How to unlock Xiaomi if you forget your password: everything from Mi Account to Hard Reset

Introduction: Why the smartphone is blocked and what to do

Forgotten password on Xiaomi is a situation that one in five users encounter at least once in their lives. The reasons are trivial: infrequent use of a pattern lock, change of user experience. PIN-It's a code that's "for the future," which is immediately forgotten, or children accidentally switching on locks, but the consequences can be serious, from losing access to photos to being completely unable to use the device.

Fortunately, unlocking Xiaomi without a password is possible — the manufacturer has provided several official and informal ways, but not all of them are safe: some methods lead to data loss, others require confirmation of the Mi Account account, and still others work only on older models. In this article, we will discuss 7 proven ways, from the simplest to the most radical, taking into account the nuances for different versions of MIUI and smartphone models.

Before you start, answer two questions: 1. Is your Mi Account tied to your phone (you remember your login and password)? 2. Are you ready for data loss (photos, messages, apps)? The choice of method depends on the answers.

Method 1: Unlocking with Mi Account (official method)

The most reliable and recommended way for Xiaomi is to use a tied Mi Account, which works on all models, including the latest Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5, if:

• 📱 The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔑 Remember the username and password from Mi Account.
• 🔄 Synchronization is enabled on the device (usually activated by default).

Instructions:

1. On the lock screen, tap Forgot password? (or Forgot password? on English firmware).
2. Select Sign in via Mi Account.
3. Enter your email/phone and password from your account.
4. Confirm unlocking via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).

Once you've successfully logged in, the phone unlocks and the old password resets, and the data on the device is saved -- the only method that's lossless.

⚠️ Note: If you do not remember the password from Mi Account, do not try to find it - after 5 unsuccessful attempts, the account will be blocked for 24 hours?»).

Do I remember the phone number (email/phone number) from Mi Account?

Is there access to a mail/phone to confirm

Is the phone connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data)

Has your account been blocked for suspicious activity?

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Method 2: Reset password via Find Device (remote unlock)

If Mi Account is tied but you can’t log in via the lock screen (for example, there’s no “Forgot your password?” button), try remote unlocking via Find Device, which works even if your phone isn’t currently connected to the Internet, and the command will go when the network first appears.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. From the menu, select Find Device (or Find Device).
3. Your smartphone will be displayed on the map – click on it.
4. In the right panel, press Unlock (Unlock).
5. Confirm the action with a password from Mi Account.

After 1-5 minutes (depending on the speed of the Internet), the phone will unlock.

• 🚫 Find Device is disabled in the settings.
• 🚫 Phone's off or discharged.
• 🚫 The device has not connected to the network for more than 30 days.

Method 3: Hard Reset with Recovery Mode (full reset)

If Mi Account is not tied or you don't remember the login details, the radical method is to reset via Recovery Mode, which deletes all the data on the phone, including photos, messages and apps, but is guaranteed to unlock the device.

Instructions for most models (Redmi, POCO, Mi):

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds).
2. Click the combination: For most models: Volume up + Power. For older Xiaomi (2018 and earlier): Volume up + Volume down + Power.

Mi

Recovery

Wipe Data

Clear Data

Wipe All Data

Reboot

The phone will reboot in factory condition. Configure it as new by skipping the Mi Account binding (if you don't remember the data).

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 9 Pro, POCO X3 NFC After Hard Reset, you may need to enter the data of the Mi Account, which was previously tied, if you do not remember it, the phone will turn into a brick - you will need official unlock through the service center.

Method 4: Unlocking via Fastboot (for advanced users)

The method is suitable if USB debugging was enabled before locking, as well as to bypass Mi Account binding after Hard Reset. requires a computer with ADB/Fastboot drivers installed and a USB-TypeC cable.

Step-by-step:

1. Install Android SDK Platform-Tools on your PC.
2. Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to log in to Fastboot Mode.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the folder with fastboot.
4. Enter the command to check the connection: fastboot devices must display the serial number of the device.
5. To reset your password, run fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase frp.
6. Reboot the phone: fastboot reboot

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Connect the EDL cable (or close the contacts on the board if you use testpoint).
3. Start the Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware and press Flash.
4. Wait until the process is completed (5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Attention: Method EDL Cancellation of the warranty and may result in loss IMEI (Use it only if you're risk-averse or if you're having your device repaired.

💡

EDL mode is the only way to get around Mi Account lock on new Xiaomi models (2021 and later), but requires technical skills.

Method 6: Password bypassing through ADB (if debugging is enabled)

If the phone has been activated USB-debugging (Settings) → For developers → Debugging by USB), You can delete the file with the password through ADB. This method saves data, but only works when two conditions are met:

• 🔌 The phone is connected to the PC and is recognized in ADB.
• 🔓 You have previously confirmed access to debugging on this computer.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the folder with ADB.
2. Enter the commands in turn: adb shell su rm /data/system/gesture.key rm /data/system/password.key rm /data/system/locksettings.db rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm reboot

After the reboot, the password will reset. If the commands are not executed due to the lack of root rights, try an alternative method:

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.ChooseLockGeneric

This will open a password change menu where you can set a new one.

Method 7: Contact Xiaomi Service Center

If none of these methods worked, the official service remains: Xiaomi provides a device-proof unlocking service, the only legal way to bypass Mi Account on new models without the risk of damaging the phone.

What will be required:

• 📄 Passport or other identification document.
• 🛒 Check or box from the phone (preferably).
• 💰 Payment for services (from 500 to 2000 rubles depending on the model).

Where to turn:

• 🏢 Official Xiaomi Service Centers.
• 🛠️ Authorized partner workshops (check reviews).

The unlock period is from 1 to 5 days. The warranty is maintained, the data will be lost.

⚠️ Warning: Avoid gray workshops offering 10 minutes of unlocking, often using illegal firmware that may contain viruses or disrupt the module. IMEI.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi