How to Sign in to Xiaomi if You Forgot Your Password: The Complete Guide 2026

Forgetting your smartphone password is a bad situation, but it can be remedied, especially if you're talking about Xiaomi phones, where the manufacturer has provided several ways to restore access, the main thing is not to panic or try to find a combination at random: after 5-10 failed attempts, the system can lock the device for 24 hours or completely erase all data.

In this article, we will discuss all the current unlock methods for Redmi, POCO and Mi phones (including the 2020-2026 models), from the simplest sign-in via Mi Account to the complex manipulations of Fastboot and ADB. Importantly, the effectiveness of the method depends on the version of MIUI, the presence of a linked account and the condition of the phone (on / off, discharged / charged).

Warning: some methods will lead to complete data loss. If your phone has important files, try the options first without resetting. And remember, the newer Xiaomi model, the harder it is to bypass the protection - MIUI 14/15 closed many of the "skips" that worked on older versions.

1 Unlocking with Mi Account (the safest way)

If your Xiaomi is tied to your Mi Account (which the default system requires you to do when you first turn on), the chances of getting access back are maximised, and even after a hard reset, the phone will remain tied to your profile.

Conditions for this method:

📱 The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
🔑 You remember the username and password from Mi Account (or you can restore them through the email/SMS).
🔄 The phone does not disable synchronization with the account (checked in Settings). → Accounts. → Mi Account).

Step-by-step:

On the lock screen, tap the button Forgot password? (or Forgot password? on English firmware).
Select the recovery option through Mi Account.
Enter the email or phone number associated with the account, then the password.
Confirm the entrance through SMS-code (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
Create a new password to unlock the screen.

If the buttons Forgot your password? No, then the phone is disabled sync with Mi Account or there is a custom firmware. In this case, move to the next method.

💡

Before resetting your password, check if another person’s account is linked to the phone (for example, if the device was bought with your hands), in which case unlocking through Mi Account can lead to activation of the Mi Cloud Lock function – the phone will require the data of the previous owner.

2. Reset password via Recovery Mode (without loss of data)

This is a good way to do it if you don’t remember the Mi Account data, but the phone isn’t locked at the account level (i.e., you’ve already logged in) and works on most Redmi and POCO models with MIUI 12-14, but may not work on the new flagships (Xiaomi 13/14, POCO F5).

What you need:

🔋 Battery charge of at least 30% (to avoid shutdown during the process).
🖱️ The ability to connect the mouse through OTG-Adapter (optional, but simplifies navigation).

Instructions:

Turn off the phone with a long press on the power button.
Press the Volume Up + Power combination and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.
Select a language from the menu (if there is such a item), then tap on Wipe Data (or Erase Data).
Select Wipe Lock Settings (or Erase Lock Settings) This option will only remove the password/pattern lock without affecting user data.
Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

If you don’t have Wipe Lock Settings on the menu, your Xiaomi model doesn’t support a partial reset, so you’ll have to do full Wipe Data (see next section).

Turn off phone |Clamp Volume up + Power |Select language in Recovery |Find Wipe Lock Settings |Confirm password reset-->

3. Full reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)

An extreme method that is guaranteed to unlock the phone but delete all data: photos, messages, apps and settings. Use it if other methods have failed or the phone is locked at Mi Account level (requires data from the previous owner).

Important: on new Xiaomi models (released after 2022), Mi Cloud Lock can work after Hard Reset - the phone will require entering a login / password from the last associated account. If you do not remember this data, unlocking will be impossible without contacting the service center.

How to make a Hard Reset:

Turn off the phone.
Press Volume Up + Power before the Fastboot menu (Android robot with open body) appears.
With volume buttons, select Recovery Mode and confirm the choice with the power button.
From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (or Wipe All Data).
Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed (5-10 minutes).
The phone will reboot and offer to configure it as new.

What to do if your phone requires an old Mi Account after a reset?

If you bought Xiaomi with your hands and do not know the data of the previous owner, you will not be able to unlock the phone yourself. Officially, Xiaomi requires a purchase check or a sales contract to remove the Mi Cloud Lock. Informal services offer bypassing the lock for a fee (from 1000 to 5000 rubles), but this violates the terms of use and can lead to repeated blocking.

4. Unlock through ADB (for advanced users)

The method is for those who are ready to work with the command line. Suitable if the phone is debugging on USB (checks in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version, then tap 7 times according to version and return to Additional settings → For developers). If debugging is disabled, the method will not work.

What you need:

🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
📦 Installed drivers ADB Fastboot (you can download from the site) XDA Developers).
🔋 Charging the phone at least 50%.

Step-by-step:

Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
Open the command line (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and type: adb devices If the phone is identified (its serial number appears), go further. If not, check the drivers and cable.
Enter the command to delete the file with the password: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key adb shell rm /data/system/password.key adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm
Reboot your phone with the command: adb reboot
After rebooting, the password must be reset (sometimes you need to enter any character).

If the commands don’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.ChooseLockGeneric

This command must open the password change menu directly on the locked screen.

Yes, successfully.|Yeah, but it didn't work.|No, but I want to try.|No, and no planning.|I don't know what it is.-->

5. Bypass locking via Fastboot (for models with unlocked bootloader)

This is a good way to use phones that have previously unlocked a bootloader (for example, custom firmware). If the bootloader is locked, the method will not work.

fastboot oem device-info

If the answer is Device unlocked: true, you can continue.

Instructions:

Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to log into the Fastboot.
Connect your phone to your computer and check for detection by the command: fastboot devices
Enter the command to reset the lock settings: fastboot erase frp (some models may require fastboot erase userdata, but this will lead to data loss).
Reboot the phone: fastboot reboot

If you want a password after you restart, try any set of characters, and sometimes the system forgets the old password after you manipulate Fastboot.

💡

Unlocking via Fastboot is only possible on phones with an officially unlocked bootloader. On new Xiaomi models (2023-2026), unlocking the bootloader requires waiting 7-15 days after submitting an application via the Mi Unlock Tool.

6. Alternative methods (if nothing has worked)

If standard methods don't work, less obvious options remain, and their effectiveness depends on the phone model and MIUI version.

Methods for emergency cases:

📞 Call a locked phone. Ask a friend to call you, take a call, and try to open the settings through the notification bar during the call. MIUI (up to 12) this sometimes allowed to bypass the lock.
🔧 Xiaomi Service Center, official centers can unlock the phone on a purchase check (even if you do not remember the Mi Account data.
💻 Specialized programs: Mi Flash Unlock or Xiaomi Tool V2, But they require experience and can cause a phone to break down.

Warnings:

⚠️ Note: Software for "hacking" locks often contain viruses or spyware. download software only from trusted sources (for example, forums). XDA Developers or website 4PDA).

⚠️ Attention: Flip-through through EDL on new Xiaomi models (with Snapdragon processors) 8 Gen 2/3) This may cause a hardware lock of the communication module. IMEI After that, it will be impossible.

Comparison of Unlocking Methods

Method	Conditions required	Loss of data	Difficulty	It works on new models.
Mi Account	Linked account, Internet	❌ No.	⭐	✅ Yes.
Recovery (Wipe Lock)	Recovery menu, charge >30%	❌ No.	⭐⭐	⚠️ Partially.
Hard Reset	Access to Recovery/Fastboot	✅ Yes.	⭐⭐	✅ Yes, but you may require a Mi Account)
ADB	Included debugging on USB, PC	❌ No.	⭐⭐⭐	❌ No, nah. MIUI 14+)
Fastboot	Unlocked bootloader, PC	⚠️ Maybe.	⭐⭐⭐⭐	❌ No, on new models)

If you are not confident in your abilities, you should contact the service center. Wrong actions (especially with Fastboot or EDL) can turn the phone into a brick, and it will be expensive to restore it.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi

Can I unlock Xiaomi without losing data?

Yes, if you have Mi Account sync enabled on your phone or you have previously activated USB debugging, in which case recovery via account or ADB commands will help. If not, you will have to reset, which will lead to the deletion of all files.

What if the phone asks for an old Mi Account after a reset?

This worked Mi Cloud Lock protection. Officially, you can only unlock the phone on a purchase check (call for Xiaomi) Unofficial services offer bypasses for a fee, but this violates the warranty conditions and can lead to re-locking.

Does the way to call the new Xiaomi work?

No. Since MIUI 12, the vulnerability to bypass the lock through the call has been closed, and this method could only work on very old models (e.g. Redmi 4X or Mi A1).

Can I unlock Xiaomi through my Google Account?

Unlike pure Android phones, Xiaomi uses its own lock system tied to the Mi Account.Restore via Google is only possible on Android One devices (such as the Mi A2/A3).

How much does it cost to unlock in the Xiaomi service center?

The cost depends on the model and the reason for blocking: Reset password without binding to Mi Account: 500-1500 rubles. bypass Mi Cloud Lock (if there is a check): 1000-3000 rubles. Recovery after a failed firmware: from 2000 rubles. Xiaomi official centers do not take for unlocking phones with hands without documents.