How to safely change your Google account on your Xiaomi phone: instructions with pictures

Changing a Google account on Xiaomi smartphones is a procedure that every second user of the brand faces. The reasons can be different: selling a device, switching to a new account, sync problems or even locking after resetting. But if it takes a couple of minutes on pure Android, then there are often nuances on MIUI - from requiring a password to automatically linking to a Mi Account that is forgotten to be disabled.

Many Redmi, POCO or Mi users experience a “Device Reset. Enter your previous Google account” error after a hard reset. This is not a bug, but a FRP (Factory Reset Protection) feature that Xiaomi has integrated into its shell. Without the right sequence of actions, the phone can turn into a “brick.” In this article, we will examine all the ways to change your account, from standard deletion to bypassing FRP on locked devices.

The MIUI feature is that there are two types of accounts: Google (for Play Market, Gmail, YouTube) and Mi Account (for Xiaomi cloud, theme store and sync), which often require adjustments and the second, and we will show you how to do this without data loss and the risk of blocking.

If you have purchased a used Xiaomi smartphone and the previous owner has not deleted your profile, or just want to move to a new account, follow the instructions below. For convenience, we have divided the process into stages taking into account different scenarios: when the phone is unlocked, when it is locked after reset, and when you need to completely remove all bindings.

1.Preparing for a change in Google account: what to do in advance

Before you delete an old account, make sure you don't lose important data. Xiaomi syncs contacts, photos and notes with both Google and Mi Account.If you just delete the profile, some of the information can disappear without the ability to recover.

Here is the checklist before changing your account:

Make a backup copy of your contacts in VCF-file|Save photos from Google Photos to a memory card|Export data from Mi Cloud (if used)|Remember or reset your password from your old Google account|Untie Payment Cards in Google Pay-->

Pay special attention to Google Pay — if you don’t untie your bank cards, they will remain tied to your old account and you will have to add them again, as well as subscriptions to services (for example, YouTube Premium or Google One), which can continue to charge funds from the old profile.

If you plan to sell or transfer a smartphone, make sure to exit Mi Account in the settings. Otherwise, the new owner will not be able to log into your Xiaomi account, and you risk that your data will remain on the device. To check the binding, go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Account Management.

⚠️ Note: If you delete your Google account without first disabling FRP (After reset protection, the phone will require you to enter your old profile data the next time you turn on. This applies to all Xiaomi models on Android 5.1 and later.

2. Standard method: delete Google account through settings

The easiest method is when the phone is unlocked and you know the password from your current account. This is suitable for most models of Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Mi 11/12/13 and others on MIUI 12/13/14.

Step instructions:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to Accounts and Sync (some firmware may have passwords and accounts).
3. Select Google and the list of linked accounts will open.
4. Tap the profile you want, then click Delete Account (or Delete Account on new versions of MIUI).
5. Confirm the action by entering the password or pattern lock of the device.

After deleting, the system will suggest adding a new account. If you want to completely reset your bindings, skip this step and proceed to adding a profile later through Settings → Google → Add an account.

On some models (e.g. Redmi 9A or POCO M3), you may need to reboot your device after you delete your Google account. If you don’t add a new profile, restart and try again.

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If there is no Delete button in the list of accounts, try first to disable sync for all services (contacts, calendar, Gmail), then try again.

3 How to add a new Google account to Xiaomi

Once you delete your old profile, you can link a new one, which is necessary to access Play Market, Gmail, YouTube and other services, and the process of adding an account to Xiaomi is slightly different from standard Android because of the MIUI shell.

Method 1: Through settings

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Add an account.
2. Select Google from the list of available services.
3. Enter the email address and password of your new account (or create one if not).
4. Follow the instructions on the screen to set up sync.

Method 2: Through the Google App

1. Open any Google app (such as Play Market or Gmail).
2. The system will automatically prompt you to log in to your account or create a new one.
3. Choose Add another account and follow the hints.

If you add an error that says “I couldn’t log in to Google’s account,” check:

• 📶 Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 🕒 Date and time on the device (must be relevant).
• 🔄 System Updates (Go to Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI for Redmi and POCO After adding a new Google account, you may need to reboot, otherwise sync will not start.

4. Change of account on the locked phone (bypassing FRP)

If you reset Xiaomi settings via Recovery or Fastboot and then you encounter a request for data from an old Google account, FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection worked. There are several ways to get around it, but it is important to understand the risks: incorrect actions can lead to a complete lockdown of the device.

We will look at legal methods that do not require hacking:

Method 1: Entering old account data

If you remember the username and password from the previous Google profile, just enter them on the lock screen. Once you have successfully logged in, the phone will unlock and you can add a new account.

Method 2: Use of a backup code

If you had two-factor access enabled on Google, try using backup codes (they could be saved when you set up 2FA).

Method 3: Bypassing Recovery Mode (for power users)

This method is suitable if you have access to Recovery Mode and are prepared for possible data loss:

1. Turn off the phone, then press the Power button + Volume up to enter Recovery.
2. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (use volume buttons for navigation, power buttons for confirmation).
3. After reset, try logging into Mi Account (if tied) or skip the step with Google.

If none of the methods worked, it is possible that the device has activated additional protection Mi Cloud, in which case you will need to contact Xiaomi with proof of purchase.

Yes, I blocked it myself after the reset |Yes, I bought a used phone with a tether |No, never |I don't know what it-->

5. Mi Account Uncoupling: Why it matters when changing Google

Many users forget that Xiaomi has Mi Account, a Xiaomi account that manages the cloud, theme store and some system functions, besides Google, unless it is untethered before selling or transferring the phone, the new owner will not be able to:

• 🔓 Unlock the bootloader (Bootloader) for firmware.
• 📱 Use Find Device (phone search).
• 🛒 Buy themes or apps from the Mi Store.

To delete Mi Account:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi account.
2. Slip on your profile (usually your name and avatar are displayed).
3. Select Login or Delete Account (some firmware may require a password).
4. Confirm the action.

If you sell a phone, be sure to log out of Mi Account before resetting, otherwise the new user will see your data in Mi Cloud and you will save access to his device through Find Device.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you change your Google account to Xiaomi, users often make the same mistakes that lead to data loss or blocking.

Error 1: Delete your account without disabling FRP

If you simply delete your Google profile through your settings and then reset, the phone will require you to enter your old account data.Solution: Before deleting, turn off FRP protection in Settings → Google → Security → Remote Device Management (on some firmware, the path may be different).

Mistake 2: Date and time inconsistency

When you add a new account, Google may give an error, "Can't connect to the server." Most often this is due to the wrong date. Solution: check the time settings in Settings → Additional → Date and time and enable automatic synchronization.

Mistake 3: Ignoring Mi Account

Many people delete only Google, forgetting about Mi Account, which leads to the phone asking for data from both accounts after a reset, so that before selling or resetting, make sure to log out of both profiles.

Error 4: Resetting via Fastboot without unlocking Bootloader

On some Xiaomi models (like the Redmi K40 or POCO F3), resetting via Fastboot without first unlocking the bootloader can result in permanent locking.Solution: If you're not an experienced user, only use reset via Settings or Recovery.

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Before any manipulation of accounts on Xiaomi, always back up your data and check the Mi Account binding, which will save 90% of the blocking problems.

7.Alternative methods: Discharge via ADB or service center

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., the phone is locked and the old account data isn’t), you can try advanced methods, which require technical skills and are not suitable for all models.

Method 1: Delete your account through ADB

This method works if the phone is enabled debugging over USB and there is access to the computer:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB.
2. Open the command line and type in: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.gms
3. Restart your device and try adding a new account.

Method 2: Contact Xiaomi Service Center

If the phone is locked after a reset and you don't remember the old account, the official service can only help if you have a check about the purchase.

• 📄 Provide documents confirming the purchase.
• 📱 Indicate. IMEI Devices (can be found via *#06#).
• 🔧 The service will perform unlocking through internal tools Xiaomi.

The cost of such a service varies from 500 to 2000 rubles depending on the model and region. Informal services may offer FRP bypass cheaper, but this is fraught with the risk of installing malware.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions