Xiaomi Redmi Device Search: How to Find a Lost Phone in 3 Steps

Losing a smartphone is stressful, but Xiaomi Redmi owners have multiple tools to find a device. Unlike the iPhone with its closed Find My ecosystem, MIUI smartphones support both Xiaomi-branded solutions and universal services from Google. The main thing is to set them up correctly in advance, because after the phone goes missing, the ability to restore access is dramatically reduced.

In this article, we will discuss all the ways to configure a device search on Redmi – from basic features like Find Device to hidden features of the Mi Account and the nuances of working with Google Find My Device. Particular attention will be paid to the unique feature of MIUI: even when the phone is turned off, it can be tracked through the network of other Xiaomi devices (the feature does not work on all models, but covers most Redmi after 2021), and you will learn how to bypass the lock if the phone is stolen, and why you should never turn off geolocation “for battery savings”.

1. Preparation of the smartphone: what to do before the loss

Most users start searching for information about finding a device after the phone is lost, a critical error: some features (such as remote locking via Mi Account) require pre-activation.

Log in to Mi Account in your phone settings

Activate Find Device in Mi Cloud

Connect to Google Account and Enable “Find My Device”

Allow geolocation for system services

Remember the phone's IMEI (printed on the box or in *#06#)

-->

Pay special attention to the Mi Account, without which you will not be able to use Xiaomi's branded tools to link an account:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account.
2. Click Login and enter the details (if there is no account, register).
3. In the Mi Cloud section, activate the “Find Device” slider.

⚠️ Note: If you are using Redmi with global firmware (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ 5G Global, Find Device may be called Find My Phone. MIUI This section is often hidden – it must be enabled through additional settings → Special facilities.

2. Search through Mi Account: Xiaomi's proprietary tool

Xiaomi’s Find Device is the most reliable way to track Redmi if your phone:

• 🔋 On and has a battery charge;
• 📶 Connected to a mobile network or Wi-Fi;
• 🌍 Has access to geolocation (GPS/Wi-Fi/cell-tower).

To find the phone:

1. Go to i.mi.com from a computer or other smartphone.
2. Sign in with the same Mi Account as the lost Redmi.
3. Select the Find Device tab (or Device Management in the Russian version).
4. The map will show the last known location of the phone with an accuracy of 5-50 meters (depending on conditions).

💡

If the phone is dead or off but has been connected to Mi Account, the service will show its last known location with a time stamp, which will help narrow down the search area.

Firmware by Xiaomi (Find Device)

Google Find My Device

Third-party applications (e.g. Cerberus)

Nothing set up.

-->

3.Google Find My Device: A universal solution

If you did not tie a Mi Account or your phone was stolen with the SIM-Google Find My Device works on all Android devices, including Redmi, provided:

• 📱 Phone linked to Google account;
• 🔄 Synchronization of geodata is enabled;
• 🔌 The device is on and connected to the Internet.

Search instructions:

1. Go to google.com/android/find.
2. Select the lost device from the list (if there are several).
3. The service will show the location on the map with an accuracy of 10-100 meters.
4. Available actions: Play sound – the phone will ring at full volume; Lock the device – set the password on the screen; Erase data – a complete reset (irreversible!).

⚠️ Note: If Redmi has custom firmware installed (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), Google services may not work smoothly, in which case the only reliable way to track is with third-party apps like Cerberus (requires manual configuration).

4. Hidden Opportunities: Finding a Phone Shut Down

One of the key advantages of Xiaomi Redmi over other Android smartphones is support for finding a disabled device through the network of other Xiaomi gadgets. This feature is called Offline Finding and works on the principle of Apple AirTag:

• 📡 Your switched off Redmi sends an encrypted signal via Bluetooth;
• 📱 Xiaomi’s nearest smartphones/tablets (even strangers!) catch this signal;
• 🌐 Coordinates are transmitted to the Xiaomi server and displayed in your account.

To activate Offline Finding:

1. Go to Settings → Password & Security → Find Device
2. Activate the slider "Search in offline mode" (on some firmware - Offline Finding).
3. Allow access to geolocation and Bluetooth.

💡

Offline Finding only works on Redmi models with Bluetooth 5.0+ chips (released after 2020), and older devices (like the Redmi 7 or Note 8 Pro) don’t have this method available.

5. Search by IMEI: Myths and Reality

Many users believe that IMEI (Unique Phone Identifier) can be easily traced through police or carriers, but this works differently in practice:

• 📞 Communications operators can track IMEI This service is not available to individuals only at the official request of law enforcement.
• 🚔 Police rarely search for phones IMEI, unless it is a major criminal case (violent theft, large-scale fraud).
• 🔍 Services like "IMEI Tracker is a fraud. They don't have access to the carrier databases and they show random data.

However, IMEI is useful in two cases:

1. To lock the phone in the operator's database (if) SIM-For example, MTS has a blacklist service. IMEI".
2. Proof of ownership when contacting the police (IMEI is listed on the check and on the box).

To find out the IMEI of your Redmi:

• Type on the keyboard *#06#;
• Look at the sticker under the battery (on removable batteries);
• Find the device on the box.

6 If your phone is stolen: what to do in the first few hours

The algorithm for stealing Redmi is different from the usual loss.

1. Lock it down immediately. SIM-The card is via the operator's personal account or by phone hotline, which will prevent access. SMS (For example, to reset passwords of banking applications).
2. Change passwords from: Mi Account; Google account; Banking apps and wallets; Social networks and email.

Track your location through Find Device or Google Find My Device. Don't try to return your phone yourself, give the coordinates to the police.

Write a police report, enter the IMEI, serial number (on the box) and attach a check. The chances of returning the phone are slim, but it is necessary for insurance (if it was issued).

⚠️ Warning: If you see the phone moving (coordinates are updated), don't try to chase the thief yourself, and 90% of the time, this leads to conflicts with unpredictable consequences. Hand over data to law enforcement – they have the tools to track without risking your security.

💡

If payment services (Google Pay, Mi Pay) are enabled on your phone, block them immediately through the web versions of apps.

7 Third-party applications: when standard methods do not work

If Xiaomi and Google's branded services didn't help (for example, the phone is disassembled for spare parts or sewn over again), there are third-party solutions.

To install such an application:

1. Download it from Google Play to your target phone.
2. Register and connect your account.
3. Configure administrator rights (in Settings → Applications → Special Access).
4. Hide the app icon (if there is such an option).