How to change your account on Xiaomi Redmi phone: safe ways to 2026

Changing your account on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a procedure that every second user of the brand faces. The reasons are different: selling the phone, transferring it to relatives, switching to another one. MI-However, the standard deletion of a profile through settings often results in a device locking after 72 hours if key conditions are not met. In this article, we will analyze all working ways to change your account, from official to alternative, and also tell you how to avoid typical mistakes that make Redmi turn into a brickΒ».

Xiaomi’s ecosystem is characterized by deep integration of services with hardware. Mi Account manages not only cloud storage, but also unlocking the bootloader, synchronizing data, and even some system applications. So changing your profile incorrectly can deprive you of access to Find Device, Mi Pay payment services, and even lead to loss of warranty. We tested all methods on current MIUI 14/15 firmware (including HyperOS) and collected checklists for each scenario.

Why you can’t just delete your account through settings

Many users try to change their account in the most obvious way: go to Settings β†’ Accounts β†’ Mi Account and click β€œDelete.” This method only works in 30% of cases – and here’s why:

  • πŸ”’ Protection against theft: Xiaomi locks the device for 72 hours after deleting the account, if the Find Device function is not disabled (similar to Find iPhoneΒ»).
  • πŸ“± Iron binding: On some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, Redmi) K50) account is tied IMEI β€” Removing it without unlocking the bootloader leads to a β€œsoft brikΒ».
  • ☁️ Cloud sync: Delete profile erases backups to Mi Cloud unless you export data in advance.

Moreover, devices with MIUI Global (sold in Russia) can be blocked regionally after deleting the account, requiring the previous owner to enter data on the next Internet connection, which is protection against β€œgray” imported phones, which cannot be avoided without knowing the nuances.

⚠️ Note: If you buy Redmi from hand, be sure to check if the old account is untied through account.xiaomi.com. The seller must provide a screenshot confirming the device's removal from the list of tied gadgets.

Official method: change the account without resetting

The safest method is to add a new account to the old one and then transfer all the data to it.

  • πŸ“Œ You don’t sell your phone, you just want to change your email.
  • πŸ“Œ You have access to your old account (password)/email).
  • πŸ“Œ Find Device feature is disabled on the phone.

Step-by-step:

  1. Open the settings and go to the Accounts β†’ Mi Account.
  2. Click on the profile icon in the upper right corner and select β€œAdd Account”.
  3. Enter your new account (email/phone + password) and if you don't have an account, register it directly from this menu.
  4. Confirm your login via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
  5. Go back to the account menu and select a new profile as your primary profile.
  6. Delete your old account (if necessary): Settings β†’ Accounts β†’ Mi Account β†’ Delete your account.

Disable Find Device in Settings β†’ Mi Account β†’ Find Device

Make a backup of data in Settings β†’ Additional β†’ Backup

Record the IMEI of your phone (type *#06#)

Check the version of MIUI in Settings β†’ About the phone

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After adding a new account, we recommend transferring to it:

  • πŸ“ Backup copies (Settings) β†’ Additionally. β†’ Backup β†’ Data migration).
  • πŸ’³ Mi Pay data (if you used mobile payments).
  • πŸ”‘ Wi-Fi passwords (synchronized via Mi Cloud).

Once a year.

Only when you sell your phone

Never changed.

I don't know how to do that.-->

Resetting to factory settings: when necessary

If you sell or transfer a phone, a full reset is the only way you can guarantee that you will delete all the data of the previous owner.

  1. Without an account detachment, the reset will lead to activation FRP-After rebooting, the phone will require you to enter a login / password from the old account.
  2. On MIUI 12+ firmware, a reset can be blocked by the bootloader if the account was linked to Mi Unlock.
  3. On some models (Redmi 9A, Redmi 8) reset without deleting the account leads to a β€œsoft breeze” – the phone turns on, but does not pass the initial setup.

How to Reset Your Phone Right:

Instructions for MIUI 14/HyperOS
1. Open Settings β†’ About Phone and 7 times click on β€œMIUI Version” to activate Developer Mode. 2. Return to Settings β†’ Additional β†’ For Developers and enable β€œOEM Unlock.” 3. Delete Mi Account via Settings β†’ Accounts. 4. Perform reset: Settings β†’ Additional β†’ Settings Reset β†’ Erase All Data. 5. After rebooting, set up the phone as new by skipping the login step.

Model phoneDo I need to untie my account before resetting?The risk of blocking after reset
Redmi Note 12 Pro+Yes (via account.xiaomi.com)High (FRP + bootloader lock)
Redmi 10CNo (sufficiently deleted in settings)Medium (FRP only)
Redmi K60Yes (required to disable Find Device)Critical (IMEI blocking)
Redmi 9TNo (if Find Device is disabled)Low.

⚠️ Note: HyperOS phones (such as Redmi Note 13 Pro) may require an internet connection to check their account status after a reset. If the old profile is not deleted in advance, the phone will be locked at the setup stage.

Alternative methods: when standard methods do not work

If you bought a Redmi with your hands and the seller didn’t untie the account, and the phone requires the previous owner’s data to be entered after the reset, there are several workarounds.

Method 1: Bypassing FRP through recovery mode

It runs MIUI 12-14 (not suitable for HyperOS):

  1. Turn off the phone, press Volume++ Power to log into Recovery Mode.
  2. Select a language, then go to Wipe Data β†’ Wipe All Data.
  3. After resetting at the setup stage, connect to Wi-Fi, but do not enter your account details.
  4. Go back, click Add Account and select Google (if any).
  5. Enter any Google account details – this bypasses checking your Mi Account.

Method 2: Use of the ADB-team

For advanced users, you need a computer with ADB Tools installed:

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings


adb shell content insert --uri content://settings/secure --bind name:s:user_setup_complete --bind value:s:1

These commands simulate the completion of the initial setup, allowing you to skip the login screen.Rules on 60% of Redmi models, but can cause errors in the work of Xiaomi services.

πŸ’‘

If your phone is locked after a reset, try entering your old account with a VPN connected (Hong Kong or India), sometimes removing the regional lock.

Method 3: Appealing for Xiaomi

If the phone is locked and it is impossible to contact the previous owner, you can send a request for support from:

  • πŸ“„ Check purchase (if the phone is new).
  • πŸ“± IMEI Devices (to learn via *#06#).
  • πŸ“§ Email linked to the phone (if available).

The link to the feedback form: mi.com/support, the review period is up to 7 days.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users make mistakes when changing their account to Xiaomi.-5 problems and solutions:

Mistake.Reason.Decision
Phone Requires Old Account After ResetNot untied by Find Device or not deleted before resetRestore access to your old account or use it ADB-circumvention
Mi Cloud is not working after changing your accountData not transferred to new profileBackup before deleting your old account
Blocking the bootloader after deleting the accountThe account was linked to Mi Unlock.Unlock the bootloader again through a new account
No SMS to confirm a new accountRegional restrictions or operator lock-upUse email to register or VPN
The phone will not turn on after resettingFirmware damaged or reset interruptedSwitch your phone through the Mi Flash Tool in EDL mode

The error with the account binding to IMEI is especially dangerous. On some models (Redmi K40, Redmi Note 11 Pro+) after deleting the account, the phone may lose connection with the network (there is no IMEI), In this case, only firmware through the Mi Flash Tool with authorization in the Xiaomi service account will help.

πŸ’‘

Before any account manipulation, check if Find Device is disabled, which prevents 90% of locks from being reset.

Features for different Redmi models

The procedure for changing an account may vary depending on the model and firmware version, and the following are key nuances for popular devices:

Redmi Note 12/Note 13 Series

These models are double check account:

  • πŸ” When deleting the profile, you need to enter a password from Mi Account and PIN-phone-code.
  • πŸ“‘ After the reset, it is necessary to connect to Wi-Fi to check the status of the account.
  • πŸ”„ If the phone is purchased in China, you may need to link to a Chinese Mi Account (you can bypass it through the phone). VPN).

Redmi 10 / 10A / 10C

Budget models with MIUI 13 have a simplified protection system:

  • βœ… You can delete your account without linking to Find Device.
  • ⚠️ After the reset, confirmation is required through SMS a number linked to an old account.
  • πŸ› οΈ If the phone is blocked, the firmware via Fastboot (without authorization) will help).

Redmi K50/K60 Series

The flagship models with HyperOS have the strictest protection:

  • πŸ”’ Deleting your account without disabling Find Device leads to blocking IMEI.
  • πŸ“¦ Reset via Recovery does not delete account data – Fastboot firmware is required.
  • πŸ”‘ You need to wait 720 hours (30 days) to unlock the bootloader even after changing your account.
How to find out the firmware version and phone model?
Open Settings β†’ About Phone. The MIUI version shows the firmware (e.g. V14.0.4.0.TKLCNXM) and the Device Model shows the exact number (e.g. 2201116TI for the Redmi Note 11 Pro+).

Can I change my account to Redmi without resetting?
Yes, if you have access to an old account. Add a new profile through Settings β†’ Accounts β†’ Mi Account β†’ Add an account, then make it the primary account and delete the old one. If Find Device is disabled, there will be no lockdown.
What if the phone asks for an old account after a reset?
It worked. FRP-Try: Enter your old account details (if you have access) bypass the lock ADB (See the "Alternative Methods" section. Contact Xiaomi with a check for a purchase. If nothing works, you need firmware through the Mi Flash Tool in mode EDL (Only for experienced users).
How to delete the account of the previous owner if the phone is purchased from hand?
The only legal way is to ask the seller: Remove the phone from the list of devices on account.xiaomi.com. Disable Find Device in the phone settings. Perform a factory reset. If you can't contact the seller, only informal methods (ADB, firmware) remain, but they can violate the warranty.
Why do some functions not work after changing your account?
It's related to the fact that: πŸ“± Not all data is transferred to a new account (e.g., Mi Cloud backups). πŸ”‘ New account not authorized with Xiaomi services (e.g. Mi Pay or Mi Home). πŸ“‘ The phone is tied to another region (e.g. Chinese firmware requires a Chinese account). Solution: check the sync settings in Settings β†’ Accounts. β†’ Mi Account β†’ Synchronize and log in to all services again.
Can I use my phone without a Mi Account?
Technically yes, but with limitations: βœ… Basic functions (calls) are working, SMS, camera). ❌ Unavailable: Mi Cloud, Find Device, Air Updates (OTA), some system applications. ⚠️ On HyperOS, without an account, you can block access to the developer's settings. You must have an account binding to make full use of it. If you want to do without it, consider custom software firmware (like LineageOS), but this voids the warranty.