How to unlock Xiaomi if you forget your password: official methods and risks

The forgotten password on Xiaomi is a situation that thousands of users face every day. Unlike other brands, Redmi, POCO and Mi have a unique Mi Account security system that makes it difficult to access unauthorized devices. It is important to understand that the term “password hacking” in the context of modern smartphones often implies bypassing protection through official mechanisms, not criminal actions.

This article will help you understand the legal ways to restore access to your device without breaking the law, and we will look at the methods for different scenarios: when Mi Account is turned on, when the phone is tied to Google, and emergency options through Fastboot and Recovery Mode. All of these methods work on MIUI 14/15 firmware and are relevant for models from 2020 to 2026.

Why you can’t “hack” your Xiaomi password in the classic way

Modern Xiaomi smartphones use layered protection that makes traditional hacking methods (password picking, engineering menu reset) impossible without data loss.

• 🔒 Hardware encryption: Starting with MIUI 12, all user data (photos, messages, applications) are encrypted with a password. Resetting the security without a key leads to irreversible deletion of information.
• 🛡️ Mi Account Lock: Even after resetting via Recovery, the phone will require entering a username/password from the Xiaomi account associated with the device.
• 🤖 Protecting Google (FRP): On devices with Google services after reset, you will need to confirm the account used previously.

This means that any attempts to bypass security through third-party programs like Miracle Box or UMT Dongle will either fail or lead to a brick, which is the complete inoperability of the phone, and the only working methods are official, and we will discuss them in detail.

⚠️ Note: Using unofficial firmware or tools to bypass protection will void warranty and may result in blocking IMEI. Xiaomi is actively fighting against such methods through server checks.

Method 1: Recovery with Mi Account (if the phone is tied)

The most reliable way to unlock is to use a Xiaomi account that works even if you forget your pattern lock or your account. PIN-code, but remember the information from the Mi Account.

Instructions:

1. On the locked screen, tap Forgot Password? (or Forgot Password).
2. Select the recovery option through Mi Account.
3. Enter the email/phone attached to the device and the password.
4. Confirm unlocking via SMS or email (depending on security settings).

If you have two-factor authentication enabled (2FA), you will need to enter code from the Mi Security or SMS app.

Make sure your phone is connected to the internet (Wi-Fi/mobile data)

Remember the email/phone used to register your Mi Account

Have access to mail or SMS for confirmation

Know the answers to the control questions (if you are configured)-->

Method 2: Unblocking through Google Account (FRP)

On Xiaomi devices with Google services (all models, except for the Chinese versions), after 5 unsuccessful attempts to enter a password, the button Forgot the pattern lock?. This allows you to reset protection through your Google account, but with nuances:

• 📱 It only works if your phone was tied to Google before being blocked.
• 🔄 After reset, you will need to reconfigure the device (data will be deleted).
• 🔗 Does not work on devices without Google services (for example, Chinese firmware).

Step-by-step:

1. On the lock screen, enter any password 5 times in a row.
2. Repeat the attempt in 30 seconds and forget the pattern lock.
3. Click on it and select recovery via Google.
4. Enter the email and password from the account that was synced to the phone.
5. Follow the instructions to create a new password.

⚠️ Attention: Starting with MIUI 14, Xiaomi tightened policy FRP. If you were on the phone. PIN-A code or password, not a graphical key, this method may not work – you need a Mi Account.

Method 3: Recovery Mode (Data Loss)

If you don't remember the data from Mi Account and Google, the radical method is to reset it through Recovery Mode, which will delete all the data on the phone, including photos, contacts and apps, but unlock the device.

Instructions for most Xiaomi models:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up for 10-15 seconds at the same time until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select the language (usually English).
4. Go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
5. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.
6. Select Reboot to reboot.

Once reset, the phone will require input from the Mi Account that was previously tied, and if you don’t remember it, you’ll have to contact Xiaomi to unlock it (see section below).

Method 4: Official Unlocking Through Xiaomi Support

If you don't remember the details from Mi Account and can't reset your phone through Recovery, the only legal way is to contact Xiaomi's support team.The process can take anywhere from days to a week, but is guaranteed to unlock the device.

What will be required:

• 📄 Check or box IMEI telephone (proof of possession).
• 📋 Passport or other identity document.
• 📧 Access to the email specified when registering Mi Account.

How to make a request:

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com.
2. Select Unlock Device or Unlock Device.
3. Fill out the form by specifying the IMEI of the phone (you can find out through the *#06# set on another device).
4. Attach scans of documents and send a request.

In Russia and the CIS, unblocking through support is usually free if there is proof of purchase, and in Europe, a fee (10-30 euros) may be charged.

💡

If you bought your phone by hand, ask the previous owner to unplug Mi Account through the Mi Cloud settings → Remove the device.

Method 5: Unlocking via Fastboot (for power users)

This method is only suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader. If you previously unlocked it through the official Mi Unlock Tool, you can try flashing custom Recovery (such as TWRP) and reset your password without losing data.

⚠️ Warning: Mistakes in Fastboot can lead to a hard brick. Use this method only if you understand the risks.

Step-by-step:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot on PC.
2. Connect your phone to your computer in Fastboot mode (clip Power + Volume down).
3. Check the connection command: fastboot devices must display the serial number of the device.
4. Scroll down custom Recovery (e.g. TWRP for your model): fastboot flash recovery twrp.img fastboot boot twrp.img
5. In TWRP, go to Advanced → File Manager and delete files: /data/system/gesture.key /data/system/password.key /data/system/locksettings.db
6. Reboot the phone.

This method does not work on all models and versions of MIUI. Since MIUI 13, Xiaomi has implemented additional protection that blocks the change of system files even through TWRP.

💡

Unlocking via Fastboot is only possible if the bootloader has been officially unlocked before the phone locks, a technique that often fails on new devices (2023-2026) due to enhanced security.

What NOT to do when trying to unlock

There are dozens of “advice” on the Internet to circumvent Xiaomi’s security, most of which are either outdated or dangerous.

• 🚫 Use programs like Miracle Box, UMT Dongle or SP Flash Tools without understanding the process. They can damage firmware or block the firmware. IMEI.
• 🚫 Trying to flash a third-party firmware onto a locked phone will lead to a brick).
• 🚫 Enter random passwords more than 10 times, and on newer models, this activates anti-theft protection, and the phone locks up for 24 to 48 hours.
• 🚫 Buying “unblocks” from third parties is often a scam, and real services cost more than official support.

If you find a “magic” manual that promises to unlock in 5 minutes without losing data, it’s either a hoax or a method for legacy models (before 2018).Since MIUI 12, Xiaomi has closed most of the vulnerabilities that allowed you to bypass protection.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi