Remotely shutting down Xiaomi’s smartphone can be necessary in a variety of situations, from the trivial loss of a device to the emergency need to block access to personal data. However, not all users know that such features even exist — and those who have heard of them often face limitations or errors when trying to apply them in practice.
In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to remotely disable Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones, including official tools from the manufacturer and workarounds. We will pay special attention to the nuances of security: why some methods work only when pre-configured, how to avoid locking the device after turning it off and what to do if the phone is already in the hands of fraudsters.
It's important to understand that not all methods guarantee 100% results, for example, turning off the Mi Cloud only works if the phone is on mobile Internet or Wi-Fi, and the ADB method requires pre-activating debugging over USB, and we'll be honest about the limitations of each option so you can choose the best one.
1. Shutdown via Mi Cloud (official method)
The most reliable and legal method is to use Xiaomi’s Mi Cloud service, which works on all MIUI devices, but requires pre-association of your Mi Account account and an active Internet connection on your phone, and if you’ve never set up cloud sync, it won’t work for you.
To turn off your phone via Mi Cloud, follow the following steps:
- 🌐 Go to i.mi.com and log in to your Mi Account (the same one tied to your phone).
- 📱 In Devices, select the smartphone you want from the list, and if it's not, it's not connected to the cloud or off.
- ⚙️ Press three points (⋮) Next to the device name and select Find the device.
- 🔄 The map will determine the last location of the phone (if enabled). GPS). Below is the button Turn off the device.
- ⚠️ Confirm the action by entering the password from Mi Account. the phone will receive the command and begin the disconnection procedure.
Limitations of the method:
- ❌ It does not work if the mobile Internet is disabled on the phone./Wi-Fi.
- ❌ Requires pre-binding Mi Account and enabled synchronization.
- ❌ On some models (Redmi Note 8 Pro, POCO X3) It may not work due to the specifics of the firmware.
⚠️ Note: After remotely shutting down via Mi Cloud, the phone may lock up with a password requirement for your Mi Account the next time you turn on!
Link Mi Account to your phone|Enable synchronization with Mi Cloud|Check the Internet connection|Remember the password from the account|Make sure that GPS included (for exact location)-->
2 Use Google Find My Device
If your Xiaomi runs on Android and is tied to a Google account, you can try turning it off via Find My Device, a method less reliable than Mi Cloud, as Xiaomi often limits the functionality of third-party services on its devices, but it works in some cases.
Instructions:
- Open Google Find My Device and log in to the same Google account as your phone.
- Select your Xiaomi from the device list, and if you don’t have one, check if the phone has the Find Device option in Google’s settings.
- The map will show the last location. On the left menu, select Safe Mode or Lock the device.
- Enter a new password to lock (if required) and confirm the action.
Important nuances:
- 🔋 Find My Device doesn't know how to turn off your phone directly, just lock or erase data. MIUI The locking can lead to automatic shutdown.
- 📡 Active Internet connection and geolocation enabled are required.
- 🔒 If there is a pattern lock on the phone or PIN, After blocking through Google, you may need to enter both passwords.
| Method | Demands the Internet. | It works without setting up. | Turns it off or blocks it. | Compatibility with MIUI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Cloud | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No (needs a tie-up) | Turn it off. | ✅ All models. |
| Google Find My Device | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No (needs adjustment) | Blocks (sometimes turns off) | ⚠️ Partially (depends on firmware) |
| SMS-team | ❌ No (works through) SMS) | ❌ No (pre-configuration needed) | Turn it off. | ❌ Only the old models. |
| ADB | ⚠️ Depends on the network. | ❌ No (to debug) | Turn it off. | ✅ All models debugging |
Remote shutdown via SMS (for older models)
Previously on some Xiaomi smartphones (for example, Redmi). 3S or Mi 4) was a device control function through SMS-It allowed you to turn off the phone, lock it, or even erase data by sending a special message. MIUI 12+ This option has been removed for security reasons.
If you have an old model (release before 2018), you can try the following algorithm:
- From another phone, send an SMS to the lost device with the text: ##12345##shutdown (where 12345 is the password you should have set in advance in the security settings).
- If the function is active, the phone should shut down within 1-2 minutes.
⚠️ Note: On new devices (Redmi Note 10, POCO X4 This method does not work fundamentally – Xiaomi has removed support SMS-Don't waste time experimenting if your phone is released after 2019.
How to check if your Xiaomi supports you SMS-team?
4.Switch off via ADB (for advanced users)
If your Xiaomi has USB debugging enabled and you’ve previously connected it to your computer, you can try turning your phone off via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a technique that requires technical skills and pre-setting, but works even without internet on your phone.
Step-by-step:
- Install ADB and Fastboot Tools on your computer.
- Connect any other Xiaomi phone (or emulator) to your computer and execute the command: Adb tcpip 5555 This will put ADB into network mode.
- Find out. IP-The address of the lost phone (for example, via Mi Cloud or the router to which it is connected).
- Connect to your device via Wi-Fi: Adb connect [IP-phone]:5555
- Send the shutdown command: adb shell reboot -p
Warnings:
- 🔌 The method only works if the debugging is USB It was turned on beforehand. If you've never activated it, it's useless.
- 🌐 Your phone and computer must be on the same network (or you must know the external network). IP).
- 🛡️ On some firmware Xiaomi blocks ADB-team-up USB-linkage.
💡
If you often lose your phone, turn on debugging in advance. USB and write it down IP-The address of the device on the home network, which will help you connect quickly through the ADB emergency.
5 Emergency measures: what to do if the phone is stolen
If your Xiaomi is stolen, remote shutdown is not the main task, but rather, block access to data and prevent the device from being used.
Lock your phone through Mi Cloud|Change passwords from email and social networks|Go to the police with IMEI|Untie Bank Cards from Google Pay|Delete data via Find My Device (if you can’t turn it off)-->
If you can’t turn off your phone, follow the following steps:
- Block it. SIM-card through the operator (call for support or use your personal account).
- Delete data via Mi Cloud or Google Find My Device.
- Report to the police with an IMEI (you can find it through the Mi Cloud or a phone box).
- Revoke access to all accounts (Google, Mi Account, social networks, banks).
IMEI A stolen phone can be blocked through a telecom operator, but this does not guarantee the return of the device - fraudsters often change the firmware or use "gray" SIM-map.
6. Alternative methods and myths
On the Internet you can find tips for remote shutdown Xiaomi through:
- 📱 Calling from a certain number is a myth, there is no such functionality.
- 🔊 Voice commands (e.g., Google Assistant) – only work if your phone is unlocked and connected to your account.
- 📡 Special applications (like Cerberus or Prey) – require pre-installing and customization.
Real-world alternatives:
- 🔄 Reboot via Mi Cloud (if shutdown is not available, try Reboot command).
- 📴 Screen lock (via Google Find My Device) – will not turn off your phone, but will restrict access.
- 🔋 Battery discharge – if the phone is lying still, it will shut down in 1-3 days.
💡
The only reliable ways to remotely shut down Xiaomi are Mi Cloud (when pre-configured) and ADB (when debugging is enabled), all other methods either do not work or have critical limitations.