The situation when you need to untie the Mi Account from the device, occurs quite often, especially when changing your smartphone or preparing a gadget for sale. Modern smartphones brand Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO are equipped with a powerful security system that tightly binds the device to the account of the owner. This protects personal data in the event of theft, but can be a serious problem if you forget your password or bought the phone from hand.
It’s important to understand that simply removing an account from the settings menu is not enough if you plan to completely reset to factory settings. Find Device will continue to block the login, requiring authorization from the previous owner. In this article, we will discuss all the legal and proven ways to completely unplug the device from the manufacturer’s cloud service to avoid blocking the activation.
There are several scenarios where you'll need this procedure: selling the device, handing it over to another family member, or restoring access after you buy a used device. Whatever the reason, ignoring this step will cause the new user to see a lock screen that requires you to enter a Mi Account and password that they don't know. Let's look at how to avoid this situation and properly prepare the smartphone.
Why you need to unbundle your account before resetting
Many users underestimate the importance of logging out before performing Hard Reset. Xiaomi’s security mechanism works at the server level: once you link the phone to your ID, its unique identifier (IMEI) is entered into the database. When you try to activate after a reset, the device sends a request to the server, and if the database is listed as a binding, the screen is blocked.
This is not just a developer's whim, it's a necessary security measure, so if the phone is stolen, the attacker can't just reflash it and start using it, but for the honest owner, it means that you have to do a remote decoupling or log out of the profile directly in the settings before selling or transferring the gadget, otherwise the device will turn into a brick for the new owner.
⚠️ Note: If you bought the phone from your hands and when you turn it on, it requires an account of the previous owner, you can only return it by contacting the seller to remotely remove the device from the list.
In addition, data synchronization can lead to a leak of personal information. If you are not logged out, your contacts, photos and notes can automatically be downloaded to the new user's device if they log in to your account (or if you forget to log out), so completely clearing the bindings is not only a matter of functionality, but also of digital hygiene.
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Always back up your important data to the cloud or computer before untidying your account, as this process is often accompanied by deleting local data.
The classic way of detachment through smartphone settings
The easiest and most correct method is to do all the actions directly on the device while you have access to the desktop and menu, which ensures that the server receives a signal to change the status of the device, and the lock will be removed automatically.
Go to the settings menu and find the account section. The path may vary slightly depending on the version of the MIUI shell or HyperOS, but the logic remains the same. You need to find Accounts and Sync or Users and Acca. This is where all logins are stored.
☑️ Algorithm of actions in settings
Once you have selected the right account, the system will require a confirmation of the operation, so that an outsider can not simply delete your profile, you will need to enter the password from your Mi Account. After successful verification, the phone will send a request to the server, and the device will disappear from the list of associated in your profile.
- 📱 Open Settings on the main screen.
- 🔍 Find the Accounts and Synchronization section.
- 👤 Click on Mi Account in the list.
- 🗑️ Select the option to Delete your account (not just log out).
- 🔐 Enter a password to confirm the deletion.
It's important to distinguish between "Log Out" and "Delete Account" buttons. A simple exit can leave the device on the trusted list, whereas deleting completely breaks the connection. If you plan to sell the phone, only use the option of complete deletion. After that, you can safely perform a data reset without fear of blocking.
Remote management through the web interface
If you have a smartphone on your hands, but the screen is broken, or you have already sold the device and the customer asks you to untie it, the web version of the service comes to the rescue. It's a powerful tool that allows you to manage your bindings remotely through a browser on a computer or another phone, and you'll need Internet access and data to log into your Mi Account.
Go to the official website of Xiaomi cloud service. The site interface allows you to see all the devices that have ever been linked to your profile. Find the desired model (for example, Redmi Note 10 or Xiaomi 13) in the list and select the deletion option. The system can request a confirmation code that will come via SMS to the associated number.
| Action. | Where it's done | Requirements | The result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Removal in settings | On a smartphone. | Access to the menu, password | Instant uncoupling |
| Through i.mi.com | Web browser | Internet, account access | Removal from the list of trusted |
| Change of password | Site or application | Access to mail/telephone | Blocking old sessions |
| Regime is lost. | Web interface | Internet enabled on the device | Lockdown and tracking |
Once you remove the device from the list on the site, it is also recommended to change the password from the account.This action will forcibly terminate all active sessions on other devices and provide additional security.
What if the device is not removed from the list?
Restoring access with a forgotten password
The forgotten password situation is one of the most difficult. If you don't remember the login details, you can't untie the device using standard methods. In this case, you'll need an access recovery procedure. Xiaomi offers several ways to regain control of an account tied to a phone number or email.
Go to the password recovery page on the official website and you will be asked to choose the confirmation method: SMS-If you change your phone number, the process will be complicated and you will have to go through the verification process by providing scans of documents or purchase checks.
⚠️ Warning: Never use third-party services to "hack" your account, which can result in a device being completely blocked. IMEI at the producer level and it will not be possible to restore it.
After successfully restoring access and changing your password, be sure to log in to your smartphone account with new data, and then log out correctly, as described in the Settings section. This will update the security tokens and allow you to unlock the lock. If the phone is already reset and requires the old password you just changed, try entering a new one — in some firmware versions this works.
- 🌐 Go to id.mi.com for recovery.
- 📲 Select a linked number or mail.
- 🔢 Enter the confirmation code from SMS letter.
- 🔑 Set a new password for security.
- 🔄 Log in to your account on your device and log out again.
Xiaomi’s security policy is extremely strict in preventing theft, and the only way out is to search for a check and contact an authorized service center.
Specifics of working with different versions of MIUI and HyperOS
The detachment procedure can be nuanced depending on the version of the operating system. In the new HyperOS shells and the latest versions of MIUI 14, security algorithms have been strengthened. Now, when you try to delete an account, the system can require not only a password, but also confirmation via a push notification to another trusted device, if it is on the list.
Older firmware versions (e.g. MIUI 10-12) have sometimes had bugs to bypass the lock screen, but current versions have closed these vulnerabilities. If you have a Global ROM device, the process is standard. However, owners of Chinese versions (China ROM) with a multilingual package installed may face additional checks when trying to log out.
If the region is set to China, servers may be delayed or require a Chinese phone number for certain operations. Before selling the phone, it is recommended to change the region to the country of use (for example, Russia or Kazakhstan) and make sure that all services work correctly.
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On devices with HyperOS, the process of deleting an account has become more stringent: it is necessary to have an active Internet connection at the time of logging out of the profile.