How to disable Mi Account on Xiaomi Redmi: the full guide

Xiaomi and Redmi are famous for their availability and functionality, but the built-in security system Mi Cloud sometimes creates difficulties for users. Mi Account is a key element of the brand ecosystem, allowing you to synchronize data, find a lost device and make backups. However, when selling a gadget, changing the owner or losing a password, it becomes necessary to break the connection of the device with the server.

The unblocking process may seem confusing because of the strict anti-theft measures, but it is quite feasible if you have access to a phone or account. It is important to understand that simply uninstall the application will not work – it requires logging out with proof of ownership. In this article, we will discuss in detail all legal ways to unlock and delete a profile so that you can fully manage your device.

Why you need to unbundle your Mi Account

The main reason users have to think about how to disable a Mi Account is to prepare a smartphone for sale or transfer to another person. If they don't log out, the new owner will not be able to fully use the device because it will remain locked by the previous owner, a security measure known as Mi Lock or Find Device that renders the phone useless to outsiders in the event of theft.

Also common is losing access to a linked phone number or email, which makes standard SMS login impossible and requires a deeper recovery or data cleanup process, sometimes simply wanting to abandon Xiaomi services in favor of other cloud storage, such as Google Drive.

Another scenario is buying a used device that is already locked by someone else's account, where you can legally unlock your phone only by contacting the previous owner, and bypassing software protection on modern versions of MIUI and HyperOS is extremely difficult and often leads to complete inoperability of the gadget.

You don't want to ignore the binding if you're planning to reset your settings. Once formatted, the phone will require authorization, and without entering old data, it will remain a brick, so deleting your account is a must-have in preparing your resale technology.

Preparation for Account Deletion

Before you start the detachment procedure, you need to do a number of preparatory steps to avoid locking the device and losing important contacts, photos and documents. The first step should always be to back up the data. Even if you are sure that the cloud has synchronized everything, a local copy on your computer or a third-party drive will not hurt.

The second important thing is a stable Internet connection: Xiaomi servers should receive a signal that the device is out of the network. If the connection is interrupted at the time of deletion, there may be a synchronization error and the profile will remain active. Also make sure that the device is geolocated, as some security checks require location confirmation.

⚠️ Note: If you forget your Mi Account password and cannot retrieve access via email or phone, the device may become unusable after resetting. Make sure you remember the login details.

Step three is to check active sessions, go to your security settings and see if your account has any unauthorized devices, and if so, delete them before you start basic activities, which will reduce the risk of security locking you because of suspicious activity.

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Save screenshots of important settings or serial numbers before resetting – this will help when restoring warranty or contacting a service center.

Standard method of removal through smartphone settings

The easiest and most secure method to disable Mi accounts is available right from the smartphone menu, which is useful if you remember the password and have physical access to the unlocked device, which takes only a few minutes and does not require a connection to the computer.

To start, open the Settings app and find the Mi Account section (usually at the top of the list or in the About section). Click on your profile name. From the menu that opens, select the option to exit or delete your account. The system will warn you that sync will cease after you exit, and data that is not stored in the cloud may be lost.

Then you need to enter your account password. Once you have successfully logged in, the phone will send a request to the Xiaomi server to unplug the device. If two-factor protection is enabled, the associated number will receive a confirmation code, enter it in the appropriate field.

After you have successfully completed all the steps in the settings menu, instead of your name, it will be written “Log in” or “Not authorized”, which means that the Mi Account is successfully disabled and the phone is ready to be reset or transferred to a new owner.

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Delete via settings is the only guaranteed way to completely unblock Mi Cloud without risk to the system.

Delete your account via the Mi Cloud web interface

If you don't have a smartphone, but you have a computer or other gadget, you can use the web version of the cloud service, which allows you to remotely manage devices associated with your profile. Go to the official i.mi.com website and log in using your Mi ID and password.

Once you log in, go to Settings (the gear icon) or find Find the device. In your gadget list, select the one to unplug. The device management menu should have the option to Remove from the akka or exit. Confirm the action with a code from SMS or email.

This is especially useful if the phone’s screen is broken but the system itself is working, or if you’ve already sold the phone but forgot to log out of the profile (although in the latter case it’s risky, as the new owner will gain access to your data if you don’t make a reset).

If the phone is turned off or in flight mode, the command will be executed only after its next online release.

What to do if you forget the password from your Mi Account

When a password is lost, it is one of the most difficult situations. Without it, a standard logout is impossible. However, Xiaomi provides recovery mechanisms. Go to account.xiaomi.com and click on "Forgot your password?" You will be offered several recovery options: through a linked phone number, email or a check question.

If you change your phone number, it gets complicated, you need access to the email box that your account is registered to, and if you don't have access to either the phone or the mail, you only have a feedback form to restore your account through support, a long process that requires you to submit checks for the purchase of the device and a photo box with IMEI codes.

After successfully restoring access and changing your password, be sure to log in to a new profile on your phone, and then perform the logout procedure using the standard algorithm described above. Just changing the password on the site does not untie the device automatically, you need to exit the settings.

⚠️ Warning: Never use questionable software to hack into a Mi Account, at best it won't work, at worst you'll lose your personal data or get a virus on your computer.

Resetting settings and activation lock

Many users mistakenly believe that a Hard Reset automatically deletes the Mi Account, a dangerous misconception that once reset and turned on, the phone will require the username and password from the account it had before the reset, which is an Activation Lock feature.

If you reset your phone without first logging out, you'll encounter an activation screen. You can only enter data that was previously used. If you don't remember it, the phone becomes a locked object. You can get around this on modern versions of Android and MIUI without losing functionality (for example, the inability to make calls).

So the golden rule is, you exit your Mi Account in the settings first, and then you reset. The sequence of actions should be strict: Settings → Mi Account → Exit → Reset settings.

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Hard Reset does not delete the Mi Account binding, but only clears the data. Activation blocking remains active until the correct data is entered.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)