Did you find a Xiaomi phone (or buy it by hand), but after turning on, you saw a requirement to enter the username and password from the Mi Account? This lock is a standard feature of protection against theft, which the manufacturer has implemented in all models since the Redmi Note 3 and Mi 5. Without the original owner data, it is officially impossible to unlock the device, but there are workarounds - both legal and technical.
In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to unlock, including official requests for Xiaomi support, Fastboot reset, exploiting firmware vulnerabilities, and even hardware methods. It’s important to understand that some methods can permanently block IMEI or make a phone a brick if executed incorrectly. We’ll also explain how to check if a device is blacklisted by IMEI — this is critical before buying a used gadget.
Why is Xiaomi blocking your phone through a Mi Account?
Xiaomi introduced the Mi Cloud Lock (or Find Device) feature in 2016 as a response to the growing number of smartphone thefts.
- 🔒 Account binding: When you first turn on, the phone is automatically linked to the owner’s Mi Account via the cloud.
- 📍 Geolocation: The device periodically sends coordinates to Xiaomi Cloud (if Find the device is enabled).
- 🚨 Locking when resetting: after Hard Reset (reset via Recovery), the phone requires you to enter the data of the associated account.
- ⚠️ Blacklist: If the owner tagged the gadget as stolen, his IMEI It is blocked at the server level of Xiaomi.
Xiaomi officially states that the lock is only lifted when proof of purchase (check, warranty card) or through support of the original account is presented. However, in practice, many users are faced with the fact that even with documents, unlocking takes from 2 weeks to several months.
⚠️ If the phone is stolen, it is IMEI It can be listed in the international database of stolen devices (GSMA IMEI In this case, unlocking is impossible even through official channels - the gadget will become a "brick" after any reset.
Method 1: Official appeal in support of Xiaomi
The safest, but also the longest, method is to contact Xiaomi’s support team with proof of legal ownership.
- Documents on the phone: check, warranty card, box with serial number (should match the IMEI in the settings).
- Photo of the device: pictures of the box, phone (especially stickers under the battery with IMEI), check.
- Passport data: a scan of the passport of the new owner (if you bought used).
The process looks like this:
- Go to account.xiaomi.com and select Support → Unlock Device.
- Fill out the form, attach scans of documents and send a request.
- Expect a response – it usually takes 10 to 30 days (sometimes longer).
| Document | Requirements | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Check/check | Must contain IMEI, model, date of purchase | An electronic check (for example, from Sber or Wildberries) is suitable |
| Guarantee pass | With a store seal and serial number. | If there is no ticket, a photo of a box with a sticker will fit. |
| Passport | Scan of a turn with photo and registration | For used phones - passport of the new owner |
| Photo by IMEI | Photo of the sticker under the battery or from *#06# | IMEI must match the documents |
⚠️ Note: If the phone was purchased on Avito, Yula or another service without a check, the chances of unlocking are minimal. Xiaomi does not accept screenshots of correspondence or ads as proof of the fact that the phone is not available.
Method 2: Unlocking via Fastboot (for tech-savvy)
If the official path didn’t work, you can try resetting the lock via Fastboot mode, which doesn’t work on all models and requires:
- 🖥️ Computer with Windows or Linux.
- 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (original, undamaged).
- 🛠️ Utilities. ADB Fastboot (download from Google website).
- 🔓 Unlocked Bootloader – if it is blocked, the method will not work.
Instructions:
- Turn off the phone, press Volume Down + Power to log into the Fastboot.
- Connect the device to your PC and check for detection by command: fastboot devices If the phone is not detected, install the Mi Flash Tool drivers.
- Download the firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website (choose the Fastboot version).
- Unpack the firmware and launch the flash script: fastboot flash all Attention! This command completely erases data, including the Mi Account.
On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro, Mi 9T) this method works, but on new devices (after 2021), Xiaomi closed this loophole.
fastboot erase frp
fastboot erase userdata⚠️ Note: On models with a MediaTek processor (e.g. Redmi) 9A, Poco C31) These teams can lead to loss. IMEI. Before experimenting, check the processor using ##4636##.
Install ADB and Fastboot|Download the firmware for your model|Unlock Bootloader (if blocked)|Backup data (if the phone is partially working)|Prepare a cable with data transmission support-->
Method 3: Bypassing vulnerabilities in firmware (EDL-regime)
For advanced users, there's an EDL-based method of unlocking, which works at the hardware level and allows you to flash your phone around all the locks.
- ⚠️ Risk: Wrong actions will lead to a “brick” (complete incapacity).
- 🔧 Requires soldering skills: on some models you need to close test points on the board.
- 💻 Special tools: Mi Flash Pro, Qualcomm QPST or SP Flash Tool (for MediaTek).
Step-by-step (for Qualcomm devices):
- Download Mi Flash Pro and firmware in.tgz format for your model.
- Turn off the phone, press Volume up + Volume down and connect to the PC – the device should be defined as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
- In Mi Flash Pro, select firmware, select Clean All mode and press Flash.
- After firmware, the phone will restart without being tied to the Mi Account.
MediaTek will require SP Flash Tool and firmware in scatter.txt. The algorithm is similar, but instead of EDL, BROM mode is used.
⚠️ Attention: Firmware through EDL drop off DRM-Keys that may stop Widevine from working L1 (no HD Netflix, Google Pay and some camera features.
What is a “brick” and how to avoid it?
Method 4: Buying an Unlock Code from Third Parties
There are many services on the Internet that offer "official unlock codes" for money, costing from 500 to 5000 rubles depending on the model.
- 💰 Fraud: 60% of these services just take money and disappear.
- 🔑 Temporary effect: Some codes only remove the lock until the next reset.
- 📵 Lockdown IMEI: If the phone is blacklisted, it may lose the network after unlocking.
If you still decide, choose services with:
- 🔒 Money back guarantee (e.g. via PayPal).
- 📄 Reviews on independent sites (not on their own website).
- 📧 Support via Telegram or WhatsApp (so you can contact us quickly).
Example of reliable (relatively) services:
- UnlockBoot – works since 2017, supports Xiaomi, Samsung, Huawei.
- IMEI-Server is a service that specializes in unlocking through IMEI.
⚠️ Warning: Never pay for an unblocking through Qiwi, Yandex.Money or anonymous wallets. Fraudsters often ask for a “per-service” payment and then disappear. Only use secure payment systems with the ability to challenge the transaction.
Method 5: Hardware reset through test points (for experienced)
On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 4X, Mi A1, Poco F1), you can reset your Mi Account by closing test points on the motherboard.
- 🔧 soldering iron or thin-tipped tweezers.
- 🔍 Loupa - test points are very small.
- 🔋 Charger – the phone must be connected to the network.
Algorithm of action:
- Turn off the phone and remove the back cover (on non-disruptive models, a hairdryer will be required to soften the glue).
- Find test points (usually signed as TP or next to the battery) and the circuitry is different for each model, and search YouTube for “test point phone model”.
- Close the dots with tweezers and connect the phone to a PC – it should be defined as a Qualcomm 9008.
- Swipe your phone through the Mi Flash Tool (as in method 3).
On new models (after 2020), Xiaomi has removed test points or made them inaccessible without special equipment, for example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro or Mi 11, this method will not work.
💡
Before disassembling the phone, take a picture of the location of all the plumes and screws, which will help to collect it back without unnecessary details, and use a plastic mediator to disconnect the battery - metal tools can close contacts.
What do you do if nothing helps?
If all methods are exhausted, and the phone requires a Mi-account, there are several options:
- 📱 Used as a "brick": some models can be turned into a media player or photo frame by connecting through a OTG keyboard.
- 🔄 Selling for parts: A work screen, battery or camera can bring up to 30-50% of the cost of a phone.
- 🔧 Contact the service: some workshops offer unlocking through JTAG or ISP, But the price can reach 10,000 rubles.
Before you hand over the phone to the scrap, check it for performance in Fastboot mode with the command:
fastboot getvar allIf the device responds, it can still be reanimated, and if it doesn't, it's likely that the Bootloader or eMMC memory is damaged.