How to unlock Xiaomi phone if you forget your password: the full guide

A forgotten password on a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that one in five users encounter at least once in their lives. According to statistics from service centers, 38% of requests for blocking devices are due to loss of access due to a forgotten access. PIN-Fortunately, the manufacturer has provided several official ways to restore access, and for advanced users there are alternative methods.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways to unlock Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones (including the models from 2023-2026), assess their effectiveness and risks to data. Importantly, some methods require preliminary preparation (for example, linking a Mi Account), so if you read this in advance, save the article in case of emergency.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most reliable and recommended way Xiaomi is to use a tied account Mi Account. It works on all devices with MIUI 12 and later, including the latest models Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13 Pro+ and POCO F6.

If you have previously logged in to your Mi Account on a locked device, follow the instructions:

• 🔄 On the lock screen, tap "Forgot password?" (or Forgot password on English firmware).
• 📧 Select the recovery method: by email or phone number associated with the account.
• 🔑 Enter the received 6-digit confirmation code.
• 📱 Create a new password or pattern lock.

⚠️ Note: If the device has Find Device enabled, after 5 failed attempts to enter a password, the phone may lock for 24 hours.

Is email/phone linked to Mi Account| Is there access to mail/SMS? | Is the phone connected to the Internet? | Is the phone charged (>20%)

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2. reset via Fastboot (for advanced users)

If the Mi Account is not tied or you don’t remember the login details, you can use Fastboot mode. This method is suitable for most Xiaomi models, but requires an unlocked bootloader. On new devices (released after 2021), the bootloader is blocked by default, and it takes up to 72 hours to unlock.

Instructions for devices with unlocked loader:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume down before the Fastboot logo appears.
3. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
4. Download and install Mi Unlock Tool (the official utility from Xiaomi).
5. Enter the command in the terminal: fastboot oem unlock or for a full reset: fastboot erase userdata

⚠️ Note: Fastboot erase userdata and fastboot commands -w It will completely delete all data from the device, including photos, contacts and apps, and if the phone has backups of Mi Cloud enabled, they can be restored after unlocking.

3.Use of Recovery Mode (without loss of data)

Recovery mode allows you to reset your password without completely clearing the data, but it only works on older versions of MIUI (up to MIUI 12.5). On newer firmware (MIUI 13/14), this method will lead to a factory reset. Check the MIUI version in settings (if the phone is unlocked) or on the device model.

Step-by-step:

• 🔋 Turn off the phone and press the power button. + Volume up before the Recovery menu appears.
• 🌐 Choose a language (usually English or Chinese).
• 🔧 Go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (newer versions) or Mounts and Storage → Format /data (old).
• 🔄 Confirm the action and restart the device.

📌 Important: On devices with data encryption (on by default on the MIUI 12+) Resetting through Recovery will result in the loss of all files. Before the procedure, remove the memory card if it is used.

Redmi Note Series Series Series|POCO F/X series|Xiaomi 11/12/13/14|Other (specify in the comments)-->

4. Unlock via ADB (only for enabled debugging)

The method is suitable if the phone was previously enabled debugging USB (USB Debugging. It's rare, but if you're a developer or an advanced user, chances are, it works on all models, including the Xiaomi Pad 6 and Redmi. K70.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (Mac/Linux).
3. Enter the commands in order: adb shell su rm /data/system/gesture.key rm /data/system/password.key reboot

⚠️ Warning: If the phone requests the password again after the reboot, it doesn't work because of the hardware encryption, and then only a full reset via Fastboot or Recovery will help.

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If you often forget passwords, set up Smart Lock in security settings.This feature will automatically unlock your phone in trusted places (such as at home) or when connecting to trusted devices (smart watches, Bluetooth headphones).

5. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If none of the methods worked, you can contact the official service center: Xiaomi has centers in most major cities, and for residents of the regions there is a support service on 8 800 775-64-20 (the call is free).

What will be required to unlock:

💰 The cost of the service varies from 1,000 to 3,000 rubles depending on the model and region. In some cases (for example, if you are a thief), you may need to contact the police to confirm ownership.

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The official service is the only way to unlock a phone without losing data unless other methods have worked, but it is the longest and most expensive option.

6. Alternative methods (at your own risk)

On the Internet you can find dozens of “magic” ways to unlock, from using Test Point to firmware through the Internet. EDL-We don't recommend them for a number of reasons:

• ⚠️ Risk of bricking – the phone can turn into a brick (it won’t turn on at all).
• 🛡️ Violation of warranty - unofficial firmware deprived of the right to free repairs.
• 🔒 Data Leakage – Some “tools” contain malicious code.

If you are still trying to experiment, use only proven tools:

• 🔧 Mi Flash Tool (official firmware utility).
• 📱 OrangeFox Recovery (Castom Recovery with Support) MIUI).
• 🔑 XiaomiTool V2 (for advanced users).

📢 Warning: Methods using EDL (Emergency Download Mode requires an authorized Xiaomi developer account, without which the firmware will be blocked during the verification phase.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi