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

The Find Device feature on Xiaomi smartphones is a built-in tool for remotely controlling your phone in the event of loss or theft, which allows you to locate a gadget, lock it, erase data or play back an audio signal, but many users want to turn it off — whether it’s for privacy concerns, battery savings, or before selling a phone.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to deactivate the function for 2026, including the nuances for different versions of MIUI (from 12 to 14), the features of working with a tied Mi Account and the possible consequences. It is important to understand that simply disabling the settings is not always enough – the system can automatically turn the function back on under certain conditions.

Why turn off Find Device on Xiaomi?

At first glance, the function seems extremely useful, but there are several good reasons to deactivate it:

🔋 Battery savings: The feature runs in the background, periodically sending location data to Xiaomi servers. 3-5% day-load.
🕵️ Privacy: If you don’t trust Xiaomi or fear a leak of your travel data, you’d better turn off geolocation.
💰 Selling or transferring a phone: The new owner will not be able to use the device if the feature is active and linked to your account.
🔄 Conflicts with other services, such as Find Your Device, can block alternative trackers like Google Find My Device.
🚫 Post-reset restrictions on some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro) after hard reset, the phone requires the associated account data to be entered if the function was active.

But before you turn it off, you have to remember that without this feature, you can't remotely lock your phone when you steal it or find it if you lose it.

📊 Have you ever used the “Find Device” feature on Xiaomi?

Yeah, helped me find the phone.

Yeah, but to no avail.

No, I haven't.

Turned off immediately after purchase.

Method 1: Disconnect via MIUI settings (the easiest)

This is the basic method that works on most models (Redmi, POCO, Mi) with MIUI 12/13/14.

Open the settings (cog icon).
Go to Mi Account (or Xiaomi Account in the new versions).
Select Find Device (Find Device).
Move the slider to the off position.
Confirm the action with a password from the Mi Account.

After that, the feature will be disabled, but the account will remain linked to the phone, which means that the next time you log in to Mi Account or after the reboot, the system can activate tracking again.

Make sure the slider is grey |Reboot your phone and check your settings again | Try to find the device via [Mi Cloud web version](https://i.mi.com/) – it shouldn’t show up

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⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI Global for the European region) after disabling the function, a notification may appear: “The function will be turned on automatically after 24 hours.” To avoid this, use Method 3 (delete the account).

Method 2: Disconnect via Mi Cloud (web version)

If you don’t have access to your phone (for example, it’s lost or broken), but you remember the data from your Mi Account, you can remotely disable the feature:

Go to the Mi Cloud website and log in.
In the Devices section, select your smartphone.
Press three points (⋮) near-name.
Select Delete Device.
Confirm the action. SMS-password.

This method removes the phone from the list of associated devices entirely, but does not guarantee that the feature on the gadget itself will be disabled.If the phone later connects to the Internet, it may reappear in the Mi Cloud.

Method of disconnection	Need a phone?	Deleting the account?	Risk of automatic switching on
Through MIUI settings	Yes.	No.	High-pitched
Through the Mi Cloud	No.	No.	Medium.
Deleting Mi Account	Yes.	Yes.	Low.
Reset to factory settings	Yes.	Yes (unless the account is tied)	Absent.

Method 3: Completely delete your Mi Account (radical method)

If you want to permanently disable Find Device and remove all Xiaomi connections, you’ll have to deactivate Mi Account, which is a good way to do it before selling your phone or if you’re switching to another brand.

Note: After deleting your account, you will lose access to:

📱 Cloud Storage (Mi Cloud)
🎮 Achievements in the Mi Game Center
🛒 Shopping at the Mi Store
🔄 Synchronization of notes, contacts, SMS

Instructions for removal:

Open the Settings. → Mi Account.
Slip on the account avatar at the top of the screen.
Select Account Management (Account Management).
Scroll down and click Delete Account.
Confirm the action via SMS or email.
Wait for confirmation letter (can be received within 7 days).

What to do if the “Delete Account” button is inactive?

On some firmware (MIUI China or custom) the deletion option is blocked. In this case: 1. Try changing your account region to India or Russia in the settings. 2. Use the web version of Mi Account to delete. 3. If nothing helps, follow Method 4 (reset via Fastboot).

⚠️ Attention: On phones with MIUI 14 and later, after deleting the account, there may be a hidden link to the device. To remove it, reset to factory settings (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting settings).

Method 4: Disconnect after reset (if the phone is locked)

Situation: you've dropped your phone to factory settings, but when you turn it on, you get a request for Mi Account data, because you've previously had "Find the Device" active, which is anti-theft protection, but it prevents the new owner from using the gadget.

Option A: If you know your account details

Enter the username and password from the Mi Account that was linked to the phone.
After logging in, go to Settings → Mi Account → Find the device and turn off the function.
Do the reset again, the block will disappear.

Option B: If you don't know the data (only for owners!)

If your phone is yours, but you forgot your password:

Go to the Mi Account website and restore access via email or SMS.
Use Method 3 to delete your account from your device.

If the phone is purchased from hand and the previous owner has not untied the account:

📞 Ask the seller to send the data for unlocking (it is better to do this in person).
🔧 Contact Xiaomi Service Center with a check to buy – they can help unlock the device.
⚠️ Do not use questionable services to bypass the lock – this can lead to a breakage of the phone or lock. IMEI.

💡

Before buying a used Xiaomi, always check if the previous owner’s account is untied. Ask the seller to show the Mi Account section → Find the device – there should be no tied gadgets.

Method 5: Disconnect via ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., on custom firmware or after a failed update), you can disable the feature via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires a PC and minimal command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap the MIUI version 7 times until the notification “You’ve become a developer” appears.

USB debugging

Settings → Additional → For Developers

ADB

official website

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.cloudservice


adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.finddevice

Reboot the phone.

These commands will remove cloud sync and tracking services for the current user, and note that after the MIUI update, they can be restored.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB This can cause data loss or system instability. Do not change other settings unless you are sure of their purpose!

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you turn off Find Device, users often face problems, and let's take a look at the most common ones:

🔄 The function is turned on itself after restarting Reason: On some firmware (MIUI China) Xiaomi services automatically restart.Solution: Use Method 3 (Delete Account) or Method 5 (ADB).
🔒 You can't disable the function without a password Reason: Protection against unauthorized access Solution: Restore the password through Mi Account or reset it through SMS.
📱 Phone not visible in Mi Cloud after shutdown Reason: Browser cache or sync delay Solution: Clear browser cache or wait 10-15 minute.
⚠️ Notification "Device not protected"** Reason: System warns of lack of protection Solution: Ignore it or activate Google Find My Device as an alternative.

If none of the methods worked, check:

📋 Version MIUI (Settings → Phones may have bugs on beta versions.
🔄 Availability of system updates (Settings) → Update of the PO).
🛠️ Integrity of firmware (if the phone has been modified).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

Can I disable Find Device without deleting my Mi Account?

Yes, but it's a temporary solution. The function can be turned on again after a system update or reboot. For permanent disabling, it's better to delete your account (Method 3) or use ADB (Method 5).

Will Google Find My Device work after Xiaomi is disabled?

Yes, Google Find My Device is a separate service that is not associated with Mi Account, but it requires that the phone be: Geolocation enabled; Mobile Internet or Wi-Fi active; the device is tied to a Google account.

What if the phone asks for an old Mi Account after a reset?

This means that the previous owner did not untie the device, and the solution is: Contact the seller and ask him to remove the phone from the Mi Cloud. If the phone is officially purchased, contact the Xiaomi service center with a check. Use Method 4 (Section B), but this will only work if you are the owner. ❌ Do not use programs to bypass the lock – this violates the terms of use and may lead to blocking. IMEI.

How to check if the function is actually disabled?

There are three ways: Go to Settings → Mi Account → Find the device -- the slider should be gray. Try finding the phone through Mi Cloud -- it shouldn't be displayed. Use it. ADB-command: adb shell dumpsys package com.xiaomi.finddevice In the output look for the enabled line=false.

Can I turn off the function on the phone without SIM-map?

Yes, to disable via settings (Method 1) or ADB (Method 5) SIM-No card is required, but you may need to confirm the account (Method 3) to delete the account. SMS — In this case, use Wi-Fi to obtain the code.

💡

Disabling Find Device on Xiaomi is not only a privacy issue, it is also a necessary measure before selling a phone.If you do not plan to use Xiaomi services, it is better to completely delete Mi Account to avoid problems in the future.