How to unlock the pattern lock on Xiaomi Redmi, if you forgot the password: all working ways

The forgotten pattern lock on Xiaomi Redmi is a situation that many users face, especially when it comes to a loved one's phone, and access to important data (photos, messages, banking applications) is blocked. PIN-A pattern lock is harder to pick up by brute force, but there are several legal ways to reset or bypass it.

It’s worth clarifying right away: there’s no one-size-fits-all method that works for all Redmi models (whether it’s the Redmi Note 10 Pro, Redmi 9A or POCO X3). The effectiveness of the method depends on the version of MIUI, the presence of a Xiaomi account, the status of the phone (on/off) and even whether data encryption has been activated before. In this article, we’ll discuss all current methods – from official to little-known workarounds – and how to minimize the risk of data loss.

⚠️ Note: Attempts to unlock through informal tools (such as Fastboot or third-party utilities) can result in complete data loss if File-Based Encryption is activated on the phone.

If the phone belongs to another person (such as your husband), make sure you have his consent to unlock. Unauthorized access to someone else's data may violate privacy laws (in Russia - FZ-152).

1. Official reset via Mi Account (if the phone is connected to the Internet)

The most reliable and secure way is to use a Xiaomi account, which works if:

• 📶 The phone is connected to Wi-Fi or mobile network.
• 🔑 The device previously included in Mi Account (even if you do not remember the password now).
• 🔄 Find Device has been activated in the settings.

Instructions:

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com from a computer or other phone.
2. Sign in with the same account as the blocked Redmi.
3. Select the Find Device tab.
4. The map will show the location of the phone. Press Unlock Device.
5. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

⚠️ Note: If encryption is enabled on the phone, you may need to enter a password from your Google account (if it was linked) after unlocking. FRP (Factory Reset Protection and activates after resetting via Mi Account.

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If you don't remember the Mi Account password, try to restore it via the linked email or phone number.Recovery link: account.xiaomi.com/pass/forgetPassword

2. Unlocking through Recovery Mode (without data loss is not always possible)

If the phone is not connected to the Internet or Mi Account is not tied, you can try resetting the pattern lock via Recovery Mode, a method that works for most Redmi models, but is guaranteed to delete all data if encryption is enabled.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press the Power Button + Volume up and hold for 5-10 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select the language (usually English or Chinese).
4. Go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (or Clear Data on older versions).
5. Confirm the reset by selecting Confirm.
6. After the reboot, the phone will be like new — without a pattern lock.

🔍 Important: On some models (Redmi Note 8 Pro, Redmi) K20) Recovery may need to enter a Mi Account password even to reset it. If it's not, it won't work.

Turn off the phone.|Hold the Power. + Volume Up|Wait for the Recovery menu|Select Wipe Data|Confirm discharge|Reset the device-->

3. bypassing the pattern lock through ADB (only if debugging is enabled)

The method for advanced users - using Android Debug Bridge (ADB). It only works if the debugging has been previously enabled. USB (USB Debugging) in the developer settings. If this item is not activated, the method is useless.

What you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 🔌 USB-cable (original, not damaging ports).
• 📱 Phone with a charge of at least 30%.

Instructions:

1. Connect Redmi to your computer via USB.
2. Open the command prompt (CMD on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux).
3. Enter the commands in order: adb shell su rm /data/system/gesture.key rm /data/system/locksettings.db rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm reboot
4. After rebooting, the pattern lock will be reset.

⚠️ Attention: On new versions MIUI 12/13/14 This method may not work due to changes in the structure of system files, and after a reset, you may need to re-authorize in Mi Account.

Reset via Mi Account|Recovery Mode|ADB| Contacted the service center |Never blocked-->

4. Use of service codes (for older models)

Some older Xiaomi smartphones (e.g. Redmi 4X, Redmi 5A) can reset the pattern lock through service codes, a method that doesn’t work on all devices and may depend on regional firmware.

Try the following combinations:

• 📞 ##7378423## — Resetting security settings (works on some versions) MIUI 8/9).
• 📞 ##36446337## - Test mode, sometimes allows you to bypass the lock.
• 📞 ##4636## - Test menu where you can try resetting your settings.

If you've rebooted your phone after you've entered the code, or if you've got a menu with Factory Reset, you can choose it. If nothing happens, it's not the right way to go for your model.

🔍 Note: Service codes are often blocked in new firmware. Do not type them into Redmi with MIUI 12+ — This can cause the system to fail.

5 Unlocking via Fastboot (advanced method)

If previous methods have failed, you can try flashing your phone through Fastboot, a technique that requires technical skills and is only suitable for users who are prepared for possible data loss.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Mi Flash Tool installed.
• 📁 Official firmware for your model (download from the official website).
• 🔌 Cable USB (better-than-original).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone and put it in Fastboot mode: press the Power button + Volume down.
2. Connect Redmi to the computer.
3. Start the Mi Flash Tool, select the downloaded firmware.
4. Press Refresh to allow the program to detect the device.
5. Select Clean All mode and press Flash.
6. Wait for the firmware to be completed (5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Note: Once Fastboot is installed, the phone will be completely cleaned, including internal memory (userdata.

6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If all the self-unblocking attempts failed, the last option is to contact the official Xiaomi service center, which is the most reliable way, but it has its nuances:

What you need to know:

• 📄 You will need to present a document confirming the purchase (check, warranty card or box with a IMEI).

How to find the nearest service center:

1. Check the reviews about the center (for example, on Yandex.Maps or 2GIS).

🔍 Tip: Before visiting the service center, take a screenshot of the screen with IMEI (Dial *#06# on the locked device) This will help confirm that the phone is truly yours.

Unlocking methods comparison: what to choose?

To make it easier for you to determine, we have collected the key pros and cons of each method in the table:

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If File-Based Encryption is enabled, any reset will result in data loss, and the only way to save it is to unlock it via Mi Account or ADB (if debugging was enabled in advance).

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi Redmi