“Search for a device” on Xiaomi closes itself: how to return the performance

You try to find a lost Xiaomi smartphone through the “Device Search” feature,** but the application suddenly closes immediately after launch? This error occurs on devices with MIUI 12-14 and is most often associated with system service conflicts, outdated cache data or corrupted configuration files. In 80% of cases, the problem can be solved without resetting to factory settings – it is enough to follow several steps to clean and restart services.

In this article, we’ll look at 7 proven methods, from a basic reboot to manually resetting the Mi Account settings. Particular attention will be paid to the hidden MIUI settings, which are rarely mentioned in standard instructions, but often cause a failure. If you use the Redmi Note 10/11, Poco X3/X4 or Mi 11/12, the solutions will work for all of these models – the only difference is the location of some menu items.

Before you start, make sure your device is on the Internet (mobile or Wi-Fi) – without it, the Device Search feature will not sync with Xiaomi servers, and check if the application is blocked by an antivirus or memory optimizer (for example, Security or Clean Master).

1.Reboot the device and check for updates

Start with the simplest, forced reboot. This is a step that is often ignored, but it helps in 30% of cases when a failure is caused by a temporary conflict of processes. On Xiaomi with a non-removable battery, press the Power + Volume button up for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out and the MI logo appears.

After the reboot:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → The phone. → Update the system and check for updates MIUI. Even if the system writes “No Updates”, click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Service Pack Checker – sometimes updates don’t show automatically.
• 🔄 If the update is available, don’t install it via mobile internet – connect to Wi-Fi to avoid interrupting downloads.
• ⚠️ After the update, do not restore the settings from the backup – this may return the error.

If the reboot didn’t help, move on to the next step: Don’t manually delete the Device Search app** – this can disrupt Mi Account and lead to some features being blocked (e.g. synchronizing notes or photos).

2. Cleaning the cache and application data

Device Search Unexpectedly Closed crashes are often caused by a corrupted cache or temporary file conflict. Cleanup won’t delete your data (like your device search history), but reset the application’s factory settings.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, enter Device Search (or Find Device in English firmware).
3. Select the app and click Storage.
4. Tap Clear the cache, then Clear the data (if the button is inactive, first click Reset Settings).
5. Reset the device.

Close all background applications

Connect to a stable Wi-Fi

Make sure that the device has enough memory (minimum 500 MB)

Turn off the VPN (if used)

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If the app still closes after cleaning, try removing the updates (if the button is available in the app menu) and this will return the "Device Search" back to the factory version, which sometimes solves the problem.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI After clearing the data, you may need to re-enter Mi Account. make sure you remember the password in advance or have a backup access code.

3. Reset Mi Account settings and synchronization

The Device Search feature is closely linked to Xiaomi's account, where if the sync services are not working properly, the app can be closed immediately after launch, to fix this:

Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account and follow the following steps:

• 🔗 Click on your account, then select Data Sync.
• 🔄 Turn off sync for all items (contacts, notes, browser, etc.), then turn it back on.
• 📱 Return to the Mi Account menu and click Delete Account (don’t worry – data will not be deleted from Xiaomi servers).
• 🔑 After deleting, log in to your account again using the same login and password.

If you delete your account, the system asks for a password but you don't remember it, use the recovery form. Don't create a new account, it will untie your device from your old profile and you will lose access to search features.

4. Verification of permits and background activity

The Device Search application requires several critical permissions to work: access to geolocation, background activity, and notifications, and if at least one of them is disabled, the application can close immediately after launch.

How to check permissions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management → Device Search → Permissions.
2. Make sure it's on: 📍 Geodata (always or only during use) 🔔 Notifications 🔄 Auto-Run (in the section Additional) → Auto-start) 📱 Background activity (in the section Additional) → Battery → No restrictions)

If any resolution is disabled, turn it on and restart the device.

On MIUI 13+ firmware, check battery optimization:

• Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Consumption Management.
• Find the Device Search in the list and select Without Limits.

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If the AutoRun section is not in the settings, try enabling it through Settings → Special Options → Application Permissions → AutoRun. On some models (e.g. Poco F3), this item is hidden in the security menu.

5. Resolving conflicts with other applications

Sometimes, Device Search is closed because of conflict with other system services or third-party applications.

• 🛡️ Antiviruses (Avast, Kaspersky, 360 Security) – block access to geolocation.
• 🧹 Optimizers (Clean Master, DU Speed Booster – forced to close the background processes.
• 🔒 VPN-Clients (1.1.1.1, NordVPN) – may disrupt communication with Xiaomi servers.
• 🤖 Modified firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu) – sometimes contain errors in Mi Account services.

How to identify conflict:

1. Transfer the device to Safe Mode (press the Power button, then hold your finger to Turn off until the option appears).
2. Try running Device Search in Safe Mode, and if it works, it's a problem in a third-party application.
3. Turning to remove recently installed programs, starting with antiviruses and optimizers.

If the conflict is caused by a modified firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu or PixelExperience), try:

• Update the firmware to the latest version.
• Install an official patch for Mi Account (available on forums like xiaomi.eu).
• Return to stock MIUI (extreme version).

⚠️ Note: On devices with an unlocked bootloader, the Device Search function may not work smoothly due to the changed security certificates, in which case only flashing to the official version will help. MIUI loader-locked.

6. Reset network settings and re-bind the device

If all previous methods failed, the problem may lie in incorrect network settings or failure of the device’s association with Mi Account, in which case reset network parameters and re-activate the search function will help.

Steps:

1. Open the Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings (or Settings) → Connections and sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth).
2. Confirm the reset. The device will reset.
3. After restarting, connect to Wi-Fi or mobile internet.
4. Open Settings → Mi Account → Find the device and turn off the function.
5. Reboot the device again.
6. Turn on “Device Search” again and wait for sync (it can take up to 5 minutes).

If you shut down the app after that, the last option is to reset to the factory settings, but before you do that, try another method.

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Before resetting to factory settings, be sure to untie the device from the Mi Account at account.xiaomi.com (Devices section) and this will prevent the account from being blocked due to a change in IMEI after the reset.

7.Extreme measures: reset to factory settings

If none of these methods work, then you have to reset hard, and this method is guaranteed to fix the software bugs, but it will delete all the data from the device. Back up important files through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset or manually copy them to your PC.

Resetting instructions:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data (or delete everything and reset settings).
3. Enter the device password (if requested).
4. Confirm the reset. The device will restart and start the cleaning process (5-15 minutes).

After discharge:

• 📱 Configure your device as new (do not restore data from a backup!).
• 🔑 Sign in to the same Mi Account you used before.
• 🔍 Enable “Device Search” in your account settings.
• 🔄 Update all apps through the Play Market or App Store.

If the problem persists after the reset, it may indicate a hardware failure (such as damage to the GPS module or antenna).In this case, contact the Xiaomi service center - self-repair can lead to loss of warranty.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the "Device Search" failure