I blocked the Xiaomi phone and forgot the password – all ways to unlock

Forgetting your smartphone password is a difficult situation, but it's not a hopeless one, especially if you're talking about Xiaomi phones, where the manufacturer has provided several official ways to restore access, and the main thing is not to panic or try to find a combination at random: after 5-10 unsuccessful attempts, the device can lock down for 24 hours or completely erase all data.

In this article, we will discuss all the current unlock methods for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones (including models from 2023-2026), taking into account the features of MIUI. From simple solutions using Mi Account to radical measures like resetting via Fastboot, you will find a suitable option even if you do not remember any password or associated mail. And to avoid losing photos and contacts, we will separately focus on how to save data before reset.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most reliable and recommended method for Xiaomi is to use a Mi Account if it was linked to a phone, which works on all devices with MIUI (including Redmi Note 12, Xiaomi 13, POCO X5, etc.), but requires access to the mail or phone number specified during registration.

Algorithm of action:

• 📱 Enter the wrong password 5 times in a row until the message “Forgot the password?” or “Unlock through Mi Account” appears".
• 🔑 Click on the link and enter a login (email or phone) from your Mi Account.
• 📧 The specified mail or number will receive a confirmation code - enter it in the appropriate field.
• 🔓 After successful authentication, the system will prompt you to create a new password or PIN-code.

If you don’t remember the Mi Account, try to restore access through the official Xiaomi website.

1. Go to the login page and select “Forgot your password?”
2. Please indicate the attached email or phone number.
3. Follow the instructions to reset your password (access to mail or SMS is required).

⚠️ Note: If the “Find Device” function was enabled on the phone, additional confirmation may be required after unlocking via Mi Account. SMS Without it, the device will remain locked even after the reset!

2. Reset password through Recovery mode (without Mi Account)

If the Mi Account is not tied or you don’t remember the data from it, the next step is to reset the settings via Recovery Mode, which will delete all data from the phone but return access to the device, and is suitable for most Xiaomi models, except those that have FRP (Factory Reset Protection) locked.

Instructions for entering Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone with a long press of the power button.
2. Press Volume Up + Power at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select "Wipe Data" (or "Clear Data") and then "Wipe All Data" with the volume buttons.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed (it will take 2-5 minutes).
5. Reboot your phone through Reboot.

After reset, the device will boot as new and you will have to reconfigure MIUI. If the phone requests Mi Account data after reset (this means it has been activated) FRP-Blocking, move to the next section.

3. FRP-block bypass (if the phone requires Mi Account after reset)

FRP (Factory Reset Protection) is a factory reset protection that activates automatically if the phone has Mi Account enabled, and once reset via Recovery, the device will require you to enter the associated account information, and if you don't remember it, you'll have to bypass the lock.

The methods of bypassing depend on the model and version of MIUI. Below are the universal methods that work on most Xiaomi devices from 2018-2023:

The most reliable way for modern models is to use the Mi FRP Tool.

1. Download the program with XDA Developers (check reviews!).
2. Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
3. Run the utility and follow the instructions on the screen (usually you need to select a model and click "Remove FRP").

⚠️ Attention: Bypass programs FRP often contain viruses or require payment. Use only verified sources (e.g, XDA Developers or 4PDA) Disable the antivirus while working with utilities.

4. Unlock via ADB (if USB debugging is enabled)

If the phone was activated before the locking USB (USB Debugging, you can reset your password through your computer using ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method saves data, but only works if two conditions are met:

• 🔌 Debugging by USB included in the developer settings.
• 💻 The computer was previously authorized (i.e. you confirmed access from that PC on the phone).

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (Mac/Linux) and type:

adb shell


su




rm /data/system/gesture.key




rm /data/system/password.key




rm /data/system/locksettings.db




rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal




rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm




reboot

After the reboot, the password will be reset, but all data (photos, messages, applications) will remain in place.

If the su command doesn’t work (no root rights), try an alternative method:

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.ChooseLockGeneric


adb shell input text 1234




adb shell input keyevent 66

It's a simulation of new input. PIN-If it doesn't work, repeat with another code (e.g. 0000).

💡

If USB debugging wasn’t enabled, but the phone is recognized by the computer, try using Dr.Fone’s Screen Unlock program, which supports unlocking Xiaomi without losing data (paid, ~$30), but requires a PC connection.

5. Official unlock through Xiaomi Service Center

If all the independent methods did not work, you just have to contact the authorized service center Xiaomi.

• 📄 You will need to present a purchase document (check, warranty card) or a box from a phone with a serial number.
• ⏳ Unblocking period – from 1 to 5 working days (depending on the workload of the center).
• 💰 The cost of the service is from 500 to 2000 rubles (depending on the model and region).
• 🔄 Data on the phone will be deleted (unless a backup copy has been made).

How to find the official service:

1. Go to the Xiaomi support website.
2. Enter the name of your model in the search box.
3. Choose the nearest service center from the list (check reviews!).
4. Check by phone whether they are unlocking because of the loss of password.

The alternative is to contact informal services that specialize in unlocking Xiaomi.The cost there is lower (from 300 rubles), but there is a risk of running into scammers.

• 🔐 Do they guarantee the safety of data?
• 🛠️ Are there any reviews about unlocking your model?
• 📋 Is a check or service contract given?

💡

An official service center is the only legal way to unlock if the phone is tied to someone else’s Mi Account (for example, when buying a used device), independent methods in this case can lead to a complete loss of performance of the phone.

6. How to avoid data loss when unlocking

The main fear of password resetting is loss of photos, contacts and messages, and luckily, even if the phone is locked, there are ways to save data:

Method 1: Extract via TWRP (if custom recaps are installed)

• 📱 Keep the Volume up. + Food to enter TWRP.
• 💾 Select "Mount" → Mark "Data".
• 🖥️ Connect your phone to your PC and copy files from folders /data/media/0/ (internal memory; and /sdcard/ (memory-card).

Method 2: Backup via Mi Cloud (if synchronized)

If you have synced with Mi Cloud on your phone, some of the data (contacts, notes, photos) can be restored after unlocking:

1. Go to i.mi.com.
2. Sign in with your Mi Account.
3. In the Devices section, select your phone and download backups.

Method 3: Use of Dr.Fone or Tenorshare 4uKey

These utilities are able to extract data from locked Xiaomi phones (including Redmi Note 11, Xiaomi 12T, etc.), but:

• 💰 The cost of the license is from 30$.
• ⚠️ Not all models are supported (check on the manufacturer's website).
• 🔌 Requires connection to the PC and installing drivers.

⚠️ Note: If the phone has enabled data encryption (in the security settings), it is impossible to extract files without a password - they will not be available even after connecting to the PC.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When trying to unlock Xiaomi, users often make critical mistakes that make things worse.

Another common problem is that the phone doesn't turn on after it's failed to unlock.

1. Try to pinch Loudness down + Power for 20-30 seconds (forced reboot).
2. If it does not help, connect to charging for 1 hour (possibly, the battery has died).
3. If the screen is black, it's a blink, so you can flash your phone through Fastboot or EDL.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions