Forgot the password on Xiaomi Redmi? 7 working ways to unlock in 2026

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

In this article, we will discuss all the current unlock methods for the Redmi Note 12/13, Redmi 10/11, Redmi 9/9A and other lines running MIUI 14/15. From the simplest reset via Mi Account to the complex manipulations with Fastboot and ADB, choose the right option depending on your situation.

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).
• 🔑 You remember the username and password from Mi Account (or you can restore them).
• 🔄 The device is enabled synchronization with the account.

Instructions:

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

If the screen does not have a button Forgot the password?, try to enter any password 5 times in a row - a prompt should appear with a suggestion to restore access through Mi Account.

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If you do not remember the password from Mi Account, restore it on the official website account.xiaomi.com. Use the backup email or phone number specified during registration.

2. Reset password via Find Device (remote unlock)

Find Device, Google’s equivalent of Find Your Phone, not only tracks the location of Xiaomi Redmi, but also remotely resets the screen lock password, which works even if the phone is not currently connected to the Internet — the command will go the first time you connect.

How to unlock:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in to your Mi Account.
2. In the menu, select the locked device (if there are several).
3. Click Delete Data → Erase the device.
4. Confirm the action with a password from the account.

Once you do that, the phone will reboot and reset to factory settings, and all data (photos, contacts, messages) will be deleted, but the lock will disappear, which is a good method if you don't remember the password from the screen, but you have access to the Mi Account.

3. Hard Reset (hard reset) via Recovery Mode

If Mi Account is lost and the phone needs to be unlocked urgently, Hard Reset, a full reset via Restore mode, removes all data from the device, including photos, apps, and settings, but is guaranteed to remove the lock password.

Instructions for Xiaomi Redmi (including Redmi Note 12/13, Redmi 10/11):

1. Turn off the phone with a long press on the power button.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery Mode menu, select the language (if there is one).
4. Go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (use volume buttons for navigation, power button for confirmation).
5. Confirm the reset by selecting Confirm.
6. Once completed, select Reboot to reboot.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 9 Pro and later) may require data entry from the Mi Account that was previously tied to the device after Hard Reset.If you don't remember them, the phone will turn into a brick (it won't work without unlocking through Fastboot).

4. Unlock via Fastboot (for advanced users)

If Mi Account is not tied or you don't remember the login details, and Hard Reset causes you to lock again, the method of unlocking through Fastboot remains, USB-Cable and basic knowledge of working with the command line.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Android SDK Platform-Tools (or ADB/Fastboot separately).
2. Turn off the phone and put it in Fastboot mode: press the Power button + Volume down.
3. Connect Redmi to your computer via USB.
4. Open the command prompt (cmd in Windows or Terminal in macOS/Linux) and check the connection: fastboot devices must display the serial number of the device.
5. Enter the command to unlock the bootloader (if it is blocked): fastboot oem unlock On some models you will need an additional command: fastboot flashing unlock
6. Once the bootloader is unlocked, reset: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase frp fastboot reboot

⚠️ Attention: Unlocking the bootloader via Fastboot erases all data and may result in a loss of warranty. MIUI After this procedure, you will need to activate again through the Mi Account.

5. Use of ADB (if USB debugging was enabled)

If the phone has previously been activated debugging via USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to unlock the developer mode), you can try resetting the password through ADB without losing data.

Instructions:

1. Connect Redmi to your computer via USB.
2. Open the command line and check the connection: Adb devices
3. Enter the command to delete the file with the password: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key adb shell rm /data/system/password.key adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm
4. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

Once rebooted, the lock password must reset.This method doesn't work on all versions of MIUI, but it's worth a try if USB debugging has been enabled.

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The ADB method is the only way to reset a password without losing data, but it requires pre-setting the debugging over USB.

6 Unlocking through Xiaomi Service Center

If all of these methods did not work (for example, the phone is locked after resetting due to a link to Mi Account, which you do not remember), you can contact the official Xiaomi service center.

What will be required:

• 📄 Checks or warranty card (if the phone is guaranteed).
• 🆔 Passport or other document confirming ownership.
• 💳 Payment for the service (cost varies from 1000 to 3 000 rubles depending on the model).

Xiaomi service centers use special equipment to reset the lock through EDL Mode (Emergency Download Mode), which allows you to bypass even the binding to the Mi Account. However, this method does not work on phones with a locked bootloader (for example, on some Redmi Note 11/12 with MIUI 14+).

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When trying to unlock Xiaomi Redmi, users often face typical problems, including the most common ones and ways to solve them:

⚠️ Note: If you bought Xiaomi Redmi handheld, there is a high risk that the previous owner did not untie his Mi Account. In this case, unlocking the phone yourself is almost impossible - you will need proof of purchase (check) and contact the service center.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions