Changing an account on a Xiaomi Redmi 8 smartphone is a procedure that every device owner sooner or later faces. The reasons can be different: buying a used gadget, wanting to separate work correspondence from personal, or having to enter a new region to access specific content from the GetApps store. Regardless of motivation, the process requires care, since improper actions can lead to the locking of the device or the loss of important data.
The MIUI operating system on Redmi 8 has its own user profiles, and two major ecosystems intertwine here: global Google and proprietary Mi Account. Understanding the difference between the two is critical, because deleting or changing one account doesn't always affect the other, but both can affect smartphone functionality. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the algorithms for both.
Before you start technical manipulation, you need to be aware of the risks. Modern security systems such as FRP (Factory Reset Protection) are designed to protect against theft, but often become an obstacle for legal users when changing ownership. If you plan to completely clean the phone before selling or transferring to another person, the procedure must be performed in a strict order to avoid blocking the activation.
Differences between Google and Mi Account on Redmi 8
Many users confuse the two terms as synonymous, but in the Xiaomi ecosystem, they perform completely different functions: Google Account is necessary for working with the Play Market store, synchronizing contacts, calendar, Gmail and navigation. Without it, the smartphone becomes a limited-opportunity “caller”.
In turn, Mi Account is an internal manufacturer service that serves to operate the cloud storage Mi Cloud, find a lost device through the function “Find a device”, as well as to synchronize notes and voice recordings between the gadgets of the brand.
- 📱 Google: Access to Play Market, YouTube, Gmail, Google Photos and sync contacts Android.
- ☁️ Mi Account: Cloud Backup MIUI, phone search, design theme and synchronization of system applications.
- 🔒 Security: Google protects against resetting via FRP, Mi Account locks the device when you try to flash without leaving the profile.
It's important to understand that when selling a phone, you need to log out of both accounts, and if you just delete your Google account but forget about your Mi Account, the new owner will be required to enter the password for the old Mi Account when you turn it on, a standard security measure that you can't get around with simple methods.
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Before changing your account, be sure to complete data sync so you don’t lose important contacts and photos. Go to your account settings and click Sync Now.
Preparation for changing the account
The Redmi 8, like other devices in the lineup, has security mechanisms that can lock the phone if the internet connection is cut off at a critical moment or if incorrect data is entered, so the first step should always be to prepare.
You need to make sure you remember passwords from your current accounts. If you plan to delete a Google account, the system can request proof of identity, it is also critical to have a stable connection to the Wi-Fi network or mobile Internet, without access to authorization servers, you will not be able to complete the process of unbundling the device.
☑️ Redmi 8 Prepares to Change Account
Pay attention to the amount of internal memory you have, and if you plan to create a new account and upload data right away, there should be plenty of space available, and if you have bank or two-factor authenticators installed on your phone, you will have to reconfigure them once you change your profile.
⚠️ Warning: If you bought your phone with your hands and you see a screen when you turn on that requires you to enter your previous owner's account, no manipulation inside the menu will help you.
How to delete a Google account in Xiaomi
Deleting Google profile is a standard procedure available in the system settings. However, on the MIUI shell, the path to these settings may be slightly different from “pure” Android. To begin, open the Settings menu and find a section that may be called Accounts and Syncs or simply Accounts.
In the list that opens, you'll see all the services associated with the account. Find the Google logo and click on it. Choose the email address you want if there are more than one. In the account management menu that opens, you'll find the Delete Account or Sign Out button. The system will issue a warning that all the data associated with the profile (contacts, mail) will be deleted from the device.
Settings → Accounts and sync → Google → Select an account → Delete an accountAfter confirmation of the action, the phone may be required to enter PIN-The unlock code or the pattern lock is a security measure that prevents the deletion of profiles by unauthorized persons. Once you enter the code, the account will be untied. Now, when you reset the settings, this Google account will no longer be requested to activate.
It is worth noting that deleting a Google account does not affect files uploaded to the phone’s memory (photos, music, documents) unless they are stored exclusively in the Google Drive cloud. SIM-The card disappears from the contact list.
Exit from Mi Account and uncoupling of the device
Mi Account requires more care. Unlike Google, this account is deeply integrated into Xiaomi's security. To exit your profile, go to Settings and click on the line with your name or Mi Account avatar at the top of the menu.
At the bottom of the screen, you'll find the exit button, and when you press it, the system will alert you that Find Device will be disabled and the cloud data will no longer sync. If the device search function is enabled, the phone will require you to enter the Mi Account password to confirm your exit, so that the thief can't untie the stolen phone.
| Action. | Consequence | Password requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Deleting Google Account | Play Market and Mail Access Lost | Often (PIN-screen-code) |
| Exit from Mi Account | Phone search and Mi Cloud will be shut down | Definitely (if search is included) |
| Resetting (Hard Reset) | Complete deletion of data | Required after reset (FRP/Mi Lock) |
If you forget your Mi Account password, you can restore it through i.mi.com using a linked phone number or backup email. Without re-establishing your Mi Account, you will not be able to log out of your phone profile, and therefore you will not be able to transfer the device to another user without the risk of blocking.
What to do if the “Off” button is inactive?
Adding a new account and setting up the initial
Once you successfully delete your old profiles, you can start adding new ones. If you just reset, this step will occur in the original setup wizard. If you just change the user on a working phone, the process looks different. To add a new Google account, open Settings → Accounts and Sync and click Add Account.
Select the Google logo from the list. You will open an authorization window where you need to enter a new email and password. The system will offer you to configure backups, payment data and other services. It is recommended to immediately enable contact synchronization so that the new address book is saved in the cloud.
To log in to Mi Account, the actions are similar: the top menu settings → Signing in to an existing account or registering a new one, Xiaomi will require a phone number for verification when registering a new profile.
- 📲 Verification: the specified number will come SMS confirmation-coded.
- 🔐 Two-factor protection: it is recommended to immediately link an additional email for recovery.
- 🌍 Region: When creating Mi Account, it is important to choose the right region, as the set of available themes and services depends on it.
Once you log in to the new Mi Account, the phone may offer to restore data from the cloud. If you are switching from an old Xiaomi, this is a convenient way to migrate Wi-Fi settings, icons and passwords. However, if you are setting up the phone from scratch, it is better to refuse to restore, so as not to endure old errors or debris.
⚠️ Note: Do not log into your personal Mi Account on other people's or suspicious devices. The device owner can theoretically access your synchronized photos and contacts via the cloud web interface.
Solving activation blockage problems (FRP and Mi Lock)
The most difficult situation is when the user forgot to log out before resetting, in which case FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection for Google and Mi Lock for Xiaomi is triggered. The phone after reset requires you to enter a password from the account that was synchronized with the device before the reset.
If it's your phone and you just forgot your password, the only legal way to restore access through the recovery procedures on Google or Xiaomi sites. For Google, it's the "Forgot your password?" link on the input screen. For Mi Account, it's the phone number recovery via id.mi.com.
If the phone is bought from hand and locked by someone else’s account, the situation becomes complicated: officially unlock such a device can only be provided with a check of purchase to an authorized Xiaomi service center. Third-party methods of circumventing FRP are often temporary or require complex software that can contain viruses.
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The first rule of security is to always log out of all accounts (Google and Mi) before performing Hard Reset or transferring the phone to another person.
There is also the concept of Unlock Bootloader, a procedure that allows custom firmware to be installed, but it requires a device to be linked to the Mi Account for 7 days (168 hours) and an official permission from the company. Without an unlocked bootloader, deep modification of the system is impossible.