Reset settings on Android: requires confirmation of Google account, what to do on Xiaomi

When you completely reset your Xiaomi or any Android smartphone, you have a window that requires you to enter your account information that you used on your device, which is familiar to many: this is the FRP (Factory Reset Protection) security mechanism that Google created to prevent gadgets from being stolen. If you reset your settings yourself but forget your password or login, the phone turns into a brick, blocking access to the system.

There are proven ways to restore access. It is important to understand that the security system MIUI and Android will not simply miss this step, if you do not perform certain actions to verify the owner. In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithms of actions for different versions of firmware and models.

Before you start taking action, you need to calm down and soberly assess the situation: do you remember at least some of the password or phone number associated with the account? This will determine the choice of unlock method. Next, we will consider all possible solutions to the problem, from simple to more complex technical manipulations.

Why Xiaomi and Android require an account after a reset

FRP was introduced into the Android ecosystem since version 5.1 of Lollipop and has since become an integral part of security. When you link a Google account to your phone and allow sync, the device remembers this fact at the system partition level. When you try to execute Hard Reset through the Recovery menu, the system marks the event as potentially dangerous, unless you log out of the account through the settings menu before that.

For Xiaomi owners, the situation is complicated by the presence of dual protection: in addition to Google, Mi Account confirmation is often required. This is done so that even when flashing or resetting, an attacker can not access the owner’s personal data, such as photos, contacts and location history. The lock is activated automatically if the correct credentials are not entered after turning on the reset device within a short time (usually 5-15 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: Attempting to repeatedly enter the wrong password can temporarily block the ability to enter data for 24 hours or more.

There is a misconception that flashing your phone helps bypass this protection. On modern Xiaomi models with a locked bootloader and current security patches, this does not work, since the partition that stores the binding data does not erase with normal firmware, which is why it is important to know the correct methods for bypassing or restoring access.

How to Restore Access to a Google Account

The most legal and reliable way to unlock a device is to recall or restore access to your account. Google provides tools for those who have forgotten their data. If you have access to a computer or other smartphone, go to the Google account recovery page, and you will be asked to enter the phone number or backup email address you provided when you signed up.

If you have a phone number or email, the system will send you a confirmation code, and once you have entered the code, you can set a new password. Importantly, after you change the password on a device with Android 9 and above, you may have to wait 24 hours before trying to enter new data on the dropped phone, a security measure that prevents attackers from accessing instantly.

• 🔑 Go to accounts.google.com from any other device.
• 📱 Enter your email address and click “Forgot your password?».
• 📞 Select the confirmation method: SMS by phone, call or backup email.
• ⏳ After a successful password change, wait. 1-24 One hour before entering data on Xiaomi.

In some cases, if two-factor authentication was not enabled, recovery may take longer. Google may ask check questions or ask for an account creation date. Be prepared to provide as accurate information as possible. If you use MIUI, also check if the account was linked to Mi Cloud, as double verification is sometimes required.

Using Mi Account to Unlock Xiaomi

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the requirement to enter not only a Google account, but also a Mi Account. This is an internal account of the manufacturer, which is also associated with the device when logged in to the settings menu. If the phone requires a Mi Account, recovery through Google will not help – you need to restore access to Xiaomi services.

The recovery process is similar: go to i.mi.com from another device, enter the phone number or email used during registration, the system will send a confirmation code, after logging into your personal account, you will see a list of associated devices. If the phone is displayed there, you can try to remove it from the list or unlock it remotely, although after resetting, it is often necessary to enter a password on the activation screen.

If you don't remember your Mi Account details, use the recovery form on the site.Please note that for accounts registered in China (end @qq.com or number +86), the procedure may be different and require a Chinese phone number.In such cases, it is better to create a new account with a region of your country if the old one cannot be restored, but this does not always help to bypass the blocking of the old one.

⚠️ Note: If the device was bought with hands and the previous owner did not untie his Mi Account, it is almost impossible to unlock it legally without his participation.

Technical methods of bypassing FRP blocking

When password recovery is not possible, users often resort to technical methods to bypass security. Vulnerabilities vary between MIUI versions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and Android versions. One common method is to use TalkBack or special button combinations to call a browser or voice assistant to bypass the welcome screen.

For example, on some models, it helps to quickly turn on TalkBack (clicking two volume buttons) and draw the letter “L” on the screen. This opens a menu where you can call voice input. You can go to the parts of the system through the “Settings” or “Open browser” command. However, Google constantly closes these vulnerabilities in security updates, so the method may not work on fresh firmware.

There are also specialized software packages for PCs, such as Mi Flash Pro (official, but with limitations) or third-party utilities for removing FRP. They work on the principle of using an engineering menu or flashing certain memory sections. Using such programs requires caution, since inept actions can lead to complete failure of the phone.

• 🛠 TalkBack method: activation through a combination of buttons, call assistant.
• 💻 PC Tools: Using software to reset FRP through USB-cable.
• 📱 SIM-Map: on older versions of Android sometimes helped substitution SIM-cards with enabled Internet access and a call to it.
• 🌐 Wi-Fi: Connecting to the network with manual change DNS or proxy to call the browser.

Instructions for resetting via Recovery and Fastboot mode

If standard methods don't work, you can try deep reset via Recovery mode. However, as mentioned earlier, on modern Xiaomi this does not remove FRP, but is a necessary step before using other methods. To log into Recovery, press both the power button and the volume button on the phone turned off.

In the Recovery menu, you have to select the Wipe Data -> Wipe All Data. Confirm the action. Once you're done, the phone will reboot. If Google's lock is still in place, FRP protection is active, and you need the methods described above.

Fastboot is used to flash the device through the computer using the Mi Flash utility. In theory, firmware on the stock version of the software can help if partitions are not protected. But in 95% of cases, after firmware is installed, the activation screen with the account requirement will appear again, since the data is stored in the secure partition persist or frp.

⚠️ Warning: Fastboot with Unlocked Bootloader can completely delete data, but for this the bootloader must already be unlocked, which is impossible without access to the phone menu.

Prevention and safety advice

To avoid being locked, it is important to follow digital hygiene practices: always remember or record passwords from your main accounts in a secure location. Before selling or transferring your phone to another person, make sure to completely reset through the settings menu (Settings -> Advanced Settings -> Reset) by logging out of all Google and Mi accounts first.

Use password managers built into your browser or operating system to quickly restore access in case of forgetting, and regularly check the list of devices associated with your Google account and delete those you no longer use.

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Save screenshots of important settings and account data in cloud storage available from other devices to be able to quickly restore access at a critical time.

When you buy a used Xiaomi phone, always check it for pre-payment bindings. Reset the settings at the seller. If it requires an account that the seller does not remember after turning on, you should stop buying. This will save you nerves and money in the future.

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The only guaranteed way to avoid FRP issues is to remember your credentials and log out before resetting your device.