How to unlock Xiaomi if you forget your password: from Mi to Hard Reset

A forgotten password on a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that one in five users encounter, according to service center statistics. Unlike iPhones or Samsung, devices on MIUI offer unique recovery mechanisms, but they only work if key conditions are met. For example, if you previously linked a Mi Account account or enabled debugging over USB, the chances of regaining control of your phone without a data reset are much higher.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to unlock for Redmi models, POCO Xiaomi (including flagship series) 12/13/14). Particular attention will be paid to methods that allow you to bypass the lock without losing photos, contacts and messages - this is possible in the future. 60% You will also learn what errors lead to complete data loss even after successful unlocking (spoiler: this involves encrypting the storage in the storage system). MIUI 13+).

1 Unblocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most reliable way to get back access is to use a Xiaomi account (Mi Account), which works on all devices with MIUI 8 and newer, but there are some nuances:

• 🔑 The phone must be connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 📱 The lock screen should display the option “Forgot your password?” (if it is not – the method will not work).
• 🔄 You must have access to an email or phone number linked to your account.

If the conditions are met, follow the instructions:

1. On the lock screen, tap the button Forgot password? (or Forgot password? on English firmware).
2. Enter the username (email or phone) from Mi Account and confirm ownership via SMS or letter.
3. Create a new one. PIN-code or pattern lock. The system will prompt you to confirm the action through re-entering.

Important: Once you unlock this way, all data (photos, messages, apps) will be saved, but if you do not remember the data from Mi Account, you can only restore it through the official account.xiaomi.com website - there are no other legal ways to restore it.

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If the "Forgot Password" button is not on the screen, try connecting the phone to charge and restart it. Sometimes the option appears after re-entering the wrong password 5 times.

2.Use of Find Device mode (remote unlock)

Find Device (similar to Google’s Find Phone) not only tracks Xiaomi’s location, but also removes your password remotely.

• 🌍 The device is connected to the Internet.
• 🔒 Find Device has been activated in settings (Settings) → Mi Account → Find Device).
• 📱 The phone is not off or discharged.

Instructions for remote unlocking:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in to your Mi Account.
2. Select the locked device in the list (if there are several).
3. Click Delete Data → Unlock the device.
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

⚠️ Warning: This method erases all data from your phone, including gallery photos and instant messenger messages. Use it only if other methods have not worked.

3. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

If you have previously included the debugging of USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to tap → Additional settings → For developers → Debugging by USB), You can try unlocking your phone through Fastboot, USB-Cable and command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone. Press the Power button + Volume down until the Fastboot logo appears.
2. Connect the device to the PC and install the Mi Flash Tool drivers (download from the official website).
3. Open the command line in the adb folder and type: fastboot oem unlock If the command doesn’t work, try: fastboot flashing unlock
4. Follow the instructions on your phone screen (confirmation via Mi Account may be required).

Warning: Not all Xiaomi models support unlocking via Fastboot without data loss. On new devices (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12), this method can result in a complete reset.

Install the Mi Flash Tool|Download ADB and Fastboot (platform-tools)|Enable debugging on USB pre-existingly|Prepare original USB-cable-->

4.Reset via Recovery Mode (full cleaning)

If other methods fail, you can still reset hard through Recovery Mode, which will delete all data, but will return access to the phone.

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Recovery menu appears.
3. Use volume buttons to navigate and select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
4. Confirm the action by choosing Confirm.
5. After reset, select Reboot to reboot.

New devices (MIUI 14) may need to re-authorize in Mi Account after reset, a measure of protection against theft. If you do not remember your account details, the phone will become a “brick” (cannot be used).

⚠️ Note: On models with encrypted storage (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or POCO F5) Even after resetting via Recovery, the data may remain blocked, in which case only flashing through Fastboot will help.

Official reset via Mi Account|Find Device (remote unlock)|Fastboot or ADB|Recovery Mode (hard reset)|Never blocked-->

5. Alternative methods (without loss of data)

If you don’t want to lose data, try these methods before you hard reset:

5.1 Unlocking through ADB (if debugging was enabled)

If USB Debugging is activated, you can delete the password file via ADB:

adb shell


rm /data/system/gesture.key




rm /data/system/password.key




reboot

Once rebooted, the password will reset, but this method only works on older versions of MIUI (up to 12).

5.2. Bypassing the lock via Safe Mode

On some models (e.g. Redmi 9 or POCO X3), you can download to Safe Mode and delete the password:

1. On the lock screen, hold the Power button until the Safe Mode option appears.
2. Confirm the download in safe mode.
3. Go to Settings → Lock the screen and change the password.

In MIUI 13/14, Safe Mode often blocks access to security settings.

5.3 Recovery through MIUI backup

If you have a backup in Mi Cloud, you can recover the data after the reset:

1. Drop the phone through Recovery.
2. When you first set up, select Restore from Mi Cloud.
3. Sign in and select the latest copy (if it was created before blocking).

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Alternative methods only work if conditions are met: debugging enabled, older versions of MIUI or backup, otherwise they are useless.

6. What should I do if nothing helps?

If all of these methods do not work, there are two options:

1. Contact the Xiaomi service center with proof of purchase (check, box). They can unlock the phone through special software, but this is a paid service (from 1500 to 5000 rubles depending on the model).
2. Flash your phone through Fastboot with a full cleanup, and you'll need the official firmware from Xiaomi's website and the Mi Flash Tool.

On models with a bootloader lock (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra), flashing is possible only after unlocking the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool, which requires binding to the Mi Account and waiting 72-168 hours.

⚠️ Warning: Self-flashing will void the warranty and may result in loss IMEI (If you're not sure about your abilities, you better consult a professional.

7.How to avoid blocking in the future?

To avoid the problem of forgotten passwords again, follow these tips:

• 🔐 Use biometric unlocking (fingerprint or facial recognition) as a backup method.
• 📝 Write it down. PIN-code in a secure location (for example, in the Bitwarden or KeePass password manager).
• 🔄 Regularly back up your Settings → The phone. → Backup.
• 🔗 Link Mi Account and enable Find Device – this will save data when lost.

Also avoid:

• ❌ Installation of complex graphic keys (they are easier to forget than to forget) PIN).
• ❌ Internet shutdowns for a long time (without a network, Find Device will not work).
• ❌ Use of unofficial firmware (they can block standard recovery methods).

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi