How to find a lost Xiaomi: 7 working ways for smartphones and gadgets

Losing a Xiaomi smartphone or smart device is stressful, especially if it holds important data, accounts or photos, and fortunately, the brand’s tech owners have several powerful search tools, from built-in Mi Account features to global services like Google Find My Device, but not everyone knows how to use them correctly — and that’s where the problems begin.

In this article, we will discuss 7 proven ways to find a lost Xiaomi, including smartphones (Redmi, POCO, Mi), smart watches (Mi Watch), fitness bracelets (Mi Band), and even headphones (Xiaomi Earbuds). You will learn how to act in the first minutes after a loss, what data you need to search, and what to do if the device is turned off or stolen. and also how to bypass the Mi Account lock if you bought a used gadget with a tied someone else’s account.

1. Search through Mi Account: the official way Xiaomi

The most reliable method is to use Xiaomi’s Find Device service, which works through a linked Mi Account, which allows you not only to see the latest location of the device, but also to block it, erase data or turn on an audio signal.

To take advantage of the function:

🌐 Go to account.xiaomi.com and log in to your account.
📍 In the menu, select Find Device (or Find Device in the Russian version).
🔍 The map will show the last known location of the gadget (if it was turned on and connected to the Internet).
🔊 To find a device nearby, click Play Sound – it will start to ring loudly, even if there is silent mode.

If the smartphone is turned off, the service will show its latest activity (date, time and coordinates).

✅ Location (GPS/GLONASS)
✅ Mobile data or Wi-Fi
✅ Find Device in the Mi Account settings

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If you don’t remember if your Mi Account is linked to your device, check this beforehand: go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Devices. It will display all the gadgets associated with your profile.

Find Device also works for Mi Watch smartwatches, Mi Band bracelets (if connected to a smartphone), and Xiaomi Earbuds headphones (only models with search support, for example, Earbuds 3 Pro).

2.Google Find My Device: An Alternative for Android Devices

If Xiaomi is not tied to Mi Account or the service does not show location, use Google’s tool.It works on all Android smartphones, including Redmi, POCO and Mi, provided that:

📱 The device is on and connected to the Internet.
🔄 Find Device in Google Settings (usually activated by default).
📍 Allowed access to geodata for Google services.

Instructions for use:

Go to Google Find My Device.
Sign in with the same Google account that was used on the lost device.
The map will show the current or last location of the smartphone.
Additional options: 🔔 Turn on the sound (play the sound) – useful if the phone is somewhere near. 🔒 Lock the device (Protect the device) with the message on the screen. 🧹 Delete data (Delete data) – a last resort if the phone has confidential information.

If the smartphone is turned off, it will show its latest activity (as with the Mi Account), but Google Find My Device has one advantage: it can display location even if the device is disabled Mi Account.

📊 What search method do you use more often?

Mi Account

Google Find My Device

IMEI via police

Special services (for example, Lost Android)

Never looked.

3.IMEI search: When a smartphone is stolen or turned off

If a Xiaomi device is stolen or turned off, the previous methods will not help, in which case the only reliable way is to search by IMEI (Unique Device Identifier), which is tied to the hardware of the smartphone and does not change even after resetting.

To find the lost IMEI Xiaomi:

📄 Check the box from the device - usually IMEI marked.
📧 Find a check or a warranty card (if you have saved it).
📱 If you have a backup of the data, look for a file with IMEI (For example, in notes or screenshots).
🔗 Find out. IMEI via Mi Account: Go to Devices → Choose a gadget → Information.

When an IMEI is found, act as follows:

Please report theft/loss to the police, and provide IMEI, so law enforcement can trace the device through telecom operators.
Block it. IMEI via the service imei-info.ru (paid) or official channels (for example, through the operator MTS, Beeline, etc.). After blocking the smartphone will become a “brick” – it will not be used with any SIM-card.

What to do if IMEI is unknown?

If you don’t save the IMEI, but you have access to another device with the same Mi Account, try finding it in your connected gadget history. Also, you can find the IMEI through Settings → About the phone → General information (if the phone was synced to the account).

Importantly, blocking the IMEI does not guarantee the device will be returned, but it will render it useless for a thief.In some countries (for example, in Russia), operators are required to block stolen phones at the request of the police.

4.Search for Xiaomi smartwatches and fitness bracelets

The Mi Watch, Mi Watch Lite or Mi Band fitness bracelets are searched differently than smartphones. GPS-module (except for top models like Mi Watch 2 Pro), so their location is determined through a Bluetooth connection with a smartphone.

If you have lost your Mi Band or Mi Watch,

📱 Make sure your smartphone is Bluetooth enabled and you have Mi Fitness (or Zepp Life for new models) installed).
🔍 Open the app and check the Devices section if the bracelet/watch is nearby (in radius) ~10 meters), they will appear as connected.
🔔 Click Find the device – the gadget will begin to vibrate (if it supports the function).

For GPS models (such as the Mi Watch 2 or Amazfit GTR):

🌍 In the Zepp app (or Mi Fitness), open a map with a history of routes. If the clock was turned on and connected to satellites, you will see the last location.
📡 Check the Device Search section – some models allow you to send a signal to the clock so that it gives sound.

If Xiaomi’s smart device is dead or out of range of Bluetooth, it will be extremely difficult to find it, in this case, you just need to check the places where you’ve been recently, or contact Xiaomi support (if the gadget is warranty).

5. Special applications for finding lost devices

If standard methods don’t work, try third-party services that can help you if:

📵 The device is off, but it was connected to the Internet before.
🔒 You don’t remember your Mi Account or Google data.
📡 You need to track the movement of the smartphone by the history of connections to Wi-Fi or cell towers.

Top.-3 Search for lost Xiaomi service:

Service	How it works	Pluses	Cons
Lost Android	Sending. SMS-commands to the phone to obtain coordinates, block or erase data.	It works without the internet (via SMS).	It requires pre-setting on the device.
Cerberus	Paid application with advanced functions (hidden installation, photo of a thief, sound recording).	It can work in a hidden mode.	You need to set it up in advance.
Prey Anti-Theft	It tracks the device over Wi-Fi, GPS and IP, allows you to block and erase data.	Free rate for 3 devices.	Registration and setup before loss is required.

If you haven't installed these apps in advance, they won't help, but some services (like Lost Android) can be activated remotely if the device is enabled to debug over USB (Settings → Developer).

Install a tracking app (Cerberus, Prey)|Save IMEI in the cloud or on paper |Axiety Mi Account and Google|Enable GPS and geodata transfer |Activate Find Device in Settings-->

6 What to do if the device is found but blocked by Mi Account

One of the most common problems when buying used Xiaomi devices is blocking Mi Account. Even if you found your lost smartphone, the previous owner may not remove the binding, and the gadget will require you to enter a login / password from the old account.

Options for a solution:

🔑 If you are the original owner, but forgot the data from Mi Account, restore access through the official website (you will need an email or phone associated with the account).
📧 If the device is bought with hands and locked, contact the seller and ask them to remove the gadget from their Mi Account (via Settings). → Xiaomi account → Devices).
🛠️ In extreme cases, contact the Xiaomi service center with documents confirming the purchase. They can remove the lock (but not always and not free of charge).

If you find someone else’s lost Xiaomi with a Mi Account lock, you can return it to the owner through the police – they have tools to determine the real owner by IMEI.

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Never buy a used Xiaomi device with a Mi Account tied unless the seller can prove the lock is unbroken. Once the settings are reset, the phone will become a brick and require official unlocking.

7.Prevention: How to protect your device from loss

The best way to avoid problems is to prepare the device for possible loss, and here is a checklist of actions to take right now:

🔐 Link Mi Account and Google Account to your device.
📍 Enable geodata transfer for Find Device and Google Find My Device.
📱 Install a third-party tracking app (e.g., Cerberus).
📝 Save it. IMEI In the cloud (Google Drive, notes) or on paper.
🔄 Regularly back up important data.
🔒 Set up a screen lock (PIN, graphical key).

Also useful:

📋 In Mi Account settings, add backup email and phone to restore access.
🔗 Enable the Automatic Last Location Submit feature (some Xiaomi firmwares have it in Settings). → Additionally. → Security).
📡 Disconnect Autoconnection to Public Wi-Fi Networks – This Will Reduce the Risk of Data Leakage in the Event of Loss.

If you lose things often, consider buying a Bluetooth tracker (like the Xiaomi Mi Smart Tag) that can be attached to your keys or bag and tracked through the Mi Home app.

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Xiaomi has an Anti-Theft feature in its settings (in some firmware), which automatically takes a photo through the front camera if someone enters the wrong lock password, and sends it to your email.

FAQ: Frequent questions about finding lost Xiaomi

❓ Can you find Xiaomi if it’s turned off?

If the device is turned off, standard services (Mi Account, Google Find My Device) will show only the last known location (before turning it off), and to track it after turning it on, you need to wait for the smartphone to connect to the Internet, the alternative is to search IMEI through the police.

❓ How to find Xiaomi if I can’t remember the data from Mi Account?

Restor access through the recovery page (you need an email or phone linked to your account).If that doesn't work, try Google Find My Device - it works independently of Mi Account.

❓ Does search work for the Mi Watch smartwatch without a phone?

Most Mi Watch and Mi Band models don’t have standalone GPS, so they can only be found via a Bluetooth connection to a smartphone, except for the top-end watches like the Mi Watch 2 Pro with built-in GPS: their location is displayed in the Zepp app.

❓ Can you track Xiaomi by phone number?

No, you can’t track your device by phone number alone, and you need IMEI, Mi Account/Google Account access, or special apps (like Cerberus) installed in advance.

❓ What to do if you find someone else’s Xiaomi with a Mi Account lock?

The best option is to contact the police, they can contact the owner through IMEI. It is not recommended to try to reset the lock yourself: this can lead to a complete loss of functionality of the device.