Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones sometimes face the unpleasant situation when the message “activate this device” appears on the screen after turning on or resetting the settings. This inscription in English means “activate this device” and often confuses inexperienced users.
This requirement will not be ignored, as access to the operating system interface will be completely limited, the device becomes a “brick” that allows you to call emergency services or connect to Wi-Fi to complete the procedure. Understanding the causes of the lock is the first step to successfully restore access to your phone.
In most cases, the problem is solved by entering the username and password from the account that was previously synchronized with the phone. SIM-Cards that require special attention and specific actions to bypass protection.
Reasons for the notification of activation
The main reason for the requirement to activate the device is the Find Device feature built into the MIUI and HyperOS shell. This protection is activated automatically if the user has logged in to his Mi Account and has not disabled the binding before resetting the settings to the factory.
There are a number of scenarios in which the lock becomes unexpected for the user, for example, if the phone was bought from hand and the previous owner did not log out of his profile, and an error can occur when changing system files or trying to install an informal firmware without first unlocking the bootloader.
⚠️ Warning: If you bought a phone with your hands and you see this screen and the seller claims to have "just forgotten the password," it could be a sign of a stolen device.
In addition, a message may appear if the motherboard or other key components have been replaced in the device and the new serial number does not match the records in the cloud.In rare cases, the failure occurs due to an error of Xiaomi authorization servers when the system cannot verify the status of the device online.
- 🔒 Hard Reset is performed without first exiting the Mi Account.
- 📱 The device has been reflashed or changed system partition.
- 🔄 There was a replacement of the main hardware components of the smartphone.
- 🌐 Synchronization failure with activation servers due to unstable Internet.
📊 Have you ever encountered a Xiaomi activation block?
Yeah, I bought a used phone.
Yeah, I forgot my password.
No, but I'm afraid to face it.
I have an iPhone/Samsung.
Standard procedure for activation via the Internet
The easiest and most legal way to remove the word “activate this device” is to go through the standard authorization procedure, which requires an Internet connection, and without access to the global network, you can’t verify your account, since the request is sent to remote servers of the company.
First of all, you need to connect your smartphone to a stable Wi-Fi network. Mobile Internet can also be used if you insert it into the device. SIM-map, but Wi-Fi is preferred because of the higher speed and stability of the connection. Once the connection icon appears in the status bar, the system will automatically try to contact the server.
You'll have a data entry box on the screen, and you'll need to type in the phone number, email address, or Xiaomi account ID that was used on this device before, and once you log in, the system will ask for a password, and it's important to enter the data accurately, observing the character register, because the security system is sensitive to input errors.
If the data is entered correctly, an instant check is made and the device is authorized to start. The activation screen disappears and the user is taken to the desktop or the initial language and time setting menu, at which point it is recommended to immediately unplug the device from the account in the settings if you plan to reset further.
What to do if you forget your password?
If you remember your login but don't remember your password, go to the official i.mi.com website from a computer or another phone. Click "Forgot your password" and follow the instructions to restore access through your linked email or phone number. Don't try to guess your password repeatedly - your account may be temporarily blocked. "Activation problems and methods for solving them Do not always go smoothly. Users often complain that even when you enter the correct data, activation does not occur. One common reason is blocking Xiaomi servers in some regions or technical work on the manufacturer's side. In this case, the device cannot get a response from the server and gives an error. If the device has a time and date knocked down (for example, after lying with a discharged battery for a long time), the safety certificate will not match the real time, and the connection will not be established. In this case, you need to find a way to change the time in the recovery menu or through a special debugging menu, if available. Error type Possible reason Network Error solution Way No Internet access Check router, change DNS on 8.8.8.8 Account Error Incorrect login / password Restoring access to the site i.mi.com Server Busy Overloading Xiaomi servers Wait 1-2 shift IP-Device Bound Address Device Bound Device wanted Only link to previous owner or check Sometimes helps change DNS-servers in Wi-Fi settings. Try to manually write addresses. 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (Google or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare). This can bypass local ISP locks that interfere with connection to activation servers. Activation without the Internet: myths and reality Many users are looking for a way to activate a device without the Internet, believing that it is a hidden function or a system bug. However, these methods are either long closed, in modern versions of MIUI and HyperOS, activation without connecting to the global network is impossible. The security protocol requires online confirmation of a unique device identifier. There are mythical methods that suggest entering special codes in an emergency call or using an engineering menu. However, these methods are either long closed, or old ones, only trying to use the old ones, but only a few years ago. The only option for “activation without the Internet” in the classical sense is to use a hotspot from another device, even if the locked phone itself does not have any. SIM-You’ll still need at least one access point to the network so your phone can “call home” to Xiaomi’s server. ⚠️ Warning: Don’t download dubious PC software that promises to “unlock Xiaomi without the internet” 99% of the time, it’s viruses or fraudulent programs that will steal your data or money. If you don't have Wi-Fi, the only way out is to search for an open network or use a friend's smartphone to distribute traffic, and without that step, you can't get beyond the welcome screen with any software methods that are available to the average user. Specificity of activation of Chinese versions (CN Version) A separate category of problems arises from the owners of the so-called “Chinese” – devices designed for the domestic market of China. CN ROM, Where Google services are not built-in by default and the activation servers are in China, when you try to activate in Russia or Europe, the server may not answer or require a Chinese phone number, and owners of such devices often have to face the requirement to enter a number. +The solution may be to install a global firmware (Global) ROM), But this often requires an unlocked bootloader that is closed if the device is already blocked by the account. 💡For Chinese versions, Xiaomi sometimes helps with a temporary change of region in settings (if available) or use. VPN Chinese IP-address for primary activation. There is also a practice of flashing these devices through Fastboot mode with a computer. However, if the phone is locked account, a simple flashing will not remove the binding. the Find Device security is stored on the server and is tied to a unique ID of the hardware, so after firmware global version, the requirement to activate the old account will not go away. If you bought the Chinese version from your hands and can not activate the device due to a language barrier or the lack of a Chinese SIM card, the best solution is to contact a service center specializing technology from China. Experts can ask the device for the security, if the device is the device, if you buy the device from the previous one, and the security, if you have the security, if you are buying the device, the device, the device, the device, the device, the security, the device, the device, the device, the security is the security, if you are the owner, the owner, the security, the owner, the security, the owner, the security, the security, the security, the owner, the security, the owner, the security, the owner, the owner, the security, the owner, the security Legally, the device belongs to the person whose account is attached to it. Without the previous owner, it is almost impossible to unlock the device legally. The first thing you need to do is contact the seller. Ask them to remotely remove the device from the trusted list. This can be done through i.mi.com. The seller needs to log into their account, select "Device Search", find your phone in the list and click "Delete" or "Unlock. 📞 Contact the seller and ask to remove the device from your account. 🧾 Request a check to purchase the original device (if the seller is the first owner). 📄 Contact Xiaomi with a check to confirm ownership. 🚫 Do not buy devices with a hand activation screen without an unlock guarantee. If the seller does not get in touch or claims that “nothing knows” and you do not have checks, the situation is stalemate. Xiaomi official support will unlock the device only when you provide documents confirming the purchase (original check with a serial number, box). Without these documents, requests are ignored for security. Can you bypass the lock software? There are paid services to unblock the account (Bypass), but they are often temporary or unstable. After reset or update, the lock returns. In addition, these devices often do not work calls and notifications. FAQ: Frequently asked questions are allowed to use the device, except for security, but the system, is not officially created for the owner. The only option without a password is to send a check to the service center. Will activation reset? No, it's a common misconception. Recovery Mode resets do not delete the account's binding on the server. Once reset, the phone will again require activation. How many times can I type the wrong password? After several failed attempts, the system will temporarily block the input. In multiple errors, the account can be blocked for 24 hours or more to protect against hacking. SIM-In some cases, if the activation function is enabled SIM-The system may require the insertion of the same SIM as the one used before, but most often it is the Mi Account, not the specific SIM card"? This means that the device is locked in a region of sale (such as India or China) and cannot be activated in your current location without changing. IP-address.