How to remove screen lock from Xiaomi phone: from pattern lock to fingerprint

Introduction

Locking the screen on Xiaomi smartphones is not only about protecting your personal data, but also a potential headache if you forget your password, PIN-This is made worse when the phone requires you to enter data after you reboot or update the system, and you can't remember the combination. Unlike the iPhone, where unlocking often requires contacting a service center, Xiaomi devices offer several ways to bypass the lock yourself - from official methods to technical workarounds.

It is important to understand that a lock reset can cause data loss if a backup is not performed. In this article, we will look at all the current ways to unlock the screen on Xiaomi (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models), from the most secure to radical measures, and you will learn how to avoid blocking in the future and what to do if the phone requires a Mi Account after a reset.

Method 1: Unlocking with Mi Account (official method)

If your Xiaomi has a Mi Account attached, it’s the easiest and safest way to unblock it.The method works on most models released after 2018, including the Redmi Note 10/11/12, Xiaomi 12/13/14 and POCO F/X. The main condition is that the phone must be connected to the Internet (via Wi-Fi or mobile network).

Instructions:

🔹 On the lock screen, click Forgot your password? (or similarly written at the bottom of the screen).
🔹 Choose Unblocking via Mi Account.
🔹 Enter your username (email or phone number) and password from your Mi Account.
🔹 Confirm the unlock through SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).

If you do not remember the data from Mi Account, restore access through the official website account.xiaomi.com. Please note: after 5 failed attempts to enter a password, the account may be temporarily blocked.

⚠️ Note: If the phone was purchased from hand and the previous owner did not untie his Mi Account, unlocking through the account will not be possible.

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Before selling or transferring your phone, always log out of Mi Account in the settings (Settings → Xiaomi Account → Sign out).

Method 2: Reset the pattern lock via ADB (for advanced users)

If Mi Account is not tied or you don’t remember the data, you can try removing the file with the pattern lock via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works only with USB debugging enabled before locking and is suitable for Android 9-13 devices.

What you need:

🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB Tools.
🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
⚙️ Included debugging by USB (if it has been activated previously).

Step-by-step:

Connect the phone to the computer.
Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with adb.exe.
Enter the commands in order: adb shell su rm /data/system/gesture.key rm /data/system/locksettings.db rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm reboot
After rebooting, the pattern lock will be reset.

⚠️ Note: On new Xiaomi models (2023-2026), this method may not work due to enhanced protection MIUI. Also, after resetting the key, you may need to enter PIN-Password or code from Mi Account.

Make sure that USB debugging has been enabled before blocking | Download ADB Tools from the official website | Connect the phone with the original cable | Check if the device is detected in the system (adb devices command)

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Method 3: Hard Reset with Recovery Mode

If previous methods failed, the radical way remains to reset hard through recovery mode (Recovery Mode), which will remove all data from the phone, including photos, messages and apps, but return access to the device, suitable for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models.

How to perform the reset:

Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
Press the button combination to enter Recovery Mode: 📱 For most models: Power button + Loudness up. 📱 For POCO F1/F2/F3: Power button + Loudness down.

Wipe Data → Wipe All Data

Reboot → Reboot to System

On new devices (Xiaomi) 13/14, Redmi Note 12) After a reset, you may need to enter data from Mi Account if the account was previously linked.This is part of Factory Reset Protection (FRP).

What to do if you need a Mi Account after resetting?

If the phone asks for data from the previous Mi Account and you don’t know it, the only options are: 1. Contact the previous owner for account data. 2. Provide proof of purchase (check, box with IMEI) to the Xiaomi service center for unlocking. 3. Use paid FRP unlock services (risk of fraud!).

Xiaomi model	Combination for Recovery	Do you need a Mi Account after a reset?
Redmi Note 10/11/12	Food + Volume up	Yes (if tied up)
Xiaomi 12/13/14	Food + Volume up	Yes (FRP-defence)
POCO F3/F4/F5	Food + Volume Down	Yes.
Black Shark 4/5	Food + Volume up	No (on some firmware)

Method 4: Unlocking through service codes (for older models)

On some Xiaomi devices until 2020 (e.g. Redmi 4/5, Mi A1/A2), you can reset the screen lock using service codes. This method does not require a connection to a computer, but does not work on all firmware.

Instructions:

On the lock screen, enter any password/key 5 times until the Repeat message appears in 30 seconds.
Dial the code ##7378423## (for some models, #3646633###).
From the menu that opens, select Service Tests → Security → Erase FRP.
Reboot the phone.

The price usually includes diagnostics and flashing (if required).