Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to untie their Mi Account before selling the device or transferring it to another user, a critical step since the MIUI security system blocks access to basic smartphone functions if the previous owner’s account is active, and ignoring this process can turn the phone into a “brick” for a new owner, locking it during the activation stage.
The detachment procedure does not require deep technical knowledge, but requires attention to detail, especially if you do not remember the current password or do not have access to the associated password. SIM-In this article, we will discuss all possible scenarios in detail, from standard exit through the settings menu to remote device management via the cloud service.
Remember, Mi Cloud is not just a photo storage, it's a powerful anti-theft tool, so it will require proof of identity for any action that involves deleting your account. If you plan to just reset your settings to factory settings without deleting your account, your phone will still ask for a password when you first turn on, which is why the right sequence of actions is so important for smooth transfer of the device.
Why you should unplug your account before resetting
Many users mistakenly believe that simply resetting Settings → About phone → Factory reset is enough to completely clean the device. However, in the Android ecosystem and specifically in the MIUI shell, there is a security mechanism known as Activation Lock. If the device is logged in to Mi Account and the Find Device feature is enabled, then after the reset, the smartphone will require you to enter the username and password from this account to activate.
This means that the new owner will not be able to use the phone until you provide them with your data or remove the device from the trusted list remotely, and ignoring this step poses serious security risks, since your personal data synchronized with the cloud can theoretically be accessed if the account is not properly untied, and it is also a matter of ethics and responsibility to the buyer of your gadget.
⚠️ Warning: If you sell a phone with a linked account, the customer will not be able to use it. Service centers may refuse to unlock without a check and a box, and paid services to unblock are often a scam.
There are several scenarios where the unbundling is mandatory: first, it's selling or donating the device; second, handing over the smartphone for repair, where technicians may require an unlocked device for diagnosis; third, if you just want to clean the phone of old garbage and start using it as a new device from scratch, but under a different account.
- 📱 Selling or transferring a smartphone to another person is the most common case requiring complete cleaning.
- 🔒 Delivery of the device to the service center for warranty or paid repair.
- 🔄 Want to change your main account or region of use without losing data on your old account.
- 🛡️ Suspicion of data compromise requiring immediate password change and decoupling of all devices.
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Full detachment of the account before resetting is the only guaranteed way to avoid blocking the activation for the new owner.
Standard procedure for detachment through smartphone settings
The most reliable and correct way to remove a Mi Account is through the menu of the smartphone itself, as long as you have access to it and remember the password.This method ensures that Xiaomi servers receive a signal that the device is no longer owned by the owner, and remove it from the list of trusted ones. Start by opening the main settings menu of your device.
Find a section that may be called “Mi Account”, “Accounts and Sync” or just display your email at the top of the Settings menu. Depending on the version of MIUI (Chinese or global), the path may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same. You need to log into the profile management to see the list of associated devices and exit options.
Once you log in, look for the “Get Out” or “Delete Account” button, and the system will warn you that the data will be deleted from the device but will remain in the cloud. This is normal behavior. If you plan to sell your phone, you no longer need data in the cloud on that device, but it is worth saving it in case you want to restore it on a new Xiaomi gadget.
During the exit process, the system can request an account password or confirmation code that came via SMS. This is a security mechanism that prevents the deletion of the account by attackers who have gained physical access to the unlocked phone. Enter the requested data and wait for the synchronization process to complete.
- 🔑 Entering a password confirms that the action is performed by the account owner.
- ☁️ Data is deleted only from the local storage of the phone, the copy remains on the servers.
- 📲 SMS-code required if two-factor authorization or device change is enabled.
- ✅ After successful exit in the menu "Mi Account" should display the button "Login».
Remotely uncoupled via i.mi.com
There are times when the phone is already dropped, lost, or simply unavailable, but the account on it remains active, in which case the web version of the Mi Cloud service comes to the rescue, which allows you to manage the attached devices remotely, which is especially important when preparing the phone for sale if you have already performed a reset but forgot to log out.
To get started, go to i.mi.com from your computer or other smartphone. You will need to log in using the same Mi Account you want to delete from your device. The interface may be in English or Chinese, but the basic features are easily recognizable by the icons. Find the "Find device" or "Settings" section, depending on the version of the interface.
In the list of devices, select the smartphone you want to untie. Usually, it shows the model of the device, for example, Redmi Note 10 or Xiaomi Mi 11, and the status of its location. If the phone was recently online, you will see it on the map. If not, the status will be “Offline”, but deletion from the list is still possible.
What if the device is not listed?
If you don't see your phone on the listing on the site, check if you're logged in. It's also possible that the phone has never been connected to the Internet after logging in or has already been logged out. In rare cases, servers take up to 24 hours to update the status of the device.> Once you select the device, find the Remove button or the Recycle Bin icon. Confirm the action. From now on, the device will be removed from the trusted list, and when it is turned on (if it has not been reset) or after reset, no activation lock will be required. This is equivalent to leaving your account through your phone menu. ⚠️ Note: Deleting the device through the site does not erase the data on the phone itself. If the device is on your hands and not reset, the data will remain. If the phone is lost, this action will not help find it, but only remove the lock, which can allow the new owner to use the stolen gadget. Restoring access with a forgotten password is one of the most common problems when you sell the phone. Without a password, a standard exit is impossible, and the security system will not allow you to simply delete the account. However, Xiaomi has several mechanisms to restore access to you before you try to reset. The first and easiest way is to use the “Forgot password?” feature on the login screen. You will need access to the attached phone number or the confirmation system will allow you to set the new password. It is important that SIM-The card has been inserted into your phone or other device if you are restoring access through SMS. If your phone number is changed or lost, the process becomes more complicated, and you will need to go to account.xiaomi.com and select the recovery option through support, which will require additional information: The approximate date of account creation, the device models used, the Mi Store purchase history or the screenshots of the checks, the more proof of ownership you provide, the better the chance of success. Recovery Method Required Data Execution Time Efficiency By SMS Access to SIM-map 1-5 High Email Access to the mailbox 5-15 Minutes High through support Checks, account details 1-3 Average Security Questions Instantly Low (rarely used) After successfully restoring your password, log in to your device immediately (if available) and follow the standard exit procedure described in the previous sections. Do not attempt to bypass the lock reset until you regain access, otherwise you will get a locked phone.Reset settings and final check After you successfully logged out of the Mi Account, you can proceed to a complete reset of the device. This action will return the phone to factory status by removing all apps, photos, contacts and settings. Make sure you have saved all the important data, as it will be impossible to recover it after this step without a prior backup. → About phone → Factory reset (Settings) → The phone. → Press the "Erase all data" button. The phone can reboot several times, and this process can take from 5 to 15 minutes depending on the storage capacity and the speed of the drive. Do not interrupt the process or force the phone to turn off. Once the reset is complete, the phone will turn on as a new one, suggesting you choose a language and connect to Wi-Fi, and at this point it is critical to check if the device is requesting a password from your Mi Account. If you’ve done everything right, the activation screen should suggest you create a new account or sign in to an existing one, but don’t require a password from the old owner. 💡Before transferring the phone to the new owner, be sure to check whether the gallery or recorder has any hidden files that may not have been deleted during a standard reset. If the phone requests an old password, it means that the account was not logged out, or there was an error in sync with the server, in which case do not transfer the device to the buyer. You will have to reset your Wi-Fi, log in to your account and repeat the unblocking procedure, paying special attention to the status of the Internet connection at the time of exit. One of the most common problems is the message “Can’t delete your account” or endless rotation of the load indicator when trying to exit, most often due to unstable Internet connection or temporary problems on Xiaomi servers. First, try changing the type of connection: switch from Wi-Fi to mobile Internet or vice versa. DNS-Addresses in Wi-Fi settings at 8.8.8.8 (Google) DNS). Sometimes the exit lock is linked to the device's active administrator rights for some applications that need to be revoked in the security section. Another common problem is the phone says "The device is linked to another account," even though you're sure you're out. This can happen if the phone has multiple users or guest modes, check all profiles and log out of each account, and check if Find Device is activated in the security settings separate from the main account. 📶 Check date and time: Incorrect settings can block connection to the authorization server. 🔄 Clear the cache of Google and Mi Account services in the Apps section» → «All applications». 📲 Make sure that the device has the current version of the firmware installed. MIUI. 🚫 Disable third-party antivirus or ad blockers that may interfere with the connection. ⚠️ Warning: If nothing helps and the phone claims to be tied to an account that you can’t remember or restore, the only legal way is to contact an authorized service center with a check and a box. Officially, no. Security system. MIUI It's designed to prevent access to the device without the owner's authorization, and resetting through Recovery Mode doesn't remove the account's binding, it just resets the data, and when you turn on, the phone will still require a password. The only way to restore access via email or phone. What happens if you sell a phone with a linked account? A customer can't activate the phone. They'll see an Activation Lock screen. You risk the customer demanding the money back or leaving a negative review. It's a useless piece of plastic for the customer. You also remain responsible for the device that you own. Will your account be deleted when you flash your phone? No, simple flashing (install a new version) MIUI) does not delete the account binding, as the link information is stored on Xiaomi servers and is associated with a unique ID device (IMEI). Once the firmware is in place, the phone will again request login to the account it was previously associated with, how to untie the phone if it's broken and not turning on? If the screen is not working, but the phone is turned on, you can try to connect it. USB-mouse-wise OTG-If the phone doesn't turn on at all, the only way is to use i.mi.com to remotely remove the device from the trusted list, but that won't erase the data on the phone itself. How many times can you change the password from your Mi Account? There are no limits to change the password, but if you change it frequently (for example, several times a day), the security system can temporarily block the possibility of changing the password or require additional verification through the Internet. SMS or email to protect against hacking.