How to completely remove the search for Xiaomi device: disable Mi Find Device and geolocation

Xiaomi’s device search feature (Mi Find Device) is a useful tool for tracking a lost smartphone or smartwatch, but not everyone needs it: some worry about data privacy, some get bored with constant location notifications, and some just want to turn off geolocation completely to save battery power. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to deactivate device search, from standard settings to hidden developer settings.

It’s important to understand that simply turning off a feature in the menu doesn’t always guarantee complete deletion. For example, on some Redmi or POCO models, even after Mi Find Device is deactivated, the service can continue to work in the background, sending location data to Xiaomi servers, and we’ll show you how to check the service’s activity and permanently delete it — including resetting IDs and clearing cache.

This article is relevant for all modern devices Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark based on MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS. If your model runs on pure Android (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra Global), some of the instructions may differ – we will also mention this separately.

Why does Xiaomi device search continue after shutdown?

Many users are faced with a situation where even after deactivating Mi Find Device in the settings, the smartphone continues to determine the location and send data.

• 🔄 Background processes MIUI: com.miui.finddevice can be automatically restarted by the system, especially after updates.
• 📡 Sync with Mi Account: If you are logged in to Xiaomi, the search function can be activated remotely via the cloud.
• 🔋 Battery Optimization: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) Ignore manual settings if power saving mode is enabled.
• 🛠️ Firmware with pre-installed services: On devices for the Chinese market (China) ROM) Search function is embedded in the system and is not deleted by standard methods.

To permanently disable search, it is not enough to simply move the slider in the menu. It will require a combination of several actions: disabling in settings, cleaning the application data, and in some cases even changing access rights through ADB (we will discuss this in a separate section).

⚠️ Note: If you plan to sell or transfer the device to another person, it is not enough to simply disable the search. you need to log out of the Mi Account and perform a factory reset, otherwise the new owner will not be able to activate the gadget due to the link to your account.

Method 1: Standard shutdown via MIUI settings

The simplest method is to deactivate the function in the smartphone menu, which is suitable for most users who want to temporarily suspend the service.

1. Open Settings → Mi Account (or Xiaomi Account on the new versions of HyperOS).
2. Go to Find Device (or Search for Device in Russian).
3. Disable the Find Device slider and confirm the action with a password from your Xiaomi account.
4. Return to the main settings menu and open the Applications → Application Management.
5. Find the Find Device app (or Device Search), open its settings and click Stop, then Clear Data.

Some firmware (e.g. MIUI Global for POCO F5) may display a notification after shutdown: "Device search is disabled. You can't find it if you lose it." This is normal - the service is indeed deactivated, but the system warns of consequences.

Slider disabled in Mi Account

Find Device app has been stopped

Application data and cache cleared

Notifications from the service are disabled in the notification settings

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If after these actions, the search for the device is still active (check through another gadget by logging into the same Mi Account), proceed to the next method.

Method 2: Disconnecting through location settings and Google

Xiaomi’s device search feature is closely integrated with geolocation services, including Google Location Services. Even if you have disabled Find Device, the system can continue to locate through other channels, to completely block tracking:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Application Permissions → Location.
2. Find the Find Device list and set the permission to refuse.
3. Return to Settings → Location and turn off the Exact Location slider (or High accuracy on English firmware).
4. Open Google Settings → Security → Find My Device and turn off device search through your Google account (if it has been activated).

On HyperOS devices (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), the path may be slightly different: Settings → Connections & Sharing → Location → App Permissions.

⚠️ Note: Disabling the exact location may affect the operation of other services such as Google Maps, Yandex.Navigator or Mi Fit. If you need these applications, consider an alternative method using the use of the Internet. ADB (section).

Method 3: Remove via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don't work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a deep-tuning tool that works for devices with unlocked bootloaders or root rights, but some commands work without them.

Warning: improper use of ADB can cause malfunctions in the smartphone. Follow the instructions carefully and do not change other settings unless you are sure of their purpose.

Steps to disable Find Device via ADB:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your smartphone: go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your smartphone to your computer, install ADB drivers, and open the command line (or Terminal on Mac/Linux).
4. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device appears in the list, continue.
5. Run commands to disable Find Device: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.finddevice adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.findevice

If the first team fails, it will be a Failure error. [DELETE_FAILED_INTERNAL_ERROR]), Try an alternative option:

adb shell pm hide com.miui.finddevice

After you execute the commands, restart the device. The search function will be disabled at the system level, but it can be returned by performing:

adb shell pm enable com.miui.finddevice

Method 4: Disabling Search on Xiaomi Smart Watches and Fitness Bracelets

If you want to remove the search feature from a smartphone, but from a Mi Band, Xiaomi Watch or other wearable device, the process will be different. There is no ADB, but there are nuances.

For smartwatches (e.g. Xiaomi Watch S3 or Redmi Watch 3):

1. Open the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp Life for new models) on your smartphone.
2. Go to the device profile and find the Device Search or Find My Device section.
3. Turn off the function and confirm the action.
4. In the settings of the watch, find Privacy → Permissions → Location and turn off access.

For fitness bracelets (Mi Band 7/8, Redmi Band 2):

• 📱 In the Mi Fitness app, go to Profile → My devices. → [The name of the bracelet] → Searching device.
• 🔕 Disable the function and reset the bracelet settings to factory (Settings) → Reset).
• 🔄 After reset, do not connect the bracelet to your Xiaomi account unless you want to resume tracking.

Important: on some bracelets (for example, Mi Band 6 NFC), the search function is sewn into the firmware and does not turn off completely, in which case only uncoupling the device from the account and using it without being tied to the Mi Account will help.

💡

If you sell a Xiaomi smartwatch or bracelet, be sure to reset through the Mi Fitness app before handing over the device to a new owner, otherwise they will not be able to link the gadget to their account due to active protection against theft.

Method 5: Complete removal through the reset (last resort)

If none of the previous methods worked, the radical solution is factory reset, which is guaranteed to delete all data about the device’s association with a Xiaomi account, including Find Device, but has serious consequences:

• 📱 All data on the smartphone (photos, contacts, messages) will be erased.
• 🔐 The device will unplug from Mi Account, and you will need to enter a login / password to reactivate it.
• 🔄 After the reset, you will have to reconfigure the system, install applications and restore backups.

Resetting instructions:

1. Back up important data via Settings → About Phone → Backup or manually copy files to your PC.
2. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose Delete all data and confirm the action.
4. After the reboot, do not log in to Mi Account during the initial setup if you want to get rid of the binding completely.

⚠️ Note: On devices with a locked bootloader (most Xiaomi smartphones in the Chinese market), resetting without decoupling from Mi Account will lead to blocking activation. You will not be able to use the phone until you enter the information of the previous account. If you sell a device, first exit the account in the settings!

How to check if the search device is disabled?

To make sure that Mi Find Device is no longer working, do a few checks:

1. Using another gadget: Sign in to your Mi Account on another smartphone or PC. Open your account page and go to Find Device. If the device doesn't show up or shows Offline status, the feature is disabled.
2. Through App Settings: Open Settings → Apps → Application Management → Find Device. Check that the app is not working (status Stopped). Make sure that the Storage section has cleared the cache and data (should be 0B).
3. Through traffic monitoring: Install an application to analyze network activity, such as NetGuard or PCAPdroid. Check whether com.miui.finddevice sends data to Xiaomi servers (addresses such as api.account.xiaomi.com).

If after all the manipulations the device is still displayed in Mi Account, then the service is working in a hidden mode, in which case only the physical disabling of the GPS module (on some firmware) or using custom firmware without Xiaomi services will help.

💡

Even after disabling Find Device, your smartphone can determine your location through Google Services or cell towers. For complete anonymity, disable all geolocation services and use a VPN.

FAQ: Frequent questions about finding Xiaomi devices