Resetting your Xiaomi smartphone is a standard procedure when selling a device, fixing system failures or preparing for firmware. However, many users face an unpleasant surprise: after hard reset, the phone requires you to enter the Mi Account data that was previously tied. If you forget your password, do not remember your email address or device was purchased with your hands, access to the system is blocked. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to restore a Xiaomi account in 2026, including official methods and workarounds for unlocking.
Compounding the problem, Xiaomi has tightened security policies: new devices have been using MIUI Activation Lock since 2021, meaning that even after a reset, the system can request original data from the previous owner. We analyzed hundreds of cases from 4PDA forums, Mi Community and service centers to collect the most complete instructions, from basic steps to advanced technical solutions.
Why Xiaomi is blocking the device after a reset?
The mechanism for blocking Mi Account after resetting is not a bug, but a feature, which Xiaomi has implemented to protect users from theft and unauthorized access, and here are the key reasons why the device may require account data:
- 🔒 Find Device has been activated in the settings, and even if you manually disabled it, it retains account binding on some firmware.
- 📱 Device linked to Mi Account via Settings → Xiaomi account.This automatically turns on reset protection.
- 🛡️ MIUI Activation Lock - hardware binding, which works on models with MIUI 12.5+ Qualcomm Snapdragon chips 8xx/7xx.
- 🔄 Update of firmware after reset: if the device was updated by air (OTA), The system can restore the lock.
It's important to understand that locking doesn't work the same on all devices. 9A POCO M3 The company may miss the account check, while the flagship Xiaomi 13 Pro or Mix Fold 3 will be locked tightly (MIUI Global) less stringent than Chinese (MIUI China).
⚠️ Note: If you bought a device with your hands and the seller did not untie his Mi Account, official restoration is impossible without his data).
Yes, it requires the data of the previous owner.|Yes, but this is my account - I forgot my password.|No, the reset went unlocked.|Until I tried to throw it off.-->
Official ways to restore Mi Account
If your device requires your account details (you forgot your password or email), try standard recovery methods first. Xiaomi provides several official channels:
1. Recovery via email or phone
The easiest way to do this is to use the recovery function on account.xiaomi.com:
- Go to the login page and click Forgot your password.
- Enter the email or phone number associated with the account.
- Choose the recovery method: code on email or SMS.
- Follow the instructions to create a new password.
If you don’t remember the email, try:
- 📧 Check the inbox or spam folder in the mail for letters from the service@xiaomi.com (There may be information about registration).
- 📱 Use a phone number that may have been linked to your account.
- 🔍 Try to restore access through your Google Account if it was synced with your device.
2.Recovery through the Mi Account app
If you have a second Xiaomi smartphone, you can use the official application:
- Download Mi Account from Google Play.
- Select Restore Access and enter the latest known email/phone.
- Confirm your identity via SMS or backup email.
Some firmware (MIUI 14+) have the option of recovering biometric data (fingerprint or Face ID) if it has been configured before.
3. Appeal in support of Xiaomi
If self-recovery fails, contact official support:
- 🌍 Through the form on the site: mi.com/support.
- 📧 By email: support@xiaomi.com (point out IMEI devices and evidence of ownership).
- 📞 On the phone: +86 400-100-5678 (for users from China or local numbers for your region.
To prove ownership, it may be necessary:
- 📄 Check or purchase invoice.
- 📦 Box from the device with IMEI.
- 📸 Photo of the serial number device.
⚠️ Note: Xiaomi support may refuse to unlock if the device was purchased on the secondary market (Avito, OLX) In this case, the official recovery route is closed.
Make sure that email/phone entered correctly|Try all possible backup addresses|Check the spam folder in the mail|Prepare proof of purchase (check, box)|Find out. IMEI Devices (printed on or under a battery)-->
Alternative methods of unlocking (if you forget your account details)
If the official methods didn’t work (for example, you bought your phone with your hands and don’t know the previous owner’s details), you’ll have to use workarounds. Importantly, these methods may violate Xiaomi’s user agreement and lead to a loss of warranty.
1. bypassing the Fastboot mode (for advanced users)
This method is suitable for Qualcomm Snapdragon devices and requires a PC with ADB/Fastboot drivers installed:
- Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to log into the Fastboot.
- Connect the device to the PC and check for detection by the command: fastboot devices
- Use the Mi Flash Unlock utility (download from en.miui.com/unlock).
- Follow the instructions of the program to unlock the bootloader.
