How to completely disable “Find a phone” on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Find Device on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is a useful tool for tracking a lost gadget, but it sometimes becomes an obstacle, such as when selling a phone, resetting to factory settings, or if you simply don’t want your location tracked, and turning it off is not as easy as it seems: MIUI connects it to a Mi Account account, and in some cases requires additional actions.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to turn off Find Your Phone on Xiaomi devices, from standard methods through settings to bypassing protection after a reset. We’ll focus on the hidden nuances that aren’t mentioned in the official instructions, but can save you hours of time, such as why the feature sometimes stays active even after you’re logged out, or what to do if your phone is locked.

Important: The procedure may vary depending on the MIUI version (12, 13, 14 or HyperOS) and the smartphone model.We cover all current firmware versions for 2026, including devices with a Snapdragon chip and MediaTek.

1. disable Find the Phone via Xiaomi Settings

The most obvious and safe way is to use the built-in MIUI settings, which is suitable if:

  • 📱 You have access to the phone and password from Mi Account.

Instructions:

  1. Turn off the slider next to the “Find This Device” option.**

After that, the feature will be deactivated, but the Mi Account will remain linked to the phone. If you plan to sell the device, we recommend you also log out (more about this below).

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If the function is activated again after disabling, check the sync settings in Settings → Accounts → Data Sync. Sometimes MIUI automatically activates tracking when you update the system.

2.Exit from Mi Account - complete disconnection of the binding

The Find Phone feature is closely linked to Xiaomi’s account, so the most reliable way to disable it is to completely remove the device’s link to your profile, which will also be required when selling the phone so that the new owner can use it without restrictions.

How to exit Mi Account:

  1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account.
  2. Click on the profile icon in the upper right corner.
  3. Select Exit (or Sign Out).
  4. Enter the password for confirmation.
  5. Wait 24-48 hours – sometimes Xiaomi servers take time to untie the device completely.

⚠️ Note: if you log out of your account but don’t turn off Find Device in advance, the feature may remain active for several days. Also note that after you log out of Mi Account, some services (such as Mi Cloud or Xiaomi Community) will become unavailable.

Make sure two-factor authentication is disabled | Download data backups from Mi Cloud|Remember account password (required to log in again) | Check that Find Phone is disabled

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3. Disconnect via the web version of Mi Cloud (if the phone is not available)

If you lost your phone or it is locked, but you have access to your Xiaomi account from another device, you can turn off tracking via the Mi Cloud web interface, which works even if the smartphone itself is turned off or is in another city.

Step-by-step:

  1. Go to i.mi.com from a computer or other phone.
  2. Sign in with your Mi Account.
  3. In the menu on the left, select Find Device (or Find Device).
  4. In the list of tied gadgets, find the right smartphone and click on it.
  5. In the window that opens, select Delete Device (or Remove Device).
  6. Confirm the action by entering a password.

After that, the phone’s link to the account will be deleted and the tracking function will be disabled, but the device itself will remain locked if it has a pattern lock or a pattern lock installed on it. PIN-Unlocking requires a reset via Fastboot or Recovery.

What to do if the Mi Cloud website is not open?
If the web version of Mi Cloud is not available (for example, due to regional restrictions or blocking), try: 1. Use a VPN with servers in China or Singapore. 2. Clear the browser cache or try another (for example, Chrome instead of Safari). 3. Open the site in incognito mode. 4. If nothing helps, try logging in through the Mi Cloud app on another Xiaomi smartphone.

4. Disconnection after reset to factory settings

One of the most common problems is that Find Your Phone remains active even after Hard Reset, because the reset doesn't remove the Mi Account link, it just clears user data, and as a result, when you first set up your phone, the system requires you to enter a password from your old account.

How to completely remove the binding:

  • 🔧 Method 1: Exit your Mi Account before reset (as described in Section 2).
  • 📱 Method 2: If your phone is already reset, use the Fastboot method (requires a PC and cable) USB).
  • ⚙️ Method 3: Contact Xiaomi Support with proof of ownership of the device (check, box).

For the Fastboot method, you will need:

fastboot oem clean_frp

This command removes Factory Reset Protection (FRP), but it doesn’t work on all models. Read more about unlocking through Fastboot in our separate article.

Yes, I had to unlock it through Fastboot.|Yes, I did support Xiaomi.|I always log out of my account in advance.|I don't know what that is.-->

5. bypass protection if the phone is locked (advanced methods)

If you bought a used Xiaomi smartphone with a Mi Account tied and the previous owner did not disable Find the Device, you can unlock the phone in several ways. IMEI.

Possible solutions:

MethodDifficultyRisks.Applicability
Appeal in support of Xiaomi with a checkLow.MinimumOnly if there is evidence of purchase
Using Fastboot (team) clean_frp)MediumPossible soft-brick.MIUI 12-14, not working on new models
Firmware via EDL (Emergency mode)Tall.Risk of blocking an accountRequires an authorized Xiaomi account
Specialized servicesLow (for the user)Fraudulent schemes are possibleSuitable for all models, but paid

⚠️ Attention: firmware through EDL Without official permission, Xiaomi may be blocked. IMEI (This method is recommended only for advanced users or in service centers.

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If you are not sure of your actions, it is better to contact the official Xiaomi service center.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you turn off Find Your Phone, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and how to solve them:

    Another common mistake is to incompletely delete your device from your account, for example, if you logged out of your Mi Account on your phone but didn't remove it from the Mi Cloud trusted device list, the tracking feature may remain active. Always check the anchors in the web version of your account.

    Can I turn off Find My Phone without a Mi Account password?
    No, to disable the function, you need a password from Mi Account. If you forgot it, restore it through the official website account.xiaomi.com. In extreme cases, you can try to reset the password through the attached email or phone number.
    What happens if you sell a phone with the active Find Device feature?
    The new owner will not be able to fully use the phone: after the reset, the system will require you to enter a password from your Mi Account, and you will be able to track its location through the Mi Cloud, which is a violation of privacy.
    Does Finding a Phone Work Without the Internet?
    No, location requires a network connection (Wi-Fi or mobile Internet), but if the phone has been online at least once, Xiaomi retains the last known location seen in the Mi Cloud.
    How to check if the “Find the phone” function is disabled?
    Go to Settings → Mi Account → Find the device. If the slider is gray, the function is disabled. You can also check the list of associated devices in Mi Cloud (i.mi.com), if the phone is not listed, the binding is deleted.
    Can I turn off Find the Phone on a Broken Screen Phone?
    Yes, if you have access to Mi Account. Use the web version of Mi Cloud (i.mi.com) to remove the device from the list.If the screen is completely out of order but the phone is turned on, connect it to your PC and use it. ADB-Unlocking teams (skills required).