Restore Access to Xiaomi If Mi Account Is Forgotten: The Complete Guide

Forgot the data from Mi Account and can’t unlock your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO? This situation is familiar to thousands of users – after resetting your settings or buying a used phone, the system requires you to enter the username and password from your associated account, without which the device becomes a “brick.” Unlike Google Account, which can be bypassed through password recovery, Mi Account locks the phone at the hardware level, making standard methods useless.

In this article, you will find the current ways to unlock Xiaomi without accessing the original account for 2026, including official and informal methods.

• 🔹 How to check if your phone is tied to your Mi Account before you buy (spoiler: this can be done even through a phone account) IMEI).
• 🔹 Official Recovery Paths via account.xiaomi.com – when they work and why they don’t.
• 🔹 Step-by-step instructions for unlocking via Fastboot, EDL Recovery (with limitations on new models).
• 🔹 Risks and consequences of each method – from loss of warranty to complete “bricking” of the device.

We warn you right away: there is no 100% guarantee of success, depending on the phone model, firmware version and account status.

1. Mi Account Status Check: Is the phone linked to the account?

Before you try to unlock the device, make sure that the problem is in the Mi Account. On the lock screen, you will see one of two messages:

• 📱 «This device is tied to a Mi Account – the phone is locked after resetting (Factory Reset Protection).
• 🔒 «Device locked. Enter Mi Account password" - the account was manually activated (for example, through Settings → Mi Account).

If you buy a phone with your hands, check its status before paying:

1. Ask the seller to go to Settings → About Phone → All settings and find the line “Mi Account Status”.
2. Or enter the phone IMEI (indicated on the box or under the battery) on the IMEI.info website – some services show an account binding.

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On new models (such as Xiaomi 13T or Redmi Note 12 Pro+), the IMEI check may not work, the manufacturer has tightened the protection, in which case, ask the seller to reset the settings in front of you and check if a request for Mi Account entry appears.

⚠️ Note: If the phone is bought with hands and the seller claims that “the account is not tied”, but after the reset appears lock – it is fraud. According to the law of the Russian Federation (Article 159.6 of the Criminal Code), the sale of a device with a linked account is equated with deception of the buyer. Request a refund or help unlocking!

2.Official ways to restore access to Mi Account

If you forgot your password but remember the email or phone number associated with your account, try standard recovery:

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com and select “Forgot your password?”
2. Enter the email or phone number associated with the account.
3. Confirm your identity via SMS or code letter.
4. Come up with a new password.

🔴 Challenges and constraints:

• 📧 If you don't have access to email/telephone (e.g. old number or mail deleted), recovery is not possible.
• 🕒 Xiaomi may block recovery attempts for 24 to 72 hours after several failed attempts.
• 🆔 In some models (for example, POCO F4 GT Xiaomi 12S Ultra – even after password recovery, additional verification may be required via Mi Cloud.

If the official method didn't work, you can go to the alternative methods.

⚠️ Note: Using informal unlocking methods can lead to loss of warranty, data deletion or complete loss of device health (hard brick). On models with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro), the risk of “bricking” is higher due to the enhanced protection of the bootloader.

3. Unlocking through Fastboot: step-by-step instructions

The method is suitable for most models Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO on Qualcomm Snapdragon processors (e.g. Redmi Note) 10 Pro, POCO X3 For devices on MediaTek (e.g. Redmi) 9A) A different approach is required (see section on the EDL).

What you need:

• 💻 Windows computer 7/10/11 (on Mac/Linux There may be problems with drivers).
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 🛠 Tools: Mi Flash Tool, ADB and Fastboot.
• 📄 Firmware for your model (download from the official website).

Steps to unlock:

1. Turn off the phone. Press Volume down + Power to enter the Fastboot (there will be a rabbit in a hat on the screen).
2. Connect your phone to your PC. Open the command line in the fastboot folder and type: fastboot devices If the device is identified (the serial number appears), continue. If not, install the drivers.
3. Unlock bootloader (this will delete all data!): fastboot oem unlock On the phone, confirm unlock (if a request appears).
4. Swipe your phone through the Mi Flash Tool: Select the downloaded firmware (.tgz format). Select "Clean all and lock" in the program settings (this will remove Mi Account). Click "Flash" and wait for completion (5-10 minutes).

Download firmware for your model |Install ADB and Fastboot | Charge your phone at least 50% | Make a backup of important data (if the phone is still working) | Disable the antivirus (it can block the Mi Flash Tool)

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⚠️ Note: On new models (released after 2022), the fastboot oem unlock command may not work due to the lock by Xiaomi.In this case, you will need an authorized developer account (it can be bought on specialized forums, but this violates the rules of Xiaomi).

4. Unlock via EDL (Emergency Download Mode) for MediaTek

If your Xiaomi is running on a MediaTek processor (e.g. Redmi 9C, POCO C31), unlocking via Fastboot is impossible – you need to use EDL mode.

• 🔧 Special cable (EDL cable) or circuits of the circuit board.
• 💾 Firmware in.mbn format (not to be confused with regular firmware!).
• 🛡 Mi Flash Pro programs or SP Flash Tool.

How to log into EDL:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Close the Test Point contacts (their location depends on the model – look for schemas for your 4PDA device).
3. Connect the phone to a PC, and it will be defined as a Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.

Firmware via EDL:

1. Open Mi Flash Pro and select the firmware.mbn.
2. Click Refresh – the program must detect the device.
3. Select the “Clean All” mode and click “Flash”.

🔴 Risks:

• ⚡ Incorrect closure of contacts can cause the phone to fail.
• 🔄 On some models, after the firmware through EDL disappear IMEI (Recovery is required SN Writer).
• 🚫 Xiaomi could be blocked IMEI devices if they detect an unofficial firmware.

5. bypass Mi Account via Recovery (for older models)

On devices before 2019 release (e.g. Redmi 5, Mi A1), sometimes the Recovery bypass works.The method is not universal, but can help if other methods are not available.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone. Press Volume up + Power to enter Recovery.
2. Select “Wipe Data” → “Wipe All Data” (this will delete all files!).
3. After reset, try logging in – sometimes the Mi Account lock is removed.

⚠️ Note: On new models (Xiaomi) 11T, Redmi Note 10S This method does not work – after reset, the Mi Account lock will remain. Moreover, repeated attempts to reset can lead to an increase in the lock time (from 72 to 168 hours).

6. Alternative methods: service centers and paid services

If the self-unlocking failed, there are two options:

💡 Tips for choosing a service:

• 🔍 Check reviews about the service center on 2GIS or Yandex.Maps.
• 📄 Require a contract indicating the phone model and type of work.
• 💳 Don’t pay in advance – scammers often take money and disappear.

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If you bought the phone less than a year ago, first try to contact the official Xiaomi service with a check. According to the law on consumer protection (Article 18), you are entitled to free repairs if the lock was not due to your fault (for example, due to a firmware error).

7.How to avoid blocking Mi Account in the future

To avoid the problem again, follow the following simple rules:

• 📝 Write your account information in a secure location (e.g., Google Keep or Notebook).
• 🔄 Untie your account before selling: Settings → Mi Account → Get out.
• 🔐 Use the backup. email/repair-phone.
• 🛡 Do not buy handsets without checking (see section 1).

If you reset your phone frequently (for example, for firmware testing), turn off Factory Reset Protection:

1. Go to Settings → Further → Privacy.
2. Turn off the Device Protection option (called “Find Device” on some models).

⚠️ Attention: On phones with MIUI 13/14 Disabling Find Device does not always remove the Mi Account lock.Manual logout may be required to fully unlock the account.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)