Users often face a situation where a Xiaomi device suddenly stops responding to commands or requires a password that you did not set.This can happen after buying a smartphone from your hands, resetting the settings in the receptacle or trying to reflash the device.
There are several layers of protection, each requiring a different approach to bypassing, the most common being Mi Cloud account lock, Bootloader lock, and screen password. Incorrect actions can lead to a complete failure of the device, so it is important to clearly understand what kind of restriction you are facing. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to restore access.
Before you start to act, you need to determine the type of lock, and if the screen requires an unlock password that you forgot, that's one situation. If you require a username and password from a Mi Account that doesn't belong to you to be activated, it's about linking the device to an account, and you can only completely delete the account binding if you have a purchase check or through official service centers.
Types of locks in the MIUI system
Understanding the differences between security is key to solving this problem successfully: MIUI is layered, and what works for one type of security is useless for another, and let's look at the main scenarios faced by smartphone owners.
The first type is a lock screen, which occurs when the user forgets the pattern lock, PIN-code or password. In modern versions of Android and MIUI It's very difficult to get around this without losing data because of the encryption of the userdata partition. The second type is the Mi Account. If the phone had the Internet enabled and the Find Device function, then after the reset, the device will request the data of the last authorized account.
⚠️ Warning: Attempting to circumvent Mi Account locks on stolen devices is illegal, and these methods are solely designed to restore access to your own gadgets when passwords are lost.
The third, technically complex type is the Locked Bootloader, which does not allow you to make changes to the system partition, install custom recaps or obtain root rights. The removal of this lock is required by enthusiasts to modify the system, but it does not interfere with the ordinary user.
Removing the screen lock and pattern lock
If you forget your login password, there are few options, and most of them lead to the complete deletion of user data. Modern security algorithms do not store passwords in plain sight, so there is no “magic button” to reset without losing photos and contacts.
One of the few ways that could work on older versions of MIUI (up to version 9-10) was to use a Google account or Mi Account. If the device was turned on, you could type in the password several times, and then the "Forgot the password" button appeared, clicking on it, you had to enter the account information to which the phone was associated, and after successful authorization, access was restored.
On current firmware, this method doesn't work very much. The only reliable solution is to run Hard Reset through Recovery mode, which will bring the phone back to factory status. It's important to understand that if the device has Mi Cloud protection activated, it will still ask for a password from the account after the reset.
☑️ Preparation for discharge
The reset procedure is this: turn off your smartphone completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power, while keeping the volume high. In the menu that appears, select Wipe Data, then Wipe All Data, and confirm the action. After the reboot, the phone will be clean.
Unlocking the bootloader (Bootloader)
Unlocking the bootloader is the official procedure for obtaining extended access rights to the system. However, Xiaomi has implemented strict restrictions to prevent massive flashing of stolen devices, the process takes time and account binding.
To start, you need to get status in the Mi community. Go to the phone settings, find the About phone item and click on the MIUI version several times to activate the developer mode. Next, go to Advanced Settings → For developers and turn on the Factory Unlock. The system will warn about the risks and link the current Mi Account to the device.
After the binding, you have to wait a certain time. Officially, the waiting period is 168 hours (7 days), although sometimes it can be reduced or, conversely, increased to 15 days. During this period, you can not log out of your account on your phone.
Why is Xiaomi introducing wait?
The procedure itself requires the Mi Unlock Tool on your computer. Download the program from the official website, install drivers and launch the application. Put the phone into Fastboot mode (clambing the volume button and connecting the USB cable to the PC). In the program, press the Unlock button. If the wait period has passed, the bootloader will be unlocked, and all data on the phone is deleted.
Use of Mi Unlock Tool and PC
Mi Unlock software is the only legal tool to remove the bootloader lock. The use of third-party paid services ("boxes") carries risks: they may contain malicious code or lead to locking the device using IMMI (server lock).
Working with the utility requires a stable Internet connection and Windows OS installed. Often users encounter errors when connecting, such as the error code 10008 or the message that “the account is not associated with the device.” This means that either it has been a short time since the link, or you try to unlock the phone by logging into a different Mi Account on a PC than the one on the phone.
The process of using the tool looks like this:
- 📱 Connect your smartphone in Fastboot mode to your computer through high-quality USB-cable.
- 💻 Launch the Mi Unlock Tool and log in to the same Mi Account as your phone.
- 🔓 Press the Unlock button and wait until the process is complete (the progress bar will reach 100%).
- 🔄 The phone will automatically restart and the bootloader will be opened.
⚠️ Attention: In the process of unlocking the bootloader, all information on the internal drive will be permanently deleted.
If the utility gives an error that “failed to connect to the server”, check the settings of the firewall and antivirus. Sometimes they block the tool from connecting to the activation servers. USB-port, preferably USB 2.0, located directly on the motherboard (back of the system unit), rather than through the front panel or hubs.
Comparison of Unlocking Methods
The choice of method depends on the specific situation and type of lock. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Below is a table that helps you navigate the options available and their consequences.
| Method | Type of lockdown | Data security | The need for a PC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard Reset (Recovery) | Screen password | No (complete removal) | No. |
| Mi Unlock Tool | Bootloader (Bootloader) | No (complete removal) | Yes. |
| Account recovery | Mi Account / Google | Yes (on successful entry) | No (you need a smartphone/PC to reset your password) |
| Service centre | Any (with a check) | Depends on the case. | Yes (with specialists) |
As you can see from the table, data retention is only possible if you have simply forgotten your account password, but you can restore access to it through email or phone number. In all other cases involving technical unlocking of the device, data will be lost. Backup is the only insurance against loss of information.
💡
Use the Mi Cloud to automatically sync your contacts and photos, which will allow you to recover your data even after you clean your phone.
It is important to note that the methods offered on the Internet for “unlocking without losing data” through the Internet are not available. ADB-commands on modern versions of Android (starting with 6.0 and above) are not working due to embedded encryption. The partition with user data is secure, and the key to it is stored in the screen password. No password, no access to files.
What to do if the phone is bought from the hands blocked
Buying a Xiaomi smartphone with your hands is always the risk of running into a device stolen from a previous owner or having debts on loans (in some regions).If after a reset, the phone asks you to enter a password from someone else’s Mi Account, you are faced with a classic activation lock.
In this case, there are almost no legal ways to unlock the device, and the bypasses that can be found on forums (change of region through certain utilities, patched versions of the recovery) are temporary and often stop working after a system update or reboot.
The only correct solution is to contact the seller, the honest seller will either provide login details or return the money. If the seller is gone and the device is locked, it turns into a brick with limited functionality. Some service centers can unblock the lock if there is an original box and a check confirming the purchase, even if you are not the first owner (for example, if the phone was a gift).
💡
Buying used Xiaomi without a box and a check is risky: the device can be blocked by IMEI or tied to someone else’s account, which will make it impossible to use.
There is a myth that flashing regionally (like Chinese to global) removes the account lock. It's not. Mi Account binding is stored on the company's servers and linked to a unique device identifier. The software change does not affect the server-side activation check.
Prevention of blocking and safety advice
To avoid being in a situation where access to your own gadget is lost, you should follow simple rules of digital hygiene.
Always link your phone to your Mi and Google account. Write your username and password to a secure location or use a password manager. Enable two-factor authentication so that even if a password is leaked, attackers can't access it. Regularly check the list of trusted devices in your account settings.
When selling or transferring a phone to another person, make sure to log out of all accounts and make a full reset via the menu, rather than just turning off the device.This will break the link between the hardware and your digital profile, freeing up the device for the new owner.