Xiaomi’s current smartphones, including the popular Redmi 5 Plus, are closely integrated with Google’s ecosystem. When you first activate your device, you enter your data, which becomes the key to the app store, cloud storage, and contact synchronization. However, there are situations when you need to completely detach this digital identifier from the gadget, whether it is selling the device or transferring it to another family member.
The procedure for deleting a profile may seem trivial, but in practice it hides important security nuances: If you just reset settings without first logging out, the FRP (Factory Reset Protection) mechanism will work, which will lead to the fact that the new owner will not be able to activate the phone without entering the password of the previous owner, which will make the device virtually useless.
In this guide, we will discuss all the steps of correct account deletion in detail. We will look at the standard methods through the settings menu, actions in the case of a forgotten password and the specific features of the MIUI shell installed on the Redmi 5 Plus.
Why you should delete your account before resetting
Many users underestimate the importance of pre-delivering Google services, believing that a simple reset to factory settings is enough. However, Android's security policy since version 5.1 has implemented strict restrictions. Factory Reset Protection is designed to protect against theft: if the phone is stolen and dropped, an attacker will not be able to use it.
In the case of Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus, ignoring this step leads to a lock screen that requires you to enter an email and password that were synchronized earlier, and if you forget this data, restoring access will be a difficult technical task, requiring you to flash it or use specialized software.
⚠️ Warning: If you plan to sell your phone, deleting your account is a must, otherwise the customer will not be able to set up the device, leading to a return of the product and negative reviews.
Additionally, deleting your account ensures that your personal data, such as search history, saved passwords in Chrome and geolocation, does not remain in the cloud tied to that particular hardware identifier.
Preparation of the device for the procedure
Before you start changing your system settings, you need to do a number of preparatory steps to avoid unforeseen errors and loss of important information. Make sure that the Redmi 5 Plus battery is at least 50%, as a sudden shutdown during synchronization can damage system files.
It is also recommended to check for an active Internet connection, although the account is deleted locally, the system may need to confirm actions or synchronize status before unbundling. Use stable Wi-Fi or a 4G mobile network.
☑️ Redmi 5 Plus Prepares to Delete Your Account
Back up your important data. Deleting your account from your device doesn’t erase data from the cloud, but if you have local files that aren’t synced to Google Photos or Drive, it’s worth copying them to your computer. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Backup to create a local copy.
Step-by-step instructions through Android settings
The most reliable and correct way to untie a device is to use the built-in menu of the system.This method does not require superuser rights (Root) and is safe for the operating system. The process on MIUI can be slightly different from pure Android, so follow the algorithm carefully.
Open the main menu and find the settings section. We need to get into account management. The path may vary depending on the firmware version, but most often it is in the "Accounts and Sync" or simply "Accounts".
Follow the following steps:
- 📱 Click on the Settings icon on your desktop or in the notification curtain.
- 🔍 Scroll down and select Accounts and Sync (on some versions) MIUI This could be a Google section).
- 📧 In the list, find the desired Google email address and tap it.
- 🗑️ Click the More button (three dots in the corner) and select Delete Account.
The system will request confirmation of action. This is a safety mechanism against accidental removal. Once confirmed, the detachment process will begin, which will take a few seconds, and you will see a notification of successful completion of the operation.
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If the delete button is inactive or hidden, it is possible that the device has set administrator rights for that account. Check the Security section → Device Administrators.
After deleting, repeat the procedure for all other Google accounts if there were more than one.Be sure to also log out of your Mi Account if it was used to avoid blocking MIUI activation.
Delete via the account management menu
Some versions of the MIUI shell on Redmi 5 Plus offer an alternative profile management path that allows you to adjust sync more closely before you delete it, which is useful if the standard menu is not working properly.
Go to Settings → Accounts. This shows all the services your phone is connected to. Select the Google logo. You'll see a list of all the email boxes that are linked to you. Click on the specific address.
You'll open a sync menu, where you can selectively turn off contacts, calendars or apps before you delete them completely, which is useful if you want to leave data on your phone but unplug your account from the cloud.
| Parameter | Description of action | Impact on data |
|---|---|---|
| Synchronization of contacts | Updating the phone book | Contacts will disappear from the phone, stay in the cloud |
| Google Drive | Backup of files | Files will no longer be updated on the device |
| Play Market | Updating the applications | Inability to download new applications |
| Google search | History and personalization | Resetting search preferences |
After setting the settings, click the menu (three dots) and select deletion. The system will warn that all data associated with this account will be deleted from the device. Confirm the action.
Solving Access and Forgotten Password Problems
The situation where the password from the Google account is forgotten is one of the most common: If you can't log in to delete the account, or the system requires re-authorization, which you can't go through, the situation gets complicated.
It's important to understand that you can't delete your account from a device without a password in a regular way, and that's a fundamental security hole that Google doesn't allow you to exploit. If you try to circumvent this requirement, you'll be faced with a problem. FRP-lock-in.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t try to guess passwords repeatedly. After several failed attempts, your account will be temporarily blocked by Google’s security system, and you won’t be able to access it even from your computer.
The only legal solution is to restore access through a browser on another device, go to the Google account recovery page, type in an email, and follow the instructions for resetting your password through a backup phone or mail.
If recovery is not possible and the phone needs to be sold, the only way out is to completely reset and then unlock through service centers or specialized software, which requires technical skills. However, if you just forgot your password but have access to the phone, first restore your password, log in, and then delete your account according to the instructions above.
What is FRP Lock?
Distinguishing from Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus
The Redmi 5 Plus is based on the Snapdragon 625 processor and runs an optimized version of Android, which owners of this model may face specific behavior when deleting accounts due to aggressive optimization of MIUI memory.
Sometimes, after deleting an account, Google processes can remain in memory, causing sync errors. In this case, it is recommended to restart the device. Redmi 5 Plus is characterized by two SIM cards, and sometimes a Google account can be tied to a specific SIM slot in the network settings, although this is rare for modern versions of the software.
Also, consider that Redmi 5 Plus can be installed as a global or Chinese (CN) ROM. In Chinese firmware, the menu can be partially in English or Chinese, and the path to accounts can be called Accounts or Users & Accounts.
If you use custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience) installed on Redmi 5 Plus, the Google account deletion procedure will be identical to pure Android, as the MIUI shell is missing.
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On Redmi 5 Plus with MIUI, it is important to delete not only your Google account, but also your Mi Account, otherwise you will be able to reset with a double lock (Google FRP + Mi Cloud Lock).