Xiaomi’s ‘This Device Is Locked’: How to Unlock a Phone Without a Computer in 2026

The message “This device is locked” on Xiaomi’s screen is one of the most common problems users face after resetting their settings, updating their firmware, or simply forgetting their password. Unlike Samsung or iPhone, where unlocking often requires a PC connection, Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones offer several ways to bypass locks without a computer, but not all of them are safe: some methods can lead to data loss or FRP (Factory Reset Protection) activation, if key nuances are not taken into account.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to unlock (including bypassing Mi Account and resetting via Recovery) relevant to models from 2020-2026: from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. Particular attention will be paid to the risks - for example, why a reset via Fastboot without a PC is impossible, and the use of third-party services can lock the device forever. If your phone shows the inscription "This device is locked. Connect to Mi Account" - read further, how to return access without loss of functionality.

Why does the word “This device is locked” appear on Xiaomi?

The device lock message occurs in three main scenarios, and each requires a different approach to unlocking:

• 🔒 Forgotten pattern lock/password is the most common reason. MIUI Blocks access after 5 failed entry attempts, even if previously linked to Mi Account.
• 🔄 Resetting settings via Recovery without detachment of Xiaomi account. After a hard reset, the system requires authorization in the linked account (protection) FRP).
• 📱 Buying a used phone with a linked account, the previous owner didn't untie the Mi Account, and now the device is asking for his data.

It is important to distinguish between software lock (password/pattern lock) and hardware (Mi Account protection). In the first case, resetting is enough, in the second case, you will need to bypass FRP or confirm ownership through Xiaomi support. On new models (for example, Redmi Note 13 Pro+), after 3 failed attempts to enter a password, you can activate the protection against theft, locking the phone for 24 hours.

⚠️ If the phone was purchased with hands and shows the message "This device is linked to a Mi Account", do not try to reset it via Recovery - this activates the device. FRP and will make unlocking without the data of the previous owner impossible.

Method 1: Unlocking with Mi Account (official method)

If your Xiaomi account is tied to your phone and your internet connection is active (via Wi-Fi or mobile), it will take no more than 5 minutes to unlock, a method that works on all models with MIUI 12-14, including the POCO F5 and Xiaomi 13T.

Step-by-step:

1. On the lock screen, tap the button “Forgot password?” (or a similar inscription on Chinese firmware – ).
2. Select the recovery option via Mi Account (email or phone number).
3. Enter your linked email/phone and password from your Xiaomi account. If you forget your password, use the recovery function at account.xiaomi.com.
4. Confirm the login via SMS or email code. Once the login is successful, the phone unlocks automatically.

If you have a “Network error” or “Unable to verify” error after entering the data, check:

• 🌐 Internet connection (try switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data).
• ⏳ Time and date on the device (incorrect settings may block authorization).
• 🔄 Update of the firmware (on older versions) MIUI Mi Accounts may be affected by Mi Account).

Method 2: Reset to factory settings via Recovery Mode

If you lose access to Mi Account or have your phone purchased by hand, the only official way to unlock it is through Recovery, but this method has critical limitations:

• 📱 Delete all data (photos, contacts, messages).
• 🔒 Activate. FRP, If you have previously been assigned a Mi Account.
• ⚠️ Does not work on models with a locked bootloader (for example, Xiaomi) 12S Ultra with MIUI CN).

How to perform the reset:

1. Turn off the phone with a long press of the power button.
2. Press the Power + Volume combination up for 10-15 seconds until the Recovery menu appears.
3. Use the volume buttons for navigation and the power button to select Wipe Data (or Clear Data on Chinese firmware).
4. Confirm the reset by choosing Confirm or Yes.
5. After the reboot, the phone will be unlocked, but will require customization as a new device.

⚠️ Attention: On phones with MIUI 14 and later after the reset, you may receive a request to enter the data of the Mi Account, tied to the reset. If you are not the owner of the account, it is impossible to unlock the phone without a computer (you will need to contact Xiaomi support with proof of purchase).

Method 3: Bypassing locking through service codes (for older models)

On devices before MIUI 12 (e.g. Redmi 9, Redmi Note 8), there was a way to unlock through service codes, and it worked because of vulnerabilities in the firmware, but on newer versions of MIUI, this method is not relevant (codes are locked or require root rights).

Combinations for bypassing:

• 📞 Enter the dialer: ##7378423## (to reset your password).
• 🔢 Try ##3646633## (engineering menu, but unlocking doesn't work on all firmware).

If the phone restarts after you enter the code, but the lock remains, then the method is not suitable for your version of MIUI. On models newer than 2021 (for example, Redmi Note 11), these codes will not work.

Method 4: Use the “Find Device” function (remote unlock)

If the phone has Find Device enabled** (similar to Google's Find Phone), you can try unlocking it remotely via the Xiaomi Cloud web interface.

• 🌍 The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔄 Find Device was activated before blocking.
• 📧 You have access to your Mi Account.

Instructions:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select the locked device in the list.
3. Click Unlock Device** (or Unlock in the Russian version).
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

If the Unlock Device option is not available, it means:

• 🔌 Phone's offline.
• 🔒 Find Device was not enabled in advance.
• 📵 The device is in Offline mode (for example, after resetting).

💡

Before buying a used Xiaomi, always check whether the previous owner’s Mi Account is untied. To do this, ask the seller to reset the settings in front of you and make sure that after the reboot, the phone does not require you to enter account data.

Method 5: Bypassing FRP through MIUI vulnerabilities (for advanced users)

Some MIUI firmware (mostly MIUI 12-13) have undocumented ways to bypass FRP without a computer based on interface bugs, which are informal and can be fixed in new updates, but if other options don’t work, it’s worth a try.

The method is via TalkBack (for MIUI 12):

1. On the greeting screen (after reset), activate special features by holding two fingers on the screen.

The method is used by Google Assistant (for MIUI 13):

1. On the lock screen, say “OK, Google”** (if the voice assistant was turned on earlier).
2. Ask for “Open settings” or “Open settings.”

⚠️ Note: These methods can permanently lock your phone if you take the steps wrong. e.g. on Xiaomi 12 Pro with a phone MIUI 14 Attempted bypassing through TalkBack leads to activation of anti-theft protection, after which unlocking is possible only through the service center.

What to do if nothing helps: formal and informal decisions

If all of these methods fail, there are two ways:

1. Contact Xiaomi with proof of purchase (check, warranty card) and the company can unlock the device remotely if you confirm that you are the owner, the processing period is from 3 to 7 days.
2. Use paid unlocking services (for example, DC-Unlocker or Mi Account Unlock), the cost of the service is from $ 10 to $ 50, but there is a risk of running into scammers.

What you can not do categorically:

• 🛠️ Try to disassemble the phone and solder off the memory chip (this will lead to a breakdown).
• 💻 Install unofficial firmware without unlocking the bootloader (risk of “bricking»).
• 🔧 Use programs like the Mi Flash Tool without a computer (they require Fastboot mode).

💡

If the phone is bought from hand and locked by someone else's Mi Account, the only legal way to unlock it is to contact the previous owner and ask him to untie the account via account.xiaomi.com. Without this, unlocking without a computer is impossible.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi