Xiaomi’s “This Device Is Locked”: 5 Ways to Unlock

The message “This device is locked” on Xiaomi’s screen is one of the most annoying issues for brand owners, appearing on Mi TVs, Redmi/POCO smartphones, and even tablets after resetting, failed updates, or region changes. 90% of the time, the device is blocked due to activation of Mi Account protection, but there are other reasons, from firmware failure to hardware malfunctions.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to unlock (including official and alternative), explain why the error occurs, and give a checklist of actions to prevent blocking in the future. Special attention will be paid to Xiaomi TVs, their owners are faced with the problem most often due to the features of the PatchWall firmware. If your device is locked after upgrading to MIUI 14 or Google TV 12, here you will find a solution.

Why this device is locked on Xiaomi

The error "This device is locked. FRP lock" or "This device is locked by Mi Account" is a mechanism for protection against theft, which works in three cases:

• 🔒 Reset your Mi Account without detachment.If you have completed Hard Reset through recovery or settings but have not deleted your Xiaomi account, the system will lock your device.
• 📦 Update firmware with errors, for example, after the update Mi TV 4A/4S PatchWall 4.0+ A blockage may work due to a certificate conflict.
• 🌍 Change of region or language: some models (e.g. Mi) TV Q1E) Blocking when trying to change the region CN Global without official firmware.

On Xiaomi TVs, the bug is often accompanied by a black screen with the Mi logo and the words “This device is locked. Please try again in 72 hours.” This means that the system is waiting for confirmation from Xiaomi servers, but due to a failure or lack of Internet, unlocking does not occur. Smartphones (for example, Redmi Note 12) may be prompted to enter a username / password from Mi Account after a reset, even if you did not link it.

⚠️ Note: If you bought the device with your hands and the previous owner did not untie his Mi Account, unlocking through official methods will not be possible without his data.

Method 1: Unlocking with Mi Account (official method)

If the device requires Mi Account data entry, and you remember the username and password, this is the easiest way to unlock. The instruction is suitable for smartphones, tablets and TVs with the error "This device is locked by Mi Account".

Step-by-step action:

1. On the lock screen, enter the email or phone number associated with the Mi Account.
2. Enter your password. If you don't remember, use the Forgot Password function at account.xiaomi.com.
3. Confirm your login via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
4. Once logged in, the device unlocks automatically, and TVs may need to be rebooted.

If the system produces a "Too many attempts" or "Device locked for 72 hours" error, you've exceeded the limit of attempts.

• ⏳ Wait 3 days (72 hours) and try again.
• 📧 Contact Xiaomi Support via Form mi.com/support, attachment.

Method 2: Unlock Xiaomi TV via Fastboot (for advanced)

If the Mi TV shows “This device is locked” and does not respond to the remote, and official methods do not help, you can try unlocking via Fastboot. This method is suitable for models based on Android TV or Google TV (for example, Mi TV Q2 75, Redmi Smart TV X55).

Important: The method requires a PC, a USB-A → USB-A cable (or USB-C, depending on the model) and command line knowledge. Wrong actions can lead to a complete blink of the device!

Instructions:

1. Download Android Platform Tools and unpack it into a folder on your PC.
2. Turn off the TV, press the Menu button on the remote, and connect the USB cable to the Service port (usually located on the back).
3. Holding Menu, connect the second end of the cable to the PC. TV must be determined in Fastboot mode.
4. Open the command line in the folder with platform-tools and type:

fastboot devices

(Serial number of the TV should be displayed)

fastboot oem unlock

If the team doesn't work, try:

fastboot flashing unlock

If you successfully unlock the TV, you will reboot it. If you get a "FAILED (remote: unknown command)" error, then your model does not support unlocking through Fastboot, try other ways.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi TVs with Amlogic processors (e.g. Mi) TV 4A) Unlocking through Fastboot can lead to loss DRM-The keys that will stop working Netflix, Disney+ and other streaming services in 4K HDR.

Method 3: Bypassing FRP Lock on Xiaomi smartphones (without data loss)

On Redmi smartphones, POCO Xiaomi may appear after the reset FRP Lock (Factory Reset Protection) – Google protection, which requires data input from a previously associated account. If you do not remember the password, you can bypass the lock using a combination of buttons or ADB-team.

Method 1: Emergency Call (for MIUI 12-14)

1. On the lock screen, press Emergency Call.
2. Enter #4636## and the test menu will open.
3. Go to Settings → Data Reset and perform a reset.
4. After the reboot, FRP will be bypassed.

Method 2: ADB (PC required)

1. Download ADB Tools.
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC, enable debugging over USB (if you have access to settings).
3. In the command line, type:

adb shell am start -n com.google.android.gsf.login/


adb shell am start -n com.google.android.gsf.login.LoginActivity

If the teams don't work, try:

adb shell content insert --uri content://settings/secure --bind name:s:user_setup_complete --bind value:s:1

This method works on Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4 and other models with MIUI 13/14. On new devices (for example, Xiaomi 13), FRP bypassing may require special software like Mi Account Unlock Tool.

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If the smartphone is not defined in ADB, try to turn on Fastboot mode (press Power + Volume -) and enter the command fastboot oem frp-unlock.

Method 4: Flashing through Recovery (for power users)

If the device is locked at the bootloader level, and the official methods don't work, it's still firmware, which is suitable for TVs and smartphones, but requires strict adherence to instructions.

For Xiaomi TVs:

• 📥 Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website.
• 📁 Unpack the archive and copy the file update.zip flash drive (format) FAT32).
• 🔌 Insert the flash drive into the TV, pinch the Menu + Power on the remote and turn on the power.
• 🔄 In the recovery menu, select Apply update from USB and confirm installation.

For Xiaomi smartphones:

• 📥 Download Fastboot firmware for your model (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) official website.
• 🖥️ Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (clamp Power) + Volume -).
• 📝 Run the script. flash_all.bat firmware.

⚠️ Attention: Firmware removes all data on the device! On Xiaomi TVs, after firmware, the license for Netflix and Amazon Prime Video may be reset - it will have to be restored through support for services.

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Fastboot flashing is the most reliable way to unlock, but requires an unlocked bootloader. On new models (released after 2022), unlocking the bootloader can take up to 720 hours (30 days) of waiting!

Method 5: Calling for Xiaomi (Guarantee Cases)

If none of the methods worked, and the device is under warranty - contact the official service center.

1. Find the nearest SC on mi.com/service/center.
2. Prepare the papers: 📄 Check or purchase invoice. 🆔 Passport (for proof of identity). 📱 The locking device itself.

The device is locked after resetting, the previous owner did not untie the Mi Account.

The service release period is 3 to 10 days, and if the warranty is over, you can try contacting:

• 📧 Electronic support: support@xiaomi.com.
• 💬 Telegram or Facebook chats (official Xiaomi accounts).

In 80% of cases, support helps unlock the device if you provide proof of purchase.However, on Xiaomi TVs bought in China (CN-version), may require additional payment for the change of the region to the Global.

How to Avoid “This Device Is Locked” in the Future

To avoid the problem again, follow these rules:

• 🔑 Always untie your Mi Account before resetting: go to Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account → Delete the account.
• 🔄 Update your firmware only through official sources. Don't use custom firmware (like LineageOS) on TVs, it will lead to loss. DRM.
• 🌐 Don’t change the region on Chinese models (CN) without official firmware Global.
• 📥 Create backup copies before resetting: MIUI This is done through settings. → The phone. → Backup.

Xiaomi TVs also recommend:

• 📺 Disable Auto Update in Settings if you use unofficial apps (e.g. SmartTubeNext).
• 🔌 Do not turn off power during the upgrade – this can lead to a blink.

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Before selling the device, complete a full reset via Settings → Additional → Settings Reset → Delete all data and wait until the process is complete. Don’t turn the device off at this time!

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi