Owners of Redmi 4 smartphones often face the need to change the main profile in the MIUI system. This can be due to the purchase of a used device, the desire to separate work and personal data, or simply changing the main mailbox. The procedure for changing an account on Xiaomi devices has its own features, which are important to consider so as not to block the phone.
Many users mistakenly believe that it is enough to simply log out of a current profile and enter new data. However, there are anti-theft mechanisms in the MIUI ecosystem that may require you to enter a password from an old account even after resetting, and understanding these processes will help you avoid locking your device and losing access to important features.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the steps from the preparatory steps to signing in to a new account, and we will look at the standard exit methods, options for a complete reset, and solutions to typical problems that arise when you change ownership or authorization data on budget models of the Redmi series.
⚠️ Warning: Before you start any manipulations, make sure you remember the password from your current Mi Account. Without it, unlocking your device after reset may become impossible.
Preparation for changing the account
The first and most critical step is to save important data. Changing your account often requires a complete reset of your device, which will result in the removal of all photos, contacts and apps. Backup is the only way to protect yourself from loss of information.
Use built-in tools MIUI Or third-party cloud services to save content, and pay special attention to contacts, as they are often tied to the content. SIM-Map or local phone storage, not to the cloud when you first set up.
- 📸 Make copies of all important photos and videos on your computer or external drive.
- 📞 Export contacts to a.vcf file and save it separately.
- 📝 Save passwords from important apps in a safe place or password manager.
- 💾 Check if notes and voice recordings are synchronized with the cloud.
You also need to make sure that the device is fully charged, and the logging out process and subsequent authorization can take time, and interruption of the operation due to battery discharge can lead to software errors, a charge above 60% is considered optimal for such operations.
☑️ Redmi 4 Prepares to Change Account
Unlocking the old Mi Account through settings
The regular log-out method is the safest and most appropriate way to prepare your phone for a change of ownership. If you have access to your smartphone settings, log in to the account menu, allowing the system to properly untie the device from Xiaomi servers.
Go to Settings → Mi Account, which displays the current active profile, and clicking on it will show you the exit button, and the system may request confirmation of a password or code from an SMS to verify the identity of the owner.
Once it's successfully released, the phone will stop syncing with the cloud, and it's important to note that some system applications may temporarily stop working correctly until they log in to a new profile, which is normal security behavior.
What to do if the exit button is inactive?
Take your time to reset your settings immediately. Give the system 5-10 minutes after logging out so that it sends a signal to the server to change the status of the device, which minimizes the risk of binding errors on the next login.
Full reset (Hard Reset)
To completely clean the old user’s data and prepare Redmi 4 for a new account, it is recommended to perform Hard Reset.This action will return the phone to factory state by removing all user data, cache and settings.
You can reset it through the recovery menu. To do this, turn off the device completely. Then press the combination of the Up Volume + Power buttons. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, while continuing to keep the volume.
In the Recovery Mode, you can navigate with volume buttons and select with a power button. Select a language (usually English), then go to Wipe Data and confirm the action of Wipe All Data.
| Action. | The result | Conditions required |
|---|---|---|
| Exit through settings | Account is untied, data is stored | Access to the phone menu |
| Hard Reset | Complete deletion of data and accounts | Phone off |
| Change of account without resetting | The second account is added as an additional account. | Availability of free space |
The cleaning process can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes depending on the amount of memory you have filled. Don't interrupt the power at that point. Once complete, the phone will automatically restart and prompt you to select a language and connect to Wi-Fi.
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If the phone asks for a password from the old account (Mi Cloud Lock) after the reset, then you did not perform the decoupling before the reset, in which case only re-access the old account through the i.mi.com site will help.
Registration and login to a new account
After the successful reset and initial download of the interface, the setup process will begin, and the system will offer to connect to the Wi-Fi network, which is a mandatory step for activating Redmi 4 and logging into a new Mi Account.
On the welcome screen, select “Log in to an existing account” or “Sign up” if you don’t already have a new profile.It’s recommended to use a new email that hasn’t been used before in the Xiaomi ecosystem to avoid sync conflicts.
When entering data, carefully monitor the keyboard layout. A single-letter error can cause you to create a new profile instead of logging in to the desired one, or you can not log in.
- 📧 Use a strong password that contains letters and numbers.
- 📱 Link your phone number to allow access recovery.
- 🔐 Enable two-factor authentication for enhanced security.
- ☁️ Immediately after entering, check the synchronization settings.
Once logged in, the phone will start downloading system settings and updates, and at this point it is important not to miss the security setting steps, as they protect your data from unsanctioned access in the event of a device loss.
Configure Google Services and Synchronize
Once you log in to your Mi Account, the system will suggest you set up Google services, and you need to connect your smartphone to the Play Market and other apps, and you need to log in to your Google account using the same security principles.
It's important to set up data synchronization correctly. → Accounts and syncs can be used to choose which data will be transferred to the cloud, which will save space and traffic if you don’t need some data.
Note the Google Play Protect security settings. This feature scans apps for viruses. For a Redmi 4 device that can be used for several years, antivirus protection remains highly relevant.
⚠️ Warning: Don't turn on all data syncs at once if you have slow internet, which can slow down your phone's initial operation and drain your battery.
Check the main applications: phone, text, browser, make sure the contacts are displayed correctly. If the contacts do not appear, check the source from which they were imported during the recovery.
Possible problems and solutions
Users may experience a variety of errors when changing their account, often with an unstable Internet connection or server work on the manufacturer's side, and waiting and trying again helps.
If the phone writes "Incorrect username or password," double-check the data. Make sure the keyboard does not include Caps Lock and the input language is correctly selected. Sometimes it helps to remove the old profile from the list of accounts before adding a new one.
In the event of an Action Lock error, where the phone requires a password from the previous owner, you can't solve the problem software-free without the old owner's data.
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The main reason for blocking after a reset is the unexecuted uncoupling of the device from the Mi Account before Hard Reset. Always log out of the profile before resetting.
To diagnose network problems, you can try to change DNS-server in Wi-Fi settings or use mobile internet instead of home network.Sometimes providers block certain ports necessary to connect to Xiaomi servers.