How to remove screen lock on Android Xiaomi: a step-by-step guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which are based on the shell MIUI or HyperOS, offer many ways to protect the owner’s personal data. However, sometimes the need for constant verification of identity disappears, or the user simply forgets the previously installed access code. In such situations, there is an urgent need to figure out how to remove the lock screen on the android Xiaomi without losing important files or, in extreme cases, with a complete reset of the device.

The procedure for disabling a password can vary depending on whether you know the current unlock code or if access to the system is completely lost. In the first case, the process takes literally a few seconds and does not require a connection to the computer. In the second, you will have to resort to more radical methods, such as Hard Reset, which will inevitably lead to the deletion of all user data if you do not sync with the cloud in a timely manner.

In this guide, we will look at all possible scenarios, from the standard deactivation in the settings menu to bypassing a forgotten password through an engineering menu or Google account. It is important to understand that data security is a priority for the company, so some methods will require verification of identity through Mi Account.

Standard disabling of password through system settings

If you have full access to the desktop of your smartphone and remember the current pin or graphics, the safest and most correct way is to use the standard Android interface. This method does not require third-party software and ensures that there are no errors in the system after changing security settings.

To start, you need to go to the main settings menu of the device. Usually the gear icon is located at the top of the app list or is available through a swipe down the notification curtain. Find a section that can be called "Passwords and Security" or "Block and Protect" depending on the firmware version.

Inside this menu, you're interested in "Device Protection" or "Screen Lock" and the system will ask you to enter your current password to confirm your rights to change critical security settings, and after successful authorization, a list of available unlock methods will be opened.

Here you will see an active method (for example, a “pattern lock” or a “pattern lock «PIN-Select the option “Disable” or “No” and the smartphone will warn you that all stored fingerprints and Face data ID They will be removed because they are tied to the main method of protection.

⚠️ Note: After disabling the password, all applications that use biometrics to log into banking clients or instant messengers will require reconfiguring the authorization method.

Confirm the action by re-entering the code. Now, when you turn on the display, the device will go straight to the desktop without requesting credentials, which is convenient for the elderly or children, but reduces the level of protection when you lose your gadget.

Using Mi Account to Remotely Unblock

Xiaomi smartphone owners often neglect to create a Mi Account, unaware that this can be a rescue in a critical situation. If the phone is locked, but it is on the Internet and the Mi Account is tied, there is an opportunity to reset the password remotely through the official service of the company.

To implement this method, you will need any other Internet access: a computer, tablet or smartphone of a friend. Go to the official website of the Mi Cloud service and log in under the same data that was used on the locked device.

In the web version, look for the Find Device section, and the system will try to locate your gadget, and if you have a connection to the server, you will see a control menu on the screen, where one of the options is Unlock.

By pressing this button, you initiate a command that will remove the current screen lock method. It is important to note that this method does not work on all versions of MIUI and requires that the Find Device function be activated in the security settings in advance.

• 📱 Make sure the locked phone is connected to a mobile network or Wi-Fi.
• 🔐 You will need to access a password from Mi Account, which may be different from the screen password.
• 🌐 The service only works if the phone has not been restarted after locking (in some OS versions).

If the feature is active, the lock will be automatically removed within minutes, one of the few ways you can save photos and contacts without completely resetting.

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Save screenshots of important settings or write passwords from accounts in a safe place – this will save hours of time when you restore access.

Google Find My Device Resets

An alternative option for devices with an active Google account is to use Find Device. Although there is no direct password-removal feature, you can perform a remote data cleanup, which effectively removes the lock, but at the cost of losing information.

This method is relevant if you have forgotten your password, but remember the data from the Gmail mailbox that was synced to your phone. Go from any browser to the android.com/find page and log in to your profile.

Select the locked device from the left list. In the action menu that appears, select the option “Clean the device” and the system will warn that all data will be deleted irrevocably.

Once confirmed, the command will be sent to the phone, and once the device receives the signal (internet required), it will begin the reset process to factory settings, and once it is rebooted, the phone will be as new as it is, without passwords or user files.

⚠️ Note: If the device did not have an Internet connection at the time the command was sent, the reset will occur only after the phone connects to the network.

This method also helps bypass protection if a phone has been stolen, although modern versions of Android will still require a password from a Google account (FRP protection) to be entered after a reset.

Hard Reset with Recovery Mode: The Radical Method

When none of the software works, or the phone is locked away, the only proven option is Hard Reset through Recovery, which works at the firmware level and does not require access to the operating system.

Before starting the procedure, make sure that the battery charge is at least 30-40%. Interrupting the process of firmware or reset due to battery discharge can lead to the inability to boot the system in the future.

Turn off the smartphone completely. Then press the button combination to enter the recovery menu. For most Xiaomi and Redmi models, it's the simultaneous pressing of the Volume Up button and the Power button. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button while continuing to keep the volume.

In the Recovery menu, the touch screen doesn't work. Navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the power button is the choice, and you have to find the Wipe Data item and select it.

• 📉 Select Wipe All Data for a complete cleanup.
• ✅ Confirm the action by selecting Confirm.
• ⏳ Wait until the process is completed, which can take a few minutes.
• 🔄 Select Reboot to restart the system.

Once turned on, the phone will prompt you to select a language and connect to Wi-Fi. The screen lock will be completely removed, as the device will return to the state “out of the box”.

Comparison of methods of removing the lock

The choice of how to unlock depends on the specific situation: do you know the password, is there access to the Internet, is data important. Below is a table that will help you navigate the available options and their consequences.

As you can see from the table, the only way to save data without knowing the password is to use cloud services if they were set up in advance, otherwise there is no avoiding loss of information.

The device model should also be considered: new Android 12/13/14 and HyperOS smartphones have data protection at the disk encryption level, which means that even when you extract memory (which is technically difficult on modern monolithic boards), it is impossible to read data without an unlock password.

⚠️ Note: Using third-party password cracking software found on the Internet often leads to the installation of viruses on your computer or the complete locking of the device. IMEI.

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Hard Reset is the only guaranteed way to get into your phone if the password is forgotten, but it always results in a complete deletion of user data.

Frequent questions and problems when unlocking

The process of removing screen protection can raise a number of questions, especially for users who are first encountering Android security, and often problems arise due to the nature of the accounts or ad blockers.

One of the common problems is blocking with banner ads. Sometimes a viral app or aggressive ad might block the password or menu button interface, so try to start your phone in Safe Mode. To do this, when you turn on your phone when the logo appears, press the volume button.

In Safe Mode, only system applications are loaded. If the phone unlocks normally in this mode, the installed app is causing the problem. Uninstall recently downloaded programs through settings.

Users often ask if it is possible to unlock the phone via ADB (Android Debug Bridge).Theoretically, the adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key command could delete the key file, but on modern devices this is impossible without pre-enabled debugging over USB and superuser rights (Root), which the average user does not have.

To sum up, it is possible to remove the screen lock on Xiaomi anyway, but the price of this action varies from a couple of clicks to complete data loss. Regular backup and remembering passwords from accounts is the best prevention of such situations.