Xiaomi’s “This device is locked”: how to turn off your phone and unlock it

The message “This device is locked. FRP lock” on Xiaomi’s screen is one of the most common problems users face after resetting, buying a used device or failing to upgrade. The system blocks access to the interface by requiring you to enter your previous Mi Account, and the standard ways to turn off (pressing the power button) often do not work. In this article, we will discuss why this happens, how to safely turn off the phone when locked and what steps to take to fully unlock.

It is important to understand that the inscription This device is locked is not a virus or firmware failure, but a regular feature of Xiaomi’s Factory Reset Protection (FRP). It is activated automatically if the device was tied to a Mi Account account, and then reset via Recovery or Fastboot. Attempts to “pull the battery” or forcibly turn off power can damage the partition, which will make the phone unsuitable for recovery without service equipment.

We will look at 5 working ways to turn off (including forced), official methods of unlocking through Mi Account, as well as alternative solutions for cases where the previous owner’s data is not available. All instructions are tested on Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4, Mi 11/12 with current versions of MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS.

Why Xiaomi doesn’t shut down in the standard way

In FRP Lock, Xiaomi’s phone ignores the long press of the power button for two reasons:

1. Loader-level lock: The system does not hand over control to Power Menu because it considers the device to be "stolen" or incorrectly activated.
2. No response to hardware buttons: On some models (e.g. POCO F4/F5), the power button is software-free before unlocking.

The phone may also:

• 🔄 Reboot to the cycle (the Mi logo) → lock-screen → restart).
• 🔋 Do not respond to charging (the indicator does not light up).
• 📱 Vibrate when pressing buttons, but do not turn off.

Attempts to remove the battery (on models with a removable lid) or wait for the battery discharge are fraught with:

• 🚨 Data loss in the userdata section (photos, contacts).
• 🔧 Damage to the file system if you interrupt the update process.
• 🔌 Risk of “brick” (brick) with incorrect power outage while working with Fastboot.

Method 1: Forced shutdown via button combination

The safest method is to use a hardware combination, which works on 90% of models (except for devices with a damaged bootloader).

Instructions:

1. Press the Power button + Volume increase for 15-20 seconds.
2. Release the buttons when the screen goes out (vibration will confirm the shutdown).
3. If the phone vibrates but doesn’t turn off, try again, holding the buttons for up to 30 seconds.

HyperOS models (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13) may require a Power + Volume combination. If that doesn't work, move on to the next one.

Make sure your phone is not connected to the charger.

Use the original buttons (not the cover!)

Press the combination with two fingers at once.

Do not release the buttons until the vibration is completely turned off.

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What to do if the phone does not respond:

• 🔌 Connect the charger for 5 minutes – sometimes a discharged battery blocks hardware commands.
• 🔄 Try the combination of nutrition + Increase + Reduce the volume (works on the POCO F3/F4).
• 🛠️ If the buttons are physically damaged, disassembly of the device will be required (see the section on hardware methods).

💡

On some models (e.g. Redmi 9A), after forced shutdown, the phone can turn on itself in 1-2 minutes. To avoid this, immediately proceed to unlock via Fastboot or EDL.

Method 2: Battery discharge before complete shutdown

If the hardware buttons don't work, you can wait for the phone to run out. AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or POCO F5 Pro) as they consume a minimum charge even when switched off.

How to speed up discharge:

• 📱 Turn on maximum screen brightness (if you have access to the notification curtain).
• 🎮 Run a resource-intensive application (such as a game) through ADB, If the phone is connected to the PC.
• 🔊 Turn on music playback at maximum volume.

Risks of the method:

• 🚨 If the battery is discharged to 0%, the calibration of the power controller may be lost.
• 🔋 On some models (Redmi Note 8 Pro) after a deep discharge, the phone refuses to turn on without connecting to the phone. EDL.
• 📉 Data in memory (RAM) will be lost, but the files on the internal drive will remain.

Method 3: Shutting down via Fastboot mode

If the phone is responding to a PC connection, you can turn it off via Fastboot.This method is suitable for devices that boot to the Mi logo but don't go further.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (preferably original).

If the off-mode charge command is not supported, use:

fastboot poweroff

Mistakes and solutions:

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The fastboot poweroff team works on all Xiaomi models, but requires an unlocked bootloader. If the phone doesn't turn off, check the OEM Unlock status in the developer settings.

Method 4: Hardware power outage (for power users)

If the software methods fail, there is a physical shutdown, which is suitable for devices with removable batteries (Redmi 4X, Mi A1) or with disassembly experience.

Instructions for removable battery:

1. Remove the back cover (use a plastic shoulder blade).
2. Disconnect the battery plume for 10-15 seconds.
3. Connect back and try to turn on the phone.

For non-removable battery (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro):

• 🔋 After shutting down, wait 1-2 minutes for the capacitors to discharge.

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T) After a hardware shutdown, the anti-rollback may work, which will lead to a lock on the bootloader and the need to run through the firmware. EDL.

If you are not sure about your skills, you should contact the service center. The cost of unlocking through EDL in the official Xiaomi centers is 1,500-3,000 rubles (2026).

Method 5: Unlocking with Mi Account (official method)

If you need to not just turn off your phone, but unlock it completely, use the official method through Mi Account.This is the only way that does not violate the warranty and does not require technical skills.

Conditions for unlocking:

• 📧 Access to email linked to the previous owner’s Mi Account.
• 🔑 Account password (if two-factor authentication is enabled – code from the account) SMS).
• 🌐 Stable Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile network).

Step-by-step:

1. On the lock screen, click Forgot password? (or similar button).
2. Enter the email linked to the Mi Account.
3. Confirm your identity via SMS or backup email.
4. Create a new password and unlock the device.

If you have bought a phone from hand and can’t contact the previous owner:

• 📄 Ask the seller for a check or a purchase document – you can contact him to support Xiaomi to remove the lock.
• 🔍 Check the box for a serial number (S/N) — It can be used to restore access.

⚠️ Note: Purchase of a device with FRP Lock without documents is the risk of staying with a brick. According to statistics, 30% of used Xiaomi phones in the secondary market are undetached from the Mi Account.

What to do if nothing works: alternative solutions

If standard methods don't work, there are radical ways that require technical knowledge and can lead to data loss.

1. Firmware via EDL (Emergency Download Mode):

• 🔧 You need an authorized Xiaomi account (for new models) or EDL-cable.
• 📥 You need to download the firmware for your model from the site MIUI ROM.
• 💻 Use the Mi Flash Tool or QFil Tool.

FRP bypass through ADB:

• 🖥️ Connect your phone to your PC and do: Adb shell am start -n com.google.android.gsf.login/
• 🔑 In some cases, this allows you to add a new Google account.

3. Contact the service center:

• 🏢 Xiaomi’s official centers in Russia and CIS are being removed FRP Lock on the documents.
• 💰 Cost: from 1000 to 5 000 rubles (depending on the model).

Purchase of the unlock code:

• 🔐 In forums (e.g, 4PDA XDA-Developers sell codes EDL specific models.
• ⚠️ Risk of running into scammers – check the reputation of the seller.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi