What to do if you lose Xiaomi: the first steps
Losing a smartphone is stressful, especially if the device stores personal data, photos or access to banking applications. Xiaomi (including Redmi models, POCO and Mi 11/12/13) provides several ways to remotely lock, but their effectiveness depends on the preliminary settings. Unless you have disabled the Mi Account and reset the phone to factory settings, the chances of regaining control of the device are high.
The first rule is: act fast. The sooner you lock your smartphone, the less risk that attackers will gain access to your data. Start by checking the last location through Find My Device (Google) or Find Device (Xiaomi), but don't waste time searching - immediately go to lock. If the phone is turned off or discharged, some features may work later, the first time you connect to the Internet.
Important: If the device has enabled two-factor authentication (2FA) for Mi Account, it will be more difficult for attackers to reset settings. However, this does not guarantee 100% protection - experienced scammers can bypass the lock through an engineering menu or firmware reflash.
Method 1: Blocking through Mi Account (official method)
The most reliable way to do this is to use Xiaomi’s Find Device service, which is linked to your Mi Account. SIM-The card is extracted, but requires that the phone be turned on mobile Internet or Wi-Fi.
Instructions:
- 🌐 Go to account.xiaomi.com and log in to your account.
- 🔍 In the Devices section, select the lost smartphone (if it is linked to your account).
- 🔒 Click Find the device, then select Block.
- 📝 Enter a new unlock password (at least 6 characters) and confirm the action.
Once locked, a message will appear on the phone screen with your contact (if you have specified it) and the attacker will not be able to unlock the device without entering a new password, even after rebooting. However, if the phone has disabled the Find Device feature or it has been reset before locking, this method will not work.
Make sure your phone is linked to Mi Account|
Check if the mobile internet/Wi-Fi on the device is enabled |
Prepare a spare email/phone to restore access |
Write down the new lock password to a secure location-->
Method 2: Google Find My Device
If the Mi Account was not tied or you don’t remember the login details, use Google Find My Device, which works on all Xiaomi smartphones with Google services installed (which is relevant for global firmware).
How to block:
- Open Google Find My Device and sign in to the Google account that has been synced to your phone.
- In the list of devices, select the lost Xiaomi.
- Press Device Security → Lock the device.
- Enter the password to unlock and contact number (optional).
Limitations of the method:
- ❌ Does not work if the phone is disabled Google Play Services or Remote management.
- ❌ After resetting to factory settings, the lock is removed (if Factory Reset Protection was not activated).
- ❌ On some custom firmware (for example, Xiaomi.EU) the function can be disabled.
💡
If your phone is turned off, send a lock command, which will be executed the next time you connect to the Internet, this applies to both Mi Account and Google Find My Device.
Method 3: Blocking through a communications operator
If you can't use online services, contact your mobile operator. They may block you. SIM-the card and, in some cases, the device itself IMEI. This will not replace software blocking, but will prevent calls and mobile internet use.
How it works:
- 📞 Call the operator support (numbers: 0611 for MTS, 0890 for Beeline, 555 for MegaFon, 115 for Tele2).
- 🆔 Provide the operator with passport details and phone number (or IMEI, if).
- 🚫 Ask for a lockdown. SIM-map and, if possible, the device based on stolen phones.
Important: Blocking by IMEI The operator does not guarantee that the phone will be unavailable for use. SIM-But it's going to make it harder to sell the phone on the secondary market.
What is IMEI and where to get it?
What to do if the phone has already been dropped?
If the attackers have managed to reset the factory settings (Hard Reset), the chances of remote locking are sharply reduced, but there are several steps that will help protect the data:
- Check Factory Reset Protection (FRP) activation: If Google protection was enabled on the phone (requires you to enter an account after a reset), the device will be locked before entering your data.
- Change passwords: Update passwords from Mi Account, Google, social media and banking apps immediately.
- Revoke Access: In Google’s settings (myaccount.google.com/security), check the device list and remove the lost Xiaomi.
If FRP has not been activated, the phone can be unlocked by bypassing security (for example, using the Mi Flash Tool or special service codes), in which case you can only hope for the honesty of the finder or report theft to the police.
Yeah, but I found it myself.|
Yeah, but I didn't.|
No, I never lost |
I remember.-->
Additional security measures for the future
To minimize the risks of future phone loss, set up Xiaomi in advance:
| Function | Where to turn it on | Why do you need it? |
|---|---|---|
| Find Device (Xiaomi) | Settings → Mi Account → Find Device | Remote locking and phone search |
| Factory Reset Protection (FRP) | Automatically activated when you add a Google account | Blocks the phone after reset without entering an account |
| Remote management (Google) | Settings → Google → Security → Find My Device | Blocking and clearing data through Google |
| Encryption of data | Settings → About the phone → Encryption | Protecting files when physically accessing your phone |
It is also recommended that:
- 🔐 Set a password or pattern lock (at least 6 characters).
- 📱 Enable two-factor authentication for Mi Account and Google.
- 📡 Disable Debugging by USB In Settings → Developers (if not used).
- 📎 Regularly backup your Mi Cloud or Google Drive.
💡
Even if you haven't lost your phone, check your security settings right now.Most users only think of Find Device and FRP after an incident, when it's too late.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Many Xiaomi users make critical mistakes that make it difficult to recover access after a loss.
⚠️ Warning: Never keep your Mi Account or Google passwords in your phone notes, and the first thing that attackers will do is check apps like Notes or Google Keep.
Error 1: Disabled Find Device
Many people turn off this feature to save battery life, but without it, you can't remotely lock your phone. Solution: turn on Find Device and add it to battery optimization exceptions (Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization).
Error 2: No backup copy
If the phone is stolen and there is no backup, you will lose all data. Solution: set up automatic backup in Mi Cloud (Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup).
Error 3: Using a simple password
Passwords like 123456 or qwerty are broken in seconds, so you can set a complex password (a combination of letters, numbers and symbols) and enable biometric authentication (a fingerprint or Face ID).