How to delete data from Xiaomi if you forget your password: the full guide

The situation of the owner being unable to unlock his smartphone is one of the most stressful in the world of digital devices, PIN-code or complex password on a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, Access to your apps, photos and contacts can be completely shut down. - Modern Android security systems, especially in the shell MIUI HyperOS is designed to protect data from outsiders as much as possible, making it almost impossible to bypass protection without specific knowledge.

There are several proven ways to restore access or completely clean the device, and the choice of the specific method depends on whether the Internet was turned on, whether the Mi Account is tied, and which version of the operating system is installed. In some cases, you can save personal files, in others, a complete reset will be the only way out. It is important to understand that deleting data from a locked screen is often a last resort, but sometimes it is the only way to return the phone to working condition.

Before taking action, you need to be aware of the risks. Any manipulation of system partitions or forced reboot can lead to loss of information if you did not make a backup. Below we will discuss in detail all the current methods, from the regular functions of Google to the use of the engineering menu Recovery. Follow the instructions carefully, so as not to complicate the situation with the lock on the account.

Use the “Find Device” function from Google

The most civilized and safe way to unlock or delete data is to use Google’s built-in tools. This method only works if the locked smartphone has been activated by logging in to Google account, geolocation enabled and there is a network connection (Wi-Fi or mobile Internet).

First, you need to go to the official website of Google Find a Device and log in under the same account that was used on the locked phone. The system automatically determines the location of your Xiaomi or Redmi and offers several options. You do not need to be an IT expert, the interface is as simple and understandable even for a beginner.

• 🔒 Lock the device – allows you to set a new temporary password that will replace the forgotten pattern lock or pin code.
• 🔊 Playing sound is useful if the phone is lost somewhere in the room, but this option will not help with a forgotten password.
• 🗑️ Cleaning the device is a radical method that completely erases all data, returning the phone to factory settings.

When you choose to clean up, you have to be confident that you're going to have to make sure that the deletion process is irreversible. Once you confirm the command, the phone will receive a signal over the Internet and start the reset procedure. If the device was offline at that point, the command will be executed as soon as it appears on the network, which is the standard security procedure to prevent data theft.

⚠️ Warning: After resetting via Google, the phone may have protection FRP (Factory Reset Protection: You will need to enter the username and password from the Google account that was synced to the device before locking. Without this data, you will not be able to turn on the phone.

If the Internet on the phone is disabled or the geolocation function has not been activated in advance, this method, unfortunately, will not work, in which case the system simply will not be able to receive the command remotely, you will have to move to more complex technical solutions that require physical interaction with the buttons of the case.

Recovery Mode (Hard Reset)

The most versatile method, which works on 99% of Xiaomi devices regardless of system status, is to enter Recovery Mode, which is built into the firmware at a low level and allows you to perform system operations even when the screen is locked.

The login procedure may vary slightly depending on the model, but the algorithm remains the same. First, you need to turn off the smartphone completely. Then you need to press the combination of the buttons: usually a Volume Up button and a Power button, hold them until the Mi or Redmi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, while keeping the volume.

Once you're in the Recovery menu, you'll see a list of options in English or Chinese, and you'll be controlled by volume buttons (up and down), and the power button confirms the choice. You'll need to find Wipe Data. In newer versions of MIUI, you may need to confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data and then Confirm.

Once confirmed, the data partition formatting process will begin. The screen may go out or the progress indicator will appear. When the operation is completed, the phone will prompt a reboot (Reboot -> Reboot to System). The first start after the reset will take longer than usual, since the system needs to re-initialize the files.

Importantly, this method doesn't bypass account protection, it only removes local lock data. If the phone has enabled Find Device in the Mi Account settings, after reset, the system will require you to enter a Mi Account password, which is a measure of protection against theft, and you can't bypass it with a simple reset.

Delete data through the Mi Cloud service

Xiaomi smartphone owners often neglect to sign up in the Mi ecosystem, and that's a big mistake.Mi Cloud provides powerful tools to manage the device remotely, similar to Google, but with deeper integration into the MIUI shell. If you remember the username and password from your Mi Account, the chances of success are very high.

To use this method, go to the official i.mi.com website from any device. Sign in using your credentials. In the menu chapters, select Find Device. The system will try to locate your gadget. If your phone is online, you will have access to the control interface.

• 📍 Exact location – shows where the device is on the map.
• 🔒 Locking – allows you to lock the device with a new code, even if the screen has been unlocked.
• 🧹 Erase data – analogue of Hard Reset, run remotely through Xiaomi servers.

Mi Cloud erasure works even if the phone is in sleep mode, provided there is internet. Once the command is received, the phone will clear the /data partition by deleting all photos, contacts and apps. However, the system files and the account itself will remain tied to the device.

⚠️ Attention: Deleting via Mi Cloud does not remove the activation lock. After rebooting, the phone will require you to enter the password from the Mi Account that was previously associated. If you forget this password, it will be extremely difficult to unlock the device, often requiring contact with the service with purchase checks.

The advantage of this method over Google is that Mi Cloud can sometimes send a command to reset even when the connection is unstable, using the priority communication channels of the system, and you can see the history of locations, which can be useful for finding a lost gadget.

Use of debugging by USB and ADB

This method is suitable for advanced users and requires a computer, USB-cable and installed driver ADB (The main condition for the operability of the method - on the locked phone must be pre-enabled USB If you didn't turn on this feature before blocking, the method won't work.

The idea is to send a command through the computer's command line, which compulsorily initiates the reset process. Connect the phone to your PC, open the command prompt (cmd) in the ADB folder, and enter a command to check the connection: adb devices. If the device is determined, you can proceed to deletion.

adb shell am start -a android.settings.SECURITY_SETTINGS


adb shell input text "YOUR PASTER"




adb shell input keyevent 66

However, on modern versions of Android (starting with 11 and above), direct deletion of lock files via ADB without root permissions is often blocked by the security system.

adb reboot recovery

Once this command is executed, the phone will reboot itself in the Recovery menu, where you can execute Wipe Data with volume buttons, as described in the previous section.This speeds up the process if the buttons on the phone body are faulty or crash.

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If ADB Can't see the device, try others. USB-cables or install the original Xiaomi drivers from the official website. also sometimes helps to press the volume button down when connecting the cable.

It is worth noting that trying to delete system lock files (gesture.key or password.key) through ADB on new versions of MIUI without superuser rights (Root) is doomed to failure. The system will not allow you to write changes to protected partitions. Therefore, using ADB is only advisable to go to restore or reset settings by regular commands.

Mi Account problems and activation blocking

After successfully deleting data in any of the ways described, you may encounter an activation screen, FRP (Factory Reset Protection) and a similar system for protecting Xiaomi accounts. The phone requests a password from an account that was synced to the device before the reset, so that thieves can not use stolen phones after flashing.

If you remember your account information, just enter it and access a clean phone. Problems begin if you forget your Mi Account password, or if you bought your phone with your hands and the previous owner didn't untie the device. In the case of Mi Account, there is a recovery procedure through i.mi.com, if you have access to a linked phone number or email.

When you can’t restore your account, the situation is complicated: Xiaomi doesn’t officially provide the tools to remove this lock without proof of ownership. There are informal service programs (such as Mi Flash Pro or specialized boxes for service centers), but their use requires deep knowledge and often paid licenses.

• 📄 Documentation – availability of a check or a guarantee card with IMEI-The device code can help in the service center.
• 🔓 Service centers – official representatives can unlock the device when confirming ownership.
• ⚠️ Risks – the use of “crackers” and walkers FRP from the Internet can lead to infection of the phone with viruses or a complete lock of the motherboard.

It's important to distinguish between a screen lock (which we removed) and an account lock (which protects the device). Deleting a screen password doesn't undo the account's binding. These are two different levels of security, and ignoring the second one can turn a smartphone into a "brick" with limited functionality.

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FRP/Mi Account is a theft protection that can’t be circumvented by simply resetting your settings. Always remember your account details.

Prevention and backup

To prevent a forgotten password from taking you by surprise and losing important data, you need to be regularly engaged in prevention. The best way to protect is not a complex password, but an up-to-date backup. Xiaomi offers built-in automatic backup tools that are a sin not to use.

Set up automatic synchronization of important data with Mi Cloud or Google Drive. Contacts, notes, calendar and photos can be uploaded to the cloud automatically when connected to Wi-Fi. In this case, even if you have to do Hard Reset, you will lose only the application settings, but not personal information.

It is also recommended to periodically create a full local copy of the system. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore. Create a backup to an SD card or a connected computer. The password from this backup is better written in a notebook or stored in a safe place.

⚠️ Attention: Local backups created on the phone itself can also be password protected. If you forget the backup password, it will be impossible to recover data from it. Use passwords that you remember accurately, or store them in the password manager.

Another useful tip is to set up biometric unlocking, because fingerprint or face ID allows you to avoid entering a complex password every time, reducing the risk of forgetting it, but you can not completely abandon the pattern lock, since biometrics often require code confirmation after rebooting.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)