Xiaomi has blocked the phone: 7 proven ways to unlock in 2026

You pick up your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, and you have a screen that says, "Device locked," or you have a password from a Mi Account that you don't remember, and that's a situation that thousands of users know. You can have a lock when you reset, you can have a firmware update, you have a suspected theft, and 90 percent of the time, it's solvable, but it's important to go by algorithm, because you're at risk of turning your smartphone into a brick."

In this article, we will break down all the current ways to unlock (including official and engineering), explain how to bypass the Mi Cloud lock without losing data, and warn about fraudulent schemes that offer “unlock in 5 minutes.” Information updated for 2026, taking into account the latest changes in Xiaomi’s security policy. If your phone is locked after firmware, dumping or buying from hands, read on.

Why Xiaomi is blocking phones: 5 main reasons

The locking of a Xiaomi smartphone never happens for nothing, it activates protection in certain cases, and if you understand the reason, you can choose the right way to unlock it.

• 🔒 Reset your settings without detachment Mi Account. If you made Wipe Data in recovery or through a menu, and your Mi Account was tied, your phone will require authorization when you first turn on.
• 📱 Buying a used phone with a linked account, the previous owner didn't untie the device from his Mi Account, and now the system requires his data.
• 🔄 Failed firmware update: If the firmware was interrupted or installed incorrectly, the phone can go to Fastboot with the bootloader locked.
• 🚨 Suspicion of theft: Xiaomi blocks devices at the request of law enforcement or when the former owner activates the Find Device feature.
• 🔧 Factory Reset Protection Activation: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 12) are enabled by Factory Reset Protection (FRP), Even if the account is untied.

The most common reason is the first one. Users forget that binding to Mi Account works as an extra layer of protection, similar to Google FRP on other Android devices. If you don't remember your account details, unlocking is complicated, but still possible.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone is locked after buying from hand, try contacting the seller first.In 30% of cases, previous owners are willing to help with unlocking if they explain the situation to them.

Official method: unlocking through Mi Account

If you remember the username and password from the attached Mi Account, it will take no more than 5 minutes to unlock, and this method works on all models from Redmi 4X to Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

1. On the lock screen, enter any password 5 times until the message “Forgot your password?” appears.
2. Click on the link and select “Login to Mi Account”.
3. Enter your details (email or phone number + password).
4. If two-factor authentication is enabled, confirm the login via SMS or email.
5. After successful authorization, the phone is unlocked automatically.

If you don't remember your password, restore it through the official account.xiaomi.com website. Importantly, you can only recover it if you access your email or phone number associated with your account. If you don't have that, you can go to alternative methods.

Unlocking through Fastboot: step-by-step instructions

If the official method didn’t work (for example, you don’t remember your account details), the next step is to unlock through Fastboot mode.This method is suitable for most Xiaomi models, but requires a computer and installed drivers.

You'll need:

• 💻 Windows computer 7/10/11 (on macOS/Linux Possible problems with drivers).
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (low-quality cables may not transmit data to Fastboot).
• 📥 Mi Unlock Tool (official utility from Xiaomi).
• 🔑 Mi Account tied to your phone (even if you don’t remember your password, you can restore it).

Instructions:

1. Turn off your phone. Press the Power button + Volume down to enter the Fastboot (there will be a hare in a hat on the screen).
2. Connect your phone to your PC. Install drivers if Windows requests them (you can download from the official website).
3. Launch the Mi Unlock Tool and log in to your Mi Account (the same one tied to your phone).
4. The utility will check if you can unlock the bootloader. If so, press Unlock and wait until it is completed (usually 10-15 seconds).
5. The phone will reboot. The first one may require a re-authorization.

⚠️ Note: On new models (Xiaomi) 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13) Xiaomi has introduced additional protection — 72-You can only unlock an hourly waiting timer after you have linked your account. If you have just created a Mi Account, you can only unlock it through the account. 3 day-day.

Unlocking through EDL (Emergency Download Mode)

If the Fastboot doesn’t help (for example, the bootloader is locked), the last engineering method is EDL mode, which works even on bricks, but requires special equipment and knowledge. Xiaomi does not officially support EDL to unlock, so the method is considered “gray”.

What you need to unlock through EDL:

• 💻 Computer with Qualcomm drivers installed HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
• 🔧 Mi Flash Tool or QFil (for firmware through the EDL).
• 📄 Firmware for your model (download only from trusted sources, for example, xiaomifirmwareupdater.com).
• 🔌 Cable with support EDL (A USB Type C might not work).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone. Press Volume up + Volume down and connect the cable to the PC. The phone should be defined as a Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
2. Start the Mi Flash Tool, select the downloaded firmware (.tgz or.zip format).
3. In the program settings, select Clean All (this will completely erase the data, including locking).
4. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (the process can take 5-10 minutes).
5. Once rebooted, the phone will be like new — no lock, but no data.

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If the phone is not detected in EDL mode, try using testpoint, which is a circuit circuit for each Xiaomi model, look for instructions for a specific model (for example, "EDL testpoint Redmi Note 10 Pro").

What to do if nothing helps: service center and alternatives

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

1. Xiaomi's official service center, where in some cases (for example, if you lock by mistake), specialists can unlock the phone on request.

Paid unlocking services

• 🔧 UnlockUnit (works with most models).
• 🔓 DC-Unlocker (supports) EDL-unlock).

The cost of unlocking services varies from 300 to 2000 rubles, depending on the model and the reason for blocking. For example, unlocking Redmi 9A through EDL will cost less than Xiaomi 13 Pro with a locked bootloader.

⚠️ Note: If you are offered to unlock your phone remotely (for example, through TeamViewer) for a “symbolic fee” – this is the case. 100% No legitimate service works like this: it requires physical access to the device or at least modes to unlock. Fastboot/EDL.

How to avoid blocking in the future: 5 rules

To avoid getting blocked again, follow these guidelines:

• 🔐 Untie Mi Account before selling. Go to Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account and click "Delete Account." Then reset your settings.
• 📝 Save your account information. Write down your Mi Account login and password in a secure location (such as a password manager). If you use two-factor authentication, save backup codes.
• 🔄 Do not update your firmware to unofficial versions. Castom firmware (such as LineageOS) can conflict with Xiaomi’s security and lead to a bootloader lock.
• 🛡️ Set up backup. Use Mi Cloud or local copy (c Settings) → System system → Backup) so as not to lose data when resetting.
• 📱 Buy used phones with a check. Ask the seller before you buy:

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If you frequently reflash your phone, create a separate Mi Account specifically for this purpose, so you will avoid blocking the main account when experimenting with firmware.

Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi