How to change your phone number in your Xiaomi account: 3 proven ways + error solving

Changing the associated phone number in the Mi-account is a procedure that sooner or later every owner of Xiaomi, Redmi or other devices faces. POCO. The reasons may be different: change of operator, loss of SIM-However, many users face difficulties, such as requiring verification by the old number, issuing errors such as 20030 or 86006, and sometimes even blocking access to the account.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to change numbers (including situations where you do not have access to an old phone), explain why Xiaomi is so strict about the security of accounts, and give a checklist for successful completion of the procedure.

Why does Xiaomi require an old number confirmation?

Mi Account security is built on the principle of “two-factor authentication with a spare channel”, which means that to change the main phone number, the service must make sure that the request comes from the account owner, and the old number acts as such a “spare channel” – even if the attacker learned your password, he will not be able to change the attached phone without access to SMS.

But this mechanism creates problems for legitimate users, such as:

• 📱 You sold your phone and forgot to unplug your account, and the new owner is already using your old number.
• 🔄 You have changed the operator and the old number has been deactivated (or transferred to another subscriber).
• 🌍 You have moved to another country and your Russian number is no longer available for your home. SMS.
• 🚫 The account was blocked for “suspicious activity” (for example, after use). VPN).

In such cases, the standard procedure for changing the number via Settings → Mi Account will not work. You will have to use alternative methods, which we will discuss below.

Method 1: Standard number change via phone settings

This is the easiest method that works if you have access to an old number (it must receive SMS) and the phone is connected to the Internet. The instructions are relevant for all devices on MIUI 12-14, including Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5 and older models.

Steps:

1. Open the Settings. → Xiaomi Account (or Mi Account).
2. Slip your current phone number at the top of the screen.
3. Select Change phone number (or Change phone number in English).
4. Enter a new number in the international format (e.g. +79123456789).
5. Confirm the action. SMS-code that will come to the old number.
6. Then confirm the new number with a code from SMS.

If you see error 20030 (“Failed to send SMS”) at this point, check:

• 📶 Network availability on both numbers (old and new).
• 🔄 Absence of lockdown SMS from the operator (sometimes operators block service messages).
• 🕒 Time on the phone – it should be synced to the network (enable date and time autodetection).

Save phone data backup | Check balance on old number (SMS paid) | Disable VPN/proxy | Make sure the new number is not tied to another Mi Account | Write down your account password (required for confirmation)

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Method 2: Change number via account.xiaomi.com

The web version of Mi Account offers more access recovery options than a mobile application, which is suitable if:

• 📱 You don’t have physical access to your phone (for example, it’s broken).
• 🔄 You want to link the number of another country (for example, replace the Russian with the Kazakh one).
• 🌐 Your phone runs on custom firmware (like LineageOS), where Mi Account may not be available.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to the official website: account.xiaomi.com (use the Chrome browser or Firefox for correct operation).
2. Sign in under your login and password.
3. In the Profile (or Personal Info) section, find the Phone Number block.
4. Click Change and enter a new number in +[country code][number] format.
5. Confirm the old number with a code from SMS, then a new number.

⚠️ Note: If you try to change the number, the site asks you to enter a backup email, but you do not remember it, use the Forgot email function.

Method 3: Change the number without access to the old phone

The most difficult situation is when you do not have access to the old number (it is deactivated, lost or transferred to another person), in which case Xiaomi requires verification of identity through alternative channels.

Option A: Recovery via backup email

If you have an email attached to your account, follow the following steps:

1. Go to the recovery page.
2. Choose Restore via email.
3. Enter the address associated with the account and follow the instructions in the letter.
4. After access is restored, go to the profile and change the number (see Method 2).

Option B: Appeal for Xiaomi

If the email is not available, then you have official support.

1. Fill out the form at mi.com/support (select Global region, even if you are from Russia).
2. The name of the name is Mi Account Phone Number Change Request.
3. Attach screenshots: 📱 Screen with an error when trying to change the number. 📄 Identity document (passport or driving license). 🛒 Checks for buying Xiaomi devices (if any).

Hello,


I cannot change the phone number in my Mi Account because I no longer have access to the old number (+79XXXXXXXXX). The account is registered to my name [Your Name], and I am the legitimate owner. Please help me update the phone number to +79YYYYYYYYY.




Attached: passport scan and purchase receipts.




Account ID: [your Mi ID email]

⚠️ Attention: The time limit for processing the request is 3 to 14 days, if you provide incorrect data or support suspects fraud, the account may be permanently blocked. Do not send scans of documents in low resolution or with colored data - this will cause a rejection.

💡

If Xiaomi support ignores your requests, try tweeting to the company (@Xiaomi) or to the Mi Community forum. Sometimes it speeds up the process, but only responds in English.

Errors in changing numbers and their solutions

When you try to change a number, users often encounter error codes, and we've collected the most common ways to fix them:

If you see an error not listed in the table, check its code in the official Mi Account error database. Sometimes the problem is solved by simply restarting the phone or cleaning the Settings app cache.

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If you see error 86014, do not try to change the number from another device or via a VPN - this will increase the lock.

Features of changing the number for users from Russia and CIS

After 2022, Xiaomi tightened the rules for accounts registered in Russia, Belarus and some other countries, due to sanctions restrictions and a change in the company's policy.

• 📵 Lockdown SMS Russian numbers: from 2023, confirmation codes often do not reach the numbers of MTS, Beeline, MegaFon and Tele2 operators).
• 🌍 Restriction on Region Change: If your account was created in the region of Russia, you will not be able to link the number of another country (for example, Kazakhstan or Armenia) without first changing the region of the account.
• 🔒 Virtual number ban: Xiaomi blocks confirmation via services like OnlineSIM or 5sim. Use only the physical ones. SIM-map.

To circumvent these restrictions:

1. Before changing the number, change your account region to Kazakhstan or Turkey (via Settings → Region).
2. Use a local operator number (e.g. Beeline KZ or Turkcell).
3. If SMS does not arrive, request a call with a confirmation code (Call me option on the Mi Account website).

⚠️ Note: If you change your account region to a non-Russian one, some Xiaomi services may become unavailable (e.g. Mi Pay or local firmware updates.

What to do after a successful number change?

When a new number is tied to your account, follow a few important steps to avoid problems in the future:

1. Check backup contacts: Add backup email (if not). Link up with a Google or Facebook account for additional protection.
2. Update all devices: Sign in on all Xiaomi phones/tablets to sync your new number. Check out Mi Cloud, Find Device and other services.

Save your account information:

• Take a photo or write down a new number tied to your Mi Account.
• Keep a backup of the recovery codes (if you use two-factor authentication).

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After changing the number, be sure to check Mi Cloud – sometimes the sync of contacts and photos is temporarily suspended. Go to Settings → Sync and manually run it.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)