Changing your SIM card or losing access to your old phone number often puts Xiaomi smartphone owners in a difficult dilemma: The linked number is used to restore your password, confirm your Mi Account and receive security notifications. If the device is locked or requires a change of region, not having access to SMS can become a critical problem.
In this article, we will take a look at all the legal ways to manage your linked numbers, how to change your contact details through your smartphone settings, what to do if your old number is lost, and how to protect your data from unauthorized access. This process requires care, because Mi Account is the key to all the services in the ecosystem.
There are several scenarios where you need to tamper with your profile settings, such as buying a new number, selling a device, or compromising data. It's important to understand the difference between deleting a number and completely unbundling a device so you don't lose access to cloud storage or Find a Device. Let's look at the algorithms for each case.
Why do I need a number and when do I need a number?
Linking a mobile number to a Mi Account profile is a basic security mechanism implemented by Xiaomi developers, which serves for two-factor authentication, confirming that it is the account owner who is trying to log in from a new device or browser, without this step, an attacker who received your password would not be able to easily penetrate personal data.
However, there are times when this protection becomes an obstacle, such as when selling a smartphone to a new owner, you need to completely clear the profile, otherwise the previous owner will receive notifications about the location of the gadget, and a common reason is the blocking of the SIM card by the operator, which makes it impossible to obtain confirmation codes.
Sometimes users simply change their area of residence and want to use a local number to make services more convenient, and in such cases, changing the number becomes a mandatory procedure, and ignoring this step can lead to the fact that when you reset your settings to the factory, the smartphone will be blocked by the activation screen.
It is important to note that simply removing the SIM card from the device is not enough. the binding data is stored on the company's servers, and it requires active action on the part of the user through the settings menu or web interface.
Preparation for changing account data
Before making changes to your security settings, you need to do a number of preparatory steps to avoid being left without access to your account due to a process error. Make sure you remember the current password from Mi Account, as the system will almost always require it to be entered to confirm the operation.
If you have access to the old number, even temporarily, it's best to keep it on your phone until all the procedures are complete. SMS-code if the system suspects suspicious activity, it is also recommended to back up important contacts and photos, although direct undocking of the number should not delete personal files.
☑️ Checklist before untidying the number
The Internet connection stability should be emphasized, because interruption of communication at the time of the request to the authentication server can lead to a synchronization error, in which case the profile may freeze in an intermediate state, when the old number is still active, but the codes do not come to it.
It is also worth checking whether the device is activated with the Find Device feature, which, if enabled, may require additional confirmation or even prevent the number from being deleted without first disabling this option, as a protection against theft: a thief will not be able to untie the phone from the owner’s account, even if he has access to the menu.
Instructions: how to untie the number through the settings of the smartphone
The easiest and most reliable way to manage your tied numbers is to use the built-in settings menu of the Xiaomi smartphone itself, which works if you have physical access to the unlocked device and you know the password. The algorithm is the same for most MIUI and HyperOS shells.
To start, open the Security app or go to the phone's basic Settings. Find the account section. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same: you need to get into Mi Account profile management.
Next, follow the following steps:
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Mi Account (or click on the profile name at the top of the settings menu).
- 🔒 Select "Password and Security" or "Account Data».
- 📞 Find the line “phone number” and click on it.
- ✏️ Click on the “Change Number” or “Delete Number” button if this option is available directly.
The system will ask you to enter your account password and will likely send a confirmation code to the current associated number, and after you enter the code, you will be asked to enter a new phone number, and an SMS will also come to confirm it, and only after successful verification of the new number, the old one will be untied.
What to do if the “Change” button is inactive?
In some versions of the shell, the interface may suggest that you add a second number to restore without removing the first one, which is a useful feature that allows you to have a backup channel, but if the goal is to completely untie the old number, you should replace it in the main contact field.
What to do if the old number is lost or unavailable
The situation where the SIM card is lost, blocked or just located in another city is one of the most difficult. SMS-The code on the old number will not work in this case, but the developers of Xiaomi have provided alternative methods of verification.
When you try to change a number in the security menu when the system requests a code, look for the link "No phone access?" or "No code coming?" Clicking on this item triggers the access recovery procedure, you will be asked to answer a secret question if you installed it during registration, or use a backup email.
If these methods do not help, the only official option is to contact support through a special form on the website.
- 📝 Fill out the questionnaire on i.mi.com in the account recovery section.
- 📸 Provide scans of identity documents (passport).
- 📦 Attach a photo of the box from the device (IMEI must match) or purchase checks if the account is linked to a particular gadget.
The manual check process can take anywhere from a few days to two weeks, security personnel must make sure the request comes from the real owner, not the intruder, and once the check is successful, the old number will be untied manually, and you can tie a new one.
💡
Save the box from Xiaomi smartphone at least for the warranty period.Photo of the barcode from IMI-The code is often the only proof of ownership of the device when you restore access to your account.
It is worth noting that frequent attempts to enter or change data from different IP-The addresses may temporarily block the possibility of recovery, in which case it is better to wait 24 hours before re-applying.
Managing the number through the web interface Mi Account
If you don't have a smartphone, but you have a computer or tablet, you can manage your anchorages through your browser. The Mi Account Web interface provides full access to your security settings and allows you to manage trusted devices and phone numbers.
Go to the official account.xiaomi.com website and log in by entering your login (email or phone number) and password. After logging in, look for the Security section in the top menu or sidebar.
Here is all the information about the bindings:
| Type of data | Status | Action. |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile phone | Tie-in | Modify/Delete |
| Email address | Tie-in | Change. |
| Security issue | Installed | Drop it. |
| Trusted devices | Actively. | Management |
To change the number, click on the appropriate button in the mobile phone bar. The system will require you to confirm the operation. If the old number is not available, the web interface will also redirect you to the recovery procedure through email or support similar to the one described in the previous section.
The advantage of the web version is that it is easier to track activity history and the list of devices that have access to your account, and if you notice an unknown device, you can remove it directly from this menu, which will break the session and require re-authorization with the number confirmation.
Problems in uncoupling and ways of their solution
The process of unbundling a number doesn't always go smoothly. Users may encounter various bugs that are perplexing. One common problem is the message "Too many tries" or "Operation is not available in your area."
The first error usually occurs when you repeatedly enter confirmation codes incorrectly, in which case the account security blocks the possibility of changes for a certain time (from 1 hour to 24 hours), the only solution is to stop trying and wait.
The second mistake may be regional restrictions: If your account is registered in one region (e.g. China) and you try to change the number to another country (e.g. Russia or India), the system may fail, which can sometimes help to change the region in the settings of the smartphone before trying to unbundle.
There are also cases where the number is formally untied, but the device is left with the ghost of the old SIM card, which is solved by completely re-assigning: first you add a new number as a second, then the old one is deleted, and the new one is made the main one, then you need to log out on all devices and log in again.
⚠️ Warning: Never use third-party programs or services that promise to “hack” or untie a number without a password. These tools often contain viruses or are phishing sites to steal your data. There are no official “bugs” for free unblocking.
The impact of the number detachment on the work of Xiaomi services
Once you successfully change or delete your phone number, it's important to understand how that will affect your smartphone, and first of all, the way you get the login codes will change, and all notifications will come to a new number or backup email.
Find Device will continue to work, but the coordinates will only be transmitted after successful authorization with new data. If you plan to sell your phone, after unbundling the number, be sure to perform a full reset (Wipe Data), This is guaranteed to delete the account from the device's memory.
Some users fear that after unbundling the number will disappear purchased apps or themes from the Mi Store. We hasten to reassure: all purchases are tied to the account (login), not to the SIM card. Once you enter a new number and log in, all content will be available.
However, if you delete the number completely and do not link a new one, the risk of losing your account forever increases. If you forget your password, it will be extremely difficult to restore access without your phone, so always leave at least one current method of communication (email or a new number) tied to your profile.
💡
Number untidying is a change in contact information, not an account deletion. Your profile, purchases and cloud data are saved, only the way you restore access changes.