The situation when the new Xiaomi smartphone requires confirmation of the password or account name associated with the previous device is one of the most stressful for users.Mi Cloud security system blocks access to functionality if you do not enter the account information that was previously used on this or associated gadget. Often users forget what email address or phone number acted as Mi ID, especially if there were several devices in the family.
Restoring access is possible, but requires careful and consistent action. You don't need to remember the exact password the first time, but knowing the login (account name) is critical to starting the reset procedure. In this article, we will discuss all the technical ways to search for forgotten data, from checking saved passwords in the browser to contacting official support with checks.
Before you start taking action, it's important to understand the mechanism of protection. Find Device is a service that tightly ties the hardware of a smartphone to a virtual profile. If you bought a phone from your hands and it's locked, or just changed your SIM card, the system will require proof of ownership. The only legal way to unlock without the data of the previous owner is to provide the original purchase check to the service center.
Search for data through saved passwords in the browser
The easiest and often forgotten way to restore access to your Mi Account is to check the built-in password manager in your browser. If you have ever logged in to Xiaomi services via a computer or other phone, the browser could have saved this data. In Google Chrome, this is done through the settings section where all your logins are stored.
Open your browser and go to privacy settings. You need to find the autocomplete section, which often stores the keys to not only social networks, but also technical accounts like Xiaomi Account. Search the domain account.xiaomi.com or simply the word "Xiaomi" in the list.
If you find the record, you'll see the login (it could be an email or a phone number) and the hidden password. If you click on the icon of your eye, you can see the stored data, which is the name that the system asks for when you lock it.
⚠️ Note: If you are using a public computer or device that other people use, be careful when reviewing saved passwords.
The alternative is to check cloud storage, and if you've used synchronization of passwords through your Google account, they can be accessed on any Android device that logs in to your profile, just go to Google's settings and select the Autocomplete tab.
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If you have recently changed your password, old versions may remain in your browser save history that are still valid for login unless two-factor authorization has been enabled.
Email analysis to restore login
The mailbox is the central node of digital identity. Virtually no Mi ID is created without an email link. If you suspect you've forgotten your account name, start searching in your primary email. You need to find any emails from Xiaomi.
Use the search bar in your email client. Enter keywords like "Xiaomi," "Mi Account," "Verification code," or "Welcome." Emails may have come at the time of registration, when you try to sign in, or when you purchase apps from the GetApps store.
Notice the addressee in the emails you find, and often the email header or the greeting text will indicate which box the account was registered to, which is the "name" you want to log in to.
- 📧 Check the Spam or Promotion folder – emails from automated services often get there.
- 🔍 Look for confirmation code emails sent over the past few years.
- 📱 Remember which email you used when buying a phone in an online store if the data match.
If you have logged in to your Mi Account through third-party services (Google, Facebook, VK), the security settings of these platforms may include information about where the authorization was used. Go to the "Security" section of your Google account and see the list of third-party apps.
Checking other devices and SIM cards
Xiaomi's ecosystem involves using one account across multiple devices. If you have an old smartphone, Mi Pad tablet or even a smart speaker at home, check their settings. Often, one of the gadgets has a sign-in to Mi Cloud.
Take a device that could potentially be linked to a lost account. Go to the settings menu and find the "Mi Account" section. If you log in, you'll see a nickname, a linked phone number and an email, which will allow you to instantly know the data you need to unlock the main phone.
Pay special attention to the SIM card. If your account was linked to a phone number, try inserting that SIM card into any phone and checking incoming messages, and it may have preserved an old SMS from Xiaomi with confirmation codes that may mention part of the login.
Settings → Mi Account → ProfileThis path on the menu will show you the full profile information if you log in, and don't ignore the family devices, because if you bought your phone as a family phone, it could be logged in from your account to sync photos or contacts.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to guess the password by brute force on the locked device. After several unsuccessful attempts, the Mi Cloud system may temporarily block the ability to enter, and the waiting time will be from 1 hour to 24 hours.
Use of the official Mi Account website
The web version of the account management service provides powerful tools to restore access. Go to the official i.mi.com page or account.xiaomi.com. Here you can try to restore access, even if you remember only some of the information.
Click on Forgot Password or Forgot ID, and the system will offer multiple recovery scenarios, you can enter the phone number or email that was supposedly used, and if the data is correct, it will come with a confirmation code.
The ID recovery feature is especially useful if you have forgotten the login itself. The system can show a disguised address (for example, `x*@gmail.com`), which will help you remember which inbox was used.
☑️ Actions on the Recovery Site
You can also check the status of the device on the site. IMEI-The code of the locked phone (it is written on the box or under the battery if it is removable), the system can show which account the device is attached to.
Evidence gathering for the service center
If the technical methods are exhausted and access to the previous devices or mail is lost, the only official way is to contact an authorized Xiaomi service center.
The main document here is a purchase check, which can be a paper check from a store or an electronic check that came to the post office when you order online. IMEI-device code or serial number, and date of purchase.
Collect the following documents before going to the service:
- 📄 Original check of purchase or its high-quality copy / photo.
- 📦 A smartphone box with a sticker, where it is indicated IMEI and serial number.
- 🆔 Passport holder (name in the check and passport must match).
- 📱 The locked smartphone itself.
The procedure for unlocking the service takes from a few minutes to several days, depending on the workload of engineers and the need to request data from the server.
What should I do if my check is lost?
Table: Comparison of recovery methods
To make it easier to choose an access recovery strategy, we have systematized the basic methods in the table below, which will help you assess the chances of success depending on the information you have.
| Method | Required data | Difficulty | Probability of success |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browser/Password Manager | Access to a PC or other phone | Low. | High (if maintained) |
| Searching for Email | Access to the mailbox | Low. | Medium |
| Other Xiaomi devices | The presence of a second gadget in the ecosystem | Low. | Very high. |
| Service centre | Check, box, passport. | High (takes time) | 100% (if you have documents) |
As you can see from the chart, having a box and a check is the most reliable but time-consuming way, but if you've been using the ecosystem extensively, it'll only take a couple of minutes to search through a browser or other device.
⚠️ Warning: Beware of scammers online who offer to “unlock Xiaomi remotely” for money. 99% of the time, this is a scam, as without access to Xiaomi servers or the physical presence of the device, you can not unblock Mi Account.
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The fastest way to find your account name is to check your saved passwords in Google Chrome on your computer or other Android smartphone that logs in to your profile.