How to find a Xiaomi device: all the ways to track your smartphone, watch and headphones

Lost Xiaomi gadget? Don't panic - here's how to find it

Losing a smartphone, smartwatch or Xiaomi headphones is stressful, but not a hopeless situation. Today’s devices come with multiple layers of protection and search tools that work even when the gadget is turned off or discharged. In this article, we’ll look at all the official and alternative ways to find a Xiaomi device, from the standard Find Device service to the little-known features of MIUI.

It's important to understand that search performance depends on whether the appropriate settings were enabled in advance. If you're reading this article before you lose your device, click through to the training section. If you're already lost, start with the first method and check all options in order. Some methods work even when your phone is lying without a SIM card or in airplane mode.

Method 1: Xiaomi’s Official Find Device Service

The most reliable search tool is the built-in Find Device (formerly called Mi Cloud Find Device), which works through a Mi Account and allows you not only to determine the location, but also lock the device or erase data from it remotely.

To use the service:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in with the same account that is linked to the lost device.
2. In the menu on the left, select Find Device (or Device Management in the Russian version).
3. The map will show the last known location of the gadget, if the device is online, the coordinates are updated in real time.

Additional features of the service:

• 🔔 Sound signal – the device will start to ring loudly (works even if there was a silent mode).
• 🔒 Blocking – you can set a password on the screen if it was not.
• 🗑️ Deletion of data – complete reset to factory settings (irreversible!).
• 📱 Viewing information – model, charge level, network connection status.

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If the device is power-saving, Find Device can display location with a delay of up to 30 minutes. To speed up the upgrade, try sending the command "Sound signal" - this will wake the gadget.

The service works on all Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark devices released after 2016. Older models (such as the Mi 3 or Redmi Note 2) may need to manually activate the feature via Mi Account → Find Device settings.

Method 2: Google Find My Device (Android)

If you have a Google account on your Xiaomi, you can use Google’s alternative Find My Device service, which has the advantage of working even if the Mi Cloud service is disabled, as well as more accurate geolocation in some regions.

Instructions for use:

1. Open google.com/android/find and log in to your Google account.
2. At the top of the screen, select the lost device from the list (if there are several).
3. The map will show the current or last known location.

Functions of Google service:

• 📍 Precise geolocation with Google Maps binding (often more accurate than Xiaomi’s).
• 🔔 5 minutes sound signal (maximum volume, even if there was silent mode).
• 🔒 Locking the device with the ability to leave a message on the lock screen (for example, a phone number for communication).
• 🗑️ Erasure of data – complete reset (requires password confirmation from Google account).

Important: if the device is disabled Google Geolocation Services or Device Search in the account settings, the service will not be able to determine the location, but the audio signal and lock will work anyway.

Method 3: Search for Xiaomi smart watches and fitness bracelets

For wearables (Mi Band, Xiaomi Watch, Redmi Watch), the search algorithm is different. GPS-module (except for models marked with a mark) GPS in the name), so their location is determined through a connected smartphone.

How to find a smart watch or bracelet:

1. Make sure that the gadget is connected to the smartphone through the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp Life for new models).
2. Open the app and check the Devices section → [name of your watch].
3. If the watch is in range of Bluetooth (up to 10 meters), press Find the device - the gadget will begin to vibrate and blink.

For GPS models (Xiaomi Watch S3, Mi Band 8 Pro):

• 🌍 You can see the history of routes in the application (section Activity) → Map).
• 📱 If the watch was connected to the phone, its last location can be displayed in Xiaomi’s Find Device.

If you lost your watch on the street, try to return it through Lost Watch in your city, and many finders check the wristbands for contacts in the app profile.

Method 4: Search for Xiaomi headphones (AirDots, Buds, etc.)

Xiaomi headphones (AirDots, Buds, FlipBuds) are searched differently than smartphones or watches. They don't have GPS, but there's a built-in Bluetooth module that can be used to search within a radius of 10-15 meters.

Search instructions:

1. Open the Mi Home app (or Xiaomi Wear for new models).
2. Select your headphones in the list of devices.
3. Click Find headphones – they will start to emit a loud beep (if the charge is above 10%).

Additional advice:

• 🎧 For Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro and later available function Radar - shows an approximate direction on the headphones (works through the UWB-chip).
• 🔋 If the headphones are dead, you can only find them visually. Check the places where you usually put them (pockets of jackets, bags, bedside table).
• 📦 Included with headphones is a case – often it is found separately from the headphones themselves.

If the headphones are lost on the street, the chances of their return are minimal, but you can try to post an ad on local social media groups with a photo of the headphones and indicating the place of loss.

Method 5: Alternative Search Methods

If the standard methods didn’t work, try these options:

If you are sure that the phone was stolen, immediately contact the police with a statement, provide them with IMEI devices (can be found in a box or check), Mi Account information and the last known location from Find Device.

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No service guarantees 100% of a device's discovery, and the faster you start searching, the better the odds. The first 2-3 hours after a loss are critical!

How to Prepare Xiaomi Device for Possible Loss

To quickly find the lost gadget in the future, set these parameters in advance:

Enable Find Device in Mi Account|Add backup email to Google |Record device IMEI (on the box or in *#06#)|Enable geodata transfer for Google |Establish password on lock screen-->

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Find Device: Settings → Mi Account → Find Device → Enable Make sure the switch is active and the green tick is on.
2. Check geolocation: Settings → Privacy → Resolutions → Geodata → Enable For accurate location, select High Accuracy mode.
3. Set up a Google account: Settings → Google → Security → Find My Device → Enable Also add a backup email and phone number to restore access.

Additional security measures:

• 📝 Save it. IMEI You can find it in the cloud or on paper by command *#06# or on a sticker under the battery (for older models).
• 🔐 Set a complex password or graphical key on the lock screen, which will protect the data even if someone else finds the phone.
• 📱 Enable the option of Locking after reset in the Mi Account settings – this will prevent the phone from being used after the factory reset.

For smartwatches and headphones:

• Link them to your Mi Account account through the official app.
• Enable connection break notifications (in Bluetooth settings).
• For models with GPS (Mi Band 8 Pro, Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro) activate the Emergency SOS function.

What to do if the device is found but blocked

If you found your Xiaomi but don’t remember the lock screen password, there are several ways to unlock:

For smartphones:

• 🔑 Use Mi Account: On the lock screen, click Forgot your password?" → Enter the username and password from Mi Account → Reset the lock. It only works if the device is connected to the Internet.
• 📧 Restore via Google: After 5 failed attempts to enter a password, the button Forgot the pattern lock will appear? → Enter data from your Google account.

For a smartwatch:

• Reset to factory settings via a physical button (usually you need to pinch it for 10-15 seconds).
• Reconnect to your phone via the Mi Fitness or Zepp Life app.

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If you buy a used Xiaomi device, always check if it is untied from the previous Mi Account. Otherwise, the original owner will be able to block the gadget remotely.

If none of these things work, you'll have to reset completely through Fastboot or Recovery. You can find instructions for a particular model on the 4PDA forum, and remember, this will delete all the data from the device.

FAQ: Frequent questions about finding Xiaomi devices