Why Deleting a Mi Account Without a Password Is a Difficult Thing
Associating Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with Mi accounts is not just a synchronization feature, but part of the Mi Cloudβs layered security system. The manufacturer has deliberately made it more difficult to delete an account without access to a password to prevent theft and unauthorized use of devices. Unlike Recovery, which works on most Android smartphones, it requires special tools or even hardware intervention.
The main problem is that after a hard reset, the phone asks for the previous account to unlock. FRP-And Xiaomi has implemented it in a particularly harsh way, because even if you bought it with your hands and the previous owner forgot to unplug your account, you're going to have to prove ownership through support, which isn't always possible.
In this article, weβll look at legal and semi-legal ways to delete Mi accounts without passwords, including official tools (Mi Unlock Tool), Fastboot and EDL modes, and workarounds for older models. Itβs important to understand that some ways can lead to loss of warranty or even βbrickingβ the device β so carefully assess the risks.
Preparing your phone before deleting your Mi Account
Before you start active action, you need to follow a few critical steps, neglecting them can lead to the inability to restore data or break the device.
- π Battery charging at least 60%. processes in Fastboot or EDL They can last up to 30 minutes, and the discharge in the middle of the operation will interrupt it with unpredictable consequences.
- π± Backup of all important data. Deleting your account is almost always accompanied by resetting your settings. Use Mi PC Suite or cloud services if your phone is not already locked.
- π₯οΈ Installation of drivers. To work with Mi Unlock Tool or ADB Qualcomm drivers will be required (for the EDL) Xiaomi USB Drivers. Download them from the official website.
Pay special attention to the firmware versions. On devices with MIUI 12.5+ and Android 11/12, Xiaomi has tightened protection, and old methods of bypassing (for example, through ADB) may not work. Check the version in Settings β About Phone β MIUI version.
β οΈ Note: If a phone has been stolen or bought from hands without documents, deleting a Mi Account may be seen as an attempt to circumvent protection.In some countries, it is punishable by law!
Method 1: Officially remove via Mi Unlock Tool (for unlocked bootloader)
This is the only legal way Xiaomi has approved, but it only works if the bootloader is already unlocked. If not, skip this section and read on.
Instructions:
- Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website (the version should match your model!).
- Launch the utility on behalf of the administrator and log in to your Mi Account (not the one that is tied to the phone!).
- Put your phone in Fastboot mode: Turn it off, then press Volume Down + Power before the Mi Bunny logo appears.
- Connect your phone to your PC via USB and wait until the Mi Unlock Tool detects it.
- Press Unlock and confirm the action. It takes 5-10 minutes.
Once successfully unlocked, the phone will automatically reset settings, and you can create a new account. If the utility gives you a "Couldn't unlock" error, try:
- π Reconnect. USB-cable (use the original cable!).
- π§ Update the driver through Device Manager.
- β³ Wait 72 hours (sometimes Xiaomi blocks frequent unlock attempts).
β οΈ Attention: On Xiaomi models 12S Ultra, Redmi K50 Pro and newer this method may not work due to the hardware binding of the account to the Qualcomm Snapdragon chip 8 Gen 1/2.
Download the latest version of the Mi Unlock Tool|Sign in to your Mi Account|Transfer your phone to Fastboot|Connect the original USB-cable|Disable antivirus on PC-->
Method 2: Remove via EDL (for advanced users)
Regime. EDL (Emergency Download Mode is a firmware emergency mode that allows you to overwrite system partitions, including Mi Account data.It works on most Xiaomi devices on Qualcomm chips, but requires special hardware β EDL-cable or authorized account for access.
Step-by-step:
- Download Fastboot ROM firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website.
- Unpack the archive into a folder without Cyrillic characters (e.g., C:\Xiaomi\ROM).
- Install Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 drivers (can be found on the 4PDA or XDA-Developers forums).
- Put the phone in mode. EDL: For older models: press the volume up + Loudness down + For new ones: use it. ADB-Adb reboot edl or special command EDL-cable.
Mi Flash Tool
Flash
Select
clean all
Once the firmware is in place, the phone will be completely reset, including the Mi Account, but there are risks:
- π "Bricking (turning into a brick) when the process is interrupted.
- π Loss of loss IMEI (Reframing the modem sections).
- π« Blocking your Mi Cloud account with frequent firmware.
| Model phone | Support for EDL | Risks. |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 8/9/10 | Yeah (Snapdragon chip) | Low (with proper firmware) |
| Xiaomi Mi 10/11 | Yes (authorization required) | Medium (possible loss of IMEI) |
| POCO F3/GT | Yes. | High (loader lock) |
| Xiaomi 12/13 Series | Limited (with authorization only) | Very high. |
What if the phone is not included in the EDL?
Method 3: Bypassing FRP-blocking through ADB (for MIUI 11 and below)
On devices with MIUI 11 and older (released before 2020), you can try to bypass FRP-locking through ADB. This method does not work on all models, but it is worth trying if other methods are not available.
Instructions:
- Install Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC.
- Connect your phone to your computer and open the Command Prompt in the ADB folder.
- Enter the commands in order: adb shell content insert --uri content://settings/secure --bind name:s:user_setup_complete --bind value:s:1 am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings
- After execution, go to Settings β Accounts and delete Mi Account.
If the adb shell command doesnβt work, try:
- π Use the other USB-cable (preferably original).
- π Reboot your phone in Safe Mode (clip the power supply) β Press "Switch off power").
- π± Turn on Debugging. USB via a hidden menu (if the phone is partially working).
β οΈ Attention: Xiaomi with Android 12+ Pattempt to use it may trigger an anti-rollback protection and brick the device.
π‘
If ADB doesnβt see the device, try manually installing the Android Composite ADB Interface driver through Windows Device Manager.
Method 4: Resetting through a service center (official path)
If all the independent attempts fail, you need to contact an authorized service center Xiaomi.
Algorithm of action:
- Find the nearest service center on the Mi Service website.
The cost of the service varies from 1000 to 5000 rubles depending on the model and region, and in some cases Xiaomi may refuse to unlock if the phone is listed in the database of stolen devices.
| Country. | Average unblocking time | Cost (rupe) |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | 3-7 days | 1500β3000 |
| Kazakhstan | 5-10 days | 2000β4000 |
| Belarus | 7-14 days | 1000β2500 |
| Ukraine | 10+ days | 3000β5000 |
π‘
Contacting the service center is the only way to delete the Mi Account without the risk of losing the warranty or βbrickingβ the phone.
Method 5: Alternative methods (for tech-savvy)
If youβre willing to take risks, try informal methods that are often discussed on 4PDA or XDA-Developers forums, which require deep knowledge and can lead to permanent device failure.
Options:
- π§ Firmware through TWRP (If you have custom recaps installed, it allows you to manually delete your account files in /data/system/.
- π‘ Use of boxes (UFi, Medusa, Octoplus) Requires the purchase of a license (from 5000 rubles) and soldering skills.
- π¬ Closing testpoints on the motherboard for forced entry into the EDL (Only for experienced users!).
- π€ Exploitation for MIUI (for example, MIUI Downgrade Exploit to Downgrade the Firmware Version).
Example of a command to delete an account via TWRP (root rights required):
adb shell
su
rm -rf /data/system/mi
rm -rf /data/data/com.xiaomi.account/
rebootβ οΈ Note: Using unofficial firmware or system modifications will void the warranty and may result in a lock IMEI or hard-brick (irreparable breakage).
What do you do if nothing helps?
If all of these methods fail, you have a few options:
- Sell the phone as is on the secondary market (specify in the description that the device is tied to the Mi Account) and the price will be lower by 30-50%.
- Use your phone without an account in a limited mode (calls, SMS, some applications will work).
- Turn to the "gray" masters who specialize in circumventing FRP. The cost is from 2000 to 10 000 rubles., But there are no guarantees of success.
- Buy a new phone and use the old one as a βparts donorβ (e.g., a camera or battery).
On some models (Redmi 4X, Xiaomi Mi A1/A2) you can try flashing the global version of MIUI through Fastboot, but this will only work if the bootloader is unlocked.
If the phone was purchased on AliExpress or another Chinese marketplace, try opening a dispute and request a refund by indicating that the device is locked.
π‘
Before buying a used Xiaomi phone, always check to see if your Mi Account is untied. Ask the seller to reset your settings with you!