Forgot the pattern lock on Xiaomi: what to do and how to unlock the phone

Forgetting the pattern lock on a Xiaomi smartphone is a frustrating situation, but it is not a hopeless one. Even if you have entered the wrong pattern several times and the phone is blocked, there are official and informal methods of access restoration. The main thing is not to panic and not to try to guess the combination at random: after 5-10 unsuccessful attempts, the device may require entering a Mi Account or even lock up for 24 hours.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways to unlock Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, from the simplest (via Mi Account) to the most complex (using ADB or Fastboot mode).

Warning: some methods require pre-preparedness (e.g., USB debugging enabled or a tied Mi Account). If you haven't done this beforehand, the options for unlocking will narrow. But even in the worst case, there is a way out - read on.

1 Unblocking through Mi Account (official method)

Xiaomi’s most reliable and recommended method is to use a tied Mi Account, which works on all models (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11 and older devices) if:

• 🔹 The phone is connected to the Internet (via mobile network or Wi-Fi).
• 🔹 You remember the username and password from Mi Account (or you can restore them).
• 🔹 The device was not reset via Recovery after the last authorization.

If these conditions are met, after 5 failed attempts to enter the pattern lock, the system will offer the option "Forgot the password?".

1. Enter the email or phone number associated with the Mi Account.
2. Confirm the login via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
3. Create a new pattern lock or PIN-code.

⚠️ Note: If you have previously disabled sync with Mi Account or performed a reset via Recovery, this method will not work.

2.Use of the “Find Device” function

If your Xiaomi has Find Device enabled, you can unlock it remotely via a web browser, which works even if your phone is not currently connected to the Internet (the command will be executed the next time you connect).

Instructions:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in to your Mi Account.
2. Select the locked device in the list (if there are several).
3. Click on “Unlock Device” (Unlock Device).
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

🔹 Pros of the method: does not require data reset, works at a distance.

🔸 Cons: Find the Device feature must be activated before locking.

💡

If you have photo sync enabled in Mi Cloud, check the Deleted Files folder after unlocking it – sometimes data is automatically restored.

3. Unlock through ADB (for advanced users)

The method is suitable if the phone is enabled debugging by USB (USB Debugging) and access to a computer. It's one of the few ways to get around a pattern lock without losing data, but it requires technical skills.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and tool ADB (You can download from the official website).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• ⚙️ Included debugging by USB developer-setting.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the phone to the computer.
2. Open the command prompt (CMD) in the ADB folder.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device is displayed, go further.
4. Delete the file with the pattern lock: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key or for newer versions of Android: adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db
5. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI This method may not work because of additional security checks. If the key doesn't reset after the reset, try an alternative command:

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.ChooseLockGeneric

4.Reset via Recovery Mode (Data Loss)

If previous methods failed, the radical method remains: hard reset through recovery mode (Recovery Mode), which will unlock the phone completely, but will delete all data, including photos, messages and installed applications.

How to perform the reset:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press the button combination to enter Recovery: For most models: Volume up + Power. For POCO F3/F4: Volume down + Power.

Recovery

Wipe Data

Wipe All Data

Reboot

⚠️ Note: Phones with a bootloader blocked after reset may require authorization to the Mi Account that was previously linked. If you don't remember the account details, the phone will turn into a brick».

5. Unlock via Fastboot (for unlocked bootloader)

If your Xiaomi bootloader is unlocked, you can reset the pattern lock through Fastboot mode without completely clearing the data.This method is suitable for users who have previously officially unlocked the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone and put it in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
2. Connect the device to your computer and open the command line in the folder with ADB.
3. Check the connection: fastboot devices
4. Run the command to delete the key: fastboot erase userdata or (for new versions): fastboot format userdata
5. Reboot the phone: fastboot reboot

🔹 Important: This method doesn't work on phones with a locked bootloader. If you don't officially unlock the bootloader, trying to execute the command will lead to an error.

6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If all independent attempts to unlock failed, the last option is to contact the official service center Xiaomi.

• 🔧 Phone locked after failed reset.
• 🔧 You don’t remember your Mi Account or Google Account.
• 🔧 Factory Reset Protection is enabled on the device (FRP).

What you need to unlock in the service:

• 📄 Document confirming the purchase (check, warranty card).
• 🆔 Passport of the owner.
• 📱 Phone box (preferably, but not necessarily).

⚠️ Warning: Unofficial service centers may offer a “bypass” of locking through firmware, but this is fraught with risks:

• 🚫 Loss of guarantee.
• 🚫 Risk of installing unstable firmware.
• 🚫 Problems with banking applications (due to changes) IMEI or Serial Number).

The cost of official unlocking in the Xiaomi service varies from 1,000 to 3,000 rubles (depending on the model and the complexity of the case).

💡

The official service is the only legal way to unlock if you don’t remember the data from Mi Account and can’t use ADB/Fastboot.

7.How to avoid blocking in the future

To avoid the problem of a forgotten pattern lock, follow the following simple recommendations:

• 🔐 Use it. PIN-code instead of a pattern lock, it is more difficult to forget.
• 📝 Write backup of the key in a safe place (for example, in an encrypted file on your computer).
• 🔄 Keep your important data synced regularly with Mi Cloud or Google Drive.
• 🔧 Put the debugging on. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to activate the developer mode).
• 📱 Link your Mi Account and enable the “Find Device” function».

If you often forget passwords, consider using biometric unlocking (fingerprint or facial recognition). On modern Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or Xiaomi 13T), the fingerprint scanner works quickly and reliably.

🔹 Tip: In security settings (Settings) → Password and security) can be added to the reserve PIN-code that will be requested after 5 failed attempts to enter the pattern lock, which will save you from being completely blocked.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi