You turned on Xiaomi after you bought, reset or upgraded your smartphone — and instead of your desktop, you saw a message saying “Activate this device” asking you to enter your Mi Account information? This error blocks access to the system and often becomes a headache for users. 90% of the time, the problem is due to the device’s link to the previous owner, activation of Mi Cloud protection or a malfunction of Xiaomi servers.
In this article, we will discuss all the official and alternative ways to bypass the “Activate this device” error in Russian, from standard unlocking through Mi Account to using engineering methods for devices with a locked bootloader. Particular attention will be paid to the Redmi, POCO and Mi models of recent years (2020-2026), where Xiaomi has tightened its security policy. If you bought a used phone or forgot your account data, here you will find working solutions without the risk of “bricking” the device.
Why is the “Activate This Device” Error on Xiaomi
The message “Activate this device” (or its Russian equivalent “Activate this device”) is part of Xiaomi’s system to protect against theft and unauthorized use.
- 🔄 Resetting settings via Recovery or Fastboot without decoupling from Mi Account.
- 📱 Buying a used phone that was not unlocked by the previous owner.
- 🔒 Activate Mi Cloud protection (even if you own the password but forget it).
- 🛠️ Failed software update or malfunction of Xiaomi servers.
Since MIUI 12 (2020), Xiaomi has tightened its security policy: now locking works even when locally reset (via Settings → Reset) if the device is linked to an account. Previously, this only concerned a reset via Recovery.
⚠️ Note: If you see a message saying “This device is locked” instead of “Activate this device” is another problem related to the bootloader lock, which requires official unlocking via the Mi Unlock Tool.
| Reason for blocking | Typical models | Can I get around without the owner’s data? |
|---|---|---|
| Reset via Recovery without detachment from the account | Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4, Mi 11/12 | ❌ No (requires a password from Mi Account) |
| Buying a used phone with a linked account | Redmi 9/9A, POCO M3/M4, Mi A3 | ⚠️ Partially (Server bypass methods) |
| Forgotten password from your Mi Account | Any model you want. | ✅ Yes (recovery through email/SMS) |
| Xiaomi server failure (temporary lock) | New models (2023–2026) | ✅ Yes (waiting or changing the network) |
Official ways to activate Xiaomi devices
If you own a phone and remember your Mi Account details, you can fix the problem in 5 minutes. Xiaomi provides two official methods:
- Log in to an existing account: 📧 On the lock screen, select Sign in with Mi Account. 🔑 Enter. email/Phone and password tied to the device. 📱 Confirm the entrance through SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
- Restore access to Mi Account (if you forget your password): 🌐 Go to account.xiaomi.com. 🔍 Click Forgot Your Password? and Follow the Instructions. 📩 Confirm the recovery via email or SMS (The number must be linked to the account).
If you bought a used phone and the previous owner did not untie the device, try contacting him and asking:
- Remove your phone from the device list in Mi Cloud (i.mi.com) → Find Device → model → Erase Device).
- Send you an unlock code (if the owner received a notification of an attempted login).
Bypassing Activate This Device without Owner Data
If you can't contact the previous owner, informal methods remain, they don't work on all models and require technical skills. On devices with MIUI 14 and later (2023-2026), most of the rounds stopped working due to enhanced protection.
Below are the current ways for Xiaomi models 2020-2022:
Make sure your phone is 50%+ charged.
Connect to stable Wi-Fi (not mobile data)
Download the necessary tools (ADB, Fastboot)
Have a PC on hand with Windows/Linux-->
Method 1: Use Fastboot Mode (for unlocked bootloader)
If the bootloader is already unlocked on the phone, you can flash custom recovery (TWRP) and delete activation files.
- Turn off your phone and press Power + Volume Down to log in to Fastboot.
- Connect the device to the PC and check the connection with the command: fastboot devices
- TWRP for your model (download on twrp.me): fastboot flash recovery twrp.img fastboot boot twrp.img
- V TWRP Go to Advanced. → File Manager and delete files: /data/system/mi_account.db /data/system/mi_account_info.xml
- Reboot the phone.
What happens if TWRP doesn’t start?
Method 2: ADB bypass (for MIUI 12 and older)
On some models (Redmi Note) 9/10, POCO X3) can be used ADB-commands to delete activation files directly from the system.
- On the lock screen, connect your phone to your PC and allow debugging over USB (if you request it).
- Open the command line and type in: adb shell su rm /data/system/mi_account.db rm /data/system/mi_account_info.xml reboot
⚠️ Attention: MIUI 13/14 This method only works if the phone hasn't been rebooted after resetting.
Method 3: Use of server loopholes (temporary bypass)
Some users report successful bypassing by changing the DNS or using proxy servers, which is unstable and region-specific:
- On the lock screen, connect to Wi-Fi.
- Click on the network name and manually specify DNS: 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1
- Restart your phone and try to activate again.
💡
If the phone asks for confirmation through SMS, The previous owner's number is not available, so try inserting your own. SIM-You can re-request the code, sometimes the system allows you to link a new number.
What to do if nothing helps: appeal to Xiaomi
If all methods are exhausted, the official path remains to appeal to Xiaomi, which is relevant for:
- 📱 Phones from MIUI 14 and newer (2023–2026) where bypasses don't work.
- 🔒 Devices with a locked bootloader and a tied Mi Account.
- 🛠️ Smartphones after repair (if the master did not untidy the account).
Instructions for handling:
- Collect proof of purchase (check, contract, photo box with IMEI).
- Take a picture of the screen with the error "Activate this device" and IMEI (type *#06#).
- Write in support: 🌍 via the official website (Contact Us section). 📧 By email: support@xiaomi.com (English). 📞 By telephone hotline (for Russia: 8 800 700 02 03).
In the letter, specify:
- Phone model and IMEI number.
- Description of the problem (buy used, forget password, etc.).
- Request to unlock the device with justification (e.g., “Previous owner unavailable”)
⚠️ Note: Xiaomi may require proof of purchase (check, warranty card) or previous owner data.
💡
Officially unlocking through support is the only legal way for new models (2023-2026) to be used.
How to avoid “Activate This Device” in the future
To avoid getting blocked again, follow the simple rules:
- 🔄 Before resetting your settings, always untie your phone from Mi Account: Go to Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account. Click Delete Account (Password required).
When buying a used phone
- No binding to Mi Account (ask the seller to make a reset with you).
- bootloader status (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version, tap 7 times on the Core line – if Bootloader Unlocked appears, the risks of blocking are higher).
Set up a backup email/SMS
Mi Account
Turn off "Find the device."
Mi Cloud
If you frequently reflash your phones, get a separate Mi Account for testing and don’t tie personal data to it, which will make it easier to unlock in case of crashes.
Frequent bugs and myths about “Activate this device”
There's a lot of outdated or outright malicious information on this topic on the web, and we'll look at some of the most common myths.
| Myth | Reality. |
|---|---|
| “You can get around through the factory reset.” | ❌ Nana MIUI 12+ Reset will only strengthen the lock. |
| “It is enough to change the region in the settings” | ❌ The region does not affect the blocking of Mi Account.This only works to bypass Google's restrictions (for example, on the Internet). POCO china). |
| “You can use unlock code generators.” | ⚠️ 99 percent of these services are frauds, and they either don't work or they steal data. |
| Xiaomi’s workflow is done through Test Point. | ❌ Test Point (closing contacts on the board) works only on older models (Redmi). 4/5). On new ones, it causes a breakdown. |
Another dangerous piece of advice is firmware via EDL (Emergency Download Mode), which requires an authorized Xiaomi account and special hardware, and the wrong actions will lead to:
- 🔥 Poose. IMEI (The phone won't catch the network).
- 🛠️ Breakdown of the module Wi-Fi/Bluetooth.
- 🚫 Hardware-level lock (not fixed without replacing the motherboard).