How to change your account on Xiaomi Redmi 4: all ways (MIUI 8-14)

Changing an account on a Xiaomi Redmi 4 smartphone is a challenge that users face when selling a device, transferring it to relatives or after buying a used phone. The peculiarity of the model is that it works on the basis of MIUI, Xiaomi’s proprietary shell, which is closely integrated with Mi Account services. This means that simply deleting a Google account is not enough: if you do not untie your Xiaomi profile, the phone can be locked after resetting (so-called account binding).

In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to change your account to Redmi 4 (including the Pro and Prime modifications), taking into account the nuances of different versions of MIUI - from the old MIUI 8 to the modern MIUI 14. We will pay special attention to the safe removal of the old profile to avoid locking the device, and also consider how to avoid typical errors like "This device is tied to another account."

If you bought the phone with your hands and the previous owner did not delete your Mi Account, do not rush to make a factory reset! This can lead to a hard lock (activation lock), which is almost impossible to remove without the data of the old owner.

1. Preparation for changing the account: what to do in advance

Before you change your account to Redmi 4, follow a few critical steps to avoid data loss and device lockdown.

✅ Backup. Even if you plan to transfer your phone to another person, save important data:

• 📱 Contacts – export to the file VCF via the Contacts app.
• 📷 Photos and videos – copy to PC or cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
• 🔑 Passwords – Check if they are saved in the browser or password manager.
• 🎮 Game saves – link to your Google Play account or social media.

⚠️

If the Find Device feature is enabled on the phone (Settings → Mi Account → Find Device), it must be disabled before changing your account, otherwise, after deleting your profile, the phone may lock up with a request to enter a password from the old Mi Account.

🔧 Check the version. MIUI. This depends on the algorithm of actions:

• 📱 MIUI 8–9 (Android 6–7) – Older versions with vulnerabilities that can bypass the lock.
• 📱 MIUI 10–14 (Android 8–12) – advanced assemblies with enhanced protection.

Redmi 4

MIUI 12

📌 Make sure you know the password from your current account. Without it, you can't delete your Mi Account through your settings. If your password is lost, try to restore it to account.xiaomi.com or through the Mi Account app on your phone.

2. Method 1: Delete your account through settings (official method)

This is the most reliable and recommended way for Xiaomi, which is suitable if you know the password from your current Mi Account and Google account.

📝 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync (or Mi Account in older versions).
2. Select Mi Account → click on your profile.
3. Scroll down and tap Out (or Delete your account in new versions).
4. Enter the password from Mi Account and confirm the deletion.
5. Return to Accounts and Sync → Select Google → Delete your Linked Profile.

⚠️

After deleting Mi Account, some functions will stop working: 🛒 Mi Store – it is impossible to download themes and applications. ☁️ Mi Cloud – Loss of access to backups. 🔍 Find the device, you turn off remote control. To restore functionality, immediately add a new Xiaomi account.

🔄 Adding a new account:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Come in.
• 🔑 Enter a new profile or create it through registration.
• ☑️ Confirm the entrance. SMS email.

Method 2: Reset to factory settings (if you don't know the password)

If you lose access to your old account and your phone is not blocked, you can make a hard reset, but this method is risky: Redmi 4 can activate an activation lock (FRP) that requires you to enter the old profile data.

🔧 How to Reset the Settings Right:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power before the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (manage volume buttons, confirmation – power button).
4. After resetting, the phone will reboot and prompt you to set it up as new.

❌ What to do if your phone requires an old account after a reset?

• 🔓 Try entering the last Google account linked (even if it was deleted).
• 📧 If you don’t remember your password, use the access restoration.
• 🛠️ If you block Mi Account, contact Xiaomi Support with proof of ownership (check, box).

💡

💡

If the phone is after the reset SIM-Previous owner card, insert any active SIM It's the same operator, sometimes it's possible to bypass the check.

Method 3: Bypassing Mi Account lock (for power users)

If the phone is locked after being reset and requires the data of the old Mi Account, you can try to bypass the protection. These methods are informal and can lead to the loss of warranty or inoperability of the device. Use at your own risk!

🔓 Method 1: Fastboot (for the purpose of MIUI 8–10)

1. Install ADB and Fastboot on PC.
2. Connect your phone to your computer in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
3. Enter the command: fastboot oem unlock If a warning appears, confirm unlock.
4. Sweat Custom Recovery (TWRP) and delete your account files manually.

🔓 Method 2: Through EDL-regimen MIUI 11–12)

• 🖥️ You need an authorized Xiaomi account and Mi Flash.
• 📂 I need an official firmware for Redmi. 4 (for example, latte_global_images_...).
• ⚠️ If you do the wrong thing, your phone can turn into a brick".

⚠️

Attention! since 2021, Xiaomi has tightened security policies. Mi Account bypass on new firmware is virtually impossible without an official unlocker. On Redmi 4 with MIUI 12, the chances of success are minimal.

5. Method 4: Change your Google account without deleting your Mi Account

If you only need to change your Google account and leave your Mi Account, do the following:

📝 Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Select your current account → Delete the account.
3. Confirm the deletion (a password or pattern lock may be required).
4. Add a new account through Add an account → Google.

⚠️ Important nuances:

• 🔒 If the phone is protected FRP (Factory Reset Protection, after deleting your Google account and resetting your settings, your phone will require you to enter your last associated profile data.
• 📱 On Redmi 4 with Android 7.1.2 FRP activated automatically if sync with Google is enabled in the settings.
• 🔄 To avoid blocking, disable Settings before deleting your account → Google → Security → Find the device.

💡

💡

If you are selling a phone, it is best to completely delete both accounts (Mi and Google) and reset via Settings → Additional → Reset. This minimizes the risk of blocking for the new owner.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you change your account to Redmi 4, users often face typical problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to solve them.

❌ Error 1: “This device is linked to another account"

• 🔹 Appears after resetting settings if Mi Account has not been deleted.
• 🔹 Solution: Enter the last Xiaomi account linked or contact the support with proof of purchase.

❌ Error 2: “It is not possible to delete the device administrator account"

• 🔹 This occurs if the account has administrator rights (for example, for corporate applications).
• 🔹 Solution: Go to Settings → Annexes → All applications → Find "Device Management" and disable administrator rights.

❌ Error 3: After resetting, the phone asks for SIM-previous owner

• 🔹 This is an additional protection Xiaomi on some firmware.
• 🔹 Solution: insert SIM Or try to get around the check by the same operator. EDL-regime.

⚠️

Attention! If you buy a Redmi 4 with your hands, always check to see if the Mi Account is untied. ask the seller to reset the settings in front of you and make sure the phone turns on without asking for a password. Otherwise, the risk of getting a brick after buying is extremely high.

💡

On Redmi 4 with MIUI 12 and later, it is almost impossible to bypass the Mi Account lock without official methods.

7. Alternative methods (for advanced users)

If the standard methods don't work, you can try informal solutions, which require technical skills and can lead to data loss.

🛠️ Method 1: Firmware through TWRP

• 🔹 Install custom recovery TWRP for Redmi 4.
• 🔹 Through TWRP delete the account files in /data/system/ (e.g. account.db).
• 🔹 Sweep through the clean firmware.

🛠️ Method 2: Use of Mi Account Unlock Tool

• 🔹 These programs only work on older versions. MIUI (MIUI 8–9).
• 🔹 Requires to connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode.
• 🔹 Risk of Infecting Your Computer with Malware.

⚠️ Warning from the editorial board:

Using unofficial methods of unlocking can lead to: 🚫 Loss of warranty. 🔥 "Telephone" fitting (complete inoperability). 🕵️ Identity leakage when using questionable utilities, we recommend resorting to them only as a last resort when other methods have been exhausted.

8. FAQ: Answers to frequent questions