Forgot the password from Xiaomi smartphone and can not unlock the screen? This situation is familiar to many — especially if the device was lying idle for a long time or the password was entered automatically by fingerprint. Fortunately, the manufacturer has provided several official ways to restore access without resorting to complex repairs or flashing.
In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of unlocking, from a simple reset via Mi Account to using Fastboot mode for power users. Importantly, the choice of method depends on whether the phone is linked to a Xiaomi account, whether debugging is enabled by USB and whether there is a backup data, we will also explain how to avoid loss of information and what to do if the smartphone requires a password after reset.
Note: the instructions are suitable for all modern models, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. However, on devices with custom firmware (for example, Xiaomi.EU), some steps may differ.
1. password recovery via Mi Account (if the phone is linked to the account)
The most reliable and secure way to do this is to use a linked Mi Account, which works even if you don't remember the pattern lock or the key. PIN-code, but the phone is connected to the Internet (via Wi-Fi or mobile network).
Algorithm of action:
- 🔹 On the lock screen, click Forgot password? (or Forgot password on English firmware).
- 🔹 Enter the email or phone number to which your Mi Account is linked.
- 🔹 Confirm your identity through SMS-code or letter to the mail (depending on security settings).
- 🔹 Create a new password and confirm the changes.
If the buttons Forgot your password? no, try entering any password 5 times in a row - after that the system will offer a recovery option. Some models (for example, POCO F5) may require a Wi-Fi connection to verify your account.
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If you don’t remember the Mi Account, try to restore access via account.xiaomi.com. Use a backup email or a linked phone number.
⚠️ Note: If the phone was bought with hands and the previous owner did not untie his Mi Account, it is impossible to unlock it without his data.
2 Unlocking through Find Device (Remote Control)
If you have Find Device enabled on your phone, you can unlock it remotely via a web browser, and this method works even if the device is not currently connected to the Internet, and the command will go the first time you connect.
Step-by-step:
- Go to i.mi.com and log in to your Mi Account.
- In the Devices section, select a locked phone.
- Click Unlock Device (or Unlock Device).
- Confirm the action via SMS or email.
- Wait for the synchronization (can take up to 5 minutes).
Once successfully unlocked, the phone will restart and you can set a new password. Please note that this method does not work if:
- 🚫 Find Device feature is disabled on the phone.
- 🚫 Device discharged or switched off.
- 🚫 Mi Account is not tied to your phone.
3. Reset settings via Recovery Mode (data loss)
If previous methods have failed, you will have to reset hard through recovery mode, which will remove all data from your phone, including photos, messages and installed apps, and only use this method as a last resort!
Instructions for most Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO models:
- Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds).
- Press the combination of Loudness up + Power and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
- In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data (use volume buttons for navigation, power button for confirmation).
- Confirm the reset by selecting Wipe All Data.
- After completion, select Reboot.
On some models (for example, Redmi 9A) instead of Wipe Data can be a Factory Reset. If the phone requests a password even in Recovery, then Mi Account protection is enabled - in this case, a reset is possible only through Fastboot (see the next section).
Turn off the phone completely.
Charge the battery at least 30%
Prepare a backup of important data (if available)
Make sure you know the information from the Mi Account (required after the reset)-->
⚠️ Note: On phones with Qualcomm chips (e.g, POCO X5 Pro) after resetting via Recovery, you may need to re-authorize to Mi Account!
4. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)
If the smartphone is not unlocked through Mi Account and Recovery requires a password, the method remains through Fastboot mode. It is suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader and requires a computer with drivers installed. ADB/Fastboot.
What you need:
- 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
- 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
- 📥 Utilities. ADB Fastboot (you can download from the official website).
- 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (if not, you will need to wait 7-15 days to unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool).
Step-by-step action:
1. Turn off the phone and press <Loudness down + Power> to log into the Fastboot.
2 Connect the phone to the computer.
3. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) in the folder with ADB.
4. Enter a command to check the connection:
fastboot devices
(Serial number of the device must be displayed)
5. To reset the password, do:
fastboot erase userdata
fastboot erase frp
6.Reset the phone:
fastboot rebootOn phones with a MediaTek processor (like Redmi 10C), instead of fastboot, you may need to use the SP Flash Tool with firmware for your model. Be careful: the wrong commands in Fastboot can turn the device into a brick.
What if the fastboot can’t see the device?
5 Password bypass through ADB (if debugging is enabled)
If the phone was pre-installed on the debugging USB (USB Debugging, you can delete the file with the password through ADB This method works for most Xiaomi models with Android 9 and above.
Instructions:
- Connect your phone to your computer (even if it is locked).
- Open the command line and type in: adb shell su rm /data/system/gesture.key rm /data/system/password.key rm /data/system/locksettings.db rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm reboot
- After resetting, the password will be reset.
If the su command doesn't work, you don't have root rights on your phone, so try an alternative way:
adb shell
cd /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases
sqlite3 settings.db
update system set value=0 where name='lock_pattern_autolock';
update system set value=0 where name='lockscreen.lockedout_permanently';
.quit
rebootThis method doesn’t work on phones with File-Based Encryption (FBE) encryption, which is enabled by default on new models (such as the Xiaomi 13T), in which case only a full reset will help.
6.Official Unlocking Through Xiaomi Service Center
If all self-unlocking attempts fail, contact a Xiaomi authorized service center.This is the only legal way to unlock your phone without losing data if:
- 🔐 The device is tied to someone else’s Mi Account (for example, after buying from hand).
- 🔧 Protection on. FRP (Factory Reset Protection).
- 📱 The phone will give you an error "This device is locked" after the reset.
What will be required to unlock:
| Document/conditionality | What do you need? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Check or sales contract | Confirmation of possession | Must contain the phone's IMEI |
| Passport of the owner | Identity | The copy is not suitable – you need the original |
| IMEI phone | Checking in the Xiaomi database | You can find out through a box or sticker under the battery. |
| Warranty card (if any) | Acceleration of the process | Not mandatory, but desirable. |
The cost of unlocking in the service center varies from 1,000 to 3,000 rubles depending on the model and the reason for the lock. Terms - from 1 to 5 business days. Please note: informal services may offer "Mi Account bypass" for less money, but this violates Xiaomi's terms of use and can lead to locking the device.
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Officially unlocking through the service center is the only way to save data on the phone if the password is forgotten and synchronization with Mi Account is disabled.
7. How to avoid data loss when unlocking
If you are afraid of losing important information (photos, contacts, messages), use these tips before resetting:
- ☁️ Check if sync is enabled with Mi Cloud. Even if the phone is locked, the data could have been saved to the cloud. Go to i.mi.com from your account and check backups.
- 📱 If the phone recognizes a fingerprint or face, try unlocking it this way and backing it up immediately through Settings. → The phone. → Backup.
- 💻 In some models (for example, POCO F4) You can connect the phone to the computer in mode MTP (file transfers, even with the screen locked. Try copying photos and documents.
- 🔧 Use data recovery software (such as Dr.Fone or Tenorshare) 4uKey), But keep in mind that they don’t always work on new Xiaomi models with encryption.
If the phone has enabled Find Device, check the Mi Cloud folder → Devices → [phone name] → Backups.
- 📞 Contacts and call log.
- 💬 Communications (SMS and some messengers).
- 📷 Photos and videos (if automatic downloading was enabled).
- 🎮 Data from certain games (if they support synchronization).