How to remove the screen lock on the Xiaomi phone: all the ways of 2026

A forgotten password, a pattern lock or a fingerprint that is no longer recognized is a problem faced by one in five Xiaomi smartphone owners. Screen locking protects your data from outsiders, but can turn into a real headache if you suddenly can not remember the combination. Fortunately, there are legal ways to unlock the device without losing functionality - the main thing is to act carefully and choose the method that is suitable for your situation.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to unblock on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones (including the 2023-2026 models), from the simplest to the most radical. You’ll learn how to bypass the lock through Mi Account, Fastboot and Recovery modes, and what to do if the phone requires confirmation after a reset. Important: some methods lead to complete data loss, so first check if your Xiaomi account is connected to the device – this can save your files.

1 Unlocking with Mi Account (the safest way)

If your Xiaomi has a Mi Account enabled and your phone is connected to the internet (via Wi-Fi or mobile network), you can unlock the screen without losing data.This method works on most models, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and Xiaomi 13, if the device has not been reset to factory settings before.

Instructions:

• 🔹 On the lock screen, tap Forgot your password? (or Forgot password? on English firmware).
• 📱 Enter the username and password from your Mi Account (the same as used in the Mi Cloud app).
• 🔓 Confirm the unlock through SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
• 📲 Create a new password or pattern lock.

⚠️ Note: If you have previously untied your Mi Account from your phone or changed your firmware to custom (like LineageOS), this will not work, and it is not available if the device was reset via Recovery – in which case you will need to confirm the original account after the reboot.

If the buttons Forgot your password? no, try to enter any password 5 times in a row - after that, a link to restore should appear. On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global for the European region), this method can be disabled by default.

2. Recovery Mode reset (data loss)

If Mi Account is not tied or you don’t remember the login details, the only official way to unlock is to hard-reset through Recovery Mode, which removes all data from the device, including photos, contacts and apps, but returns the phone to working condition.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone with a long press of the power button.
2. Press the combination Volume up + Power button and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select a language (if there is one), then go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
4. Confirm the reset by selecting Confirm (some models will require manually entering Yes).
5. Once you have finished, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

Get out. SIM-card and memory card (if any)

Charge your phone at least 50%

Prepare Mi Account data (if you need confirmation after reset)

Make sure there is no important unsynchronized data on the phone-->

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi) 10A or POCO M4) After the reset, you may need to enter the data of the Mi Account, which was previously associated with the device. If you do not remember this data, the phone will turn into a “brick” – it can only be unlocked through an official service center.

If after the reset, the phone requests Mi Account, but you do not remember it, try to restore access through account.xiaomi.com. In extreme cases, contact the Xiaomi service center with proof of purchase (check or box).

3. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

Fastboot is a method that works if you have access to a computer and you're ready to work with the command line, it allows you to reset the screen lock without completely deleting data (on some firmware), but requires an unlocked bootloader. If the bootloader is locked, this method will not work.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Utilities. ADB Fastboot (you can download from the official Android website).
• 📄 Firmware file for your model (downloaded from the site) MIUI Downloads).

Instructions:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot on your computer, connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power when the device is off).
2. Open the command prompt (cmd in Windows) and check the connection command: fastboot devices If the device is determined, continue.
3. Unlock the bootloader (if it is blocked): fastboot oem unlock On some models, you will need confirmation via the Mi Unlock Tool (download on the official website).
4. Scan recovery.img from the downloaded firmware: fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
5. Reboot to Recovery and reset (see Section 2).

⚠️ Attention: Unlocking the bootloader via fastboot oem unlock resets all data on the device! Also after this operation, the phone may require a binding to the Mi Account when first turned on. On models with a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor (for example, Xiaomi) 12T or POCO F4) The chance of successful unlocking is higher than on MediaTek.

4.Use of ADB (if USB-debugging was included)

If the phone has been activated before USB-debugging (in the developer settings), you can delete the screen lock file via ADB It only works if the phone is connected to a PC and recognized by the system.

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to your computer and open the command line.
2. Check the connection: adb devices If the device is displayed, type: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key or for password: adb shell rm /data/system/password.key
3. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

Once you reboot, the lock should disappear. If you don't, repeat the command for both files (gesture.key and password.key). On newer versions of MIUI 14/15, this method may not work due to enhanced security.

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If USB-Debugging was not enabled, but the phone is recognized as a media device (MTP), Try to connect through the Mi program. PC Sometimes it lets you reset your password without it. ADB, Only on older models (until 2020).

5. Official Unlocking through Service Center

If none of the above methods work, you can contact the official Xiaomi service center, which is the only legal way to unlock your phone if:

• 🔒 The device requires a Mi Account after reset, but you don't remember the data.
• 📱 The phone is blocked by the operator (for example, when buying on credit).
• 🛠️ You are not sure about your technical skills and are afraid of damaging your device.

What will be required to unlock:

The cost of unlocking in the service center varies from 1,000 to 3,000 rubles depending on the model and the reason for the lock. The timing is from several hours to 3-5 days (if you need confirmation of data from Xiaomi).

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Official unlocking is the only way to bring the phone back to life if it is locked at Mi Account level after being reset.Attempting to bypass the protection yourself can result in the device being lost altogether!

Alternative methods (risky)

On the Internet you can find dozens of “magic” ways to unlock Xiaomi – from the use of special boxes (Miracle Box, UFi Box) to firmware through the Internet. EDL-We don't recommend using these methods for a number of reasons:

• 🚨 Risk of “bricking” – the phone may stop turning on completely.
• 🔓 Violation of warranty - after unofficial firmware service center will refuse repair.
• 💰 Fraud – Many “masters” offer unlocking for money, but in fact just drop the phone through Fastboot.

If you are experimenting, remember:

• 📌 For firmware through EDL You need an authorized Xiaomi account (you can buy it on forums, but this violates the company’s rules).
• 📌 Boxes like the Miracle Box only work on older models (until 2019).
• 📌 Firmware custom Recovery (for example, TWRP) Cancellation of warranty and may cause Mi Account problems.

⚠️ Attention: Forums often advise using the Mi Flash Tool utility to firmware your phone in mode EDL. However, on new models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) Pattempts to bypass this protection can permanently damage the device's bootloader.

7.How to avoid blocking in the future

To avoid having a locked screen problem again, follow the simple rules:

• 🔐 Use biometric unlocking (fingerprint or facial recognition) in addition to the password.
• 📝 Write your password to a secure location (e.g., Google Password Manager or Bitwarden).
• 🔄 Regularly sync data with Mi Cloud (photos, contacts, notes).
• 🔧 Turn it on. USB-Debugging in the developer settings (in case you need to unlock through the ADB).
• 📱 Link your phone to your Mi Account and make sure you have access to it. email/SMS repair.

It's also useful to know:

• On Xiaomi phones with MIUI 14+, you can set up automatic deletion after 10 failed password attempts. Turn off this option if you are afraid of accidental locking: Settings → Password and Security → Screen Lock → Autoclean.
• If you often forget passwords, use Smart Lock (unlocking by trusted place, device or voice).

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Back up your data via Settings → About Phone → Backup. If reset, you can quickly restore contacts, messages, and app settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi