How to turn on Xiaomi phone if you forgot your password: all working ways of 2026

A forgotten password on a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that thousands of users face every day, especially when the device stores important data and access to it is blocked. Fortunately, the manufacturer has provided several official and informal ways to unlock, but each of them has its own nuances and risks.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of unlocking, from a simple reset via Mi Account to complex manipulations with Fastboot and EDL. It is important to understand that some methods lead to complete loss of data, so first try to restore access without reset. If the phone is enabled encryption, the chances of saving files are minimal, we will also talk about this in detail.

Before you start, check:

• 🔌 Is the phone at least 30% charged (discharge during the procedure can turn the device into a brick").
• 📡 Is there access to Wi-Fi or mobile Internet (required for authorization in Mi Account).
• 💾 Are your sensitive data (photos, contacts, messages) backed up in the cloud or on PC.

If you're not sure what you're doing, you should go to Xiaomi's service center, because you can't guarantee it by experimenting with your own firmware, but if you're willing to take a chance, read on.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The safest and most recommended method is to use a linked Mi Account, which works if:

• 📱 The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔑 You remember the username and password from the Mi Account that was linked to the device.
• 🔄 Find Device has been activated in the settings.

Instructions:

1. On the lock screen, tap the button "Forgot your password?" (or similar label depending on the version of MIUI).
2. Select the recovery option through Mi Account.
3. Enter the linked email or phone number, then the password.
4. Confirm your login via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
5. Follow the system prompts to create a new lock password.

If you don't have a password, try entering the wrong password 5 times in a row, and then a recovery link should appear. On some models (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro), this method does not always work due to the features of the firmware.

⚠️ Note: If the phone was bought with hands and the previous owner did not untie his Mi Account, it will not officially be possible to unlock the device.

2.Reset via Recovery Mode (without data loss is not always possible)

The method is suitable for devices that do not have data encryption enabled (usually older models on MIUI below version 12).If the phone is encrypted, resetting via Recovery will result in the deletion of all files.

How do you check encryption? When you connect to a PC via MTP (file transfer), if folders and files are displayed as "encrypted" or inaccessible, then the data is protected.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone with a long press on the power button (or a Power + Volume Up combination if the sensor is not responding).
2. Hold the Volume Up + Power for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and the Recovery menu appear.
3. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button to select the item.
4. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (some firmware may call it Factory Reset).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.
6. Reboot your phone with Reboot → Reboot to System.

Once reset, the phone will turn on as new, but all apps, settings and files (if encryption was available) will be deleted. If encryption was not available, the chance of storing the data in internal memory is about 50%, depending on the model and version of MIUI.

3. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

The method requires an unlocked bootloader and is suitable for models where the reset via Recovery did not work. If the bootloader is blocked, you will first have to unlock it through the official Mi Unlock Tool, which takes up to 720 hours of waiting (according to Xiaomi rules).

What you need:

• 🖥️ Windows computer (Xiaomi driver and ADB/Fastboot).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📥 Firmware for your model (download from the official website).
• 🛠️ Utilities. ADB Fastboot (can be downloaded as part of Android) SDK Platform-Tools).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone and put it in Fastboot mode: pinch Volume Down + Power before the hare appears in the eardress cap.
2. Connect the device to your PC and check for detection by command: fastboot devices If the phone is not detected, install the drivers manually through Device Manager.
3. Unlock the bootloader (if it is blocked) via the Mi Unlock Tool (requires authorization in the Mi Account tied to the phone).
4. Swipe your phone with the command (replace filename with firmware file name): fastboot flash all filename.zip
5. Upon completion, type in fastboot reboot

This method is guaranteed to delete all data, but brings the phone back to life even in cases where other methods do not work. Newer models (Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 12) may require additional authorization via Mi Account even in Fastboot mode.

⚠️ Attention: Continuous use of Fastboot commands without unlocking the bootloader can lead to hard-brick (complete loss of performance.

4.Use of EDL mode (emergency method)

EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is a last-ditch option for phones that don’t respond to other methods, allowing you to flash the device at a low level, but requires special hardware (EDL cable or circuit board contacts) and knowledge.

Note: Using EDL without Xiaomi’s official permission could lead to IMEI blocking and network loss.Beginning in 2021, the company tightened controls on emergency firmware, and now most models require authorization through Xiaomi servers.

How to log into EDL:

• 🔧 For most models: Turn off the phone, pinch Volume Up + Volume Down and connect USB-The device should be identified as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
• 📌 For some devices (e.g. Redmi 9): you will need to disassemble the phone and close the test points on the motherboard.

For firmware in EDL, use utilities like the Mi Flash Tool or QFil. The process is similar to Fastboot, but it works at a lower level. Importantly, the firmware should be strictly for your model and version.

If the phone is not networked after firmware in EDL, check the IMEI command *#06#. If zeros or "Invalid" are displayed instead of the number, you will need to restore through an engineering menu or service center.

5. Alternative methods (for older models)

Devices up to MIUI 10 (e.g. Redmi 4X, Mi A1) sometimes run bypass methods that don’t require resetting, and their effectiveness depends on the firmware version and security settings.

Method 1: Bypassing an emergency call

1. On the lock screen, tap "Emergency Call".
2. Enter #4636## and it will open the test menu.
3. Go to Usage Statistics and click on the home icon (may not work on all models).

Method 2: Use ADB (USB debugging required)

If USB Debugging was previously enabled on the phone, you can try to delete the password file via ADB:

adb shell


su




rm /data/system/gesture.key




rm /data/system/password.key




reboot

After rebooting, the password should be reset, but this method only works on unencrypted devices.

Method 3: Reset by Google Find My Device

If you have a Google account attached to your phone, you can try resetting it remotely:

1. Go to the Find My Device website.
2. Sign in with the same account as on your phone.
3. Select the device and click "Erase Data".

The disadvantage of the method: the phone must be connected to the Internet, and the function "Find the device" - activated.

💡

If the phone has encryption enabled but you remember the old password, try connecting it to your PC and copying it through MTP before resetting. Sometimes files remain available even after several failed password attempts.

6. What should I do if nothing helps?

If all of these methods fail, there are two options:

1. Contact the Xiaomi service center – official partners have access to special unlocking tools, but the service is paid (from 1,500 to 5 000 rubles depending on the model).
2. Buy a box for firmware (for example, UFi Box or EasyJTAG) is expensive equipment (from 20 000 rubles), which requires soldering skills and work with chips.

Before you bring your phone to the service, check:

• 📄 Availability of a check or warranty card (if the phone is guaranteed, unlocking can be free of charge).
• 🔍 Reviews of a service center (some "masters" may damage the fee or install unofficial software).
• 💰 Cost of service (sometimes cheaper to buy a new phone than to repair an old one).

If the phone was stolen or bought from hands with the previous owner's Mi Account tied, it will not be officially unlocked, in such cases, only the firmware through the EDL remains, with the risk of losing IMEI or selling the device for spare parts.

💡

Since MIUI 13, Xiaomi has tightened its security policy: even after a Fastboot reset, it may be necessary to enter data from a tied Mi Account, which means that buying used phones without undetaching an account has become extremely risky.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi