Forgot your password on Xiaomi? 7 working ways to unlock your phone (including MIUI 14)

A forgotten password on a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that one in five users encounter at least once in their lives. Especially unpleasant when the phone stores important data, such as photos, correspondence or work documents. Unlike the iPhone, where unlocking without an Apple ID is almost impossible, devices on MIUI offer several official and informal ways to bypass protection. But here lies the catch: improper actions can lead to complete loss of data or even “bricking” the phone (turning into a “brick”).

In this article, we’ll break down all the current unlocking methods for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones (including the 2023-2026 models on MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS). From simple reset via Mi Account to complex manipulations with Fastboot and EDL, you’ll find a solution even for a phone with reset protection (FRP) enabled. Importantly, on devices with a Qualcomm processor (such as the Redmi Note 12 Pro+), the chances of successful unlock are higher than on models with MediaTek (POCO X5 Pro), where authorization is often required via EDL.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most secure and recommended method for Xiaomi is to use a tied Mi Account, which works if:

• 📱 The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network)
• 🔑 Remember the username and password from Mi Account
• 📲 The device is enabled synchronization with the account

If these conditions are met, follow the following steps:

1. On the lock screen, tap Forgot password? (or Forgot password? on English firmware).
2. Select Sign in via Mi Account and enter the authorization details.
3. Confirm unlocking via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
4. Create a new password or pattern lock.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T or Redmi K60) After 5 failed login attempts, the system can block the possibility of authorization through Mi Account for 24 hours, in which case you will have to wait or use alternative methods.

2. Recovery Mode reset (data loss)

If Mi Account is not tied or you don't remember the login details, you have a hard reset through Recovery Mode, which removes all the data from your phone, including photos, apps and settings. Use it only as a last resort!

Instructions for all Xiaomi models (including Redmi Note 11, POCO F5, Xiaomi 12):

1. Turn off the phone with a long press of the power button.
2. Hold the combination: 🔘 Power button + Loudness up (for most models) 🔘 Power button + Loudness down (for older devices, such as Redmi) 4X)

Mi

Recovery

Wipe Data

Wipe All Data

Confirm

Reboot

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13+ and the protections on FRP (Factory Reset Protection, after reset, you need to enter the data from the Mi Account that was tied before locking, and if you don't remember it, the phone will remain locked!

3. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

The method via Fastboot is suitable if:

• 🔧 You have a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and Mi Flash Tool program.
• 📥 You can download the official firmware for your model.
• 🔓 The phone has unlocked the bootloader (Bootloader).

If the bootloader is blocked, you will first have to unlock it through the Mi Unlock Tool (this takes up to 720 hours of waiting on new accounts).

If the bootloader is already unlocked, act as follows:

1. Download the official firmware for your model from MIUI Downloads (choose the Fastboot version).
2. Unpack the archive with the firmware in a folder on the computer.
3. Install Xiaomi drivers and the Mi Flash Tool.
4. Transfer the phone to Fastboot mode (clip Power + Volume down).
5. Connect your phone to your PC and in the Mi Flash Tool, select a folder with firmware.
6. Press Refresh, then Flash and wait for the process to complete.

Once you flash it, it's like new, but it's erased. FRP-Blocking if the firmware is official.

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Before you run your Fastboot firmware, check the phone model with the fastboot getvar product command in the terminal. Using firmware from another model will lead to "bricking"!

4. Bypassing locking via EDL (for Qualcomm processors)

EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is an emergency boot mode that allows you to flash a phone even with a locked bootloader. It only works on devices with a Qualcomm processor (for example, Xiaomi 11T Pro, Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO F3). For MediaTek (for example, Redmi 10, POCO M4 Pro), this method is not suitable.

To unlock through EDL you will need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows and Qualcomm driver HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
• 📂 Firmware in.mbn or.elf format for your model.
• 🔧 Mi Flash Tool or QFil.
• 🔌 USB-TypeC Cable (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Volume Down and connect the USB cable to your computer (without releasing the buttons!).The phone should be defined as a Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
3. Install the driver manually if Windows does not recognize the device.
4. Open the Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware and press Flash.
5. Wait until the process is completed (10-15 minutes).

⚠️ Attention: Firmware through EDL Without official permission, Xiaomi may be blocked. IMEI (To avoid this, use authorized firmware or contact the service center.

5. Use of service codes (for older models)

Some older Xiaomi smartphones (e.g. Redmi 3S, Redmi 4A, Mi A1) can reset passwords through service codes, a method that doesn’t work on all devices and may not work on MIUI 12+.

Try the following codes:

• 📞 ##7780## - Resetting settings (app data is stored).
• 📞 *2767*3855# — Resetting everything (including internal memory).
• 📞 ##3646633## - Entrance to the engineering menu (for experienced users).

If you reboot the phone after you enter the code and ask for the password again, it didn't work. In this case, try other ways.

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

If the phone has previously been debugged USB (USB Debugging, you can reset your password through ADB This method is suitable for users who have previously connected the phone to a computer for development or modification.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
2. Open the command line (cmd) 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
3. After resetting, the password will be reset.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 14+ And HyperOS may not work because of the increased security, and it requires root rights to execute commands that are not available on all devices.

7. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If none of these methods work, you have to contact the official Xiaomi service center, which is the most reliable, but also the most expensive way, and the cost of unlocking varies from 1,500 to 5,000 rubles depending on the model and the complexity of the work.

What will be required for the application:

• 📄 Document confirming the purchase (check, warranty card).
• 🔑 Mi Account data if the phone is linked to the account.
• 📱 The device itself (preferably with a charge of at least 30%).

The service centre may:

• 🔧 Reset password through special software (without data loss).
• 📥 Check the phone in mode EDL authorization.
• 🔄 Restore access to your Mi Account if you forget your password.

The average unlock time is 1-3 days, and in some cases (for example, when blocking IMEI), the process can take up to a week.

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The official service is the only legal way to unlock if your phone is FRP protected and you don’t have access to your Mi Account.

Comparison of Xiaomi Unlocking Methods

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi