How to turn on Xiaomi if you forgot your password: the full guide

When a smartphone screen goes out and only the vague memory of the password being written somewhere in a notebook pops up, many users are familiar with the situation: a Xiaomi or Redmi device instantly turns from a useful gadget into a useless piece of glass and plastic if you can’t get past the lock screen. Modern security systems embedded in the MIUI and HyperOS shell do not allow you to simply access data without authorization.

But it's too early to panic. There are several proven methods to restore access to the device, or at least return it to working condition. The choice of the particular method depends on whether the Mi Account was tied, whether the debugging is enabled on USB and which version of the operating system is installed on board. In some cases, you can save photos and contacts, in others you will have to sacrifice for functionality.

Before you go into action, you need to be clear about the risks. Most of the methods described below involve a complete reset of user data, which means that photos, instant messengers and files will be deleted without recovery if you do not have a fresh backup in the cloud. The only way to save data with a forgotten password is to sync with Mi Cloud until the moment of locking.

Preparation for the release procedure

The first step before any manipulation is to assess the current state of the gadget: you will need a stable Internet connection, as Xiaomi servers will have to verify your ownership of the device.

Charge the battery to at least 50-60%. The reset and subsequent setup process can take time, and a sudden power outage at a critical moment of updating system files can turn a smartphone into a “brick.” If the device responds to touch, but you can’t log in, try entering the password incorrectly several times to appear a waiting timer or emergency call button.

☑️ Preparation for discharge

Charge the battery more than 50%Remember the Mi Account detailsFind a stable Wi-FiPrepare a PC with the Internet

Done: 0 / 4

It is important to understand the difference between PIN-code SIM-card and screen unlock pattern lock if the device requests code PUK After the reboot, it's a question for your carrier, not for Android security, and in this case, it's about protecting the user interface, which is almost impossible to get around with standard methods without losing data.

Use the “Find Device” function from Google

If you have logged in to a Google account on a locked phone and geolocated, you can use remote management, which is effective if your phone is connected to the mobile Internet or Wi-Fi network, go from your computer or other phone to android.com/find and log in to the same account.

In the service interface, select your device from the list, and you'll be prompted to do a few things: "Call," "Block," and "Clear the device." We're interested in cleaning, and by clicking on this button, you initiate a command to completely reset the data, which will automatically delete the forgotten lock password.

⚠️ Note: After completing the “Clear” command, all data on the internal memory will be permanently deleted. Only those files that were synchronized with Google Photos or Google Drive in advance can be restored.

There's a nuance about theft protection, and once you're reset by Google, your device might need to enter the password for the last Google account you used when you first download it, which is FRP, or Factory Reset Protection, and if you don't remember Google email data, it's going to be very difficult to unlock your phone without going to the service center with a check to buy it.

The most versatile way to do this is to use the phone even if it's not connected to the network or not responding to the screen. To enter Recovery Mode, you need to turn off your smartphone completely. Then press both the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo or menu appears in English/Chinese.

Navigation in this menu is done with volume buttons (up-down), and the power button selects the item. You need to find the Wipe Data or Clear Data section. Newer versions of MIUI may require confirmation of action by entering the word yes or selecting the Wipe All Data item.

What to do if the menu is in Chinese?

If you're on the Chinese Recovery menu, look for the characters that correspond to the data cleanup, which is usually the second or third item on the list, and you can use a photo interpreter from another device to accurately identify the desired line before pressing the confirmation button.

Once confirmed, the system will start the formatting process. It takes between seconds and a couple of minutes. Once completed, the phone will automatically restart. The first boot after the reset will last longer than usual, which is normal, since the system creates new configuration files.

Unlocking through Mi Account

Xiaomi device owners have the advantage of having Mi Cloud built-in security. If the device has enabled the Find Device option in your Mi Account settings, you can delete the password remotely. Go to i.mi.com and log in to your profile.

