When a user forgets the password from their Mi Account or buys a used device with someone else’s account, it is quite common in 2026.This can become a serious problem, as Xiaomi’s security system tightly ties the device to the owner’s cloud profile. Without removing this binding, the smartphone turns into a “brick” after resetting, requiring authorization of the last user.
The process of deleting your account depends on whether you have access to your phone menu or your device is locked, in the first case, the task is solved in a few minutes through standard settings, in the second case, you will have to resort to more complex methods of restoring access through the official website or specialized service tools, and it is important to understand the difference between simply logging out of a profile and completely removing the device from the trusted list.
In this article, we will take a look at all the legal ways to untie your Mi Account, bypass activation checks and regain full control of your gadget.We will look at the standard methods for working phones and options for forgotten passwords so you can choose the right algorithm for your model, whether it is the flagship Xiaomi 15 Ultra or the budget Redmi Note series.
Deleting your account through the smartphone menu
If you have physical access to the device and you know the unlock password, this is the easiest and safest way. Before you reset or sell the phone, you need to manually delete the account. This action automatically sends a request to Xiaomi servers to unlock the device, which prevents the activation lock screen from appearing in the future.
To start, open the Settings app and find the Mi Account section at the top of the list. If you're using a new version of HyperOS, this item may be simply called "Account" or integrated into your user profile. Click on it to see a list of all associated services, cloud storage, and synchronized data.
At the bottom of the profile screen, you'll see the Sign Out or Delete Account button, and the system will require you to enter your Mi Account password to confirm your transaction, a critical security step that ensures that an outsider can't just delete your profile from the stolen phone.
⚠️ Note: If you simply click the "Get Out" button without entering a password, your account may remain server-level linked to the device. Always wait for the message that you successfully remove the device from your trusted list.
Once you've successfully entered the data, the phone will disconnect from the sync servers, and you can now safely do Hard Reset through the recovery menu without fear of being blocked.
☑️ Checking before sale
Delete the device through the official website i.mi.com
There are times when your phone is lost, broken, or simply unavailable right now, but you need to untie your Mi Account from it. Xiaomi provides a convenient web interface that allows you to manage your connected devices remotely, which is especially relevant if you plan to reset your settings remotely or have already sold your phone but forgot to log out.
Go to the official i.mi.com portal from any computer or other smartphone, you will need to log in using the same Mi Account that is linked to the target device. After logging in, go to Find the device or Manage the devices.
In the list, you'll see every gadget ever connected to this profile, including old Redmis, Pad tablets, and even smartwatches. Select the device you want from the list. In the control menu that opens, find the Remove from the list button or the basket icon.
Why does the server not delete the account immediately?
Confirm the operation. The system can request a confirmation code sent to the associated phone number or backup email. After that, the status of the device in the Xiaomi database will change, and the next time you connect to Wi-Fi, the activation lock will not occur.
Password reset and access restoration
If your goal is not just to untie your phone, but to restore access to a forgotten account and then delete it in a regular way, you will need a password recovery procedure, which is the only legal way to regain control if you remember the phone number or email used to sign up.
On the lock screen or when you enter the settings, click on the link Forgot the password?. You will be transferred to the recovery page Xiaomi Account. Here you need to enter the login (phone number or email: SMS-code, call or email.
Once you have entered the confirmation code, you will be asked to set a new password. Come up with a complex combination that is difficult to guess, and be sure to write it down in a safe place. After changing the password, wait about 15 to 30 minutes for the information to update on all sync servers.
- 📱 SMS-code: The fastest way to do this is if SIM-The card is in your hands.
- 📧 Email: Suitable if the phone number is already lost, but the mail is available.
- 🆔 ID Account: Sometimes you need to enter a full account ID account if the number is not tied.
⚠️ Note: After changing the password on some models with the enabled feature, Find the Device may need to wait for 24 hours before being able to unlock.
If none of the methods is suitable, for example, the number lost and mail is not available, you will have to go through the verification procedure through the support service, providing checks on the purchase of the device.
Hard Reset: Completely reset your phone settings
Once you have successfully untied or restored your account, you can begin to completely clean up your data. Hard Reset returns the device to factory status by removing all user files, applications, and settings, which you must do before selling or when critical system errors occur.
There are two main ways to do a reset. The first is through the settings menu: Settings → About phone → Resetting → Erase all data. This method is convenient if the screen responds to touch and the system is stable.
The second method is through the Recovery menu, which is used if the phone is not loading or the pattern lock is forgotten. To log into this menu on the device that is turned off, press the Volume Up and Power buttons simultaneously. Hold them until the Mi or Redmi logo appears.
In the Recovery menu, you can navigate with volume buttons, and you can choose either by power button (on older models) or by touching the screen (on new ones with HyperOS). Choose English, then click Wipe Data → Wipe All Data → Confirm.
💡
Before you perform Hard Reset, be sure to remove the MicroSD card, if installed, otherwise you risk losing important photos and documents stored on external media.
The cleaning process can take 2 to 10 minutes depending on the amount of internal memory and processor model.
The problem of blocking activation (Mi Account Lock)
The most unpleasant situation that users face is the activation lock screen, which appears after resetting the settings, if you did not log out of the Mi Account before that, the screen displays a message that the device is associated with the account, and you need to enter the password of the last user.
This is a security that's embedded at the bootloader and server level, and it's designed to make it pointless to steal a phone because it's impossible for an attacker to reset, and it's almost impossible to get around that security without a password in legal ways.
If you bought a phone with your hands and faced such a lock, the only way out is to contact the seller and ask him to remove the device from his account remotely (via the site, as described above).
The table below shows the main reasons for the occurrence of blocking and how to solve them:
| Situation | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Forgot the password. | The user does not remember the login data | Recovery via email/SMS |
| Bought a used phone | The seller did not untie the account | Communication with the seller for removal |
| Change of number | SIM-Card lost, access to SMS lost | Appeal for Xiaomi support |
| Corporate device | The phone belonged to the organization. | Appeal to IT-department |
💡
Activation blocking is server protection, and no flashing or resetting through Recovery will remove it unless the device is removed from the cloud by the owner.