How to remove the password from Xiaomi: a complete guide to unlocking a smartphone

A forgotten password on a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that almost one in three users face. According to service center statistics, 28% of device unlocks are due to loss of screen access. Fortunately, the manufacturer has provided several official and informal ways to unblock without resorting to expensive repairs. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods for 2026, including Mi Account unlock, Fastboot and Recovery modes, as well as alternative solutions for devices with a damaged screen or disabled account.

It’s important to understand that the choice of method depends on several factors: whether the Xiaomi account is tied to the device, whether USB debugging is enabled, whether the touch screen is working, and which version of the MIUI is installed. For example, Redmi Note 12 and later have more stringent security measures than the models of 2020-2021. We will describe each scenario in detail so that you can choose the best option without risking damaging data or “bricking” the device.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most secure and recommended method Xiaomi uses is a tied Mi Account, which works on all devices with MIUI, if you have previously logged in and not disabled the Find Device feature, the advantage of which is to save all data on your smartphone.

To remove the password:

• 🌐 Go to account.xiaomi.com from your computer or other device.
• 🔑 Sign in with the same account that is linked to a locked smartphone.
• 📍 In the Devices section, select your phone and click Find the device".
• 🔓 Click "Unlock" - a notification will arrive on the phone with a suggestion to reset the password.

If the device is connected to a mobile network or Wi-Fi, unlocking will occur within 5-10 minutes. on Xiaomi 13/14 and Redmi Note 12 Pro+ models, additional confirmation via SMS or email may be required.

⚠️ Note: If you have previously disabled Find Device in your security settings, this method will not work, and it is not available if your smartphone was purchased with your hands and is not tied to your account.

2. Reset password via Recovery Mode (with loss of data)

If your Mi Account is not tied or you don’t remember the login details, the only official way is to hard-dump through Recovery, which deletes all data on the device, including photos, contacts and apps, but is guaranteed to unlock the screen.

Instructions for most Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO models:

1. Turn off the smartphone with a long press of the power button.
2. Press the combination of Loudness up + Power and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select "Wipe Data" (use volume buttons for navigation, power for confirmation).
4. Confirm the reset by selecting "Wipe All Data".
5. After the process is complete, restart the device ("Reboot").

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13/14 And newer after reset via Recovery, you may need to enter data of the associated Mi Account. If you do not remember the username / password, the smartphone will remain blocked!

Turn off your smartphone.

Keep the battery in charge (minimum 30%)

Prepare the data for the Mi Account (if required)

Download the firmware for recovery (in case of errors)-->

3. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

Fastboot is a good way to do this if you have access to a computer and you're ready to work with the command line, it allows you to reset your password without losing data on some models, but it requires an unlocked bootloader.

Step-by-step:

1. Install the Android SDK Platform-Tools on your PC (or download fastboot separately).
2. Turn off your smartphone and put it into Fastboot mode, clamping Volume down + Power.
3. Connect the device to the PC through USB-cable.
4. Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with fastboot and execute commands: fastboot devices (should display the serial number of the device), fastboot erase frp (this will remove FRP protection, but does not always remove the password) fastboot erase userdata (full data reset, similar to Recovery)

On Xiaomi models with a locked bootloader, this method will not work – you will need to pre-unblock through the official Xiaomi website, which takes up to 72 hours.

4. Alternative methods for devices with damaged screen

If the touch screen does not respond to touch, but the device is turned on, you can try unlocking it using the help of the device. OTG-cable and mouse or ADB-Teams (if previously included debugging) USB).

Method 1: Connecting a mouse via OTG

• 🔌 Buy it. OTG-adapter (stands) ~100–200 ₽) And plug it into your smartphone. USB-mouse.
• 🖱️ The mouse cursor will appear on the screen - with its help enter a password or reset through the menu.
• 🔄 If the screen is completely black, but the device makes sounds, try entering the password "blind" (standard layout: numbers in the center of the screen).

Method 2: ADB-commands (only if debugging is enabled)

If you previously activated USB Debugging in the developer settings, you can delete the password through your computer:

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

⚠️ Attention: Method C ADB It only works on root-right devices or unlocked bootloaders. MIUI rootless, it's useless.

5. Contacting a service center: when nothing helps

If all of these methods do not work, you can contact an authorized Xiaomi service center.

• 🔒 The device is tied to someone else’s Mi Account (for example, bought from hand).
• 📱 The phone will give you an error "This device is locked" after resetting.
• 🔧 The connector is damaged. USB or the screen does not respond OTG-mouse.
• 🛠️ Refrigeration is required through EDL-mode (for "brick" devices).

The cost of unlocking in the service varies from 500 to 3000 ₽, It depends on the model and the complexity of the work. For example, for Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi. K60 With the Mi Account lock, the price can reach 2500 ₽, For older models like Redmi 5A — about 800 ₽.

Before the service visit:

• 📄 Prepare a check or box from the device (to confirm possession).
• 🔐 Check if pre-registration is required (some centers have 2-3 days of waiting lists).
• 💳 Ask for a job guarantee (usually 1-3 months).

💡

If you bought your smartphone with your hands and you're tied to someone else's Mi Account, ask the seller for a login/password or check, and without that, the service center won't be able to unlock the device legally.

6.How to avoid blocking in the future

To avoid the problem of forgotten passwords again, follow these tips:

• 🔐 Use a fingerprint or facial recognition as an additional way to unlock.
• 📝 Write your password in a secure location (for example, in the Bitwarden or KeePass password manager).
• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI — In new versions, the access recovery system has been improved.
• 📱 Link your Mi Account and enable the “Find Device” function".
• 🔧 Turn on Debugging. USB (In the developer settings, so that in the future it can be used ADB.

We also recommend setting up automatic backup in Settings → About Phone → Backup, which will allow you to recover data even after a complete reset.

💡

The most reliable way to avoid blocking is to link your Mi Account and enable Find Device, which will allow you to remotely unlock your smartphone 90% of the time.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi