The situation when the owner of the Xiaomi smartphone forgets the pattern lock, PIN-A code or digital password is one of the world's most stressful mobile devices, and the lock screen becomes an insurmountable barrier, leaving important contacts, photos and access to banking applications behind. MIUI HyperOS is designed to make unauthorized access as difficult as possible, often making it impossible to simply “guess” the code or bypass it with simple manipulations.
But it’s too early to despair: there are proven engineering and software methods to restore access to the device. Resetting to factory settings through the Recovery menu remains the most reliable way to regain control of the gadget, although it involves completely removing user data. Depending on the operating system version and the status of the Mi Account, the process can range from simple authorization through the cloud to a complex flashing procedure.
Before you start taking action, you need to clearly understand the risks and prepare the device. If you just forgot a complex password that was entered recently, you may want to try to remember it using hints or input history. But if access is lost permanently, you will need to follow a number of consecutive steps described in this guide to safely unlock a Xiaomi smartphone.
Preparation for the lock-off procedure
Starting work on access restoration requires careful preparation, since most effective methods will lead to complete removal of information from the internal drive. Backup in this case is no longer possible to perform standard means if the phone is locked, so you should focus on the availability of the necessary credentials. You will absolutely need a login and password from the Google account and Mi Account, which were previously synchronized with the device.
Make sure that the battery level is at least 50-60%. The reset process and subsequent initial setup of the system is energy intensive, and a sudden power outage at a critical moment can damage the system partitions or "brick" the device. USB-cable if you plan to use your computer for debugging or flashing, although it may not be necessary for basic button resetting.
⚠️ Attention: All data stored in internal memory (photos, contacts, applications) will be permanently deleted using hard reset methods. SD They are often left intact, but do not rely on it.
It is important to distinguish between types of locks, because it depends on the strategy of actions. If you are talking about a forgotten password from the lock screen, the methods will be the same. If the device is locked after reset and requires an account entry (FRP - Factory Reset Protection), then it is necessary to restore access to the Google account. In the context of this article, we are looking at resetting the password of the lock screen through the recovery menu.
Reset via Recovery (Hard Reset) menu
The most versatile and efficient method, which works on the vast majority of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models, is to enter Recovery Mode. It is a special diagnostic interface, sewn into the phone’s memory, which allows you to perform low-level operations with the system. It does not require access to the desktop or Android settings to log in, which makes the method ideal for unlocking.
The login procedure may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the classic algorithm remains the same. You need to turn off your smartphone completely. Then press the button combination: usually it's Volume Up and Power Button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi or Redmi logo appears, then release the power button, continuing to keep the volume up until the menu appears.
In the Recovery menu, navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. Newer versions of the interface (especially on global firmware) can support touchscreen management. You need to find Wipe Data or Clear Data. Inside this section, select the Wipe All Data option.
☑️ Checklist before reset
The system will request confirmation of action, often requiring you to select Confirm or enter a specific phrase, such as "yes." After confirmation, the formatting process will begin, which will take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. Once completed, the phone will automatically restart, and you will see the screen of the initial settings, as if you just bought the device.
Use of Mi Cloud and Find Device
If the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data) is turned on on on the locked device and the Find Device function is activated, you can try to perform a remote reset. This method is less risky in terms of random errors when you press buttons, but requires pre-configuration. Go to the official cloud.mi.com website from a computer or other smartphone.
Sign in using the same Mi Account that is tied to the locked gadget. In the service interface, select your device from the list of available ones. If the device status is displayed as "On the network", you will have a set of management tools available to you, including the "Erase" or "Block" button.
Using the remote cleaning function initiates a command to the phone that will force the reset to factory settings. This action will also delete all data, but will remove the lock screen. Once the phone is rebooted, it will require you to enter a password from the Mi Account to confirm ownership, which is a measure of protection against theft.
What to do if the phone is offline?
It is worth noting that this method only works if the phone has managed to connect to Xiaomi servers before locking. PIN-If you don't have the code or the Wi-Fi set up, the command won't reach the destination, then you can go back to the Recovery method.
Unlocking with Google Find My Device
An alternative cloud tool is Google's service, which is integrated into Android at the core level, and it works similarly to Xiaomi's, but it's tied to a Google account. Go to android.com/find and log in to the account that was the main one on the locked phone.
If geolocation and data transmission were active, the service will determine the location of the device. In the side menu or on the map, select the option "Erase Device". The system will warn that all data will be deleted. Confirm action. The smartphone will receive a signal and begin the full formatting process.
This method is especially useful if you don't remember your Mi Account password, but you do remember Google's data. However, once reset, FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection may work, and the phone will still require you to enter a password from your Google account when you first download it, which is a standard security procedure to prevent the use of stolen phones.
| Method | We need the Internet. | I need an account. | Data retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recovery (Buttons) | No. | No (for entry) | No. |
| Mi Cloud | Yeah (on the phone) | Mi Account | No. |
| Google Find | Yeah (on the phone) | Google Account | No. |
| ADB (Debugging) | No. | No. | No. |
Specifics of unlocking Redmi and POCO
Xiaomi sub-brands such as Redmi and POCO often have their own nuances in the reset procedure.In particular, on some Redmi Note and POCO X/M series models, entry into Recovery may require confirmation by pressing a combination of volume buttons at a certain rhythm or holding for a longer time (up to 10-15 seconds).
In addition, new versions of HyperOS have enhanced security measures on these devices. After resetting via Recovery, the system can check the device license for longer when you first boot. If you see a Redmi logo or POCO and the process is in place for more than 10 minutes, do not panic - this is a normal part of the verification process.
It is important to note that some global firmware versions for these brands may have a simplified Recovery menu, with only two items, "Reboot" and "Wipe Data" displayed instead of a full list of options. In this case, the choice is obvious. If the menu is in Chinese, look for icons: the reset button is usually in the upper right corner (the broom icon or gear icon).
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If the Recovery menu is in Chinese, look for characters that match the word "Clean" (often the second item on the list), or look for English labels if they are available at the top of the screen.
What to do if you request a Mi Account after resetting
Once you successfully execute Hard Reset and reboot, the phone may require you to enter a password from a Mi Account that was previously synced to the device, which is a protection mechanism against theft. If you forget this password, it is difficult to restore access, but it remains possible through the account recovery procedure.
Go to id.mi.com and select the option “Forgot Password” and you will need access to the phone number or email that was linked to your account. If the phone number is changed or lost, the process can take several days and require scans of documents confirming the purchase of the device (check, box with IMEI).
Entering the wrong password several times can lead to temporary blocking of the account. Don't try to pick up the password by pumping on the phone itself, you better use a computer to restore access. If the device was bought from hand and the previous owner did not untie it, it is almost impossible to unlock it legally without his participation.
⚠️ Warning: Having Mi Account blocked after reset means that Find Device was active. Without entering the correct account data, you will not be able to fully use the phone.
Frequent errors and ways to fix them
When unlocking, users often face typical problems, and one of the most common is that the phone doesn't enter Recovery mode, which can be caused by a button malfunction, a battery that's too low, or damage to the system partition. Try connecting the device to the charger for 30 minutes, even if it's turned off, and then try again.
Another mistake is choosing the wrong item in the Recovery menu, and some people randomly choose "Wipe Cache" thinking it's a data reset, and clearing the cache won't remove the lock password, and you need to use Wipe Data or Factory Reset, and be careful when you navigate.
If the phone is stuck on the Bootloop after reset, it may indicate that the system files are damaged or memory is not available, and it may be necessary to flash the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool, a more complex procedure that requires an unlocked bootloader, which can be difficult in a situation with a forgotten password.
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The main reason for failure in resetting is interruption of the power process or choosing the wrong option in the Recovery menu.
Also worth mentioning is the touchscreen issue: If the screen doesn't respond to taps in the Recovery menu (although the volume buttons work), try connecting a USB-OTG adapter and a regular computer mouse, which will allow you to control the cursor and select the reset point even if the sensor isn't functioning correctly.