Forgot the password on Xiaomi Redmi: how to reset to factory settings without losing data (and what to do if it does not work)

Forgot the pattern lock or PIN-The situation is familiar to many: the phone is locked after several failed attempts to enter, and access to data becomes impossible. Fortunately, the manufacturer has provided several official ways to unlock, from resetting through Recovery mode to using a Mi Account, but each method has its own nuances: somewhere you will need confirmation through the Recovery mode. SMS, And somewhere, all the data will be erased irrevocably.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to reset your password to Xiaomi Redmi (including Note 12, 11, 10, 9 and others), their pros and cons, and give recommendations on how to minimize data loss. Importantly, if the phone is enabled encryption or activated the Find Device feature, some methods may not work, too, we will talk about this below.

Warning: factory resets are a last resort. If you remember an email address linked to your Mi Account, or if you have a backup on Google Drive, try to restore access through them first, and only if these options don't help, go to the instructions below.

1. Recovery Mode reset is the most reliable way (but erases everything)

If you don’t remember your password and have not tied your Mi Account, the only guaranteed way to unlock is hard reset via Recovery Mode, which works on all Xiaomi Redmi models, including new devices on MIUI 14/15.

How to log in to Recovery Mode on a locked phone:

1. Turn off the smartphone with a long press of the power button (if it does not turn off - press Power + Volume up for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press the Power + Volume combination up and hold until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons when you see the Recovery menu (usually in English or Chinese).

In the Recovery menu, use the volume buttons for navigation and the power button to confirm your choice.

• 🔧 Select Wipe Data (or Chinese firmware).
• 📱 Confirm the reset by selecting Wipe All Data (could be called Erase Everything).
• ⏳ Wait until the process is completed (usually takes 1-3 minutes).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone via Reboot → Reboot to System.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Note 10 Pro or Note 10 Pro) K50) After the reset, you may need to enter data from Mi Account, if previously was activated Find Device!

Make sure your phone is at least 30% charged

Prepare. SIM-post-resetting

Remember the data from Mi Account (if tied)

Download the latest firmware for your model (in case of errors)-->

2 Unlocking through Mi Account – if the phone is tied to the account

If your Xiaomi Redmi has activated your Mi Account (even if you don’t remember it), there’s a chance to unlock your device without losing data.

• 📧 The phone is connected to the Internet (via Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔑 You remember the email and password from Mi Account (or you can restore them through the official website).
• 📱 More than 5 failed attempts to enter a password were not made on the phone (otherwise you will need a reset).

Instructions for unlocking through Mi Account:

1. On the lock screen, tap the Forgot Password button? (or Forgot Password).
2. Select the recovery option through Mi Account.
3. Enter your email and account password, and if you don't remember, use the restore feature on Xiaomi's website.
4. Confirm unlocking via SMS or email (depending on security settings).
5. Create a new password or pattern lock.

If after entering data from Mi Account there is an error "This device is not tied to the account", then:

• 🔄 The account was deleted or untied from the phone.
• 📵 The phone is not connected to the internet (check Wi-Fi or SIM-map).
• 🔒 Find Device is activated on the device and additional confirmation is required.

⚠️ Note: If you bought Xiaomi Redmi from hand, the previous owner could not untie your Mi Account. In this case, unlocking the phone without its help is almost impossible - you will need to contact the service center with proof of purchase.

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If you don't remember if your Mi Account is linked to your phone, try entering any email in the recovery form, and the system will tell you if your account is registered on your device.

3. Fastboot Reset – for advanced users

If the standard Recovery Mode is not available (for example, the phone hangs on the Mi logo), you can try resetting via Fastboot Mode.This method requires a computer and installed ADB/Fastboot drivers, but is suitable for all Redmi models, including the Note 12 Pro+ and K60.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 📦 Google's Platform Tools (includes fastboot).
• 🔋 Charging the phone at least 50%.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone and press Power + Volume down to enter the Fastboot Mode (a hare in a hat-eared image will appear).
2. Connect your phone to your computer and open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with Platform Tools.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: fastboot devices If the phone is determined (the serial number will appear), continue. If not, install the drivers.
4. Run the reset to factory settings: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

Once rebooted, the phone will be like new, requiring reconfiguration, which bypasses Mi Account locking only on firmware older than MIUI 12, and newer versions may require account data entry after reset.

4 Remote reset via Find Device – if the phone is lost or stolen

If you don't have physical access to your phone, but it's connected to the Internet, you can try resetting remotely via Xiaomi's Find Device service, which is useful if:

• 📍 Phone lost or stolen (but also online).
• 🔒 You remember the data from the Mi Account tied to the device.
• 📵 Find Device is activated on the phone (checked in security settings).

How to Reset Your Phone Remotely:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. In the Find Device section, select your Redmi from the list of devices.
3. Click Erase Data and confirm the action.
4. Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 10 minutes).

Once reset, the phone will restart and be ready for a new setup, and the important thing is that if the device has been encrypted, it will not be possible to recover data even through service centers.

⚠️ Attention: Find Device only works when connected to the Internet. If the phone is off or in airplane mode, the reset command will be executed only after it is turned on and connected to the network.

5.What NOT to do when resetting your password on Xiaomi Redmi

When trying to unlock your phone, many users make mistakes that can lead to complete data loss or even a “brick” (turning the device into a “brick”).

• 🔧 Use informal firmware (for example, from forums) 4PDA) This can lead to a bootloader lock and the inability to turn on the phone.
• 🔌 Interrupt the reset process (pull the cable, turn off the power). UFS-Memory (e.g. Note 11 Pro) can cause damage to the file system.
• 📱 Enter random passwords more than 10 times, and then the phone can lock for 24-72 hours or require confirmation through Mi Account.
• 🔄 Reset your settings via the engineering menu (codes like ##7378423##). This doesn't work on new firmware and can cause crashes.

If you are not sure about your actions, it is better to contact the Xiaomi service center with proof of purchase (check, box).In some cases, specialists can unlock the phone without losing data using official tools.

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On Xiaomi Redmi models with Snapdragon processor (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro+), a reset via Fastboot can block the bootloader, which requires unlocking the bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool, which takes up to 720 hours (30 days) of waiting.

6.How to recover data after reset (if there was no backup)

If the reset is done and the backup is not done, the chances of getting the data back are minimal, but there are.

• 🖥️ Recovery software like Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver scans your phone's memory for deleted files, and success depends on whether the data was overwritten after the reset.
• 📧 Verification of cloud services: 📸 Photos and videos can be synced with Google Photos. 📩 Contact and SMS — Mi Cloud or Google Contacts. 🎵 Music – in Spotify or Yandex Music (if there was a binding).
• 🔧 Some workshops offer chip-off data extraction services, but it is expensive (from 5,000). ₽) It does not guarantee 100% results.

How to avoid future data loss:

• ⚙️ Enable automatic backup in Settings → Google → Backup.
• ☁️ Keep your important files synced regularly with Mi Cloud or Google Drive.
• 📲 Use apps like Swift Backup to create local backups (save them on PC).

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If your phone has activated the Smart Backup feature in MIUI, check the MIUI/Backup/AllBackup folder on your memory card or internal storage, sometimes backing up even after you reset.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

When you reset your password to Xiaomi Redmi, users face typical problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them:

If none of the methods worked and the phone is still locked, there are two options:

1. Contact the Xiaomi service center with a check about the purchase (they can unlock the device through official channels).
2. Sell the phone as “locked” (on Avito or Yula, such devices are bought for 30-50% of the market price).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions