Forgot a pattern lock on Xiaomi: how to unlock your phone without losing data

Forgot the pattern lock on the smartphone Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO? The situation is unpleasant, but it is solvable — even if you do not have a backup or Mi Account. In this article, we will discuss all the working methods of unlocking, from the most secure (without loss of data) to radical (complete reset). MIUI, phone model and the presence of an associated account.

If you've never set up Find Device or don't remember the Mi Account password, don't panic -- there are workarounds. But remember, some methods require PC access, USB debugging, or even disassembling your phone (for older models), and we'll detail each option so you can choose the best one.

Before you start, check:

• 🔋 Battery level (at least 30%, otherwise the phone may turn off during the process).
• 📱 Xiaomi model (written on a box or under a battery).
• 🔌 Presence USB-cable and computer (required for most methods).
• 📧 Access to the email linked to Mi Account (if the account has been set up).

If the phone is dead in a locked state, charge it first - otherwise unlocking it can cause all data to be lost.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

Xiaomi’s most reliable and recommended method is to use a tied Mi Account, which works on all models, including the Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4, Mi 11/12 and newer ones, and the main condition is that the phone must be connected to the Internet (via Wi-Fi or mobile network).

Instructions:

1. On the lock screen, enter the wrong pattern lock 5 times in a row.
2. You will see a message: “Forgot your password?” – click on it.
3. Select "Login to Mi Account" and enter the login / password.
4. Confirm unlocking via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).

⚠️ Note: If you don't remember the Mi Account, don't try to guess the password - after 10 failed attempts, the account will be blocked for 24 hours.

If your phone is not connected to the Internet, but you have access to another device with the same Mi Account, you can try unlocking it through the web version of Find Device.

• 🌐 Sign in to the site under your account.
• 📍 Select a locked phone in the list of devices.
• 🔓 Click "Unblock" and confirm the action.

This only works if the phone has "Find Device" enabled (checks in Settings → Mi Account → Find Device). If the option is disabled, move to the next method.

2 Unlocking through ADB (without data loss)

The method is suitable for users who have debugging enabled on the phone USB (USB Debugging.It's rare, but if you've ever connected Xiaomi to a PC for firmware or debugging, the odds are high.The way you can remove the pattern lock without resetting, saving all the data.

What will be required:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📦 Installed drivers Xiaomi and ADB Tools.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
2. Open the Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux).
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the phone appears in the list, go further.
4. Delete the file with the pattern lock: 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
5. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

After the reboot, the pattern lock will be reset, but all the data (photos, messages, apps) will remain in place. If the adb device command does not show your phone, then debugging over USB is disabled - this method will not work.

3. Reset via Recovery Mode (full cleaning)

If previous methods failed, it is hard to reset through Recovery Mode, which removes all data from your phone, including photos, contacts and apps. Use it only as a last resort!

Instructions for most Xiaomi models (including Redmi 9/10/Note 11, POCO F3/X3):

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds).
2. Press the button combination: Power button + Volume up (for most models). Power button + Volume up + Volume down (for POCO M3/M4).

Mi

Recovery

Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.

Wipe Data → Wipe All Data

Factory Reset

Confirm the action and wait for the reset to be completed.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 8 Pro, Mi) 9T) After a reset, you may need to enter data from Mi Account if the phone was tied.This is Factory Reset Protection (FRP). If you do not remember the username / password, the phone will become a “brick” – it can be unlocked only through the mode. EDL.

If after reset the phone requires Mi Account, and you do not remember the data, try to restore access through the official website or contact the service center.

4. Unlock through EDL mode (for advanced)

EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is an emergency firmware mode that allows you to reflash your phone even without an unlocked bootloader.The method is suitable for Xiaomi with Mi Account blocked after a reset or if other methods have not worked.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Windows computer.
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (for new models).
• 📦 Mi Flash Tool Programming.
• 📄 Firmware for your model (download from the official website).
• 🔧 Screwdriver (for some models you need to short contacts).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Connect it to your PC by holding the volume button up + down (for Redmi Note 9/10) or short the contacts on the board (for POCO F1/F2).
3. The phone must be identified in Device Manager as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
4. Install the QDLoader driver (can be found on the 4PDA or XDA forums).
5. Start the Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware and press Flash.

⚠️ Warning: A faulty firmware or interrupted process can permanently shut down your phone. If you're not sure about your abilities, contact the service center. EDL The phone may require unlocking the bootloader (OEM Unlock, which takes up to 72 hours.

5. if the phone is discharged in a locked state

One of the most frustrating things is when Xiaomi is out of charge and then it needs a pattern lock, and you can't wait to charge it fully, because it doesn't turn on beyond the lock screen.

Method 1: Charging in the off state

• 🔌 Connect your phone to charge.
• 🔄 Hold the power button. 15-20 seconds until the screen goes out.
• 🔋 Wait until the phone charges at least 30% (charging indicator should appear).
• 🔓 Now you can try to unlock through ADB or recovery.

Method 2: Use Power Bank with Force Charge

Some external batteries (e.g. Xiaomi Power Bank 3) have a forced charging mode.

1. Connect Power Bank to your phone.
2. Twice press the button on Power Bank – this will activate the charging mode even on the devices that are turned off.
3. Wait 10-15 minutes and try to turn on the phone.

⚠️ Note: Do not use "left" high-current chargers (more 2A) - this can damage the power controller on the board. It is best to charge with the original Xiaomi adapter on the board 5V/2A.

6. Alternative methods (for older models)

If you have an older Xiaomi model (e.g. Redmi 4X, Mi A1, Mi 5), you can try bypassing the pattern lock through a service menu or hardware reset. These methods do not work on all devices, but sometimes they help.

Method 1: Calling the phone

On some MIUI 8-9 firmware, you could bypass the lock via an incoming call:

1. Call the locked phone from another device.
2. Take the call, then quickly go to Settings → Lock screen.
3. Turn off the pattern lock or change it to a PIN.

❌ On the new versions MIUI 12/13/14 This method does not work – the developers have closed the vulnerability.

Method 2: Hardware reset via testpoints

For the Redmi Note 3/4 and Mi Max models, there was a way to reset through shortened pins on the board:

• 🛠️ Disassemble the phone (requires a mediator and a screwdriver).
• 🔧 Find contacts on the motherboard TEST POINT (usually near the battery).
• 🔌 Short them up with tweezers and plug them in. USB-plug-in.
• 🖥️ The phone will go into mode. EDL, Then you can use it in Mi Flash.

⚠️ Warning: Disassembly of the phone deprives warranty and can lead to damage to plumes or boards.

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Before disassembling, take a picture of the location of all the plumes and screws, which will help to assemble the phone back without unnecessary details.

7.How to avoid blocking in the future

To avoid the problem of a forgotten pattern lock, follow these tips:

• 🔐 Attach Mi Account and enable Find Device (Settings) → Mi Account → Find Device).
• 📝 Write down a pattern lock or PIN to a secure location (such as Google Keep or a notebook).
• 🔄 Regularly back up through Settings → System system → Backup.
• 📱 Use a fingerprint or facial recognition as an additional way to unlock.
• 🔧 Turn it on. USB Debugging (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press → Return to the Extra → For developers).

If you often forget passwords, install the Xiaomi Cloud app and enable automatic data sync, which will allow you to restore access to contacts, photos and notes even after a reset.

💡

The most reliable way to avoid locking is to link Mi Account and enable Find Device, which will allow you to unlock your phone remotely 90% of the time.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi