When you pick up your smartphone and realize you can't unlock the screen, it causes panic, and it can happen after a long break in use, rush, or if you just change the usual pattern to a more complex one and don't remember it. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices face this problem regularly, because the security system MIUI and HyperOS are quite strict against repeating incorrect input attempts.
Fortunately, the Android operating system that runs the Chinese manufacturer’s shells has several recovery scenarios. Logging into the Recovery menu is the most reliable way to work even when the touch screen is partially unresponsive. However, it’s worth warning right away: in most cases, deleting data completely is the only way to unblock if you don’t remember the code.
Before you start taking action, you need to be clear about the risks: If your device has not been enabled to sync with the cloud or made a backup to your computer, photos, contacts and correspondence can be lost. However, returning the functionality of the gadget is often more important, so we will consider all available methods, from regular Google funds to forced reset through the engineering menu.
Preparation for the procedure for restoring access
The first step before you start any manipulation of system files or resetting is to assess the current situation, and you need to understand what type of lock is installed: pattern lock, digital key. PIN-This will determine whether you can use Google’s services to remotely unlock, although this method is increasingly less common on modern versions of Android due to security concerns.
It is critical to check the battery power. The process of resetting data and then configuring the system can take from 15 to 40 minutes. If the device turns off when the /data partition is formatted, this can damage the file system and create a “brick” that will have to be restored through the computer and special utilities like the Mi Flash Tool.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure you remember your Mi Account and Google account. Once you reset, the security system will ask for authorization to these services to confirm ownership of the device (protection) FRP).
You also need to prepare your computer in advance with Internet access. Even if you plan to reset the settings with buttons, having a PC at hand will quickly find drivers or download utilities for removing the device. FRP-- locking up if standard methods don't work. USB-cable, as cheap analogues may not provide a stable connection for data transfer if you need a Fastboot mode.
☑️ Pre-reset check
Use the “Find Device” function from Google
This method is the least disruptive, as it theoretically allows you to remove only the lock password of the screen, saving user data, it works only if the locked smartphone is on the Internet (mobile or Wi-Fi) and activated geolocation, you will need access to another device (computer or phone friend) to log into the control service.
You need to go to the official Google Find My Device website and log in to the same Google account that is the main one on the blocked Xiaomi. In the service interface, select your device from the list. If you have a connection with the gadget, you will see three main options: "Block", "Clear" and "Call." We are interested in the option "Clean" (Erase Device).
Once the action is confirmed, a warning will appear on the screen that all data will be deleted. This is a complete reset, but it is done remotely and often allows you to bypass the lock screen without having to poke buttons on the phone itself. Once the procedure is complete, the phone will reboot, and you can configure it as new by logging into your account.
Why might the method not work?
It is worth noting that on modern versions of the MIUI shell, this feature can behave unpredictably, sometimes instead of unlocking the system simply requires re-entering the password after rebooting, in which case you can rely only on hardware methods to reset through the recovery menu.
Reset via Recovery (Hard Reset) menu
The most common and effective way to log in to a phone if you forget your password is to run Hard Reset through the Recovery menu. It's an embedded partition of the operating system that loads regardless of the main interface. The key combination may vary slightly from Xiaomi and Redmi to login, but the algorithm is the same.
First, turn off your smartphone completely. If the device responds to presses, do it through the menu. If the screen is not working or the phone is getting stuck, press the power button for 10-15 seconds until the screen is fully vibrating and turned off. Then, when the device is off, simultaneously press the Volume Up and the power button.
Hold both buttons until the Mi or Redmi logo appears. Once the logo appears, the power button can be released, but the volume button must be held until the main Recovery menu appears, usually presented as a list with English items on a black or orange background.
- 📱 Reboot – Simple device reboot without data reset (useful if you miss the menu).
- 🗑️ Wipe Data – a section that contains options for cleaning memory and resetting settings.
- 🔧 Connect with MIAssistant – mode for connecting to a computer and firmware through a cable.
- 🔋 Safety - Security check (not found on all versions).
