How to unlock a locked Xiaomi phone through your computer: 4 proven methods

A forgotten pattern lock, PIN-A code or fingerprint on a Xiaomi smartphone can be a serious problem, especially if the device stores important data. Fortunately, you can unlock your phone through your computer even without losing information - provided you have activated debugging beforehand. USB In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to unlock for Redmi, Poco, Mi models. 11/12/13 Other, including official and alternative methods.

It is important to understand that the procedure of unlocking depends on several factors: the version. MIUI, bootloader status, linked account, and even region of purchase, such as phones for the Chinese market (China) ROM) The international version requires authorization through Mi Account, while the global version (Global) ROM) Sometimes you can bypass the lock via Fastboot or EDL-We will look at all scenarios, from the simplest (using the official Mi Unlock Tool) to the most complex (firmware through the Mi Unlock Tool). EDL via QFil).

If you’ve never encountered Android firmware, we recommend you study each section carefully – unlocking errors can lead to a “brick” (complete failure) of the phone. For convenience, we’ve added checklists, warnings and step-by-step instructions with commands that you can copy.

1. Computer Preparation: What You Need to Unlock

Before you start unlocking, make sure that your PC has all the necessary drivers and programs installed. Without them, the phone simply will not be determined in the right mode, and all attempts will be unsuccessful.

Here is the minimum set of tools:

• 🔧 Xiaomi Drivers for the Flight Fastboot/EDL: Download the official Mi Phone Manager package or use universal drivers ADB Driver Installer.
• 📱 Cable USB (Original!: Cheap cables often don’t support data transfer to Fastboot.
• 💻 Unlock Tool (official tool from Xiaomi) Mi Flash Tool (for firmware in the Internet) EDL) ADB & Fastboot (from the Android package) SDK Platform-Tools) QFil (for Qualcomm devices in mode EDL)
• 🔋 Battery charge at least 50%: unlocking can take up to 30 minutes and the phone should not shut down.

Pay special attention to drivers. If after connecting the phone to Fastboot (clamping Volume down + Power) the device is not determined, try:

1. Disable driver signatures in Windows (via gpedit.msc → User configuration → Administrative templates → System → Driver Installation).
2. Use Zadig to force the libusb driver (relevant to EDL).
3. Try another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0 on the back of the PC).

2. Method 1: Unblocking through Mi Account (if an account is linked)

The easiest and most secure method is to use a linked Mi Account, which works if:

• 📱 The phone was tied to the account before being blocked.
• 🌍 The device is connected to the Internet (via Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔑 Remember the username and password from Mi Account.

Instructions:

1. On the locked screen, click Forgot Password? (or Forgot Password? on English firmware).
2. Choose Unblock with Mi Account.
3. Enter the login (email or phone number) and password from the account.
4. Confirm unlocking via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).

If the phone is not connected to the Internet, you can use the computer:

Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (Loudness down + Power)

Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website

Sign in to the program under the same Mi Account as on the phone

Press Unlock and wait for the process to be completed.-->

If the phone was bought with hands and the previous owner did not untie his Mi Account, this method will not work, in which case you will need to reset via Fastboot (see next section) or contact the service center with proof of purchase.

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If you don’t remember the Mi Account password, try to restore it through account.xiaomi.com, and you’ll need access to your email or phone number.

Method 2: Unlock via Fastboot (reset to factory settings)

If the Mi Account is not tied or you don’t remember the login details, the only official way to unlock is to reset via Fastboot.This method removes all data from the phone, but is guaranteed to work on most Xiaomi models (except devices with a locked bootloader).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn your phone into Fastboot mode: Turn off the device. Press Volume down + Power for 10-15 seconds until the hare in the hat-eared (Fastboot logo) appears.

Connect your phone to your PC

fastboot devices

If the command returns the serial number, the drivers are installed correctly.

Perform the reset.

fastboot erase userdata


fastboot erase cache




fastboot reboot

After the reboot, the phone will be unlocked, but you will need an initial setup, as after the purchase, if after the reset, the device again requires a password, then a protective reset (FRP) has been activated, and additional unlocking through the Mi Account will be required.

