How to change your account on the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi: 3 working ways

Changing your Mi Account on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a procedure that every second owner of the brand faces, and the reasons can be different: selling a phone, switching to a new account, restoring access after blocking or simply wanting to use another email. However, many users make critical mistakes that lead to locking the device, losing data or not being able to fully work with Xiaomi services.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to change your account to Redmi (including Note 12 Pro+, Redmi 10C, POCO X5 and others), taking into account the nuances of the latest versions of MIUI 14/15.

If you bought a used Redmi and the previous owner didn't delete your Mi Account, or forgot the login details, don't rush to reset your phone to factory settings! 80 percent of the time, this leads to an activation lock (Mi Cloud Lock), which locks the device permanently, and we'll show you how to get around this problem legally and without risk.

1. Preparation for changing the account: what to do before deletion

Before you start changing your Mi Account, follow the mandatory preparatory steps, and ignoring them can lead to loss of access to Mi Store purchases, synchronized data (contacts, notes, photos), or even locking your phone.

First, check the associated services:

• 📱 Mi Cloud Storage: Download backup photos, contacts and records from cloud.mi.com.

Second, make sure you have access to the email and phone number associated with your current account. Without them, you won't be able to confirm your profile deletion or restore access if you have an error. If your email or number is lost, restore them first through Xiaomi's support service (account.xiaomi.com).

Finally, write down your phone's IMEI (type *#06#) which you will need if you lock your device after changing your account and need support.

💡

If you are selling a phone, reset to factory settings ONLY after deleting the Mi Account, otherwise the new owner will not be able to activate the device.

2. Method 1: Standard account change through settings

This is the safest method if you have access to your current Mi Account and the phone is not locked.Calls for all Redmi models on MIUI 12-15.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → Accounts. → Mi Account.
2. Click on your profile (at the top of the screen) and select Account Management.
3. Scroll down and tap Out (or Delete Account on new MIUI versions).
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email (the code will come to the linked number / mail).
5. Once you exit, restart your phone and add a new account through the same Mi Account section.

If you don't have the option to delete your account, you have Find Device on your device to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → Password & Security → Find Device
2. Disable the function by entering the password from Mi Account.
3. Return to the account and try to delete again.

3. Method 2: Reset via Find Device (if the password is forgotten)

If you don't remember your old account, but your phone is tied to your number or email, you can use the remote control feature via the web version of Find Device, which works even if your smartphone is locked.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to i.mi.com from a computer or other phone.
2. Sign in with the same Mi Account as Redmi (if you don’t remember the data, restore access via account.xiaomi.com).
3. In the control panel, select your Redmi from the list of devices.
4. Click Delete Data → Erase the device.
5. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

Once reset, the phone will reboot and prompt you to set it up as new, and at the login stage, you can:

• 🔄 Sign in under another Mi Account.
• 📱 Skip binding (but some features will be limited).
• 🔓 Restore access to your old account if you remember your password.

Method 3: Hard reset (if other methods do not work)

This option should only be used as a last resort, as it results in complete data loss and can activate Mi Cloud Lock.

• 🔒 Mi Account password is forgotten and no access to email/phone.
• 📵 Device locked after failed login attempts.
• 🔄 Previous owner has not deleted his account.

Instructions for Redmi with physical buttons:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power Button + Volume up for 10-15 seconds at the same time until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data (manage by volume buttons, confirm by power button).
4. Confirm the reset by selecting Wipe All Data.
5. After the reboot, the phone will look like new.

⚠️ Attention! If the phone has Mi Cloud Lock on, the reset will prompt you to enter your old account data:

• Contact the previous owner for the entry data.
• If the phone is purchased and it is impossible to contact, provide the seller with checks and IMEI for unlocking through Xiaomi support.

💡

Hard reset removes all data, including photos, messages and apps, and if the phone has Mi Cloud Lock enabled, the device locks after the reboot.

Table: Comparison of Account Change Methods

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems.-5 errors and ways of solving them:

🔴 "Cannot delete the account – the button is inactive"

• 📌 Reason: Find Device or Theft Protection is enabled.
• 🔧 Solution: Turn them off in Settings → Password & security.

🔴 "After resetting, the phone requires an old account"

• 📌 Reason: Mi Cloud Lock activated (Find Device was enabled before reset).
• 🔧 Solution: Try to restore access to your old account via account.xiaomi.com. If the phone is used, ask the seller for login details or check to unlock.

🔴 "No confirmation code is coming in. email/phone"

• 📌 Reason: Blocking messages by the operator or mail service.
• 🔧 Solution: Check the spam folder in the mail. Turn off the blockers. SMS (Try requesting the code from another browser or device.

⚠️ If you bought Redmi from hand and the seller did not delete his Mi Account, and now the phone is locked - do not try to hack it yourself. MIUI After 5 failed attempts to enter a password, the phone is locked forever. IMEI.

7 How to add a new account after a shift

After successfully deleting an old profile or resetting your phone, you will need to create/add a new Mi Account in two ways:

📱 Method 1: When the phone is first turned on

1. At the setup stage, select Log in to the account.
2. Enter an email or phone number for a new profile.
3. Confirm registration via SMS or mail.
4. Complete the phone setup.

🖥️ Method 2: Through Settings (if no account is added when setting up)

1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Add an account → Mi Account.
2. Choose Create an account or Sign in if you already have a profile.
3. Fill in the data and confirm the registration.

⚠️ Attention! If you missed your account binding on the first turn on, some features will be limited:

• 📱 It is not possible to use Mi Cloud for backup.
• 🛒 Restricted access to purchases in the Mi Store.
• 🔍 Find Device (phone search when lost).

To avoid problems, always link an account right after you drop or buy a new phone.

8. FAQ: Answers to frequent questions