The Android operating system, which underpins the MIUI shell on Xiaomi smartphones, is built around the Google ecosystem.It provides convenient synchronization of contacts, photos and apps, but sometimes causes serious problems when selling a device or flashing it. Owners of the popular Redmi Note 5 model often face the need to completely untie the account so that the new owner does not get access to personal data or to bypass the activation lock.
The process of deleting an account may seem trivial, but in modern versions of Android with enhanced FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection, simply resetting your settings is not enough. If you do not follow the right sequence of actions, the phone can turn into a “brick”, requiring you to enter the password of the previous owner every time you turn on. In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of the procedure for the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 model.
Before you take action, you need to understand what exactly the risks are. Incorrectly deleting a Google profile often leads to the device being blocked by the security server. It is critical to delete the account through the settings menu before you perform Hard Reset, rather than relying only on formatting. Ignoring this step activates a security mechanism that will bind the phone to your email forever until you remember the password or contact the service.
Preparation of the device and important safety nuances
Be sure to charge your Redmi Note 5 at least 50-60%, as the process can take time, especially if you need to synchronize or delete large amounts of data. Also check if you have a stable connection to the Wi-Fi network or mobile Internet, since to unplug the device you need to contact Google servers to confirm your actions.
Many users make the mistake of starting a reset without first checking active sessions. Go to the security settings of your Google account through a browser on your computer or other phone. There you can see a list of all the devices that are signed in. If you plan to sell the phone, it makes sense to remotely terminate the session on Redmi Note 5 after locally exiting to be sure that the connection is completely disconnected.
⚠️ Warning: If your phone has two-factor authentication enabled, make sure you have access to your phone number or backup codes. Without them, you could lose access to your account in the event of unforeseen deletion errors.
Also, you should take care of backing up important data if it is not already synced with the cloud. After deleting your account and then resetting it, it will be impossible to restore locally stored files. Backup your contacts, photos and documents to an external drive or to an alternative cloud storage.
☑️ Preparing for account deletion
Standard Removal Method Through Android Settings
The safest and most appropriate way to unplug a Google account on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is to use the built-in menu of the system. This method ensures that FRP protection does not activate when you reset. Go to the main settings menu of your smartphone. Find a section that can be called Accounts or Accounts and Sync. The location may vary slightly from version to version of MIUI, but the logic remains the same.
In the list that opens, you'll see all the services you've added. Select your Gmail address. The system will prompt you to take a few actions, including the "Delete Account" or "Delete Google Account" button, and clicking on this button will initiate the unbundling process. The device may request confirmation in the form of input PIN-unlocking code of the screen or pattern lock.
Once confirmed, the system will delete all the data associated with this profile: contacts, calendars, notes and passwords stored in the Chrome browser. It is important to understand that deleting an account from the device does not mean deleting the mailbox itself. Your Google profile will continue to exist, and you can log in from any other gadget.
If there are multiple accounts on the list, the procedure must be repeated for each of them.Even one old email can cause blocking.After deleting all profiles in the Accounts menu, only the Mi Account system service (if used) should remain or the list will be empty.
Deleting your account through Google Settings
There is an alternative path that leads to the same result, but through a deep Google service menu, which is useful if the standard Accounts menu is hidden or not working properly for some reason. Open Settings, scroll down to Google and click on it. Here is the current active profile.
At the top of the screen, you'll see your email address and account management button, and if you click on it, you'll be taken to the service management menu, and you'll find the option "Delete Account" here. In some versions of MIUI firmware for Redmi Note 5, this item may be hidden in the three-dot menu in the upper right corner.
The system will issue a warning that all data synced to this account will be deleted from the phone, which includes search history, YouTube data, and other services. Confirm action. If the phone requests a password from a Google account to confirm deletion, enter it. This is a standard security measure.
What to do if the removal button is inactive?
Resetting (Hard Reset) after unbundling
After successfully deleting all Google accounts, you can start a full reset if the purpose of your operation is to sell the phone or transfer it to another user. Hard Reset will return the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 to factory status. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Recovery and Reset.
Select "Reset" and the phone will alert you that all data will be destroyed. Make sure that Google accounts are deleted again. If you skip this step and reset your linked account, the first time you turn on, the phone will require you to enter the password from the last Google account you used, which is FRP protection.
Click Reset and confirm the action. The device will restart and start the cleaning process, which can take 5 to 15 minutes. Don't interrupt the process or remove the battery (if it's not removable, just wait). Once completed, the phone will turn on as new, suggesting you choose a language and connect to Wi-Fi.
| Action. | Risk of blocking FRP | Data security on the phone | The Necessity of the Internet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Removal through Settings | No. | Account data deleted | Preferably. |
| Hard Reset without removal | High (100%) | Complete removal | No. |
| Recovery Mode | High (100%) | Complete removal | No. |
| Mi Flash Tool | Depends on the method. | Complete removal | No. |
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The order of action is crucial: first delete the account in the menu, then reset, reverse order will lead to blocking.
FRP (Factory Reset Protection)
Sometimes it happens that the user forgot to delete the account before reset, or buys a used Redmi Note 5 and encounters an activation screen. FRP protection requires entering account data that was synced to the device before the reset. If you own and just forgot the password, it can be restored through the Google Restore page on any other device.
The situation is complicated if the phone is bought from hand and the previous owner did not untie the device, in which case the only way to legally unlock the phone is by contacting the seller. Attempts to bypass FRP with third-party software often lead to unstable operation of the system or complete blocking of IMimei. The official way is to provide a check of purchase to the Xiaomi service center.
It’s worth mentioning that different versions of Android (5.1, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0) have different methods of bypassing (if they exist legally at all). For the Redmi Note 5, which was updated to Android 8.0, the security holes gradually closed. So relying on “magic buttons” when dialing is not worth it – it rarely works on current security patches.
⚠️ Attention: Use of informal dumping programmes FRP (so-called “bypasses” can lead to the installation of malware or locking the device on the IMEI via Xiaomi servers.
Deleting Mi Accounts: Why It Matters
Beyond Google, Xiaomi smartphones are deeply integrated with its own Mi Account service. Although the question was about deleting Google, ignoring the Mi Account can lead to similar lock problems. Deleting the Google profile will not automatically untie the Mi ID. To completely clean the phone, you need to remove it too.
Go to Settings → Mi Account. At the bottom of the screen, you'll have a button called "Get Out" or "Delete Account." The system will require you to enter your Mi Account password. This is anti-theft protection: even if you flash it, the phone will require authorization to Mi Cloud unless you log out in in advance. The Find Device function must be disabled before you exit.
After leaving your Mi Account and deleting your Google profile, your Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 becomes a completely clean slate. None of the protection systems will prevent the new owner from activating the device.
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Tip: Before selling your phone, take screenshots of settings (brightness, sound, location of icons) so that after buying a new device, you can quickly customize it to your habits, using old screenshots as a sample.