Forgot the password from the Mi Account: how to unlock the Xiaomi phone (Redmi, POCO) in 2026

Forgotten password from Mi Account is one of the most common reasons for blocking smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO. Brand security requires authorization after resetting settings, firmware, or even a normal reboot if the device is tied to an account. PIN-Unlocking through Mi Account is linked to the company’s servers, making it difficult to restore access.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways to unlock, from official methods through Xiaomi support to technical workarounds for power users. It is important to understand that not all solutions will save your data, and some may lead to complete loss of warranty (for example, using unofficial firmware), We will also analyze the risks of each method and give recommendations for preventing blocking in the future.

If your phone shows a message like “This device is locked. Enter Mi Account password” or “Device is locked by Mi Account,” read on – here you will find step-by-step instructions based on the latest Xiaomi security updates (including the 2023-2026 models).

1. Official Recovery of Mi Account Password

The safest and most legal way to re-establish your Mi Account is through official channels, which is best if you have access to an email or phone number associated with your account. Xiaomi updates the recovery procedure regularly, so follow the current instructions:

• 📧 Through email: Go to account.xiaomi.com, select Forgot Password?" → Please specify email → You can confirm the code from the email. The system will suggest you create a new password.
• 📱 Through SMS: On the same site, select recovery by phone number. The code will come in a message (it does not work for all regions).
• 🔄 By backup email: If the main email is not available, try to specify a backup (if it was added earlier).

⚠️ Warning: After changing your password, it can take up to 72 hours for unlock to spread to all devices.If the phone still requires an old password, wait or try rebooting it.

If you don’t remember the email/number associated with your account, try:

• 🔍 Check the history of emails in the mail (search for "Mi Account", "Xiaomi").
• 📱 Look at the settings of another Xiaomi device (if any) where you are logged in: Settings → Mi Account.
• 📞 Contact Xiaomi with proof of ownership of the device (checks, box with the device) IMEI).

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If a site asks for an old password when you restore your password, but you don’t remember it, try entering any set of characters 3-4 times in a row. Sometimes the system offers alternative ways of confirming (for example, through a backup email).

2 Unlocking through Xiaomi Service Center

If password recovery has not worked, an official service center is the only legal way to unlock the phone without risking losing the warranty. Xiaomi provides such a service provided proof of ownership.

The procedure takes from 1 to 5 working days. In most cases, the service center resets the binding to the Mi Account without losing data, but there is no guarantee - depending on the model and version of the firmware. The cost of the service varies from 500 to 2000 rubles (2026).

🔹 How to Find an Official Service Center:

1. Go to mi.com/global/service.
2. Choose a country and a city.
3. Check the reviews about the center (some don’t work with unlocking your Mi Account).

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Officially unlocking through the service center is the only way to keep the warranty, and all other methods (except password recovery) will result in its cancellation.

3. Bypassing the lock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

If the official methods have not worked and the phone does not contain critical data, you can try unlocking it through Fastboot mode.This method is suitable for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models with unlocked bootloader.

📌 What's the matter:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux and installed drivers ADB/Fastboot.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 📱 Unlocked bootloader (if not previously unlocked, this method will not work).
• 📦 Firmware for your model (download from the official website).

🔧 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Turn off the phone. Press the Power button + Volume down to enter the Fastboot.
2. Connect your phone to your PC. Open the command line and check the connection: fastboot devices must display the serial number of the device.
3. Flush the official firmware (example of command for Redmi Note 12): fastboot flash boot.img fastboot flash system.img fastboot flash recovery.img fastboot reboot

⚠️ Note: On new models (Xiaomi) 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13) This method may not work due to increased protection. ARB (In this case, the phone will turn into a brick and require repair in the service.

Download Mi Flash Tool| Install ADB| Check phone model | Make backup data (if possible) | Prepare original cable-->

4.Use of EDL-mode (emergency method)

EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is an emergency firmware mode that allows you to reflash your phone even with a locked bootloader. The method works on most Xiaomi models, but requires special equipment (EDL cable or test point) and knowledge. Risks: high probability of turning the phone into a brick, loss of warranty.

🔹 When it's worth trying EDL:

• ✅ The phone is not switched on or stuck on the Mi logo.
• ✅ Fastboot method didn't work.
• ✅ You have experience in smartphone firmware.

🛠️ Instructions (simplified):

1. Download firmware in.tgz format for your model (for example, from xiaomifirmwareupdater.com).
2. Install Qualcomm Drivers and Mi Flash Tool.
3. Turn the phone into EDL mode: For older models: test point. For new models, use adb reboot edl (if ADB is enabled).

Mi Flash Tool

Flash

⚠️ Note: On models with a MediaTek processor (e.g. Redmi) 10A, POCO C50) EDL-The mode can be locked at the hardware level, and only the service center can help.

5. Alternative methods (with risks)

If the official methods did not help, and the technical ones are too complex, some users resort to non-standard solutions, we will list them for the sake of completeness, but we do not recommend using them without extreme necessity:

• 🔓 Buying “unlocking code”: On forums (e.g, 4PDA) Selling the Unblocking Services IMEI. Risks: fraud, viruses, data loss. the cost is from 500 to 5000 rubles.
• 📱 Using "holes" in firmware: Some older versions MIUI (For example, for Redmi 4X, Mi A1) They had vulnerabilities that allowed them to reset their Mi Account through the engineering menu.
• 🔄 Recovery reset: On some phones (e.g, POCO X3) You can try resetting your settings through Recovery, but this will only work if your Mi Account wasn’t tied to your device at the hardware level.

⚠️ Warning: Buying "unlocking codes" from third parties often results in a re-block after a few days. Xiaomi can remotely lock the device if it detects unauthorized tampering.

💡 Tip: If you decide to take a chance and use informal methods, first check the reviews about the seller on the forums (4PDA, XDA Developers) and make sure it provides guarantees.

6.How to avoid blocking Mi Account in the future

The best way to fight blockages is to prevent them, and here are proven methods to avoid them:

• 🔐 Create a backup email: In the Mi Account settings, add an additional email to recover.
• 📱 Untie Unnecessary Devices: Regularly check the list of tied gadgets in Settings → Mi Account. → Devices and remove old ones.
• 📝 Save your account details: Write your email, phone number and password to a secure location (such as Bitwarden or KeePass password manager).
• 🔄 Disable lock when reset: In some firmware, you can disable the Mi Account binding to reset settings (but this will reduce security).

📌 What to do before selling your phone:

1. Back up the data.
2. Untie Mi Account in the settings.
3. Perform a reset to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Resetting).
4. Check that the phone does not require authorization after reset (download it to the welcome screen).

If you often forget passwords, consider using a hardware security key (such as YubiKey) to log in to your Mi Account, which is more reliable than SMS or email.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Mi Account