Forgot the password from the Xiaomi Redmi phone: how to unlock Android

After several unsuccessful attempts to enter the wrong code, the screen of Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO goes dark, and the device is blocked for increasingly longer periods of time due to the activation of MIUI and HyperOS security mechanisms.

There are several proven ways to restore access to the device, however the choice of a specific method directly depends on the settings that were activated previously. If you have linked your Mi account or enabled Find My Device, your chances of success without data loss increase significantly. Otherwise, when the phone is completely isolated from the network and cloud services, the only option is often a complete reset.

In this article we will analyze in detail the action algorithms for various blocking scenarios. We will consider both standard methods via the Internet and hardware reboot methods through the engineering menu. It is important to understand that modern versions of Android strictly adhere to data protection policies, so deleting a forgotten password often means deleting the data itself to which it led.

Using the Mi Cloud cloud service for remote unlocking

The most humane and easiest way to regain control of your smartphone is to use the official cloud service from the manufacturer. This method only works if two critical conditions are met: the device must be connected to the Internet (via Wi-Fi or a mobile network), and it must be logged in Mi Account. If you have previously activated the “Find Device” function, then you have the opportunity to remotely erase the screen lock.

To start the procedure, you need to go to the official website of the service from any other device, be it a computer, tablet or someone else's smartphone. In the web version interface, you will need to log in using the same credentials that were used on the locked phone. The system will automatically detect the location of your gadgets linked to this account.

After selecting the desired model from the list of available devices, the option to clear data will appear in the control menu. Pressing the corresponding button initiates a remote command to the smartphone. As soon as the locked device receives a signal from the server, it will reset the screen settings, including deleting the pattern, PIN code or fingerprint.

⚠️ Attention: This method will completely delete all user data (photos, contacts, applications) from the phone’s internal memory if they were not synchronized with the cloud in advance.

It is worth noting that the speed of the command depends on the quality of the Internet connection on the locked device. If the phone is in airplane mode or out of network coverage, the command will be queued and executed only when a connection appears. This makes the method ideal for situations when the device is simply left turned on at home, but access to it is blocked by a forgotten password.

Resetting settings via Recovery mode (Hard Reset)

When cloud methods are unavailable due to lack of Internet or an unlinked account, recovery mode, known as Recovery Mode, comes to the rescue. This is a specialized software environment built into the phone's memory, which allows you to perform system operations regardless of the state of the main operating system. This mode is entered by a combination of physical buttons when the device is turned off.

The login process may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the classic algorithm for most models Redmi remains unchanged. First, you need to completely turn off the power to your smartphone by holding the power button until the screen turns off completely. Then you should simultaneously hold down the volume up key and the power button.

Hold both buttons until the brand logo appears, after which you can release the power button while continuing to hold the volume key. After a few seconds, the main recovery menu will appear on the screen, where control is carried out with the volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed with the power button. You need to find the item responsible for clearing data.

In the menu you need to select the item Wipe Data, and then confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data. The system will ask for final confirmation, usually this is item Confirm. After pressing, the process of formatting the user memory partition will begin, which can take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes depending on the storage capacity.

Action	Control buttons	Result
Menu navigation	Volume Up / Down	Move the cursor
Confirm selection	Power button	Run command
Exit mode	Selecting Reboot	System reboot
Forced reboot	Power Hold (10 sec)	Restart without changes

When the process is completed, a notification will appear on the screen successful reset (“Data wiped successfully”). After this, you need to select the item Reboot and then Reboot to System. The phone will reboot and start as a new device, requiring initial setup. In this case, the screen password will be completely deleted.

Features of unlocking through the Find My Device service from Google

An alternative to the proprietary solution from Xiaomi is a standard tool from Google, which is pre-installed on any certified device running Android. The service Find My Device functions on a similar principle to Mi Cloud, but uses a Google account instead of Mi Account. This can be a lifesaver if you do not remember the data from your Xiaomi account, but you are logged into Google and are active.

To use this method, go to the corresponding web page of the service and log in to your Google profile. Select your locked smartphone from the list of devices. The interface will offer three main options: play sound, lock the device or erase data. We are interested in the cleaning function.

Selecting the “Wipe device” option will start the process of deleting all data, including screen security settings. It is important to understand that after this procedure, the phone will need to be configured again by entering the login and password for your Google account to confirm ownership (FRP protection). Without this data, you will not be able to use the phone after the reset.

⚠️ Attention: The FRP (Factory Reset Protection) function is a serious barrier for attackers, but can create problems for the owner if he does not remember his Google account information.

The effectiveness of this method also directly depends on the presence of an active Internet connection on the phone. If the device is offline, the command will be saved on the server and applied automatically as soon as the smartphone comes online. This makes the method reliable, but not instantaneous in the absence of communication.

Mi account problem after reset (FRP Lock)

Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with a reliable theft protection system, which is activated automatically if there is a linked Mi Account. If you reset your settings via Recovery, but did not log out of your account first, the system will require you to enter the password for that specific account upon first boot.

This state is called activation lock. The phone will not allow you to go through the initial setup and get to the desktop until the correct account information is entered. This is done so that after a reset the stolen phone becomes a useless “brick” for the thief.

If you have forgotten the password for both the lock screen and your Mi account, the situation becomes more complicated. You will have to use the procedure for restoring access to your account through the official Xiaomi website, providing the phone number or email to which the profile is registered. Only after resetting the cloud account password will you be able to unlock the phone itself.

What to do if you bought a used phone with someone else's account?

If you purchased the device second-hand and are asked to enter someone else's Mi ID, you need to contact the previous owner. Only he can remove the device from his account remotely or provide a password. Otherwise, it is almost impossible to unlock the phone using legal methods.

Attempts to bypass this protection through third-party utilities often lead to unstable operation of the system or complete loss of warranty. Official Xiaomi support in such cases requires the provision of a purchase receipt to confirm ownership of the device before unlocking it on the server side.

Using USB and ADB debugging (for advanced users)

There is a more technically complex method that allows you to delete files that store pattern or password information without losing user data. However, this method only works under one condition: before blocking, the phone must have been enabled USB debugging in the developer menu.

If this condition is met, you will need a computer with ADB drivers installed and the cable itself for connection. By connecting your phone to a PC, you can send commands directly to the system, having superuser rights or special permissions to delete system lock files.

To delete a key, you need to enter a series of commands into the computer console. First, the connection to the device is checked, and then specific files in the /data/system/directory, such as gesture.key or locksettings.dbare deleted. After rebooting, the phone will not ask for the old password.

adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key
adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db
adb reboot

Unfortunately, on new versions of Android with enhanced security, this method often does not work without root access, which are extremely difficult to obtain on a locked device. However, for older models or specific firmware versions, this may be the only way to save data.

Prevention of lockouts and password management

To avoid repeating a stressful situation in the future, it is recommended to implement several digital hygiene habits. Using biometrics such as a fingerprint or facial recognition greatly simplifies daily access, although it does not eliminate the need to remember a backup PIN.

Regularly synchronizing important data with cloud storage ensures that even if you are forced to reset settings, you will not lose contacts, photos and notes. Setting up automatic upload to Google Photos or Mi Cloud takes a couple of minutes, but saves hours of nerves at a critical moment.

• 📝 Write down complex passwords in a reliable password manager or paper notepad that is stored in a safe place.
• 🔐 Always keep your Google and Mi Account data in mind, as they are the keys to recovery devices.
• 🔄 Regularly check the functionality of the Find My Device feature by performing test logins through the browser.

It is also worth considering using less complex blocking methods for scenarios where high security is not critical, for example, a simple 4-digit PIN code instead of a complex graphic pattern. The main thing is to find a balance between ease of use and the level of protection of your personal information.

⚠️ Attention: Recovery menu interfaces and item names may differ depending on the version of MIUI or HyperOS. If you do not see the described items, check the official documentation for your specific model.

Is it possible to unlock Xiaomi without losing data?

You can only unlock your phone without losing data if you remember the password for your Mi Account or Google account and use the remote unlock function via the web interface. If you use a button reset (Recovery), the data will inevitably be deleted.

What to do if the phone asks you to enter an account after a reset?

This is FRP protection. You need to enter the login and password for the Google account or Mi Account that was synchronized with the phone before the reset. If you do not remember them, use the password recovery procedure on the Google or Xiaomi websites.

Will a reset via Recovery work if Mi Find Device protection is enabled?

Yes, a reset via Recovery will be performed and the screen password will be deleted. However, after rebooting, the phone will require you to enter your Mi Account password to activate. Without this, you will not be able to log in.

How to log into Recovery if the volume buttons do not work?

If the physical buttons are faulty, it is impossible to log into Recovery in the standard way. In some cases, connecting to a computer and using ADB commands helps (adb reboot recovery), but only if USB debugging was enabled previously.

Will resetting the settings delete files on the SD memory card?

Usually the standard Wipe Data procedure in Recovery affects only the internal memory of the device. Files on an external SD memory card most often remain untouched, but to be completely sure, it is recommended to remove the card before resetting.