The Xiaomi Mi 9, released in 2019, is still a popular device thanks to its powerful Snapdragon 855 processor and high-quality camera. However, when changing owners or preparing a gadget for sale, it is critical to correctly delete your Mi Account. Many users underestimate this stage, which ultimately leads to serious problems with access to the device after resetting.
MIUI security is deeply integrated with the company’s cloud services, and simply clearing data doesn’t always guarantee a complete shutdown.If you plan to transfer your phone to another person, make sure that Find Device is disabled and your account is removed from the trusted device list. Ignoring these steps can lock the phone to a new user, turning it into a brick requesting the previous owner’s password.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the details of the procedure, from standard logout to forced reset via Recovery mode, how to avoid typical errors and why deleting an account before resetting is a mandatory requirement for a smartphone to work correctly in the future, and we will also look at cases where access to an account is lost, and what legal ways to solve this problem are available.
Why delete your Mi Account before selling or resetting
Mi Cloud and device search are designed to protect against theft, but they also become the main obstacle in the legal sale of used equipment. When you just leave the settings menu or do Hard Reset without prior detachment, Xiaomi servers retain the link between the unique device ID (IMEI) and your login, a phenomenon known as activation lock.
The new owner, who turned on the cleaned phone, will face a welcome screen, where the system will require you to enter the password from the Mi Account to which the device is attached. Without this password, you will not be able to log in, configure Wi-Fi or install applications. The lock is at the server level, so flashing or replacing SIM-The cards won't help you bypass the defense.
In addition, deleting your account is necessary to protect your personal information. Even after a reset, some data may remain in cloud storage synchronized with the device. Full deletion ensures that the new owner will not gain access to your photos, contacts or location history unless you perform a cloud cleanup beforehand.
⚠️ Note: If you sell a phone without deleting your account, the customer will not be able to use it.You will have to remotely remove the device from the trusted list via a web interface, which requires access to the Internet and your account in the future.
Preparing the device for deleting the account
Before you start active actions in the settings menu, you need to perform a number of preparatory operations, which will help to avoid loss of important data and ensure a smooth deletion process. First of all, make sure that the Xiaomi Mi 9 device has a stable Internet connection, as the server should receive a real-time signal about the decoupling.
The second important step is backing up. While deleting your account doesn't erase data instantly, the subsequent reset will destroy all the memory contents. Use built-in MIUI tools or third-party solutions to save contacts, messages and application settings. Don't rely on cloud sync alone, make sure the process is complete.
☑️ Checklist of preparation for deletion of the account
If you have logged in to your account from other devices or through a browser, it is recommended to terminate these sessions or make sure you remember the password to re-authorize, this is especially true if the phone has two-factor authentication enabled, requiring confirmation via SMS or an authenticator application.
Classic method of removal through smartphone settings
The most reliable and correct method of detachment is to use the system's regular menu, which ensures that all cloud data is properly synchronized and the server receives a command to remove the anchor. First, open the Settings app on the home screen or in the notification curtain.
At the top of the menu, you'll see the section with your name and avatar, which is the Mi Account login. By clicking on it, you'll be taken to the account's detailed menu. Here, scroll to the bottom of the page where the red button is located, "Get out" or "Delete" (depending on the MIUI version and regional settings).
The system will request a password confirmation from your Mi Account, a security mechanism that prevents unauthorized users from deleting your account if your phone is stolen or lost, and once you enter your password, the device will contact the server, and if the data is correct, it will automatically uncouple.
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If the system says "Incorrect password", do not try to guess it repeatedly, use the function of access recovery through the official website, so as not to block the account temporarily.
After a successful exit, the system may suggest that you save data on the device or delete it. To fully prepare for the sale, choose the deletion option. If you keep your phone but change your account, you can choose to save, but remember that old synchronized data may conflict with the new profile.
Delete your account via i.mi.com web interface
In situations where the phone is unavailable, the screen is broken or the sensor does not respond to the password, you can use remote control. This method requires a computer or other smartphone with Internet access. Go to the official website cloud.mi.com or i.mi.com and log in to your login.
Once you log in, look for the Devices section or smartphone icon in the menu, which will show a list of all the gadgets associated with your account, including the Xiaomi Mi 9. Choose the device you want from the list. If the phone is online, you will see its location and battery power.
In the device management menu, find the option Remove device or Unlink. Confirm the action. The server will send a command to the phone (if it is online) or update the binding status in the database. After that, the activation lock will be removed, even if you perform a full reset on the device itself.
| Deleting method | Access to the phone is required. | I need Internet on my phone. | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through settings | Yes. | Yes. | No (when choosing "save") |
| Through the website | No. | Preferably. | No. |
| Hard Reset (no exit) | Yes. | Don't. | Yes (total removal) |
| Change of password | No. | Don't. | No. |
⚠️ Note: Deleting the device through the site does not erase data from the phone itself. If you sell the device, after the remote unbundling, be sure to reset the settings on the device itself so that the new owner does not gain access to your files.
What to do if the password from the account is lost
A common problem with selling is that the owner doesn't remember the password from Mi Account, which was created a few years ago. Without a password, you can't delete the default settings. The first step is to restore access. Go to the authorization page and click Forgot password.
The system will offer several ways to recover: through a linked phone number, a backup email or answers to control questions. SIM-The card to which the account was registered, the recovery will take a few minutes. SMS confirmation-coded.
What to do if the phone number is no longer available?
If you can't restore access and need to clean your phone, some users resort to flashing, but on modern versions of MIUI, this often doesn't help, because the lock is tied to a unique ID of the iron. The only legal way in this situation is to contact an authorized service center with a document confirming the purchase (check, warranty card).
Hard Reset and its Consequences
Hard Reset is a radical method that brings the Xiaomi Mi 9 back to factory status, and it is done by a combination of buttons when the device is off. Press both the Volume+ and Power buttons before the Mi logo appears, then select the language and press Wipe Data.
It's important to understand the difference between a reset with and without deleting an account. If you did a Hard Reset without first logging out of Mi Account, the first time you downloaded it, the phone will require you to enter a password. This is Activation Lock's security mechanism. Without entering the correct data, the device will remain locked.
The reset process takes 5 to 15 minutes, during which time you can not interrupt the power of the device, after completion, the phone will restart, and the initial setup will begin, and it is at the stage of connecting to Wi-Fi that the system will check the status of the device's association in the cloud.
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Hard Reset without first logging out of the account does not remove the binding, but only activates the lock mode, making the phone useless for the new owner.
Frequent errors and ways to fix them
Users often encounter a “Unconnected” error when trying to log out, which may be due to unstable DNS or Xiaomi service blocking by the provider, try changing DNS to 8.8.8.8 in Wi-Fi settings or using mobile internet.
Another common problem is the endless download after the reset, which may indicate damage to system files or software conflict, in which case it may be necessary to flash the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility, but only after the account has been successfully unloaded.
Also worth mentioning is the problem of double locking: If you have a Google account with FRP (Factory Reset Protection) enabled on your phone, you will need to enter a password from Google after the reset, so you must delete both Mi Account and Google Account, and any other profiles before selling.
⚠️ Note: Using third-party software to “unlock” (Bypass) is a violation of the terms of use and can lead to complete inoperability of the device.