How to remove the pattern lock from the applications on Xiaomi: from MIUI to ADB

The pattern lock on Xiaomi apps is a handy protection feature before you forget it. One wrong gesture, and access to the messenger, gallery or banking application is blocked. Unlike unlocking the entire phone, removing the key from a single application requires other approaches: it will not help to reset via Recovery or call a locked device. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to remove the graphical password from applications on Redmi, POCO and other Xiaomi smartphones – from standard MIUI tools to technical methods like ADB.

It is important to understand that some methods only work on certain versions of MIUI (e.g. Safe Mode reset is relevant for firmware older than MIUI 12). Others require superuser rights or PC connectivity. We have outlined limitations for each method so that you don't waste time on useless actions. If the application is critical (e.g. WhatsApp with unsaved chats), try soft methods first - they will save data.

1. Reset the pattern lock via MIUI settings (without data loss)

The easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI tools. It is suitable if:

• 🔹 You remember the password from the Mi Account tied to the phone.
• 🔹 You have firmware installed. MIUI 12 or later (older versions may not have an option).
• 🔹 Application is non-systemic (e.g. Gallery or Notes are not unlocked by this method).

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy.
2. Choose Application Protection (or Application Lock in older versions).
3. Slap the gear icon (⚙️) top-right.
4. Enter the password from Mi Account and confirm the action.
5. Find the right app in the list and turn off the protection.

If there is no Application Protection, then the lock is installed through third-party software (for example, AppLock), in which case, move to the next method.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro) after the protection is turned off, it may be necessary to restart. Do not interrupt the process - wait for the phone to be completely turned off and on.

2.Use of Safe Mode (for MIUI 11 and older)

Safe Mode loads a phone with third-party apps disabled, including blockers, which allows you to temporarily access protected programs.

• 📱 You. MIUI 11 or more new versions.
• 🔓 Blocking is installed through standard means MIUI, Not a third-party AppLock.
• 🔄 You are ready to restart your phone (data will not be deleted).

How to activate:

1. Press the power button before the turn off menu appears.
2. Hold your finger to the Turn Off option (or Reboot on some models).
3. Confirm the transition to Safe Mode (the inscription will appear in the lower left corner of the screen).
4. Open the blocked application – the pattern lock is temporarily disabled.
5. Remove or change the password in the application protection settings.
6. Restart your phone in normal mode.

If the lock is back after the reboot, then the protection was installed through third-party software. In this case, only the removal of the blocking application will help (see Section 4).

💡

Before entering Safe Mode, check if the locked application uses two-factor authentication (e.g., in banking programs), in which SMS and notifications may not arrive.

3. Unblock through Google account (for applications with binding)

Some apps (e.g. Google Photos, Gmail, Chrome) allow you to reset your pattern lock through your Google account.

• 🔑 The app supports authorization via Google (check when you first start).
• 📧 Remember the login and password from the linked account.
• 🌐 The phone has Internet access (via mobile network or Wi-Fi).

Step-by-step:

1. On the pattern lock input screen, find the Forgot Password button (or Forgot pattern?).
2. Select the recovery option via Google Account.
3. Enter your account details (email and password).
4. Follow the instructions to create a new pattern lock or disable protection.

If the buttons Forgot the password? no, it means that the application does not support this method, for example, MIUI Gallery or Xiaomi Cloud are unlocked only through Mi Account.

4. Delete application data (with loss of settings)

If the previous methods didn't work, the radical method is to reset the application data, which will delete all settings, including the pattern lock, but also erased:

• 📂 Local files (for Gallery – photos, for Notes – records).
• 🔧 Individual settings (themes, fonts, languages).
• 🔄 Cash and temporary files.

How to reset:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the right app (like Gallery) and tap it.
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Confirm the action (it may be necessary to enter a password from Mi Account).

⚠️ Note: For system applications (Settings, Phone, Messages), the option to Clear Data may be blocked. ADB (section (5) or flashing.

If the application is critical (such as SberBank Online), try:

• 🔄 Log in to an account on another device and export data.
• 📧 Contact the support of the service to restore access.

Check backups in Mi Cloud

Export important data to the PC

Make sure to remember the username/password from the account in the application

Disable two-factor authentication (if possible)-->

5. Unlock through ADB (for advanced users)

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) method is suitable if:

• 🖥️ You have a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed.
• 🔧 Debugging is on. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap to unlock Developer Mode).
• 🔓 You are ready to work with the command line.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
2. Open the command prompt (cmd on Windows) and type:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.gallery

(Replace com.miui.gallery with your app’s batch name).

List of package names of popular Xiaomi applications:

• 📷 Gallery: com.miui.gallery
• 📝 Notes: com.miui.notes
• 📱 Settings: com.android.settings
• 💬 Messages: com.android.mms

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.ChooseLockPattern

This will open the pattern lock reset menu (not working on all versions of MIUI).

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB This can cause data loss or system failure if entered incorrectly.Before experimenting, back up via Mi PC Suite.

6. Phone flashing (extreme case)

If none of the methods worked, you'll have to reset your phone completely via Fastboot or Recovery, which will delete all the data from your phone, including:

• 📸 Photos and videos (if not saved in Mi Cloud).
• 📱 Contacts, SMS, call-book.
• 🎮 Installed applications and their data.

How to reset:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up to enter Recovery.
3. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (control – volume buttons, confirmation – power button).
4. After resetting, the phone will restart in factory condition.

For models with a locked Bootloader (Redmi Note 12, Xiaomi 13) you may need:

• 🔓 Unlock Bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool (Requires waiting) 7-15 days).
• 📥 Install custom firmware (for example, Pixel Experience).

Flashing is the only way to unlock system applications (such as Settings or Phone) if the pattern lock was installed through the Device Policy Controller.

💡

Before flashing, check if the phone is linked to your Mi Account. After reset, you may need to enter a login/password for activation (Mi Cloud Lock protection).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to remove a pattern lock, users often face typical problems:

1. Mi Account "Failed to reset password" error: Reason: account not confirmed by email/SMS or phone not connected to the Internet. Solution: check the network connection and try again. If the account is blocked, restore access via account.xiaomi.com.
2. ADB doesn't see the device: Reason: Xiaomi drivers aren't installed or USB debugging is not enabled.Solution: download Mi PC Suite or drivers manually from the official website.
3. After the data reset, the application is still blocked: Reason: the security is installed at the server level (for example, in SberBank Online or Tinkoff). Solution: contact the bank support to unlock the account.

If you are using POCO or Black Shark, note that these devices may have an additional layer of protection from the manufacturer. For example, POCO F3 to reset via ADB requires you to first disable POCO Launcher Protection in the settings.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions