How to remove the lock screen on Xiaomi: from the pattern lock to Face ID

Lock screen on smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO — Not only is it personal data protection, but it's also a potential headache if you forget your password, your pattern lock, or you're experiencing a software failure. According to service center statistics, one in five people is having a problem unlocking a device, and 60 percent of the time it's due to a forgotten device. PIN-In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to remove the lock screen - from standard methods through settings to emergency solutions in case of complete loss of access.

It is important to understand that the procedure for unlocking is directly dependent on the version of MIUI, device model and type of protection (pattern lock, PIN, password, biometrics). For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 14, the reset algorithm through Find Device is different from the actions on the Redmi Note 10 with MIUI 12.5. We took these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that cover 95% of the current devices of the brand.

If you are looking for a way to get around the lock without losing data, go straight to the section about unlocking through your Mi Account. If the device is completely locked and does not respond to password input, you will be suitable for hardware reset or Fastboot mode.

1. Standard ways to remove the lock screen (if you know the password)

If you remember your current password, PIN or graphical key, you can delete the lock screen right in your system settings.This method works on all Xiaomi devices regardless of the model and version of MIUI, but requires confirmation of current protection.

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the Passwords and Security section.
3. Select the option Lock the screen.
4. Enter the current password/PIN/pattern lock for confirmation.
5. Click Remove screen lock and confirm the action.

After that, the device will no longer require you to enter protection when you turn on. Please note that if you have biometric authentication enabled (fingerprint or facial recognition), it also needs to be disabled separately in the same menu, otherwise the system can automatically restore the lock after restarting.

On some models (e.g. POCO F5 or Xiaomi 12T), after removing the lock, the system may suggest setting up a new one. In this case, just click Miss or Not Now. If there is no such option, set a temporary simple pattern lock (e.g., the letter "L"), and then delete it after 5 minutes.

2 Unblocking through Mi Account (if you forgot your password)

If you forget your pattern lock or PIN, but you have linked your device to your Mi Account, you can reset the lock via the official Find Device service, which only works under the following conditions:

• 📱 Device connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔄 The function Find the device in the settings is enabled.
• 🔐 Remember the username and password from Mi Account.
• 📡 The device is not in Offline mode (disabled or discharged).

Instructions for unlocking:

1. Go to i.mi.com from a computer or other smartphone.
2. Sign in with the same account as on the locked device.
3. In the Devices section, select your Xiaomi smartphone.
4. Click Find the device, then Unlock.
5. Confirm the action via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
6. Wait for a notification of successful unlocking (can take up to 5 minutes).

Important: Once unlocked via Find Device, all data on the device will remain intact, but some applications (e.g., banking services) may need to be re-authorized.

If the Find Device site doesn’t see your device, check:

• 🔌 Is it connected to the Internet (try restarting the router).
• 🔄 Is synchronization enabled with Mi Account in settings (Accounts) → Mi Account → Synchronization).
• 📱 Should I Hide the Device in my Account Profile.

⚠️ Note: If you have previously changed your Mi Account password but haven’t updated it on your smartphone, unlocking through Find Device may not work.

3. Use of Google Account (for older versions of MIUI)

Xiaomi devices with MIUI 8-11 (released before 2020) have the option to reset the lock via Google account, which works if:

• 📅 The device is released before 2020 (for example, Redmi Note 7, Mi 9).
• 🔑 There is a button on the lock screen Forgot the password?.
• 📧 Remember the login and password from Google Account tied to your phone.

Step-by-step:

1. On the lock screen, click Forgot Password? (or Forgot Pattern? on English firmware).
2. Enter the wrong pattern lock/PIN 5 times in a row until a 30 second lock message appears.
3. Once the Restore button appears via Google, click on it.
4. Enter the details from your Google Account (the one that was added in your phone settings).
5. Create a new pattern lock or PIN, then delete it through the settings (Section 1 of this article).

On newer devices (with MIUI 12 and above), this method doesn’t work, as Xiaomi has removed recovery support through Google for security reasons.If you have a modern model (like Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 12), move on to the next section.

If after entering data Google appears error "Impossible to connect to the server", check:

• 🌐 Internet connection (try switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data).
• ⏳ Time and date on the device (if you are lost, sync automatically).
• 🔄 Availability of updates MIUI (Sometimes bugs are fixed in new versions).

4. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

If standard methods didn't work, and resetting through the recapvery leads to data loss, you can try to remove the lock via Fastboot mode, USB-cable and basic knowledge of working with ADB/Fastboot. It is suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader (bootloader).

You'll need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (preferably from the set).
• 🛠️ Utilities. ADB Fastboot (you can download from the official Android website).
• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (if not, read section 5).

Instructions:

1. Turn off your smartphone, then press the Power button + Volume down to log into the Fastboot.
2. Connect the device to the computer via USB.
3. Open the command prompt (cmd on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
4. Enter the command to check the connection: fastboot devices If the device is determined (the serial number appears), continue.
5. Delete the lock files (for MIUI 12-14): fastboot erase locksettings fastboot erase gatekeeper
6. Reboot the device: fastboot reboot

After restarting, the lock screen should disappear. If this does not happen, try repeating commands or using an alternative method:

fastboot flash persist persist.img

(file persist.img You can get it from the official firmware for your model).

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect use of Fastboot can lead to a device blink (completely inoperable).If you are not sure about your actions, it is better to contact a service center or use the hardware reset method.

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Before working with Fastboot, turn off driver signature verification in Windows (if the system blocks the installation of drivers for Xiaomi). To do this, restart your PC in debugging mode (press F8 when you start) and select "Disable mandatory driver signature verification".

5 Unlocking the bootloader to remove the lock

If the bootloader on your Xiaomi is locked (which is typical for 90% of devices out of the box), it must be unlocked before using the Fastboot.This process is officially supported by Xiaomi, but requires waiting (usually 7-14 days) and binding to the Mi Account.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Mi Unlock Tool on your computer.
2. Log in to your Mi Account on your smartphone and link it to your device (Settings → Accounts → Mi Account).
3. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on MIUI until the notification "You're a developer" appears.
4. Return to Settings → More → For developers and enable: Debugging by USB Unlock OEM (an important item!)

Mi Unlock Tool

Follow the instructions of the program (confirmation via SMS is required).

Wait for a successful unlock (usually 168 hours of waiting time)

Once you unlock the bootloader, you can use the methods in Section 4 or flash custom recaps (TWRP) to reset the lock. Note: unlocking the bootloader resets all data on the device!

* On some Chinese versions of devices, unlocking bootloader is officially prohibited.

6 Hard Reset (Hard Reset) - last resort

If no other method has worked, it leaves you with a full reset via Recovery mode, which removes all data from your device, including photos, contacts and apps, but is guaranteed to remove the lock on your screen. Use it only as a last resort!

Instructions for MIUI Recovery:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the button combination: For most models: Power button + Volume up. For POCO: Power button + Volume up + Volume down.

Mi

In the Recaveri menu, select the language (usually English or Chinese).

Wipe Data → Wipe All Data

Mi Account

Reboot → Reboot to System

Critical: if the device was enabled with the function of Protection Mi Account (in the security settings), after reset, you will need to enter the login and password from the associated account. Without this data, the phone will turn into a “brick”!

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 12S Ultra, Redmi K50) After resetting over the Recovery may require re-activation via Mi Account, even if you know the data.This is due to Xiaomi's security policy for the Chinese market. email/phone!

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Hardware reset is a last resort. If there is important data on the device, try Mi Account or Fastboot methods first, as they store information.

7.How to avoid future blockage issues

In order not to face the need to reset the lock, follow these recommendations:

• 🔐 Use the backup. PIN-pattern lock code (configured when creating a pattern).
• 📧 Link Mi Account and Google Account to your device.
• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI (In new versions, bugs with a lock have been fixed).
• 📱 Enable Smart Lock for trusted locations or devices (Settings) → Passwords and security → Smart Lock).
• 💾 Backup your important data via Mi Cloud or Google Drive.

It is also useful to know the secret combinations for emergency access:

• 📞 On the lock screen, dial ##4636## to open the test menu (not working on all models).
• 🔧 Safe Mode: Press the Power Button → Shut down the power. → Hold the power off until you request to switch to Safe Mode. In this mode, you can remove problematic applications that may block the screen.

If you often forget passwords, consider using biometric authentication (fingerprint or facial recognition) in combination with simple, easy-to-use authentication. PIN-Set it up in Settings. → Passwords and security → Add a fingerprint.

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Take a photo or write down your pattern lock/PIN in a secure location (such as an encrypted note in Google Keep or a notebook with a password) to help avoid problems with sudden locking.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing the lock screen on Xiaomi