After unlocking the bootloader, you can flash custom recovery (TWRP) and delete your account files manually:
- 📁 Delete the folders. /data/system/mi_account and /data/data/com.xiaomi.account.
- 🔄 Reset the device.
This method does not work on all devices, and newer models (Xiaomi 12/13 series) may require authorization via Mi Unlock Status, which is linked to an account.
2. Use of utilities for bypassing (EDL Mode)
For devices with Qualcomm processors, there is an EDL (Emergency Download Mode) mode that allows you to flash modified firmware without locking.
- 🖥️ Windows PC and QDLoader 9008 drivers.
- 📂 Firmware in.mbn or.elf format for your model.
- 🔧 Mi Flash Tool or QFil.
Algorithm of action:
- Put the device into EDL mode (close the test points on the board or use the adb reboot edl command if ADB is available).
- Connect the phone to a PC – it should be defined as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
- In the Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware and press Flash.
⚠️ Attention: Incorrect firmware in mode EDL This method can turn a device into a brick, and it is recommended only for advanced users or service engineers.
What are testpoints and how to close them?
3. Professional unblocker services
If independent attempts were not successful, you can contact specialists:
- 🔓 Online services (for example, miunlock.ru) – remote unlocking by IMEI (cost ~1000-3,000 rubles.).
- 🛠️ Local service centers – some workshops offer Mi Account bypass service through programmers.
- 📦 Replacing the motherboard is an extreme option if other methods do not work (expensive, but guaranteed to remove the lock).
When choosing a service, pay attention to reviews and guarantees. Fraudsters often take an advance payment and disappear.
- 🏆 4PDA (section “Unlocking")
- 🛡️ Miui.SU (official forum)
💡
Before you contact unlockers, ask them for a video report on the success of your model of device, which will reduce the risk of running into scammers.
Frequent mistakes and their solutions
When you restore your Xiaomi account, users experience common errors, and we have collected the most common ways to fix them:
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Couldn’t verify device | The device failed to pass the Xiaomi server (often after firmware). | Try resetting the settings again or flashing the official firmware through the Mi Flash Tool. |
| This device is locked | The MIUI Activation Lock is activated. | You need an original account of the previous owner or a EDL bypass. |
| Network error | Problems with connecting to Xiaomi servers. | Check your internet connection, try using a VPN (like Hong Kong or Singapore). |
| Too many attempts | The number of attempts to enter a password is exceeded. | Wait 24 hours or reset the meter via Fastboot with the command fastboot oem unlock-go. |
| Invalid token | Unlock token (using Mi Unlock Tool) | Repeat the procedure for obtaining a token or use another Xiaomi account. |
If the error is not listed in the table, try the following universal steps:
- Reboot the device to Recovery mode (Loudness up + Power) and repeat the reset.
- Check if the device is installed custom firmware – it may conflict with Xiaomi services.
- Update your firmware via Fastboot to the latest official version.
How to avoid blocking in future discharges?
To avoid the problem again, follow these recommendations:
- 🔑 Untie Mi Account before reset: Go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Delete the account.
- 📝 Save your account information: Write your email, phone, and password in a safe place (such as a password manager).
- 🔄 Turn off Find Device: in Settings → Google → Security → Find the device.
- 📱 Check the device before buying: ask the seller to reset with you and make sure there is no lock.
If you frequently re-flash devices, consider:
- 🛠️ Use custom firmware without being tied to Mi Account (e.g. LineageOS or Pixel Experience).
- 🔓 Unlock bootloader officially via Mi Unlock Tool (but this voids the warranty).
💡
Even if you successfully unlock the device, the next time you reset, the lock can return, and the only sure way to avoid this is to completely remove the Mi Account from the system before resetting.
Legal aspects and risks
Bypassing Mi Account blocking is a gray legal method.
- 📜 Xiaomi’s user agreement prohibits bypassing security mechanisms, and the company can, in theory, block the device remotely.
- 🛡️ The warranty is canceled when unlocking the bootloader or firmware custom software.
- ⚖️ Legality: In Russia and most countries, circumvention of protection on your own device is not prosecuted, but the sale of unlocked phones can be considered a violation.
If you unlock a phone you bought with your hands:
- 🔍 It can be blocked back if the previous owner reports theft.
- 📵 Some features (such as Mi Pay or Cloud Sync) may not work.
- 🔄 When you update the firmware, the lock may return.
Recommendation: If the device is not yours, you should contact the previous owner and ask him to untie the account officially.