How to log into a Xiaomi phone without a password: official and alternative methods

A forgotten password on a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that one in five users encounter at least once in their lives. Especially unpleasant when the phone stores important data: contacts, photos, work documents or access to accounts. Fortunately, the manufacturer has provided several ways to restore access, and in extreme cases, alternative methods will help.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to unlock Xiaomi phones (including Redmi, POCO and Mi models) without a password, from official tools to technical workarounds. Importantly, not all methods save data, so assess the risks before you start. If the phone is tied to a Mi Account, the chances of successfully unlocking without reset are much higher.

We warn you that methods like “5 wrong attempts to reset” or “call from another phone” on current versions of MIUI (12 and later) do not work, the manufacturer closed these loopholes for security reasons, but new tools have appeared, such as unlocking through Fastboot or Find Device service.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most reliable and legal method is to use a tied Mi Account, which works on all Xiaomi phones released after 2018, if:

• 📱 Device connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network)
• 🔑 Remember the username and password from Mi Account
• 🔄 Find Device has been activated in the settings

Instructions:

1. On the lock screen, tap Forgot Password? (or Forgot Password).
2. Select the option to Sign in via Mi Account.
3. Enter your email/phone and password from your account.
4. Confirm unlocking via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).

If your phone is not connected to the network, connect it to charge and wait for the notification to connect to Wi-Fi. Some models (POCO F5, Redmi Note 12) may require CAPTCHA input to confirm that you are not a robot.

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If you do not remember the password from Mi Account, restore it through the official website account.xiaomi.com. Use the attached email or phone number.

2. Reset password via Find Device (remote)

Xiaomi’s Find Device service not only tracks the phone, but also unlocks it remotely.

• 🌍 Phone's connected to the Internet.
• 📍 Find Device is enabled in settings (Settings) → Mi Account → Find Device)
• 🔒 Password is installed on the phone (not a pattern lock!)

Step-by-step:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select the locked device in the list.
3. Click Unlock Device (Unlock Device)
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

After that, the phone will be unlocked, but all data will be erased (except for the files on the phone). SD-This method is virtually equivalent to factory resetting, but with one advantage: it does not require physical access to the device.

3. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

If the official methods did not help, you can try to unlock the phone through Fastboot mode. This method is suitable for models with an unlocked bootloader (bootloader) or if you are ready to unlock it (this erases all data!).

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with drivers installed ADB/Fastboot
• 🔌 USB-cable (original)
• 📱 Phone with a charge of at least 30%

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume Down to log into the Fastboot.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line.
4. Enter the command: fastboot oem unlock (if the bootloader is locked, first unlock it through the official Xiaomi tool).
5. After unlocking the bootloader, reset: fastboot erase userdata

⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader erases all data, including photos, messages and apps. It can also void the warranty if the phone is new.

4.Use of Recovery Mode for Resetting

If the phone is not tied to Mi Account or you don't remember your account details, you only have to hard-dump through Recovery mode, which deletes all the data, but is guaranteed to unlock the device.

Instructions for MIUI Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume Up until the Mi logo appears.
3. Choose a language (if required).
4. Go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
5. Confirm the reset (usually you need to enter yes or press the power button).

Newer models (Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 12 Pro+) may require password entry even in Recovery mode, in which case only Fastboot will help (see previous section).

5 Unlocking through Xiaomi Service Center

If you don't succeed on your own, you should contact the official service center, which is the most reliable, but also the longest way.

• 📄 Document confirming the purchase (check, warranty card)
• 🆔 Passport of the owner
• 📱 The device itself (even when switched off)

Xiaomi service centers can unlock your phone in two ways:

1. Software reset – if the phone is tied to your account but you have forgotten your password, specialists can reset the link through internal tools.
2. Flashing – if the bootloader is locked, the phone is reflashed to the stock version of MIUI (data is erased).

The service costs range from 500 to 2000 rubles depending on the model and complexity. Some phones (for example, Xiaomi 12T or POCO F4 GT) have a warranty, and unlocking can be free.

6. Alternative methods (with caution!)

There are dozens of “magic” ways to unlock the Internet, from using ADB to connecting the mouse via OTG. Most of them do not work on modern versions of MIUI (13/14) or require an unlocked bootloader.

Method 1: Delete gesture.key (only for old MIUIs)

On MIUI versions below 10, you could delete the password file via ADB:

adb shell


su




rm /data/system/gesture.key

On newer versions, this file is protected, and the method won't work.

Method 2: Emergency call bypass (not working on MIUI 12+)

Some older models (Redmi 4X, Mi A1) can:

1. On the lock screen tap an emergency call.
2. Dial ##4636## (test menu)
3. Return to the main screen via the Home button.

On MIUI 12 and later, this bug is fixed.

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Any hacks to unlock without resetting data on MIUI 13/14 are frauds, and the manufacturer has closed all known vulnerabilities for security reasons.

7.How to avoid blocking in the future

To avoid being in this situation again, follow the following simple rules:

• 🔐 Use a fingerprint or facial recognition in addition to a password.
• 📝 Write down your Mi Account password in a secure location (for example, in a password manager).
• ☁️ Enable data synchronization with Mi Cloud (photos, contacts, notes).
• 🔄 Regularly create local backups through Settings → The phone. → Backup.

If you're afraid of forgetting your pattern lock, install an emergency unlock application (such as SOS Unlock) that sends an SMS with an unlock code to a trusted number, but such applications require administrator rights and can pose a security risk.

⚠️ Warning: Never use 5-minute unlock services from random wizards or online services:

• 🛡️ Data theft (if the phone is connected to your account).
• 💸 Loss of warranty (informal intervention).
• 🔧 Phone failure (with incorrect firmware).

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi