Many users face the incomprehensible situation of trying to reset or restore access to a Mi Account, the system requests confirmation on the “old device” – a standard security procedure implemented by the developers of the MIUI and HyperOS shell to protect the owner’s data. If you plan to sell your smartphone or simply change your gadget, it is important to understand where to look for these notifications and how to correctly complete the detachment process.
Searching for confirmation often causes panic, especially if the old phone is already sold, broken or just lying off. Xiaomi security requires proof that it is the owner who initiates the changes in the profile. In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible ways of obtaining a code or notification, and also consider the algorithms for actions for cases when access to the old device is physically impossible.
You need to be clear about the difference between simple in-app authorization and system sign-in confirmation. Account security is a priority, so you can't ignore requests. We've prepared a step-by-step guide to help you find the right option on the menu or bypass blocking in legal ways, while retaining access to your photos, contacts and cloud data.
What does the confirmation request on the previous device mean?
A “find this name on your old device” or similar wording appears when the system records an attempt to log in to your Mi Account from a new device. IP-It's a two-factor authentication mechanism that's designed to protect you from intruders, so if someone steals your password, they still can't log in without physically accessing your phone to verify it.
Often users confuse this with activation blocking, but this is exactly about verifying a trusted device. Mi Cloud and Xiaomi security services track such events in real time. If you see such a message, then the server has already received a request and is waiting for the green light from your main gadget.
It is important not to ignore such requests unless you have tried to log in to your account, otherwise it is a signal that your data may be at risk, and for the legal owner, it is just a setup step that requires careful attention.
⚠️ Note: Never enter confirmation codes that have come into your account. SMS or push notifications, if you're not trying to log in right now, it could be a phishing attempt or a hack.
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Enable notifications from Xiaomi system apps to keep your sign-in confirmation requests from being missed, even if your phone is in Do Not Disturb mode.
Where to look for notifications in the MIUI and HyperOS interface
If you have physical access to an old phone, it takes only a few seconds to find confirmation, and most often, the notification appears automatically as a pop-up immediately after you try to log in from a new device, and you don't have to go anywhere, the system will grab attention.
However, if you close a window or it's gone, you need to go to the settings manually. The main path is through the security menu. You need to open Settings, then find the Mi Account section (usually at the top of the list) or go to Security → Account Security, which is where active sessions and requests are stored.
In some firmware versions, especially in early MIUI builds, the notification may be hidden in the Security app (a green shield icon), and inside it you should select the Account Protection tab or the Device Status tab, where you will hang a pending request with a “Confirm” or “This is me” button.
☑️ Verification of the location of the notification
If you don't see a request anywhere, try checking notification history. Sometimes system messages get lost among app ads, and make sure that the old device has an active Internet connection, as without a network, the request will not come.
Alternative methods of obtaining a confirmation code
It's not always convenient to unlock an old phone, especially if it's far away or dead. Fortunately, the system provides alternative verification methods. When a confirmation request screen appears, look for the "Other Ways" or "No Device Access" button, and clicking on it will open up additional options.
The most common option is to receive SMS-The system will send a short message with a digital code that you need to enter into the input field. SIM-The card is in the new phone, the main thing is that the number matches what is indicated in the profile of the Mi-account.
The second option is to use a backup email. If you provided an email address when you register, the code can come there. Check the inbox and, of course, the Spam folder, as automatic emails from Xiaomi services often get there.
| Method of confirmation | Conditions required | Speed of receipt |
|---|---|---|
| Push notification | Access to the old phone, internet | Instantly. |
| SMS-code | Access to SIM-card, operator communication | 1-5 minutes |
| Email code | Access to the mailbox | 1-10 minutes |
| Voice call | Access to the phone to receive the call | 2-5 minutes |
⚠️ Warning: Make sure the old device has the correct time and date.Dissynchronizing the time can cause push notifications from Xiaomi servers to not arrive.
Actions in the absence of access to the old device
The situation when the old phone is not at hand (sold, lost, broken) is the most difficult, in which case a standard search for confirmation on the device is impossible. You will have to use the procedure of restoring access through the web interface. Go to the official website i.mi.com or account.xiaomi.com from a computer or other smartphone.
You'll need to enter your username and password. When the system requests confirmation, select "I don't have access to this device," and you'll start the identity verification process, and you'll be asked to answer a secret question (if it's been installed) or send the code to a backup contact.
If none of the automatic methods work, only manual call to support or wait, sometimes the system suggests to “delay” confirmation or enter restricted mode, but to fully unlock all functions still need to go through verification.
What to do if your old phone is sold?
This protects your data from theft even when you physically access the device.
Remote management via Mi Cloud
For those who have lost a device or can't get to it, there's a powerful tool called the Mi Cloud, which is that when you log into your account through your browser, you're in a control panel that duplicates many of the phone's functions, and you can not only find the phone on the map, but also manage its security.
The Find Device section shows a list of all the gadgets tied to your Mi Account. If you select the right "old device," you'll see the control buttons. One is "Get out" or "Delete the device," which will force you to break the session and can help remove the confirmation lock if the system allows you to do so remotely.
But there's a caveat: to execute remote commands, the phone needs to be on and connected to the Internet. If the device is turned off, the command will be executed as soon as it appears on the network.
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Remote control via Mi Cloud is the only way to untie the device if you don’t have physical access to it, but the phone is still online.
You can also turn on Lost Mode in the cloud, which locks the screen and lets you display the message, which won't help with sign-in confirmation, but will keep the data safe while you're solving the access problem.
How to properly untie the device before selling
To never face the problem of finding confirmation on the previous device, you need to properly prepare the gadget for sale or transfer to another person. A simple reset to factory settings (Wipe Data) is often not enough if you do not perform a pre-decoupling of the account.
The correct algorithm is this: first you log out of your Mi Account in the settings, then log out of your Google account, and then you reset. Signing out automatically removes your device from the trusted list on Xiaomi servers.
If you simply reset without leaving your account, Action Lock will be activated. The new owner will see an activation screen that requires the previous owner's password. To avoid this, always check the list of devices in your account settings before selling.
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Mi-account.
- 🔻 Click the “Exit” button at the bottom of the list.
- 🗑️ Confirm the deletion of data from the device (if desired).
- ✅ Make sure that the device list on i.mi.com no longer shows up as active.
⚠️ Note: If you sell a phone with Mi Account lock enabled, the buyer will not be able to use it.This is considered a defect and the transaction can be terminated.