In the cloud service interface, select Find the device, the map will show the last known location of the gadget (if it is online), select Unlock from the management menu, and the system will warn you that the data will be deleted, but the lock password will be removed.

Method	We need the Internet.	Data retention	Difficulty
Google Find My Device	Yes.	No.	Low.
Recovery Mode	No.	No.	Medium
Mi Cloud Unlock	Yes.	No.	Low.
Service centre	No.	Maybe.	Tall.

This is considered the most “official” way for the Xiaomi ecosystem, ensuring that after a reset, the phone does not request confirmation of the owner through the Mi Account, since the unlock is done by the authorized owner through the web interface. However, if the “Find the device” function was disabled in the phone’s settings in advance, this method will not work.

📊 Have you unlocked your phone yourself?

Yes, through Google.

Yes, through Recovery.

No, I did.

While I'm reading the instructions

Using ADB for Advanced Users

For those who previously included the “Debugging” mode USB» (USB Debugging, on the developer menu, is a more gentle method. It requires the installation of drivers. ADB If the debugging is active, the computer can access the file system even when the screen is locked.

Once connected, open the command line on your PC and type a command to delete files that store access keys. These are usually files with the.key extension in the system folder.

adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key


adb shell rm /data/system/password.key

Once you have completed the commands, you need to restart the device, the password should disappear, and you can set a new one. However, on modern versions of Android 11/12/13/14, this method rarely works, since access to system folders without root permissions or prior authorization of the computer is often closed.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB Incorrect deletion of system files can lead to a cyclic restart (bootloop) or loss of interface functionality.

FRP (Google Account Lock)

A common problem after resetting through Recovery is requiring you to enter a Google account that was previously synced. If you remember your login but forgot your password, restore access through the Google site on another device. If the account is unknown, you will need to bypass FRP.

The process of circumvention is complex and depends on the specific version. MIUI It often involves the use of TalkBack or special browser applications that are launched through the emergency call menu, for example, activating the voice assistant can allow you to open the browser and download the necessary necessary APK-binding-file.

💡

When buying a used Xiaomi, always check that you are not tied to someone else's Mi Account. Having someone else's account makes the phone useless after a reset.

There are specialized tools for PCs, such as the Mi Unlock Tool (official, but requires a wait of 168 hours) or third-party utilities like Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools. They help to remove the bootloader lock, which allows you to reflash the phone cleanly, killing the binding to the accounts.

When Professional Assistance is Needed

If none of the software methods did not help, or the phone stopped responding to buttons (the problem of hardware), there is a way to the service center. Xiaomi official services can unlock the device upon presentation of documents confirming the purchase (check, warranty card, box with IMEI).

Unofficial wizards offer services to solder memory chips or use programmers, allowing you to reset a password without losing data in some cases, but it's expensive and risky. Interfering with hardware is almost guaranteed to strip you of an official warranty.

💡

The best protection against forgotten passwords is to regularly back up important data to the cloud and store passwords in a trusted password manager.

In conclusion, it’s worth noting that data security is sometimes worth losing access to than if anyone could have accessed it, and remembering passwords or using biometrics (fingerprint, Face ID) makes life much easier and reduces the risk of being blocked.

Can I unlock Xiaomi without losing data?

There are no official ways to unlock the screen without losing data if you have completely forgotten your password and have not set up remote access. This is a fundamental principle of Android security. Any programs that promise this are likely viruses or frauds.

What if the phone asks for a password from the Mi Account after resetting?

This is anti-theft protection. You need to enter the password from the Mi Account that was synced to this device before reset. If you forget the password, restore it to mi.com. Without this, you can't use the phone.

Will the warranty be reset after Hard Reset?

Hard Reset by itself is not a reason to deny warranty, but if you unlock the bootloader or reflash the phone with unofficial firmware, warranty service may be denied.

How to avoid blocking in the future?

Use biometric unlocking (finger or face) in conjunction with a simple PIN-Write down the complex password to a secure location, enable sync with Mi Cloud and Google, so that if you reset, the data will automatically recover.