⚠️ On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro or Poco) F3) After resetting via Fastboot, you may need to re-activate the bootloader. In this case, use the Mi Unlock Tool (see next section).

Method 3: Officially unlock through Mi Unlock Tool

Mi Unlock Tool is the official utility from Xiaomi, which allows you to unlock the bootloader and reset the screen lock.

• ⏳ Wait 72–168 hours after linking your account to your phone (unless the bootloader has been unlocked before).
• 📱 The phone must be linked to the Mi Account before being locked.
• 🌍 It does not work on devices for the Chinese market (China) ROM) without further manipulation.

Instructions for using the Mi Unlock Tool:

1. Download the latest version of the program from the official website.
2. Sign in to the utility under the same account as on the phone.
3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (see previous section).
4. Press Unlock and wait until the process is complete (it can take up to 10 minutes).

If the program gives you a "Couldn't unlock" or "Device not supported" error, try:

• 🔄 Restart your phone and PC.
• 🔌 Use the other USB-port.
• 📥 Install an older version of the Mi Unlock Tool (e.g. 5.5.224.24 instead of the latest version).
• 🕒 Wait 72 hours if your account has been linked recently.

Critical information: On phones with a MediaTek processor (such as the Redmi 9A or Poco C31), the Mi Unlock Tool may not work, in which case you will need to unlock through the SP Flash Tool or contact the service.

5. Method 4: Unlocking via EDL (for advanced users)

EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is an emergency firmware mode that allows you to restore the phone even when the bootloader is damaged. It works on devices with Qualcomm processors (most Xiaomi models, except for the Redmi Note 8/9 line on MediaTek), the advantage of the method is the ability to flash the phone without unlocking the bootloader, but there are also risks:

• 🚨 Possible "brick" (breakdown) with incorrect firmware.
• 🔐 You need an authorized Mi Account to download firmware.
• 🛠️ You need skills with Mi Flash Tool or QFil.

Step-by-step instructions for EDL:

1. Turn the phone to EDL mode: Turn off the device. Close Volume up + Volume down + Power for 10-15 seconds (on some models you need to first clamp Volume up + Power, then plug in the cable). The screen should remain black, but the phone will be identified in Device Manager as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
2. Sweep your phone: Download the firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater. Unpack the archive and launch the Mi Flash Tool. Select the firmware folder and press Refresh - the program must identify the phone. Press Flash and wait for completion (10-20 minutes).

⚠️ Attention, firmware through EDL It deletes all data, including photos, contacts and apps. If the Mi Cloud Sync feature is activated on the phone, some of the data (contacts, notes) can be restored after you log in to your account.

6.Alternative methods: ADB and FRP circumvention

If the standard methods didn’t work, you can try unlocking your phone via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or bypassing FRP (Factory Reset Protection), which is suitable for devices that previously included USB debugging.

Unlocking through ADB (if debugging was enabled):

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the folder with ADB.
2. Check the connection: Adb devices
3. Delete the password files: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm
4. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

FRP bypass (if the account requires resetting):

To bypass Factory Reset Protection, you can use special utilities such as FRP Bypass APK or Mi Account Bypass Tool.

• 📱 Access to the settings menu (via emergency call or voice assistant).
• 🔌 Wi-Fi connections.
• 📥 Third-party installations APK (for example, through ADB sideload).

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Bypassing FRP can violate Xiaomi’s security policy. Use this method only on your devices to avoid blocking your account.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

When unlocking Xiaomi phones, users often encounter typical errors, and we have collected the most common ways to fix them:

⚠️ If after unlocking the phone stopped turning on or stuck on the logo MI, Don't panic. Try it:

1. Press Volume up + Power for 20-30 seconds for forced reboot.
2. Swipe your phone back through Fastboot or EDL.
3. If nothing helps, contact the service center with a check for the purchase.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions