How to untie Xiaomi device from your account: the complete guide

Owning a modern smartphone means not only physical possession of the gadget, but also close integration with the manufacturer’s digital services. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, the Mi Account is the central element of security, which links the device to cloud storage, allows you to track the location and lock the phone in the event of a theft. However, life situations are different: selling the gadget, transferring it to relatives or simply wanting to change an account require the entire removal of the anchor.

The problem arises when a user forgets passwords, buys a used device with a "foreign" binding, or simply does not understand that a normal exit from settings is not enough to fully unlock. If you do not perform the unblocking procedure correctly, the next time you reset the settings or reflash the phone will turn into a "brick", requiring authorization of the former owner, which is why it is important to clearly understand the difference between simply leaving the profile and completely removing the device from the trusted list.

In this article, we will take a look at all the legal binding methods, from standard methods through settings to the procedure for restoring access through support, and we will also discuss the technical details of the Find Device mechanism and explain why ignoring this step can lead to complete inoperability of your Redmi or Poco.

Why you need a complete decoupling of the device

Many users mistakenly believe that it is enough to simply log out of the profile in the settings menu to consider the phone free. This is a dangerous misconception. The MIUI security system is more complicated: even after logging out on the device itself, Xiaomi servers can continue to consider this gadget to be trusted and tied to your digital ID. Mi Cloud retains a unique identifier IMEI or serial number in the list of active devices.

The main reason you need to keep a close eye on this process is theft protection, and the activation lock mechanism is designed to prevent an attacker who stole a phone from just dropping it back to the factory settings and starting to use it, and if you sell a phone without untethering it from your account, the new owner will encounter a lock screen immediately after the first reboot, and it will cause a lot of negativity and questions that will be difficult to resolve remotely.

⚠️ Note: If you are buying a used Xiaomi smartphone, be sure to ask the seller to do a full reset with you. If after turning on the phone requires a password from the Mi Account, which the seller "forgot" or "does not remember" - the deal is better not to make, since it is almost impossible to unlock such a device legally without the owner's data.

In addition, having an old anchor can interfere with the correct operation of some system functions, synchronization of contacts and backups. Server binding remains active until you explicitly remove the device from the list of trusted through the site or perform a full reset with authorization. This ensures that even if you lose your phone, the data will not fall into the wrong hands, but requires the owner to be responsible when changing the gadget.

Standard procedure for detachment through smartphone settings

The easiest and most correct way to unplug a device is to do so by regular means as long as you have physical access to the unlocked phone and remember the password.This method ensures that all server tags are deleted automatically. First, you need to open the Settings app on your Xiaomi, Redmi or Poco device.

At the top of the settings menu, you'll see a section with your name and avatar, which is the account management login, and you click on it, and you'll be taken to the Mi Account menu, and it displays all the basic information: cloud storage, subscriptions, and most importantly, the list of associated devices, and that's where security is managed.

Inside the menu, find a item that may be called "Devices" or have a smartphone icon. Click on it to see a list of all gadgets that have now or previously been associated with your profile. Find the model you want to untie (like the Redmi Note 10) in the list and click on it. A detailed window with device information will open.

At the bottom of the screen or in the menu (three dots in the corner) should be a button Delete device or Untie. the system will ask to confirm the action, possibly by entering the password from the account again. After successful execution of this operation, the Xiaomi server receives a signal that the device is no longer owned by the owner, and removes the activation lock.

Removal of binding through the official website

If you don't have a smartphone at hand, but you have access to a computer or other device with a browser, you can use the web version of the service. This method is especially useful if the phone is already sold but you forgot to untie it, or if the touch screen is damaged but the system is working. Go to the official website i.mi.com.

Use the same login and password as you do on your phone. After logging in, you'll be taken to the Mi Cloud web interface. In the upper right corner or side menu, find the Settings section (cog icon) or Devices section. Here you'll see the map (if tracking is enabled) and the list of gadgets.

Choose the device you want from the list. The interface may vary slightly depending on the region and the interface version, but the logic remains the same. Click on the device name and you will see the option to Remove from the acc or Unlink. Confirm the operation. It is important to understand that the Internet may not be necessary on the phone you are removing, but the fact of deletion is recorded on the server instantly.

After removing the device through the site, it is recommended to wait 5-10 minutes before resetting the settings on the gadget itself, so that the server databases can be updated, which will help to avoid situations where the phone after restarting still “thinks” that it is tied.

Nuances of resetting settings and activation blocking

There's a critical point that's often overlooked: If you just run a Hard Reset through the Recovery menu without untieing the device beforehand, you'll run into an activation lock screen, which is a security mechanism that works when you detect a new system installation on a device listed in the stolen or active database.

When turned on after reset, the phone will require you to enter a password from the Mi Account that was synced to the device before the reset. If you don't remember this password, you won't be able to unlock the phone using standard methods. This is not a bug, but a security feature similar to Apple's iCloud Activation Lock.

⚠️ Warning: Never buy Xiaomi smartphones with your hands if the seller claims that "just forget the password later" or "untie remotely after payment." Demand a full detachment and reset with you. Otherwise, you risk getting a useless piece of plastic and glass.

If you are the legitimate owner and you just forgot to untie the device before resetting, you have two options: remember the password or use the access recovery function. Attempts to bypass this lock through flash often fail on newer versions of MIUI, since the binding check is at the bootloader and server level.

💡

Tip: Before selling your phone, take screenshots of the customer’s correspondence that the device is completely cleaned and untied, which will protect you from potential claims in the future.

Restoring Access and Deleting Forgotten Devices

If you have an account and you don't have access to it (forgot your password), you can recover it by going to id.mi.com or account.xiaomi.com and select "Forgot your password." You'll need access to your linked phone number or backup email.

If the phone is sold and you're not logged out, and you don't have access to the number, the situation gets complicated, and if you do, you'll need to contact Xiaomi's support team to prove that you own the account, usually by scanning the checks for the purchase of the devices that were previously linked to the account, or passport information if they were specified.

The process of removing "dead" devices from your account through support can take anywhere from days to two weeks, IP-Login addresses and other metadata to make sure the request came from the real owner, not from a hacker trying to steal the account.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

💡

The only guaranteed way to avoid activation blocking problems is to manually remove the device from the list of trusted in the Mi Account settings BEFORE performing a setting reset or selling.