How to remove a password from the screen Xiaomi: a step-by-step guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones provide powerful privacy protection tools, but sometimes these barriers become unnecessary. Users often wonder how to remove a password from the screen to make it easier to access the device or pass it to a child. The process of disabling the lock can vary depending on the version of the MIUI operating system or the new HyperOS, as well as the type of protection installed.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible ways to remove restrictions, from standard settings to radical reset methods. It is important to understand that giving up protection reduces the security of your personal data, so this step should be approached carefully. Next, we will look at the algorithms of actions that will help you quickly and safely deactivate any type of lock.

Preparation for the removal of the lock and types of protection

Before you start making security changes, you need to determine which security method is activated on your device. Xiaomi’s security menu can include a digital PIN, a complex pattern lock, a long text password, or biometric identification. A pattern lock is considered less secure but more convenient for quick input, while an alphanumeric password provides the maximum level of data encryption.

To successfully shut down, you'll need to know your current access code. Android's architecture doesn't allow you to simply undo the requirement to enter a code without confirming it, which is a fundamental measure of protection against theft. If you plan to remove your password, make sure that the battery is at least 50 percent charged so that the process doesn't get interrupted by battery failure.

It is worth noting that some global firmware may have additional layers of protection, such as the Mi Account password, which may be required after resetting, so it is recommended to remember data from your Google account and Mi Account before starting manipulations to avoid locking the device after rebooting.

Standard Disconnection Procedure through Settings

The easiest and safest way to remove a password from Xiaomi’s screen is to use the standard settings menu, which doesn’t require you to connect to your computer and save all your data, including photos, contacts, and installed apps. First, unlock your smartphone in the current way and go to the main menu.

Find the Settings icon (cogs) and scroll through the list to the Passwords and Security section. Depending on the version of the MIUI shell, this item may be simply called Screen Lock or located inside the Device Security submenu, and that's where all authentication controls are concentrated.

Once you log into the Screen Lock Type menu, the system will require you to enter your current password, PIN, or draw a graphical key, which is a critical step in verifying access rights. Once you successfully enter, you will see a list of options where you need to select "No" or "Swipe" (unlock by simply swiping).

The system will issue a warning that all stored fingerprints and facial data will be deleted, as they are tied to the primary password. Accept the action and the protection will be removed. Now, when you turn on the screen, the device will go directly to the desktop without requesting credentials.

Use of the “Forgot Password” and Mi Account function

Situations where a user has forgotten the previously installed code are quite common. In older versions of Xiaomi firmware, there was a convenient feature to restore access through the Mi Account directly from the lock screen. If you enter the password incorrectly several times, a button may appear on the screen “Forgot the password” or “Forgot the pattern lock”.

Clicking on this button will redirect you to the Xiaomi account authorization page, and you will need to enter the username and password from the Mi Account that was previously associated with this device, and if the data is correct, the system will suggest resetting the current locking code to a new one or removing it completely.

⚠️ Note: This function works only if the smartphone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network) and it was previously logged into the Mi-account with administrator rights.

With modern versions of HyperOS and the latest builds of MIUI 13/14, Google and Xiaomi have stepped up security by removing the ability to simply reset your password through your account without losing data. Now often only a full device reset (Wipe Data) is offered if the code is lost. However, trying to sign in through a Mi Account is still worth checking the availability of this option on your particular model.

It is important to distinguish between the lock screen password and the Mi Account password. Successful login allows you to remove the screen lock, but does not replace the need to remember account details for subsequent activation of the phone after rebooting.

Recovery Mode (Hard Reset)

If standard methods fail or the code is lost, the only option is a forced factory reset, which is guaranteed to remove the password, but also erases all user data, including contacts, messages, photos and apps. Before starting the procedure, make sure you remember the data from the Google account, otherwise FRP (Factory Reset Protection) will work.

To enter Recovery mode, you need to 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 button, continuing to hold the volume until the Recovery menu appears.

In the menu, the navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. You need to select a language (usually English), then go to Wipe Data and confirm the action by choosing Wipe All Data.

Once the data is cleaned, the phone will automatically restart, the first run will be long as the system is reconfigured, and you will need to reconnect to Wi-Fi and enter your Google account to confirm ownership of the device.

Unlocking the lock via computer and ADB

For advanced users who have USB debugging enabled, it is possible to remove the password using the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) toolkit. This method does not delete data, but requires pre-configuring and having a computer running Windows, macOS or Linux.

First, you need to connect the smartphone to the PC through high-quality USB-On the computer in the command line (CMD) or terminal must enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

If the device appears in the list, you can delete the file that stores the password hash. However, on modern versions of Android, access to system files is blocked without root rights. However, on some older models Xiaomi triggered a command to reset security settings:

adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key

⚠️ Note: On devices with Android 10 and above, as well as on current versions MIUI, This method is likely not to work due to the enhanced security protocols of data encryption.

If you have superuser rights (Root), you can use the file manager with access to the system partition or the terminal on the phone itself to delete gesture.key, password.key or locksettings.db. Once files are deleted and rebooted, the password request will disappear.

Features of unlocking depending on the model

Different Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO series of smartphones may have nuances in the interface or security behavior. For example, in the Black Shark series of gaming smartphones (based on MIUI), the menu can be hidden in the gaming space. The budget models of the Redmi A series use pure Android, where the path to settings looks different.

Owners of devices with high refresh rate screens should be careful when entering a pattern lock in Recovery mode, if such an option is available, since the touchscreen can work with a delay. For models with a fingerprint scanner in the power button, the Hard Reset procedure can differ in the sequence of button clamping.

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If you have a smartphone with a built-in fingerprint scanner, before reset, try 5-10 times to enter the wrong password – sometimes the system itself will offer to unlock through a Google account.

Also worth considering are regional firmware features: Chinese versions (CN) may not have a built-in Google default framework, making it harder to recover through a Google account after a reset, but making it easier to unlock the bootloader for advanced methods.

Problems and Frequently Asked Questions

Users often face unexpected difficulties in resetting their passwords, and one of the most common is blocking a Google account (FRP) after reset, a security mechanism that requires you to enter email and password synced to the device before reset, and if you don't remember that, it's going to be extremely difficult to unlock your phone legally.

Another problem is that the device will be "bricked" when the reset process is interrupted. Never turn off the phone or disconnect it from charging during data formatting. Interrupting system file writing can make it impossible for the operating system to boot.

⚠️ Attention: Using third-party software to “hack” passwords from unknown sites often leads to viruses or the installation of malware on the smartphone itself.

If after all the procedures the phone continues to require a password or behaves incorrectly, it is possible that the system partition is damaged, in which case it is recommended to flash the device through the Mi Flash Tool program in Fastboot mode, which is a deeper recovery procedure.

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The most reliable way to avoid a forgotten password problem is to sync your data regularly with the cloud and record access codes to a trusted location.