How to completely disable Xiaomi Cloud: deletion of account, uncoupling of the device and consequences

Xiaomi Cloud (Mi Cloud) is automatically activated when you first turn on your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones. The service syncs contacts, photos, notes and even SMS, but many users prefer to abandon it - due to limited free space (5-10 GB), privacy problems or simply because they do not use the cloud. However, a complete shutdown of Mi Cloud is not as obvious as it seems: the system can block access to certain functions or require an account to be linked for updates.

In this article, we will discuss all the ways to deactivate Xiaomi Cloud, from simply disabling sync to completely deleting your Mi Account from your device. Also explain the consequences of this: loss of access to Find Device (finding your phone), inability to use some branded applications (Mi Fit, Mi Home), and the risks of resetting. If you decide to get rid of the cloud forever, read on.

Why users are turning off Xiaomi Cloud

According to a survey by XDA Developers, more than 60 percent of Xiaomi smartphone owners have tried to disable the Mi Cloud at least once.

• 🔒 Privacy: Data is stored on Xiaomi servers in China, which is causing concern among European users (despite claims of compliance) GDPR).
• 📱 Limited space: Free fare offers just 5GB, and expansion costs from 2$ monthly.
• 🔄 Unnecessary sync: the cloud duplicates data that is already backed up in Google Drive or iCloud.
• 🚫 Imposed features: For example, Find Device only works with a tied Mi Account, but many do not need it.
• 🔧 Firmware problems: When resetting, the phone may require you to enter account data even if the cloud was not used.

Xiaomi Cloud also consumes traffic in the background, which is critical for users with limited mobile tariffs, and in some countries (for example, in Russia), Xiaomi services are periodically interrupted due to blocking.

Method 1: Disabling synchronization without deleting your account

If you want to stop backing up but are not ready to delete Mi Account completely, you just need to deactivate sync for individual data, which does not remove files that have already been downloaded from the cloud, but stops updating them.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Cloud
2. Click on the icon. ⚙️ (gear) in upper right corner.
3. Select Data Synchronization.
4. Turn off sliders in front of unnecessary categories: Contacts, Photos, Notes, etc.
5. To completely disable synchronization, transfer the main slider Mi Cloud to the off position.

After that, the smartphone will stop sending data to the cloud, but the Mi Account will remain active, which means that you will still be able to use the branded services (Mi Fit, Mi Home) and receive software updates.

Method 2: Completely delete your Mi Account from your device

If you decide to get rid of Mi Account completely, consider: this will lead to:

• 🚫 Loss of access to Find Device (you can’t find your phone when you lose it).
• 🔄 Unable to use Mi Fit, Mi Home and other Xiaomi services.
• 📱 Blocking certain functions (e.g. Second Space on some models).
• ⚠️ Risk of "locking" the phone after resetting (remote account data will be required).

To delete the account:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account.
2. Click on your profile (name or email).
3. Select Delete Account (may be called Exit on some firmware).
4. Confirm the action with a password.
5. Reset the device.

Important: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi 12T or Redmi Note 11) may have a notification after deleting your account that you need to link a new Mi Account to receive updates. This is not critical – updates can be manually installed through Settings → About Phone → System Update.

Method 3: Untie the device from the Mi Cloud via the website

If you sell or transfer a smartphone, it’s not enough to just log out of your account on your device — you have to untie it remotely via Xiaomi’s website, which will prevent the phone from being locked for the new owner.

Instructions:

1. Go to the official website: account.xiaomi.com (open in the browser on a PC or other phone).
2. Sign in with your Mi Account.
3. Select the Devices tab.
4. Find your smartphone in the list and click on three dots. ⋮ near.
5. Select Remove Device (Remove Device).
6. Confirm the action.

After that, the phone will be uncoupled from your account, and the new owner will be able to link your Mi Account without problems.If not, when resetting, the device may require you to enter your data to unlock.

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Before untieing your device through the website, make sure that it has disabled the Find Device function (Settings → Mi Cloud → Find the device). Otherwise, after deleting, you will not be able to find the phone if it is lost in the next 24 hours (synchronization period).

The consequences of disabling Xiaomi Cloud: what you lose

Deleting Mi Account or disabling Xiaomi Cloud is a set of limitations, and below is a table with the main consequences and ways to get around them.

The most critical consequence is the risk of locking your phone after a reset: If you delete your Mi Account but don't untie your device through a website, in Hard Reset, the system can request the old account information, and this is only handled through official support (proof of ownership is required).

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If you plan to sell the phone, be sure to untie it from the Mi Account via the website before the reset. Otherwise, the new owner will not be able to activate the device!

How to bypass the Mi Account lock after resetting your settings

If you've already encountered a problem where, after Hard Reset, your phone requires you to enter your remote Mi Account, there are several ways to unlock it.

Options:

• 📧 Appeal in support: write to the official chat with proof of purchase (check, box with the help of the customer). IMEI). Support can remove the blockage within 3-7 days.
• 🔧 EDL-Mode: advanced users, requires PC, cable and firmware for your model, and risks "bricking" the phone!
• 🛠️ Service center: official Xiaomi centers can unlock the phone for a fee (from 1000 rubles).
• 📱 TestPoint bypass: Physically closing contacts on the board (for experienced craftsmen only).

The safest way is to call for support.

1. Go to support.xiaomi.com.
2. Choose Mi Account. → Lost access to the account.
3. Fill out the form by specifying the IMEI of the phone (located on the box or under the battery).
4. Attach a photo of the check or warranty card.
5. Wait for a response (usually 1-3 days).

⚠️ Warning: Don't use third-party "Mi Account Unlock"-like services, most of them fraudulent, they can steal your account details or infect your PC with viruses. Xiaomi's official support is the only legal way to do so.

Xiaomi Cloud Alternatives: Where to Move Data

If you have disabled Mi Cloud but want to keep backing up, consider alternative services, and the main criteria for choosing are reliability, free storage, and easy synchronization.

Best options:

• 🌐 Google Drive: 15 GB free, Android integration, automatic photo sync (Google Photos).
• ☁️ Yandex Disk: 10GB free, easy-to-use backup app (Yandex Disk AutoUpload).
• 🍎 iCloud: If you have Apple devices, 5GB is free (but good sync between devices).
• 🔗 Syncthing: Open source software to sync between your devices without the cloud (requires customization).
• 💾 Local storage: backup copies to SD-card SSD through settings → System system → Backup.

For automatic backup SMS and call logs, applications like SMS Backup & Restore (stores data in Google Drive or locally) are suitable, and for photos, the best choice is Google Photos with Free up space, which deletes already uploaded pictures from the phone.

⚠️ Note: If you use Google Photos in High Quality Mode, photos are compressed to 16 MP. To maintain original quality, choose Source Quality (but it takes place in your Google Drive).

FAQ: Frequent questions about shutting down Xiaomi Cloud