hold on) 10-15 seconds). 🔹 For POCO F3/F4: Loudness down + Nutrition. 🔹 For Xiaomi. 12T/13 Lite: Volume up + Loudness down + Nutrition.

Mi

Recovery Mode

Wipe Data

Wipe All Data

Confirm

Reboot

The phone will boot as new, with factory settings, and at the initial setup stage, you can recover data from the backup of the Mi Cloud (if it was created earlier).

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi Mi) A1/A2, POCOPHONE F1) After the reset, you may need to enter data from Google Account, which was tied before the blocking (protection) FRP). If you don’t remember this information, your phone will remain locked.

3. Unlock through ADB (for advanced users)

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) method is suitable if the phone has previously enabled USB debugging and has access to a computer.It is one of the few ways to remove a password without losing data, but it requires technical skills.

What you need:

• 🔹 A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB Tools.
• 🔹 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 🔹 Included debugging by USB on the phone (even if it is blocked).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the computer via USB.


2. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (Mac/Linux) in the folder with ADB.




3. Enter a command to check the connection:




adb devices




(Serial number of the device must be displayed)




4. Delete the password file:




adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key




(for a pattern lock) or




adb shell rm /data/system/password.key




(for PIN/password)




5.Reset the phone:




adb reboot

After the reboot, the lock should disappear. If the command does not work, try an alternative:

adb shell


su




cd /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases




sqlite3 settings.db




update system set value=0 where name='lock_pattern_autolock';




update system set value=0 where name='lockscreen.lockedoutpermanently';




.quit




reboot

Important: On phones with MIUI 13+ and Android 12+, this method may not work due to enhanced system protection, in which case only a reset via Recovery or a call to the service remains.

4.Using Fastboot Mode to Bypass Lock

If previous methods didn’t work, you can try unlocking your phone through Fastboot, a low-level firmware mode that is suitable for models with an unlocked bootloader. On new Xiaomi phones, the bootloader is locked by default, and it will require official permission from the manufacturer to unlock it.

Procedure:

1. Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to log in to Fastboot Mode.
2. Connect the device to your computer and check its detection by the command: fastboot devices
3. Download the official firmware for your model from the MIUI Downloads website.
4. Unpack the firmware and execute a command for clean installation (all data will be erased): fastboot flash all [name file firmware].tgz
5. Upon completion, type in fastboot reboot

This method is guaranteed to remove the lock, but requires a confident command line. On phones with a locked bootloader (Xiaomi 12/13, Redmi Note 11/12), you must first obtain permission to unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool (the process takes up to 72 hours).

5. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If all the independent attempts to unlock failed, you have to contact an authorized service center, which is the most reliable, but also the most expensive way, the cost of the service varies from 1,000 to 5,000 rubles depending on the model and the complexity of the lock.

What you need to unlock in the service:

• 🔹 Document confirming the purchase (check, warranty card).
• 🔹 Passport of the owner (if the phone is officially purchased).
• 🔹 Data from Mi Account if the account is linked.
• 🔹 For corporate devices – a letter from the organization.

Xiaomi service centers in Russia and CIS countries can be found on the official website through a search by map. the average unlock time is 1-3 working days. In some cases, you may need to send the phone to a regional center (for example, for Xiaomi Mix Fold or Black Shark models).

💡

Before visiting the service, take photos of the IMEI phone (under the battery or in the box) and the serial number, which will speed up the process of identifying the device.

6. Alternative methods (with caution!)

There are many magical ways to unlock the Internet, from using apps like Dr.Fone to firmware through informal tools, and we strongly discourage them for the following reasons:

• 🔹 Virus installation risk: Most password crackers contain malware.
• 🔹 Warranty Violation: Unofficial firmware strips you of the right to free repairs.
• 🔹 Device Brick: Incorrect firmware can turn a phone into a brick".
• 🔹 Data Leakage: Unblocking apps often send personal information to third-party servers.

If you do decide to experiment, at least check the program through VirusTotal and back up the data (if the phone is partially available), remember that Xiaomi is not responsible for damage caused by unofficial methods.

💡

The only safe way to unlock is Mi Account, Recovery reset or official service. All other methods carry risks!

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi