Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones are equipped with a powerful security system that closely links the device to the user's account. Mi Account acts as a digital key, allowing you to synchronize data, search for a lost gadget and block it in the event of a theft. However, often users are faced with a situation when you need to remove this linkage: when selling the phone, transferring it to another family member or simply changing the main phone number.
Owners of the Redmi 9 model may face difficulties if standard unblocking methods do not work or if access to the phone number is lost.The process of unlocking or resetting data requires care, as erroneous actions can lead to a complete lock of the device by the Find Device security system. In this article, we will discuss in detail all legal and secure ways to manage account binding.
Please note that complete deletion of your account without password is only possible through official recovery channels or with access to linked emails. Attempts to use questionable software to circumvent security can cause irreparable harm to your Redmi 9 software.
Why you need to unbundle your Mi Account before selling
Selling or transferring a smartphone to another person is the most common scenario, requiring a complete reset of the bindings. If you just reset to the factory settings (Wipe Data) through the recovery menu, but do not delete the account beforehand, the new owner will face the activation screen. MIUI system will request a password from the previous owner, and without it the phone will turn into a brick.
In addition, the linked account continues to sync data even if the device is located in another city, photos, contacts and notes may accidentally enter the new owner’s cloud or, conversely, your personal data may be updated with information from the sold device, which poses a serious threat to privacy.
- 🔒 Protection of personal data from unauthorized persons.
- 📱 The new owner can fully use the device.
- ☁️ Ending the synchronization of cloud services.
- 🚫 Avoidance of Activation Lock (Activation Lock).
It's also important to note that some features, like finding the device, continue to run in the background. If you forget to untie the Redmi 9, you'll still be able to see its location on the map, which can be confusing.
Standard way of detachment through smartphone settings
The most correct and safe method of removing the binding is to use the standard settings menu of the Android operating system with the MIUI shell. This method ensures that Xiaomi servers receive a signal about the break of communication with the device, and the lock will be removed automatically before formatting.
First, you need to access the account management menu, find the Settings icon in the app list, and scroll to the top, and it will show your profile, and click on it to enter the detailed management menu.
In the window that opens, you'll see basic profile information, and at the bottom of the screen, there's a button to exit, and by clicking on it, the system will ask you to confirm the action by entering a password from your Mi Account or a code from your SMS if you have two-factor authorization enabled, which is a mandatory security measure.
⚠️ Warning: If you don't remember your password, don't try to guess it many times. After a few failed attempts, the system will temporarily block the ability to log in.
After successfully logging out, the phone will offer to back up local data. Even if you plan to reset your phone, it is recommended to back up contacts and messages on the phone. SIM-a computer or card to avoid losing important information.
☑️ Checklist before leaving the account
Remote unlocking through the web interface
If access to the Redmi 9 smartphone itself is limited (for example, a broken screen or a device is blocked), but you remember the login and password, you can use remote control. the Find Device service allows you to control associated devices through a browser on a computer or another phone.
Go to the official Xiaomi cloud service website and log in under your login. In the interface, select the device management menu. Here is a list of all gadgets that have ever been logged in to this account.
Select your Redmi 9 from the list. The options available will include Delete Device or Erase Data. Using the remote deletion function will also initiate the deletion process, as after formatting, the phone will try to activate, but after receiving a command from the server, it will remove the lock.
| Function | Description of action | Requires Internet on your phone |
|---|---|---|
| Sound. | Includes maximum signal volume | Yes. |
| Lockdown | Puts the lock screen with a message | Yes. |
| Erase the data | Full reset and untidy of the account | Yes. |
| Loss regime | Blocks functions, leaves GPS behind | Yes. |
It is worth noting that to execute remote control commands, the smartphone must be turned on and connected to the network (Wi-Fi or mobile Internet). If the device was turned off or is in an uncoated area, the command will be executed as soon as the connection appears.
What if the device is not listed?
Restoring access to a lost password
The situation where the password is forgotten and the phone needs to be untied is one of the most difficult. Without the correct credentials, you can't unblock the activation using standard methods. The only legal way is to restore access through support or Xiaomi automated systems.
On the Mi Account login page, click on the Forgot Password link. The system will offer multiple options for verifying your identity. This can be a code from an SMS to a linked number, a backup email, or an answer to a secret question if you set it up.
If the phone number to which the account was linked is also lost or blocked, the procedure becomes more complicated. You will need to go to account.xiaomi.com and select the recovery option through the feedback form.
- 📧 Access to a backup email address.
- 📱 Possibility of reception SMS old number (if the SIM card is active).
- 🧩 Answers to security control questions.
- 📄 Providing a receipt for the purchase of the device (sometimes required).
The recovery process can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days, depending on the complexity of the case and the speed of the security response, and you should not expect instant results if the data for recovery is not available.
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Save the receipt for the purchase of a smartphone electronically. In the case of blocking the account, a photo of the check from the IMEI-Code is the strongest argument for support when restoring access.
Resetting settings via Recovery Mode
If access to the phone menu is not possible due to a pattern lock or system freeze, users often resort to Recovery Mode Recovery Mode. On Redmi 9, this mode is entered by a keyboard combination when the device is turned off.
Press both the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, while still holding the volume, and you will be taken to a menu with English text, where the navigation is done with the volume buttons and the choice with the power button.
You have to select Wipe Data, then Wipe All Data, and Confirm, which completely destroys all user data, photos, and apps, bringing the phone back to the “out of the box” state.
⚠️ Warning: Once reset via Recovery and turned on, the phone will necessarily require you to enter a password from the Mi Account that was synced earlier.This is anti-theft protection. If you don't know the password, resetting via Recovery won't help unlock the device.
This method is only justified if you plan to enter the correct password immediately or if your account has already been untied through the settings, but you want to simply clear your phone.
Typical errors and problems in the unbundling
Users often make mistakes that lead to additional problems, and one of the most common is trying to change the password immediately after buying a used device, and if the previous owner didn't untie the phone, changing the password will prevent the new owner from accessing the device, but only create a version conflict.
Another mistake is ignoring two-factor authentication, and if it's enabled, simply entering a password is not enough, you need a code from an SMS or an authenticator app, and if you change your phone number and you don't update your profile in advance, you'll lose access to your account.
There is also the problem of time desynchronization: If Redmi 9 has a time and date that is lost, the security server can reject requests to log in or out of the account, considering them suspicious, and check if the time zones are correctly set.
In some cases, clearing the cache of Google and Xiaomi services helps. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the relevant services and choose Clear → All data. After that, try logging in again.
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The main problem with blocking is not knowing the password of the previous owner, and without his participation or official restoration of access, it is legally impossible to unlock the Mi Account.