How to restore Xiaomi Mi Account by phone number: official instructions 2026

Losing access to your Mi Account is a problem that thousands of Xiaomi users face every day: Without an account, you won’t be able to use cloud storage, sync data, or at worst, even unlock your smartphone after a reset. Fortunately, recovering through a tied phone number remains the most reliable and fastest way to regain control of your account.

In this article, we will analyze all official methods of recovery through the number, including nuances for different regions (Russia, CIS, Europe), and also tell you what to do if the SMS code does not come or the number is no longer available.

Important: the procedure may vary depending on the version of the MIUI and the device model (for example, on the Redmi Note 12 and Xiaomi 13 Ultra recovery menu interface is different).

1.Recovery Preparation: What to Check Before Starting

Before you start your recovery, make sure that the following key conditions are met:

• 📱 You have physical access to a Xiaomi device that previously had an account logged in (even if it is blocked).
• 📞 The phone number associated with the Mi Account is active and can receive SMS or calls (for some regions).
• 🌍 The account is registered in the same region where you are located (for example, if the account was created in Russia and you are now in Turkey, problems may arise).
• 🔋 The device has enough charge (minimum 30%) – the recovery process can take up to 10 minutes.

If at least one of the conditions is not met, the chances of successful recovery through the number are sharply reduced, for example, when changing the phone number, you will have to use alternative methods (via email or support).

Professional advice: if you restore an account on a locked device (for example, after resetting to factory settings), connect it to Wi-Fi in advance. Mobile Internet may not work until authorization is completed.

2. Step-by-step instruction: recovery via SMS

This is the basic method, which works in 80% of cases. Follow the instructions in strict order:

1. Open the recovery screen. On the locked device: press Forgot your password? on the input screen. On the unlocked device: go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Account Management → Security → Account Recovery.

Choose a recovery method.

Click Restore using your phone number (or Phone number in the international version of MIUI).

Enter the phone number.

Enter the number associated with the account in the format +7XXXXXXXXXXXXX (for Russia) or +380XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (for Ukraine).

Confirm the code's been sent.

Click Send the code and wait for SMS (usually within 1-3 minutes).

Enter the code you received.

The code is 6 digits long. If the SMS doesn't arrive, check the Spam folder or request a resend in 60 seconds.

Create a new password.

Create a strong password (at least 8 characters, with capital letters and numbers) and confirm it.

Code time: 10 minutes. If you didn't type, ask for a new one. There is no limit to the number of attempts, but after 5 unsuccessful requests in a row, Xiaomi can temporarily block SMS sending (for 24 hours).

3. Alternative methods: if SMS does not arrive

Sometimes the confirmation code doesn't even reach the active number, and the reasons can range from technical failures to Xiaomi restrictions.

Method 1: Calling with a confirmation code

In some regions (e.g. India and Southeast Asia), instead of sending an SMS, an automatic voice call is sent, where the announcer names the code, to activate this method:

1. On the recovery screen, click "Did you receive SMS?" (or "Didn't receive SMS?").
2. Choose to call me (Call me).
3. Wait for the incoming call from the international number (usually starting with +86 - China).

Method 2: Recovery through backup email

If you have an email attached to your account, you can use it to restore:

1. On the recovery screen, select Restore with email.
2. Enter the address given when registering your Mi Account.
3. Check your email (including your Spam folder) – a password reset link will arrive within 5 minutes.

Method 3: Appealing for Xiaomi

If none of these methods work, you have to call for official support.

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com.
2. Select Help Needed? → Account recovery.
3. Fill out the form by specifying: Phone number associated with the account. Device IMEI (can be found on the box or via *#06#). Serial number (under the battery or in the About phone settings). Check of purchase (if any).

Wait for a response (usually 1-3 working days).

Important: Xiaomi support can request a passport photo to verify identity, without which it is impossible to restore a high-security account (for example, with two-factor authentication enabled).

4. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you restore your Mi Account, users often encounter common errors, and we have collected the most common ways to solve them:

If you see an error in Chinese or another foreign language, copy the text and translate it through Google Translate to help diagnose the problem more accurately.

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If you are recovering the system asks you to enter an old password but you don’t remember it, try leaving the field blank and pressing Next. Sometimes this works on older versions of MIUI (up to 12.5).

5. Features of recovery for different regions

Xiaomi is adapting the recovery process to local laws and technical constraints, and let’s look at the key differences:

Russia and CIS

The following rules apply in this region:

• 📶 SMS codes come from the short number 2030 or 2050.
• 🕒 Delivery time SMS: 1-5 minutes (sometimes delayed due to high server loads).
• 🚫 It is forbidden to use virtual numbers (e.g. from Telegram or WhatsApp).

Europe (EU)

The EU countries have stricter security measures:

• 🔒 Two-factor authentication may be required for recovery (even if it has not been enabled before).
• 📧 Recovery is more commonly used via email than SMS.
• 🛡️ When changing the phone number, the account is blocked for 72 hours (measures against fraudsters).

China, Hong Kong, Taiwan

In Asia, the process is as automated as possible, but there are nuances:

• 📞 The code may not come SMS but via a voice call (in Chinese).
• 📱 WeChat or Alipay may be required to recover (if the account is linked to these services).
• 🔢 The password must contain Chinese characters (on some versions MIUI).

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If you are resetting your account in a region other than where it was created, use VPN with IP- address of the original region. This increases the chances of success in 3 times.

6 What to do if the phone number is no longer available

When the number associated with the Mi Account is no longer used (for example, you have changed operator or lost SIM- card), it makes recovery difficult, but does not make it impossible.

1. Try to restore access to the old number. Contact your operator (for example, MTS, Beeline, MegaFon) to temporarily activate the old SIM- card. Many operators are willing to meet the requirements if you provide a passport.
2. If the email is linked to your account, restore the password through it (see Section 3).
3. Contact support with proof of ownership. Prepare: Passport photo, device purchase check (with IMEI), serial number box photo.

Create a new account (extremely).

If you can't restore an old account, register a new one.

⚠️ Warning: When you reset the device to factory settings, it will require authorization in the old account, without which the smartphone will become a brick (cannot be used).

If the device is already locked due to lack of access to the account, the only way out is to contact the Xiaomi service center with documents on the phone, in some cases, the lock can be removed after checking.

7 How to Protect Your Mi Account from Loss in the Future

To avoid future recovery problems, follow these guidelines:

• 🔐 Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Security → Two-factor authentication and activate it. This will make it harder to hack your account, but will make recovery more reliable.
• 📧 Link backup email. Use Gmail or Yandex, which is more reliable than corporate or little-known services.
• 📲 Keep your account information secure, write down your phone number, email, and backup recovery codes on paper or in an encrypted file (like Keepass).
• 🔄 Renew your password regularly. Change your password every 6 months. Use Bitwarden, 1Password password managers to generate strong combinations.
• 📱 Sync your data with the cloud. Activate backup to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud. This will help you quickly restore contacts, photos and settings on your new device.

Professional life hack: Create a note in Mi Cloud with your account details (number, email, backup codes) and call it neutral, for example, "Backup 2026", so that the information will always be at hand, but will not attract the attention of scammers.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions