How to Track a Lost or Stolen Xiaomi Device: The Complete 2026 Guide

Losing a smartphone, smartwatch or other Xiaomi gadget is stressful, especially if the device has stored important data or was connected to banking applications. Fortunately, owners of the brand’s technology have several official and third-party tools to find the device. In this article, we will analyze all current tracking methods, including little-known MIUI features, and explain what to do if the gadget is turned off or reset to factory settings.

It's important to understand that search performance depends on whether geolocation and account sync functions were enabled in advance. If you're reading this article before you lose your device, be sure to set up Find Device in MIUI and link it to Mi Account, which will increase your chances of successful search in the future. For those who have already lost the device, below are step-by-step instructions for different scenarios.

1.The official service Xiaomi Find Device: step-by-step instructions

Find Device – built-in feature in firmware MIUI, It allows you to track the location of a smartphone, smartwatch or Xiaomi fitness bracelet through a web interface. SIM-card replaced, but requires active Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data).

To take advantage of the function:

• 🌐 Go to i.mi.com and log in to the same Mi Account that was linked to the lost device.
• 📍 In the Find Device section, select the desired gadget from the list (if several devices are tied to the account).
• 🔍 The map will show the last known location, and if the device is online, the coordinates will be updated in real time.
• 🔊 Use the Play Sound option to make the device emit a loud signal (works even in silent mode).

If the smartphone is turned off or discharged, the service will show the last fixed point on the map, in this case, it is recommended to periodically check the updates - when you turn on the device, the coordinates will appear automatically.

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If you lost your device at home or in the office but can’t find it, use Play Sound at maximum volume, and the sound will play even if your smartphone is silent or connected to Bluetooth headphones.

⚠️ Warning: If the attacker reset the device to factory settings, the Mi Account binding will remain, but tracking through Find Device will become impossible. IMEI (section).

2. Search through Google Find My Device (for Android smartphones)

If your Xiaomi (like Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5) has Google Services enabled and synced with your Google account, you can use an alternative service called Google Find My Device, which is often more effective than Xiaomi’s Find Device, as Google has a more advanced geolocation infrastructure.

Instructions:

1. Open the service page and log in to the same Google account that was added on the device.
2. Select the lost smartphone from the list (if there are several).
3. The map will show the current or last location, and the accuracy depends on the geolocation settings on the device.
4. Available options: 🔔 Reproduce sound – loud signal (5 minutes). 🔒 Block the device - setting a password or PIN-remotely. 🧹 Delete data – complete reset (irreversible!).

The advantage of this method is that it can be remotely locked even if the device has not set a password, but resetting data via Google will also remove the binding to the Mi Account, making it impossible to track further through Find Device.

3. Tracking fitness bracelets and Xiaomi smartwatches

For wearables (Mi Band 7/8, Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, Redmi Watch 3), the standard Find Device is limited. Instead, use the official Mi Fitness app (formerly Zepp Life):

1. Install the Mi Fitness app on another smartphone (Android/iOS).
2. Sign in with the same account that your wristband/watch was attached to.
3. Go to the Devices section → select the lost gadget.
4. Click Find the device – the bracelet will begin to vibrate and blink (if it is within range of Bluetooth).

If the gadget is lost outside the range of Bluetooth (for example, on the street), the chances of searching are minimal – wearable devices Xiaomi does not have built-in. GPS-Module (except Xiaomi Watch) S3 and some other models:

• 📱 Check the latest data synchronization in Mi Fitness – it may have the coordinates of the last activity (for example, jogging) preserved there).
• 🔋 If the bracelet is discharged, wait - when connected to charging, it automatically syncs with the application.

⚠️ Attention: Find the device in Mi Fitness only works if the bracelet/watch is not reset to the factory settings. After reset, it is untie from the account and it becomes impossible to track them.

4.IMEI search: when nothing helps

If the device is turned off, reset, or has no Internet access, IMEI tracking is the last chance, and this method does not give accurate real-time coordinates, but it allows:

• 📵 Block the device from the operator (lost the network).
• 🚔 Report. IMEI Police for investigation (in some countries it is a prerequisite for the initiation of proceedings).
• 🔍 Check if the device is for sale (through the database of stolen gadgets).

How to find out the IMEI of a lost device:

• 📄 Look at the warranty card or box (usually indicated on the sticker).
• 📱 If you have a backup of the data, look for a file with IMEI file MIUI/backup.
• 🖥️ Check your online purchase history (if you have purchased it officially).
• 📧 Please write in support of Xiaomi and request to provide IMEI Serial number (requires documents confirming ownership).

Then proceed with the algorithm:

1. Contact your mobile operator with a statement about blocking IMEI. In Russia, this can be done through a personal account or company office (for example, MTS, Beeline, MegaFon).
2. Register. IMEI snatched-in database: 🇷🇺 For Russia: imei.info or the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. 🇺🇦 For Ukraine: imei.ua. 🌍 For other countries: GSMA IMEI Database.

Report to the police with an IMEI indication – this will increase the chances of a return if the device is found.

IMEI can be changed software, but it requires special equipment and violates the law, and in 90% of cases, attackers do not bother with such a procedure, so the lock remains effective.

5. Alternative methods: social networks, cloud services and unobvious tricks

If the standard methods didn’t help, try less well-known, but sometimes working methods:

• 📸 Photos with geotags: Check the latest photos in Google Photos or Mi Cloud - they may contain coordinates (unless geotags are turned off). → Map. → Latest pictures.
• 🔄 Synchronization Logs: In Mi Account (Device section) → Activity log) sometimes retained IP-last-connection addresses.
• 💬 Social Media: If the device is linked to Facebook, VK or Telegram, check login history - there may be location clues.
• 📡 Wi-Fi networks: If the smartphone is connected to public networks (for example, in a cafe or shopping center), contact the administration for logs (police help will be required).

For POCO or Redmi owners with an unlocked bootloader, there's a radical method, which is to remotely install the firmware through Fastboot. It's risky (you can turn the device into a brick), but sometimes you can take back control.

fastboot oem unlock


fastboot flash recovery twrp.img




fastboot reboot recovery

⚠️ This method requires technical skills and is only suitable if the bootloader has already been unlocked on the device before loss.

🔹 Block it. SIM-card|🔹 Change passwords from email and social networks|🔹 Check out the latest activity in the Mi Account/Google|🔹 Report the loss to the police (if the theft is reported)|🔹 Delete the data of banking applications (via another device)

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6.What to do if the device is found: steps to restore security

Even if you managed to return the gadget, you can't use it without checking - the attackers could install spyware or change the settings.

1. Full reset: Go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset and select Delete All Data. For wearables, use Mi Fitness → Devices → Reset.
2. Virus Check: After reset, install an antivirus (such as Dr.Web or Kaspersky) and scan the system.
3. Update: Install the latest version of MIUI through Settings → System Update – this will close the vulnerabilities.
4. Security setting: Enable Find Device and Google Services. Activate bootloader Lock (Settings → Additional → Developer) Set a complex password or pattern lock.

If the device has been stolen and returned to you in a non-functional condition (for example, with a broken screen or a damaged battery), do not try to repair it yourself.

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Even if you find a device, consider it potentially compromised. Factory reset is a mandatory safety measure!

FAQ: Frequent questions about tracking Xiaomi devices