In the menu, the navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. You need to select Wipe Data, then Wipe All Data and confirm the action by selecting Confirm. The process takes a few seconds, after which the system will prompt you to return to the main menu (Back to Main Menu) and select Reboot -> Reboot to System.
⚠️ Note: Some new Xiaomi models may request a screen unlock password when you try to log in to Recovery, which is an additional protection measure. If the system requires a password to log in to Recovery, it is almost impossible to get around it without losing data.
Features of unlocking on different versions of MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi’s software is constantly updated, and with each new version of MIUI or transition to HyperOS, security algorithms change. Users of older versions (MIUI 10, 11, 12) often could unlock the device through the Mi Account, simply by entering a password from it after several failed attempts to enter a pattern lock.
On the newer versions (MIUI 13, 14 and HyperOS), this feature has been removed for security reasons, and now after 5-10 attempts, the phone is locked for 30 seconds, then for 1 minute, and so on, and the "Forgot the password" button is either missing or leads to a complete reset over the Internet, which is essentially the equivalent of Hard Reset.
| Shell version | Possibility of resetting through Mi Account | Requirement of password in Recovery | Risk of data loss | Difficulty breaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI 10-11 | Tall. | No. | Minimum (if there is a cloud) | Low. |
| MIUI 12-12.5 | Medium | Rarely. | Medium. | Medium |
| MIUI 13-14 | Low. | Often | High (100% discharge) | Tall. |
| HyperOS | Absent. | I'll be sure. | Total loss. | Very high. |
Owners of HyperOS devices should be especially careful, because the system is more integrated with the ecosystem, and any attempts of third-party intervention can lead to blocking by Device ID. If after resetting the phone requires a password from a Mi Account that you do not remember, it will be extremely difficult to unlock it without a receipt of purchase.
What to do if your phone requires a post-reset account (FRP)
Once Hard Reset is successfully completed, the phone will restart and begin the initial setup process. At the Wi-Fi connection stage, the system can request proof of ownership of the device, which is FRP (Factory Reset Protection), which is activated if a Google account was entered on the phone before the reset.
You'll be asked to enter a password from a Google account that was synced to the device before, so that the thief who stole the phone can't just drop it and use it as if nothing had happened. If you remember the username and password, just type them in and the phone unlocks.
If you don't remember your account details, things get complicated, and Google and Xiaomi don't officially provide ways to bypass this protection without verifying identity, but there are technical methods to bypass FRP that often change as the manufacturer closes security update vulnerabilities.
- 🔓 TalkBack: Activation of the voice assistant through a special combination of buttons allows you to access the keyboard settings and start the browser.
- 📶 Emergency Call mode: on some versions of Android, you can call the system menu or browser through a set of emergency codes.
- 💻 Software Utilities: There are special programs for PC (for example, FRP Bypass tools that help bypass the check through the cable USB.
⚠️ Note: Using third-party software to bypass FRP You can download a virus to your computer or damage your phone's software, and it may violate Google's terms of service.
The most reliable, but longest way is to restore access to your account through Google’s Restore Form, so if you have the option to verify your identity through a backup email or phone number, you can reset your account password and log in to your phone.
💡
If you buy a used Xiaomi phone, always ask the seller to complete a full Wipe Data reset and log out of all accounts, which ensures that the device does not lock FRP after the reboot.
Prevention of blocking and data retention
To avoid getting caught off guard and losing important data, you need to back up regularly. Xiaomi’s ecosystem has a built-in “Mi Cloud” tool that automatically saves contacts, messages, notes and photos to the cloud.
It’s also recommended to set up sync with Google Photos and Google Contacts, which will take a couple of minutes but save your information at a critical time, and make a habit of checking once a month that backups are successful and take up-to-date volume.
Use password managers to store passwords or write complex combinations to a secure location (a paper notebook or a secure file on a PC). Human memory is not designed to store dozens of unique codes, and relying on it for security is risky.
💡
Regular sync with Mi Cloud and Google is the only way to guarantee data retention when you need an emergency phone reset.
If you often forget codes, consider using biometric unlocking, like fingerprint or facial recognition. In security settings, passwords and security can add multiple fingerprints. Even if you forget the pattern lock, biometrics often lets you log in and change your password without having to reset.