Xiaomi’s “Consent Withdrawal”: What It Is and How to Use It in 2026

If you’ve ever looked at the privacy settings on a Xiaomi smartphone, you’ve probably encountered the mysterious “Revoke Consent” feature that appears on the Mi Account menu, but not everyone understands what it’s for and what the consequences of activating it are, and misuse can lead to service lockdowns or even loss of access to the device.

In this article, we will explore what withdrawal of consent is in the Xiaomi ecosystem, how it relates to the processing of personal data, and why this option has become especially relevant after the tightening of European privacy laws. GDPR). You’ll also learn how to check current permissions, what data the company collects, and what to do if the suddenly feature appears in your settings for no apparent reason. We will also focus on the hidden risks of withdrawal of consent for owners of smart devices (for example, robot vacuum cleaners or cameras), where this option can disrupt the operation of cloud functions.

The Revocation Consent function is a mechanism that allows the user to unilaterally revoke previously granted permissions to process personal data, and in the context of Xiaomi, there are three key types of consents:

  • 📱 Telemetry and diagnostics collection – data on device usage, system errors, performance.
  • 🌍 Location Services – Access to location for services like Mi Cloud or Find Device.
  • 🔄 Personalized Advertising – Using your data to target ads in MIUI.

Legally, this option appeared in Xiaomi after it came into force. GDPR (2018 and similar laws in other regions, the company is obliged to provide users with tools to control their data. ROM) The function may work differently or not at all – this is due to local legislation.

It is important to understand: withdrawal of consent ≠ Mi Account deletion is two different processes: the first one simply restricts the company's access to your data, and the second completely erases the profile from the system, while partial recall (for example, only for advertising) is not possible in all regions.

📊 Have you ever used the consent revocation function in Xiaomi?
Yeah, I've disabled data collection.
Yes, but by accident, I had to re-establish it.
No, I didn't know about that function.
I tried, but nothing changed.

What data Xiaomi collects and how to disable it

By default, Xiaomi devices collect extensive telemetry, which can be divided into mandatory (for services) and additional (for software improvement).

Type of dataExamplesCan I turn it off?
Basic telemetryDevice model, version MIUI, system language, failure dataPartially (in the developer settings)
Use of applicationsProgram launch frequency, time of useYes (in Settings) → Confidentiality)
Location.Coordinators GPS, near-points of Wi-FiYes (separately for each service)
Advertising profileInterests, Demography, Behavior in MIUIYes (in Settings) → Xiaomi account → Advertising)

To disable data collection:

  1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Special permissions.
  2. Select permissions management and disable unnecessary options.
  3. For full withdrawal of consent, go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Withdrawal of consent.

Open “Settings» → «Confidentiality»

Check the section "Special Permits"

Disable “Personalized Recommendations”

Log in to Xiaomi Account and click “Consent withdrawal” (if necessary)

Reset the device to apply changes-->

Note that once consent is withdrawn, some features may stop working, such as Find Device requiring geolocation access and Mi Cloud requiring telemetry for synchronization.

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If after the withdrawal of consent, cloud backups are missing, check the settings in Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization. Permissions may need to be reconfirmed.

Many users complain that after using the consent revocation function, the device starts to have problems, and these are the most common consequences:

  • 🔴 Find Device is not working – you can’t find your lost smartphone via i.mi.com.
  • 🔴 Sync errors – Contacts, notes, and photos stop updating in the cloud.
  • 🔴 Ad blocking – instead of targeted ads, random banners are shown.
  • 🔴 Problems with updates — OTA-Updates may come with a delay or require manual installation.

This is especially critical for Xiaomi’s smart devices (such as Mi Robot Vacuum vacuum cleaners or Mi Home Security cameras).

  • 📵 Stop sending traffic notifications.
  • 🌐 Lose communication with Mi Home servers.
  • 🔄 Requires re-linking to the account.
What if the cloud functions stopped working after the consent was withdrawn?
If cloud services are missing, try: 1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Security and reset permissions. 2. Delete your account from your device and log in again. 3. Check your account region (c Settings) → Additionally. → Region: some features only work for Europe or China. If nothing helps, contact Xiaomi with the device model and screenshot of the bug.

Interesting fact: on some firmware (for example, MIUI Global for India) withdrawal of consent may result in automatic reset of advertising ID, This will cause apps to display ads in Hindi or other local languages.

If you do decide to limit data collection, follow this instruction to avoid errors:

  1. Backup: Before revoking consent, save important data (contacts, photos, notes) to Mi Cloud or your computer. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
  2. Check the attached devices: Open the settings → Xiaomi account → Devices and remember the list of gadgets, and once consent is withdrawn, some of them may be uncoupled.
  3. Revoke Consent: Go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Withdrawal of consent (or Privacy) → Revoke Consent in global version.
  4. Reboot the device: This is necessary for the changes to take effect. Without a reboot, some services can continue to work in the old mode.
  5. Check the key features: Make sure Find Device, Mi Cloud, and other services work correctly. If not, restore permissions (see next section).

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Withdrawal of consent does not delete the data already collected, it only stops its further collection.To completely erase your information from Xiaomi databases, you need to submit a request to delete your account through the support form.

On devices with China ROM For example, on the Redmi Note 11 for China, the option is hidden in Settings. → Additionally. → Confidentiality → Permit management.

If important functions have ceased to work after disabling data collection, you can restore them in two ways:

Method 1: Re-granting permits

  1. Go to Settings. → Xiaomi account → Permit management.
  2. Enable back the options you need (e.g., Data Sync or Location).
  3. Confirm the action through SMS or email if required).

Method 2: Resetting privacy settings

If the first method does not work:

  1. Go to Settings → System → Resetting settings.
  2. Select Reset App Settings (not a full reset!).
  3. After the reboot, re-enter your Mi Account and set up permissions.

Smart devices (such as Xiaomi Mi Band or Mi Smart Clock) may require:

  • 🔄 Reconnect to the Mi Home app.
  • 📱 Update the firmware of the gadget through Settings → About the device → Update of the PO.
  • 🌐 Change your account to European (if you are in the EU).

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If Mi Cloud doesn’t sync photos after restoring permissions, try manually starting the process: open the gallery, click on three dots. → «Settings» → «Cloud synchronization» → «Synchronize now».

Many people confuse withdrawal of consent with deletion of an account, but these are fundamentally different processes:

ParameterWithdrawal of consentDeletion of account
Account statusThe account remains activeThe account is completely deleted after 30 days.
Data in the cloudMaintained but not updatedRemoved irrevocably
Access to devicesRe-authorization may be requiredAll gadgets are untied automatically
RecoveryYou can return the permissions at any time.Cannot be restored after 30 days

Withdrawal of consent is a reversible process, you can re-grant permissions and return functionality at any time, and deleting an account, on the contrary, has irreversible consequences:

  • 💀 Loss of all data in Mi Cloud (photos, contacts, notes).
  • 🔒 Blocking devices with an account link (for example, Xiaomi Scooter will stop working).
  • 🛒 Loss of purchases in the Mi Store (applications, subscriptions).

If you only need to limit data collection, use withdrawal of consent. Delete your account only as a last resort - for example, when selling all Xiaomi devices or switching to another brand.

What happens if you delete your Mi Account without untidying your device?
Devices linked to a remote account can: - Lock (a request to log in to a non-existent account will appear on the screen). - Lose functionality (for example, Mi Band will stop displaying notifications). - Require a factory reset for re-association. You can restore access to such gadgets only through Xiaomi support with the provision of proof of purchase.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When using the consent revocation function, users often make critical mistakes, and here are the most common ones and ways to prevent them:

  • ❌ Withdrawal of consent on the device with China ROM
  • ❌ Ignoring backups
  • ❌ Withdrawal of consent for all devices at once
  • ❌ Use of the function on devices with unlocked bootloader

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Before revoking consent on a custom firmware device, check if it uses Xiaomi services (such as the Mi Push Framework for notifications). If so, drop the idea or be prepared for failure.

Another common problem is that you have a withdrawal notice without you, and it can happen because of:

  • 🔄 Automatic reset of permits after updating MIUI.
  • 📵 Conflict with ad blocking apps (e.g. Blokada or AdGuard).
  • 🛠️ Xiaomi server errors (in this case, the problem is solved by itself in 24-48 hours).
❓ What happens if you withdraw consent on a smartphone, but do not touch smart devices (vacuum cleaner, light bulbs)?
Smart devices will continue to work, but may lose communication with the Mi Home account. For example, the robot vacuum cleaner will stop sending notifications about cleaning, and the light bulbs will not be able to turn on on schedule through the cloud. Local control (via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth) will remain available.
❓ Can you withdraw consent only for advertising without affecting other data?
Yes, in most regions (except China) you can only turn off personalized ads. → Xiaomi account → Advertisements and deactivate the Personalized Ads option.This will not affect Mi Cloud or Find Device performance.
❓ Why did you stop coming after the withdrawal of consent? OTA-update?
Xiaomi uses telemetry data to distribute updates, and without it, the system may not see your device as suitable for an update. Solution: temporarily return permissions, upgrade your smartphone, and then revoke consent.
❓ How to Check What Data Xiaomi Collects About My Device?
You can request an archive of your data through the form at account.xiaomi.com. Go to the Privacy section» → «Request data. The archive will be sent to the email within 30 days and will include logs of use, location history (if permitted) and other information.
❓ Does the withdrawal of consent work on devices? POCO or Redmi?
Yes, the feature is available on all devices under control MIUI, including POCO The path to settings may vary slightly (for example, on the POCO F5 option hidden in Settings → PapaSSWORD & SECURITY → Privacy, but the essence remains the same.