How to change your Mi Account on Xiaomi phone: all the ways

Why Users Change My Account and When It’s Necessary

Changing your Mi Account on Xiaomi smartphones is a procedure that every owner of a Xiaomi device will face sooner or later, and the reasons can range from selling a phone to unlocking functions after buying a used gadget. The main problem is that the Mi Account is deeply integrated into the MIUI system, which manages data synchronization, access to cloud services and even some hardware functions.

For example, if you bought a Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 from hand and the previous owner did not delete his account, you will not be able to use Find Device, synchronize notes or even update the firmware without its username and password. Moreover, on some models (especially released before 2021), the account can block resets through Recovery Mode, making the phone almost useless without the original data.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to change your Mi Account – from standard deletion through settings to bypassing lock on locked devices. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances for different versions of MIUI (12 to 14) and smartphone models, including Xiaomi 13T, Redmi 12 and POCO F5.

Preparing for a Mi Account Change: What to Do in advance

There are several critical steps that need to be taken before you start deleting or replacing an account, and neglecting them can lead to data loss or even a complete lockdown of the device (especially on models with Mi Cloud Activation Lock).

First, make sure you have access to your current Mi Account (login and password). Without this data, standard deletion is impossible – the system will require confirmation via SMS or email. If you buy a used phone, ask the seller to delete the account with you or provide login details (although the latter option is not secure).

Second, check if you are linked to your Mi Cloud device. Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Account and see sync status. If there are active backups (contacts, photos, notes), they should be saved manually – after deleting the account, they will be lost.

• 📱 Save it. IMEI Devices: dial *#06# in the phone app and write down both numbers (if there are two) to help unlock through support.
• 🔄 Turn off two-factor authentication (if enabled) in Mi Account settings – it can make it harder to delete.
• 📡 Check your Internet connection: Deleting your account requires a stable connection (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔋 Battery charge of at least 50%: interruption of the process due to discharge can lead to software failures.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13/14 and newer versions when trying to delete an account without an Internet connection, the system can block the phone from the Internet. 72 It's a protection against theft.

Method 1: Standardly delete Mi Account through settings

The easiest and safest method is to delete your account directly from the settings menu, which is suitable if you know the username and password from your current account. The instructions are relevant for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models on MIUI 12-14.

Open Settings and go to the Accounts section → Mi Account. At the top of the screen, you'll see an email or a phone number tied to the device. Click on the gear icon (⚙️) in the upper right corner and select Delete Account. The system will request a password, enter it and confirm the action.

After that, the phone will automatically reboot, and you can add a new account or use the device without being tied. Importantly, on some models (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro) after deleting the account, you may need to re-activate via Mi Cloud – prepare the data for the new account in advance.

Make a backup copy of the data|Write it down. IMEI device|Disable two-factor authentication|Connect to Wi-Fi|Charge the phone to 50%+-->

⚠️ Note: If after deleting the account, the phone requires you to enter the previous owner’s data at the first setup, this means that the device is tied to the Mi Cloud Activation Lock).

Method 2: Reset settings with deletion of the account (Hard Reset)

If you don't remember the Mi Account data, but the phone isn't locked at the Mi Cloud level, you can try resetting to factory settings. This method works on most models, but there are important nuances:

On devices with MIUI 12 and later reset via Settings → About Phone → Settings reset does not always delete the account – the system can save the binding to Mi Cloud. To guarantee the deletion of the account, you need to use Recovery mode:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (use volume buttons for navigation and power button for confirmation).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed (5-10 minutes).

Once the reboot is complete, the phone will suggest setting it up as new. If the activation screen does not show a request to enter the data of the old account, the procedure was successful. If the request is, then the device is tied to the Mi Cloud Activation Lock, and additional actions will be required (see the next section).

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If after resetting the phone asks to enter the password from the old account, do not try to guess it repeatedly - after 5 unsuccessful attempts, the device will be locked for 24 hours.

Method 3: Bypassing Mi Account Locking without Password (for Power Users)

On devices with MIUI 10-12 (released before 2021), there are informal methods to bypass Mi Account locks without knowing the password. They are based on firmware vulnerabilities and require the use of a PC, USB cable and special tools, which can violate warranty and lead to data loss - use it only as a last resort.

One of the most common methods is to use the Mi Account Unlock Tool.

• 💻 Windows computer 7/10/11;
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (not cheap analogues!);
• 📱 Included debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (press 7 times) → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB);
• 🛠️ MiFlashUnlock or XiaomiTool V2.

The process involves connecting your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode, running the utility, and executing an unblock command. The detailed instructions for each model are different — for example, the Redmi 9 and POCO M3 require an additional disabling of anti-rollback check.

⚠️ Attention: Starting with MIUI 13, Xiaomi tightened protection against unofficial unlocks.On new models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Lite or Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) These methods often do not work – the system locks the phone after trying to bypass.

Method 4: Official Unlocking Through Xiaomi Support

If none of the above methods worked, the only legal way to do so is to call Xiaomi support, which is true for Mi Cloud Activation Lock devices, where the phone requires the previous owner’s data even after resetting.

For official unlocking, you will need:

1. Check or proof of purchase (if the phone is new).
2. IMEI devices (can be found via *#06# or on the box).
3. Data of the previous owner (if the phone used) or proof that the device is not stolen.

The process takes 3 to 14 days, and in some cases, Xiaomi may request a video of the device showing its status and serial number, and you can contact an authorized service center to help you collect the necessary documents to speed up the process.

Yeah, on my phone.|Yeah, on a used device you bought.|No, but I've heard about this problem.|No, and I don't know what it is.-->

What to do after changing your Mi Account: setup and synchronization

After successfully deleting an old account and adding a new one, you need to follow several steps to make sure the phone works correctly:

1. Update your firmware: go to Settings → About Phone → System Update and install the latest security patches.
2. Set up sync: in Mi Account → Cloud, select which data (contacts, photos, notes) to sync.
3. Activate Find Device: This will help you find your phone in case of loss (includes in Settings → Memory and Backups → Find Device).
4. Check permissions: Some apps (such as Mi Home for smart devices) require re-authorization.

If you have purchased a used phone, it is also recommended:

• 🔄 Reset network settings (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings);
• 🔒 Change the screen lock password;
• 📦 Delete unnecessary Google and other services accounts.

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After changing your Mi Account, be sure to check Find Device and Mi Cloud functions – they can be disabled automatically.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing your Mi Account to Xiaomi