Xiaomi’s current smartphones, which use MIUI shells and the new HyperOS, offer advanced security, but there are times when this protection becomes an obstacle: a forgotten password, a glitzy fingerprint scanner, or a desire to hand over the device to a child without restrictions. You can remove screen protection in several ways, but the choice of method depends on whether you remember the current access code.
In this article, we will go into all the legal and technical solutions, and we will look at the standard settings, the use of a Mi Account, and radical methods like Hard Reset. It is important to understand that some methods will lead to complete deletion of data, so you need to approach the process consciously.
Staff disabling password through system settings
If you remember your current password, pattern lock, or PIN, the easiest and most secure way to do this is to turn off the protection via the settings menu, which doesn't require a computer connection, and ensures that all your photos, contacts, and apps are safe. First, unlock your device and log in.
Go to Settings, then look for Passwords and Security. In some firmware versions, this path may look like Additional → Privacy. You will need to enter the current unlock code to make sure the system is accessed by the owner. After that, select the type of protection you want to remove (lock screen, fingerprint, face).
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Before disabling protection, make sure that the device does not run important encryption or system update processes to avoid software conflicts.
Click on the "Switch off" or "Delete" button. The system will request confirmation with the current password again. Once the security is successfully checked, the screen will be unblocked and a simple swipe will be used. Remember that without the screen password, some security features, such as application protection or payment services, will become unavailable.
It is worth noting that on devices with enabled data encryption, completely disabling the password can be limited by Android security policies, in which case the system will suggest replacing the complex password with a simpler one, for example, a pattern lock or a slider.
Using Mi Account to Remotely Unblock
Xiaomi Cloud provides a “Find Device” feature that not only tracks your smartphone’s location, but also controls your device’s locking, which is relevant if you forget your password, but your device is connected to the Internet and signed in to Mi Account.
You need to go to the official i.mi.com website from any other device (computer or tablet), log in with the same account that was used on the locked smartphone, and in the service interface, select the "Find device" section and find your gadget in the list.
If you have a device online, you'll have a few options available, one of which is "Block" or "Unlock" and depending on the version of the service, you can either set a new temporary password to replace the one you've forgotten, or you can take it off completely, which only works when you're on an active network connection.
⚠️ Warning: Remote unlock may not work if the device has two-factor authorization enabled or if the smartphone has been offline for more than 24 hours.
It’s also worth considering that after using Mi Cloud security features, the device may require you to re-enter your account password the next time you reboot, a standard anti-theft measure known as Activation Lock.
Recovery Mode (Hard Reset)
If you can't remember a password, and if your Mi Account is unbound or unavailable, the only reliable way is to completely reset to factory settings through Recovery Mode, which deletes absolutely all user data, including photos, contacts and installed apps.
To enter recovery mode, 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 or Recovery menu appears. On some models, this menu is navigated with volume buttons, and the power button selects.
From the menu, select a language (usually English or Chinese), then go to Wipe Data, the system will alert you to data loss, confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data, the process takes a few minutes, after which the device will restart as new.
☑️ Preparation for Hard Reset
Once the device is rebooted, it will ask you to go through the initial setup. If Google's Find My Device protection was enabled on your smartphone, you'll need to enter the login and password from the Google account that was synced earlier. This is anti-theft protection that can't be circumvented by a simple reset.
Unlocking through Fastboot and ADB
For advanced users, there is a method to unblock or remove problematic components through Fastboot mode and ADB utilities. This method requires connecting the smartphone to the PC and having drivers installed. It does not always allow you to remove the password directly due to the encryption of the userdata partition, but can help bypass some software blockers.
Enter Fastboot mode by pressing the volume and power down button. Connect your smartphone to your computer via USB-Open the command line on your PC in the Android tool folder SDK. Enter a command to check the connection:
adb devicesIf the device appears in the list, you can reset security settings via the command line, although modern versions of Android limit this functionality.
⚠️ Attention: Use of teams ADB and flashing can lead to loss of warranty and disruption of banking applications if the bootloader is unlocked (Bootloader).
Unlock Bootloader is a separate procedure that requires waiting 7 days (or 168 hours) after submitting an application in Xiaomi. Only then you can install custom recavators that theoretically allow you to delete lock files, but on modern Android 12/13/14 this is practically useless due to hardware encryption.
What is FRP Lock?
Comparison of removal methods
To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have systematized the main methods into a table. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, which depend on the specific situation and model of your Xiaomi.
| Method | Data retention | Password required | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| System settings | Yes. | Yes (current) | Low. |
| Mi Cloud (Remotely) | No (partially) | No (requires an account) | Medium |
| Hard Reset (Recovery) | No. | No. | Low. |
| Fastboot / ADB | No. | No. | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, the only way to save data without knowing a password is to use cloud services, and that's not always guaranteed. In most cases, a forgotten password means you have to reinstall the system or reset.
If photos and documents are more important than the time spent on recovery, you should contact a specialized service where you can programmatically read data from the memory chip, although success on modern models is unlikely due to encryption.
Problems and Solutions After Protection Is Removed
Once you have managed to remove the screen protection, especially by resetting, you may encounter a number of nuances: First, Android security may temporarily restrict certain features, such as biometric unlocking (fingerprint or face) will require re-registration.
Second, if you reset your device, all apps will be removed, you will have to re-download them from GetApps or Google Play. Bank apps may require additional verification, as they “see” that the device has been reset or system files have been changed on it.
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After any method of removing protection, be sure to change the passwords from important accounts if there is a suspicion that the device could have been in the wrong hands.
Also worth checking is the Developer Options settings: If you used ADB or other tools, there may be active debugging points left, which potentially reduce the security of the device when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks.
Don’t forget to update to the latest version via Settings → About Phone → MIUI/HyperOS version. Updates often contain security patches that close vulnerabilities that could have been used to reset a password.