How to delete your Google account from your old Xiaomi phone: 5 proven ways

An old Xiaomi smartphone is dusting in a drawer, and you're afraid to sell it or give it to relatives because of a tied Google account? Or maybe the device is slowing down because of synchronization with unnecessary services? Deleting a Google account from Redmi, POCO or Mi phones is a task that millions of users face, but not everyone knows how to do it without consequences for data and functionality of the device.

Unlike iPhones, where Apple ID is deleted in two clicks, on Android (especially with MIUI shell), the process can be complicated by FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection, a mechanism that blocks the phone after a reset, if you do not delete your account in advance. In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for deleting a Google account, taking into account the features of MIUI 12/13/14 firmware and Android versions 10 to 14.

Why can’t you just drop your phone to the factory settings?

Many users mistakenly believe that Hard Reset will solve the problem of the linked account, which is actually the riskiest way to do it if you haven't deleted your Google profile beforehand.

• 🔒 FRP-Lock: Once reset, the phone will require you to enter a login and password from the last Google account that was on the device.
• 📱 Data loss: All photos, contacts and apps not stored in the cloud will be permanently deleted.
• ⚠️ Activation problems: On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro) after reset, there may be a Google server error requiring flashing.

Another trap: if you sell a phone and have not deleted your account, the new owner will be able to recover your data via Find My Device (if the feature was active), so deleting your account should be the first step before any device manipulation.

Method 1: Standard removal via MIUI settings

This is the easiest and safest method, but it only works if:

• 📱 The phone is on and unlocked (you know the pattern lock)/PIN).
• 🔄 You have access to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 🔑 You remember the password from your Google account.

Instructions for MIUI 12/13/14:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync (or Google depending on version).
2. Select your Google account (usually displayed first).
3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Delete your account.
4. Confirm the action by entering the device password or pattern lock.

If you do not have a Delete Account, you have an old version of MIUI (up to 12th) installed on your phone.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Google Play Store → Storage → Clear the data.
3. Return to your Accounts and try to delete your profile again.

Method 2: Remove from the Recovery Mode

If your phone is locked but you remember the Google password, you can try deleting your account through Restore mode, a method that is suitable for devices with a bootloader unlocked.

⚠️ Warning: Mistakes in Recovery Mode can lead to complete data loss or a “bricking” of your phone.If you are not sure about your actions, skip this method.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe All Data (use volume buttons for navigation, power button for selection).
4. After the reset, the phone will restart. At the setup stage, skip the Google account binding.

If the phone then requires you to enter an old account (FRP-lock), then the bootloader is blocked, in which case only official unlocking through the Mi Unlock Tool (see Method 4) will help.

Method 3: Use ADB-Teams (for advanced users)

If the standard methods don’t work and the bootloader is unlocked, you can delete your account via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires a computer and basic command line knowledge.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📥 Installed drivers Xiaomi and ADB Tools.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on the phone Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → 7 times click on the MIUI version.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Connect the phone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
4. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell


pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.gms




pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.gsf




pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.vending

These commands will remove Google services, including the associated account, and once the phone is rebooted, it will look like new, but without access to the Play Market, and to restore functionality, you will have to refashion the device.

💡

If, after the execution, ADB-commands the phone stopped turning on, try to go to Fastboot Mode (clamp power) + Volume down) and execute the command fastboot reboot.

Method 4: Officially unlock through Mi Unlock Tool

If all previous methods have failed and the phone is blocked by FRP, the only thing left is the official unlocking of the bootloader via the Mi Unlock Tool utility, which is suitable for officially purchased devices (not "gray" models).

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi limits the number of unlocks for one Mi Account. If you have already unlocked 3 devices in a month, you will have to wait or use another account.

Instructions:

1. Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website.
2. Sign in to the program under the same Mi Account as on your phone.
3. Turn the phone into Fastboot mode (turn off, then pinch Power + Volume down).
4. Connect the device to the computer and press Unlock in the program.
5. After unlocking, run your phone through the Mi Flash Tool with clean firmware (without linking to your account).

This method is guaranteed to remove FRP, but takes time (associating an account to a device takes up to 72 hours), and once unlocked, all data will be deleted from the phone.

Method 5: Delete your account via Find My Device (if your phone is lost)

If you lost your phone or it was stolen, but you have access to another device with the same Google account, you can delete your profile remotely via Find My Device.

How to do this:

1. Go to Find My Device and log in.
2. Select the lost Xiaomi device from the list.
3. Press Erase Data. → Clean the device.
4. After that, all data, including your Google account, will be deleted.

⚠️ Warning: This method only works if the phone is on Remote Control and Geodata. If the device is off or not connected to the Internet, the command will be executed the next time you turn on.

💡

Remote removal via Find My Device will not work if your phone has Google sync disabled or a custom ROM (like LineageOS) installed.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even following the instructions, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

• 🔄 "Account is not deleted" in settings: "Check if sync is active. Turn it off in Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization and try again.
• 🔒 "Password required after reset: This is FRP-The solution is to unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool or contact the service center.
• 📵 "Phone is not computer-defined: Install Xiaomi drivers USB Drivers and try another cable.
• ⚡ "ADB Does not see the device: Enable debugging by USB and select the file transfer mode MTP plug-in.

Another common problem is that the device fails to pass the Mi Account check when unlocked, which happens if:

• The phone was purchased in China (the version for the domestic market).
• The Mi Account is not tied to the device for more than 72 hours.
• There is an unofficial firmware on the phone.

In such cases, only contacting an authorized Xiaomi service center with documents on the phone will help.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions