Found a Xiaomi phone: how to unlock the screen, Mi Account and bootloader

You found a Xiaomi phone, maybe on the street, in a transport, or in a forgotten place, but the screen is locked and the owner can't be found, or you bought a used device that ended up tied to someone else's Mi Account, and in those cases, unlocking becomes the only way to bring the device back to life.

Let me warn you right away, the unlocking process depends on the type of lock./PIN-code, locking through Mi Account (if the phone was dropped without an account detachment) or a blocked bootloader, in this article we will analyze all scenarios, from the simplest to the most complex technical solutions, and also tell you how to act legally if you want to return the phone to the owner.

It's important to understand that unlocking someone else's phone without the owner's consent can violate the law. If you find a device, first try to contact the owner via an emergency call or social networks (this is in the last section).

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1. Determine the type of lock on Xiaomi

Before you act, you need to understand what kind of lock you are facing, and it depends on the choice of unlock method.

Here are the main types of locks on Xiaomi:

• 🔒 Screen lock — PIN-A code, a pattern lock or a password, the most common case is when the phone is simply locked after rebooting.
• 📱 Mi Account lock – appears after resetting if the phone was linked to a Xiaomi account. Requires the username / password of the previous owner.
• 🔧 Blocked bootloader – found on new models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 You can't flash custom software without unlocking it.
• ⚠️ Device blacklisted (IMEI locked if the phone is stolen and locked by the operator.

How to distinguish Mi Account lock from a regular lock screen? after resetting (Recovery) → Wipe Data: The phone will not ask PIN-The code, and the username and password from the Xiaomi account with a reference to a phone number or email. If you see such a window, this is the Mi Account Lock.

And if the phone asks you to enter your password when you turn it on, but doesn't offer recovery options, it's probably standard screen lock, and you can get around it without losing data (the methods are in the next section).

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2. unlock the screen (PIN, pattern lock, password)

If the phone is simply locked with the input screen PIN-There are a number of ways to get around protection without losing data, but they don't work on all models and versions. MIUI.

Method 1: Use the "Forgot Password?" function (only for old MIUIs)

On some firmware (MIUI 10 and older), after 5 wrong attempts, the button Forgot the password appears.

1. Enter the phone-related email or number.
2. Confirm the code from the SMS/letter.
3. Reset the password.

⚠️ Attention: On new versions MIUI 12/13/14 This feature is often disabled because of enhanced security. If the button is not available, move on to other methods.

Method 2: Unlocking through ADB (without data reset)

If you have USB debugging enabled on your phone (usually activated by developers), you can delete the password file through your computer.

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
2. Open the command line and type in: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key or PIN-code: adb shell rm /data/system/password.key
3. Restart the phone and the lock will be reset.

Method 3: Recovery Reset (with data loss)

If the previous methods didn't work, there's only a hard reset, which will delete all the data, but unlock the screen.

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power before the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
4. Confirm the reset and restart the phone.

Turn off the phone from charging

Make sure the battery is at least 30% charged

Prepare. SIM-post-reset activation card

Remember your Google account information (if you have)

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⚠️ Attention: On phones with MIUI 12+ When you reset your Recovery, you may have a Mi Account lock, even if you didn't have it before, and it's a theft protection, and if your phone isn't yours, you'd better not reset it!

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3. unlock Mi Account (if the phone is tied to someone else's account)

Mi Account lock is one of the hardest to get around, and it comes after resetting if the phone was linked to a Xiaomi account, and it requires you to enter the username and password of the previous owner, and you can't legally get around it, because it's a security measure against theft.

There are several legal and semi-legal ways:

• 📧 Contact the previous owner – if the phone is bought with your hands, try to find a seller and ask to untie the device from his account via account.xiaomi.com.
• 📄 Provide proof of purchase - if you have a check or a sales contract, you can contact Xiaomi's support to ask to unlock the device.
• 🔧 Use exploits (for older models) – on some phones (Redmi) 4X, Redmi Note 5) There are vulnerabilities that allow you to bypass Mi Account through Fastboot or special firmware.

Method by which EDL-The mode (only for experienced users)

On some models (Redmi 5/6/Note 7), you can flash a modified persist partition through EDL (Emergency Download Mode).

• Xiaomi Authorized Cable (or homemade with contact closure).
• Mi Flash Pro or QFil.
• Firmware file with a patch to bypass Mi Account.

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect actions in EDL-This method is only suitable for advanced users or service centers.

On phones with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/2 processor (for example, Xiaomi 12/13, Redmi K50) it is impossible to bypass Mi Account through EDL - the chip blocks unauthorized firmware.

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4. Unlock bootloader on Xiaomi

If you bought a used Xiaomi and want to flash custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience), you first need to unlock the bootloader. On new models (Redmi Note 11/12, POCO X4/5) it is locked by default.

The official way through Mi Unlock Tool Xiaomi provides a utility for unlocking, but with limitations:

1. Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website.
2. Sign in to your Mi Account (it should be linked to your phone!).
3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
4. Launch the utility and follow the instructions.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi has tightened the rules since 2022:

• New accounts must be active for at least 7 days before unblocking.
• Some models (Redmi Note 12 Pro+) require 30 days of waiting after the account is attached.
• The utility may refuse to unlock if the phone was purchased less than 30 days ago.

Unofficial methods (at your own risk)

If the official method doesn’t work, some users use:

• 🔓 Bypassing test firmware - firmware of special versions MIUI with vulnerabilities (for example, Fastboot firmware for developers).
• 🛠️ Use of exploits – for example, DirtyCOW for older Linux kernels (works on the Linux operating system) MIUI 8-10).
• 🔧 Resistor soldering on board - a physical method for unlocking EDL (call-up).

⚠️ Note: Unofficial methods may lead to:

• Lose the warranty.
• IMEI lock (if the firmware is damaged).
• Unable to update via OTA.

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5 What to do if your phone is blacklisted (IMEI blocked)

If you turn on the phone and you see a message, This device is linked to a Mi Account that has been blocked, or if the operator says that IMEI is blacklisted, the device is likely stolen, and it is officially impossible to unlock it.

Here's what we can do:

• 📞 Try to return to the owner – if the phone is found, contact the operator (by the number on the lock screen) or through the Find Mi Device service.
• 📄 Contact the police – if you bought a phone from your hands and it was blacklisted, write a statement of fraud (attach a check / correspondence).
• 🔄 Sell for spare parts – if unlocking is not possible, you can profitably sell the display, battery or motherboard (Avito or AliExpress is in demand).

⚠️ Note: Buying and using locked phones IMEI 159.6 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation - fraud in the field of computer information, if you knew that the phone was stolen - you can get a fine of up to 200 000 ₽.

Phones with blocked IMEIs do not have mobile, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and even after firmware, the lock will remain, as it is tied to a hardware identifier.

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6 How to return the phone to the owner (if found)

If you found a Xiaomi phone and want to return it to your owner, here is a step-by-step action plan:

Step 1: Check the emergency contact

On the lock screen, swipe up and click Emergency. Some firmware shows emergency contacts (e.g. Husband, Mom) Try calling or sending an SMS.

Step 2: Use Find Mi Device

Go to findmi.com and enter the phone's IMEI (you can find it by typing *#06# on the emergency call keyboard). If the owner has activated the search function, the system will show his contacts.

Step 3: Contact the police or Lost & Found

• In Moscow and St. Petersburg, search services Lost & Found (for example, in the metro or airports) are available.
• Write a report to the police - if the owner goes there, you will be tied up.

Step 4: Leave a message on social media

Take a photo of IMEI and phone model, post in local public (Vkontakte, Telegram, Avito) with hashtags like #foundphone.

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If the phone is on NFC, attach it to a payment terminal (for example, in a store). On some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO F3), this will cause a notification with the card data to appear, so you can find the owner.

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7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When trying to unlock Xiaomi, users often make critical mistakes that turn the phone into a brick.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone stopped turning on after a failed firmware (only the red indicator burns), don't try to flash it again! This is a sign of damage to the bootloader.

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FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions