Changing a tied profile in the Xiaomi ecosystem is often a necessity when buying a used smartphone, handing over a gadget to a relative, or simply wanting to share personal and work data. Users often face confusion in terminology, calling the process a “change,” although technically the system offers either an exit from the current profile with subsequent logging into a new one, or a complete decoupling of the device from the cloud.
The procedure seems trivial, but there are important security nuances in the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS, such as not having a password from an old account, you can’t just log out if you have Find a Device enabled, which is designed to protect against theft, but creates difficulties for legitimate users who have forgotten their previous owner’s data or changed their phone number.
In this guide, we will take a look at all possible scenarios, from a standard change of user settings to a forced detachment through a service site, you will learn how to avoid blocking activation and what to do if the system requires verification of identity.
Preparation of the device before changing profile
Before you start manipulating accounts, you need to do a lot of preparation. Backup is the first and most important step that should not be ignored. When you leave your Mi Account, synchronized data (contacts, notes, voice recordings) can be deleted from the device if it is not stored in local memory or on another medium.
The second critical point is to turn off the security feature, so if the Find Device mode is activated on the phone, the system will require a password when you try to exit, make sure you remember the login details or turn this off in advance in the security menu.
☑️ Checklist of preparations
It's also worth checking if your device is corporate, and these smartphones can have profiles. MDM (Mobile Device Management, which blocks the administrator from changing the account, will not work and will require intervention. IT-department.
⚠️ Note: If you plan to sell your phone, it’s not enough to just log out of your account. Be sure to complete a full Wipe Data reset after you’re out so that new owners won’t have access to your residual files in memory.
Standard account change through system settings
The most common and safe way to change a user is to use a built-in settings menu, which is suitable for situations where you have access to your current profile and you know the password from it. MIUI HyperOS.
To start, open the Security app or go directly to Settings. At the top of the screen, you'll see the current username and avatar. Clicking on this area will open the Mi profile management menu. Here's the "Out" button that initiates the disconnection process.
Once you click on the output, the system will issue a warning that the sync will stop and the data stored only in the cloud will become unavailable on this device. Confirm the action by entering a password. Immediately after that, you can enter the new account information.
What happens to the data when you exit?
It is important to note that some system applications, such as Mi Browser or Mi Video, may store their data separately, and after changing the main account, you may need to log in to these services to recover subscriptions or history.
💡
Standard exit through the settings is possible only if you know the password from the current account and the availability of the Internet to verify credentials.
Device untiing via i.mi.com web service
If access to the phone is restricted or you want to remove the link remotely (for example, the device is lost or transferred to another person), a web interface is used. This method requires that the device has previously been synced with the account and has access to the network at least periodically.
Go to i.mi.com from your computer or other smartphone. Sign in using the profile information you want to unplug. After you log in to the Cloud interface, find the Find Device section. From your gadget list, select your target device.
From the device management menu, select the option “Delete from your account” or “Untie” and this action will remove the activation lock, and now when you turn on, the phone will not ask for the old password, and the new owner will be able to register his profile.
| Action. | Requirements | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Exit in settings | Access to the menu, password | Changing the user on the device |
| Deletion through the site | Access to i.mi.com | Removal of activation lock |
| Password reset | Access to mail/telephone | Restoring access to the account |
| Full reset (Wipe) | Unlocked screen | Deletion of all data and profiles |
This is especially true for buyers of used technology: If the seller claims that “account is untied”, but when you turn on the phone requires a password, ask him to perform this procedure directly in front of you through the browser.
What to do if you forget the password from your Mi Account
The forgotten password situation is one of the most difficult. Xiaomi's security system doesn't allow you to just bypass the check. If you try to log out without a password, the system will give you an error. The only legal way is to restore access.
Go to account.xiaomi.com and select Forgot Password, and you will be offered several recovery options: through a linked phone number, backup email, or check questions if they were set in advance.
If the phone number is also lost or the SIM card is not active, the process becomes complicated. You will need access to a backup email. In the event that all data is lost for recovery, the only option is to contact Xiaomi's official support team with a receipt for the purchase of the device to confirm ownership.
Don’t try to use third-party hacking or account circumvention programs hosted on questionable forums, at best they won’t work because of server-verification updates, and at worst you’ll get a virus or blocker that will permanently disable the device.
Nuances of account change on used devices
Buying a smartphone from hand always carries risks associated with the previous owner. The main problem is hidden binding. The seller can log out of the account in the settings, but forget to remove the device from the list of trusted on the site, or the phone may have a hidden administrator profile.
When you turn on the phone after the reset, Activation Lock can be activated. The screen will light up, you will be required to enter a password from the Mi Account you do not have access to, in which case the device becomes a “brick” for the average user.
To keep yourself safe, always check the status of the device before you pay. Go to the settings, see which account is listed. The best thing to do when the seller is completely reset (Wipe Data) and make sure that the phone starts up to the desktop without asking for old passwords.
⚠️ Warning: Never buy Xiaomi if a seller says "I'll untie my account later" or "forgot my password, but my phone is working." The risk of getting a locked device after a reboot is 99%.
Also, look at the region of the device. Global ROM and Chinese ROM may behave differently when changing regional account settings. Changing region in settings (Region) may require re-authorization in some services.
Synchronization problems and their solution
After a successful account change, users often face sync problems: new data is not loaded, contacts are not shown, and the gallery is empty, this may be due to the cache of Google services or Mi services themselves.
The first thing you need to do is check the date and time settings, and if the time is even a few minutes down, the security certificates won't allow you to connect to the synchronization server, and set up automatic timing over the network.
The second step is to clear the cache of system applications. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find “Mi Cloud”, “Google Play Services” and “Accounts” in the list. For each of them, select “Clean” (to clear the data, not just the cache), then reboot the device.
💡
If the synchronization of contacts does not work, check where the new numbers are saved. When you change your account, the default save path may remain the old one (for example, on the other hand, on the other hand, on the other hand, on the other hand, on the other hand, on the other hand, on the other hand, on the other hand, on the other hand, on the other hand, on the other hand, on the other hand, on the other hand, on the other hand, on the other hand, on the other hand, on the other hand, on the other hand. SIM-card or phone memory instead of a new Mi Account).
Sometimes forced re-sync helps. Go to your account settings, select the service you want (like Contacts), and click on the Sync button manually. If the process is stalled, turn off Wi-Fi and try to start sync via mobile Internet, as some providers may block ports needed for cloud services.