How to remove a password from a Xiaomi phone: official and alternative methods

Forgot the password from Xiaomi and can’t unlock your phone? This is a familiar situation for many users — especially when it comes to complex graphic keys or digital combinations that have not been used for a long time. Fortunately, there are several proven ways to remove the password from your Xiaomi phone, and not all of them require a factory reset. In this article, we will examine the official methods from Xiaomi, workarounds for old and new models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11, etc.), and also explain how to minimize the risk of data loss.

It's important to understand that some methods only work when you connect to a Mi Account, others require a computer and special tools like Fastboot or ADB. We'll describe each option in detail so you can choose the best one, depending on the phone model, the MIUI version (12 to 14), and backups. Let's start with the simplest and most secure method.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

If your Xiaomi is tied to a Mi Account, this method will work 90% of the time, even if you have forgotten your screen password, and the main condition is that the phone must be connected to the Internet (via Wi-Fi or mobile network).

• 📱 Enter any password 5 times in a row until the message “Forgot the password?” or “Unblock through Mi Account” appears".
• 🔗 Click on this link and log in to your Mi Account (login and password must be known!).
• 🔓 After successful authorization, the phone will unlock automatically, and the old password will reset.

⚠️ Note: If you haven’t previously linked a Mi Account or don’t remember the login details, this may not work, and it may not work on phones with a locked bootloader — these devices require additional actions (see section 4).

The advantage of the method is that you do not need to reset the settings, all data (photos, messages, applications) will remain in place, but if you do not set a new password after unlocking, the system may require re-authorization after 72 hours - this is a security measure from Xiaomi.

2. Reset password via Find Device (remote unlock)

Google’s Find Device feature not only allows you to track Xiaomi’s location, but also manage some settings remotely — including password resetting.

• 🌐 The phone is connected to the Internet (required!).
• 🔒 The device has enabled the function Find the device (checked in Settings). → Mi Account → Find Device).
• 📧 You have access to the email linked to your Mi Account.

Instructions:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select your phone from the list of devices.
3. Click "Delete Data" → "Unlock the Device".
4. Confirm the action via email or SMS.

⚠️ Warning: This method will result in a complete reset of the phone to factory settings - all data will be erased! Use it only if there is no important information on the phone or you have backed up through the Mi Cloud.

If Find Device has been disabled, try alternatives in the following sections, and note that some models (POCO F5, Redmi K60) may need to be re-activated via Mi Account after a remote reset.

3. Recovery Mode (without data loss) MIUI 12-14)

Recovery Mode is available on all Xiaomi smartphones, but its capabilities depend on the version of MIUI. On the new firmware (12+), the option to reset only the screen password, without deleting user data.

Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds)

Connect the charger (the battery must be charged at least 30%)

Prepare. PIN-code SIM-Cards (will be required to re-activate the network)

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Steps:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power Button + Volume up for 10-15 seconds at the same time until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (English or Chinese).
4. Go to Wipe Data → Wipe Lock Screen (on older versions it may be called Erase Lock Password).
5. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

✅ Plus method: data (photos, apps) remain intact, however, on some models (Redmi 10, POCO X3) After such unlocking, you may need to enter a password from Mi Account.

❌ If the Recovery menu does not include Wipe Lock Screen, then your version MIUI It doesn't support partial reset, so you'll have to use Wipe All Data).

4. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

If the previous methods didn't work, and the phone isn't tied to the Mi Account, the method is left to the Fastboot, which is a low-level firmware mode, USB-cable and basic command line knowledge, suitable for models with unlocked bootloader).

You'll need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/Linux and installed Xiaomi drivers.
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (better from the set).
• 📦 The Mi Flash Tool and the ADB/Fastboot.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install the Mi Flash Tool.
2. Turn off the phone and press the Power button + Volume down to enter the Fastboot (the image of a hare in a hat-eared will appear).
3. Connect the phone to the computer.
4. Open the command line (cmd) and type: fastboot oem clean_lock For some models (POCO F3, Redmi Note 11) You may need to use the command: fastboot flashing unlock
5. Reboot your phone with the command: fastboot reboot

⚠️ Note: On new phones (Xiaomi 13, Redmi) K50) With a locked bootloader, this method will not work without first unlocking through the Mi Unlock Tool (FRP), The phone will require data entry from the Mi Account.

💡 Tip: If you are not sure of their abilities, it is better to contact the Xiaomi service center - incorrect commands in Fastboot can turn the phone into a "brick".

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Before working with Fastboot, check the phone model with the fastboot getvar product team – this will help you find the right firmware for recovery.

5.Use of ADB (for USB debugging phones)

If the phone has previously been debugged USB (USB Debugging, you can try to remove the password through ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method works even without a data reset, but only for pre-prepared devices.

What needs to be done:

1. Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
2. Open the command line and type in: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key or for password: adb shell rm /data/system/password.key
3. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

Once rebooted, the screen password will reset, but you may have problems with Touch ID or facial recognition, which you will have to reconfigure, and on some versions of MIUI 14, this method is blocked by security.

🔍 How to check if the debugging is included USB?

If the phone is unlocked, go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and press 7 times in a row. Then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on Debugging over USB.

6. Alternative methods (for older models)

If you have an older Xiaomi model (like the Redmi 4X, Mi A1), you can try workarounds that no longer work on new devices:

For example, for the call method:

1. From another phone, call the blocked Xiaomi.
2. Take the call and quickly go to the settings to turn off the password.

⚠️ Warning: These methods are often used by fraudsters to steal data. Do not use them on other people's phones - this violates the law on privacy (Article 137 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

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On phones with MIUI 13+ and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1+ processor (such as Xiaomi 12 Pro), workaround methods do not work due to hardware protection.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi