Many Redmi and Poco smartphone users face the need to untie their device from cloud storage, whether it’s a sale of a gadget, a desire to change their main account, or simply the need to clear sensitive data before flashing it. The process of leaving Xiaomi Cloud seems simple, but has a number of hidden nuances, ignoring which leads to locking the device.
In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to deactivate cloud services through phone settings and web interfaces. You will learn how to properly prepare your smartphone so that you do not encounter the Mi Account activation screen after a reset. It is important to understand the difference between simply logging out of a profile and completely removing your device from the trusted list.
Incorrectly ending a session with the cloud often causes the message "This device is locked" to appear after a hard reset. To avoid problems with Mi Account, you must strictly follow the algorithm of actions, which we will describe below. We will consider both standard methods and ways to resolve errors when the system refuses to turn off sync.
Preparing the device for disabling the cloud
Before you start changing system settings, you need to make sure the stability of the Internet connection. Xiaomi servers should receive a signal about the disconnection of communication with a specific IMEI-If the connection is interrupted when the request is sent to the server, the device may remain "hanging" anchor status.
It is also critical to back up your data if you plan to clean your phone completely. Signing out automatically stops syncing, but does not delete photos or contacts already uploaded to the cloud. Make sure that all important files are stored locally or on another medium, as after unplugging, access to them through the old profile can be lost.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure you remember the password from your Mi Account.If you log out and forget the login details, it will be extremely difficult to restore access to a locked device without the purchase checks.
Check if Find Device is enabled, a key security feature that often blocks the ability to log out unless you have a password. To check, go to the security settings and make sure you are ready to confirm your ownership of the gadget.
☑️ Preparing for the exit from the cloud
Exit through smartphone settings
The most common and safe way to unplug a device is to use the built-in MIUI or HyperOS settings menu, which ensures that all local authorization tokens are properly destroyed and the server receives a notification of the change in status of the device.
To start, open the Security app or go directly to Settings. Find the "Mi Account" (usually at the top of the list) and that's where the current sync and anchor status is displayed. By clicking on the avatar or username, you'll be taken to the profile management menu.
You need to find the login or delete account button in the menu that opens, and the system will require you to enter the Mi Account password to confirm the transaction, which is a mandatory security measure to prevent malicious users from stealing the device, and once you enter the password, you will start the process of disabling services.
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Mi Account.
- 🔓 Click on the "Exit" button at the bottom of the screen.
- 🔑 Enter the password and click "OK" to confirm.
- 🔄 Wait for the avatar and profile name to disappear.
If the process is successful, the phone will suggest you choose what to do with local data (contacts, notes), you can leave it on the device or delete it, after which the smartphone will be considered completely unconnected from the cloud.
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If the system says “Incorrect Password” but you are confident in the data, try first to log out of the cloud via your browser on your PC and then repeat the procedure on your phone.
Delete the device via the web interface
Sometimes, when the smartphone is unavailable, the screen is broken or the system is unstable, the web version of i.mi.com comes to the rescue, which allows you to control the attached devices remotely, which is especially important when preparing a phone for sale if it is still on, but the sensor does not respond.
Go to the official cloud storage site from a computer or other phone. Sign in using your Mi Account. After logging in to your personal account, go to the profile settings section, which is often hidden under the gear icon or user avatar.
You'll need to find the Devices or Find the Device section, which shows you a list of all the hardware that's ever been on that account, and then you'll need to find your smartphone model (like the Redmi Note 10) and select the "Delete" or "Untie" option.
| Action. | Through phone settings | Through the website | Through reset (Hard Reset) |
|---|---|---|---|
| We need the Internet. | Yes. | Yes (on PC) | No (but needed for activation) |
| I need a password. | Yes. | Yes. | Yes (required) |
| The risk of blocking | Low. | Low. | High (if not untie) |
| Data retention | By choice. | No. | No (all removed) |
Once the device is removed from the list on the site, it is recommended to restart the smartphone. If it is connected to the network, the lock status should be updated, this method is effective for removing old, unused devices from the list of trusted ones.
What if the device is not removed from the list?
Solving synchronization problems
Users often encounter an error when the system says "failed to log out" or spins the download wheel endlessly, which may be due to the cache of the Google Play Services app or the MIUI system component that manages accounts, in which cases a forced data cleanup is required.
Go to the Apps menu, select All Apps, and search for Mi Accounts or MIUI Framework Services. Go to the app store and click Clear Data and Clear Cache. This will not delete your account, but will reset temporary files that may interfere with the correct exit.
⚠️ Note: Clearing system applications data does not affect your personal files, but can temporarily knock down sync settings.
Another reason could be time and date desynchronization, check if the time is automatically determined over the network. If the phone clock is lagging or in a hurry, the Xiaomi security server may reject the exit request because of an incorrect time signature.
- 📅 Check the setting "Autodate and time" in the settings menu.
- 📡 Switch from Wi-Fi to Mobile Internet (or vice versa).
- 🧹 Clear the cache of the application "Mi Account".
- 🔄 Restart the device before trying again.
If nothing works, try removing Mi Services updates through the app settings menu. Sometimes the new version contains bugs that prevent you from logging out normally.
Exit implications for data and security
After successfully exiting Xiaomi Cloud, the automatic uploading of photos to the gallery and synchronization of contacts stops, which means that all new photos will be stored only in the memory of the phone, and if you plan to use the phone further, but without the cloud, this is normal.
However, if you log out to sell, remember the activation lock function. Even after logout, if the phone was reset to factory settings without first logging out, the first time you set up, the new owner will be required to enter the previous owner's password, which is protection against theft.
It's important to distinguish between logging out and deleting your account forever. Logging out just untiees the specific hardware from your profile. Deleting your account erases all data forever. When you sell a phone, just log out and reset your settings.
Once logged out, the security of the data is ensured by destroying local access tokens, and even if someone gets physical access to the phone, they won’t be able to restore sync with your cloud without re-entering the password.
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Signing out before selling is the only way to ensure that the buyer does not get access to your photos and contacts, and you do not get other people’s data when you re-enter.