Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to untie a Google account from the device, which may be required when selling a gadget, transferring it to another family member, or in situations where the security system requires re-authorization after resetting, ignoring this step can lead to a locking device known as an FRP lock, which will turn the phone into a useless piece of plastic and glass.
The MIUI or new HyperOS profile unbundling procedure has its own nuances, different from pure Android. Many users make the mistake of thinking that simply removing an application or logging off services is enough. In fact, you need to perform a sequence of actions in the system settings to break the communication between the device and the servers of the corporation.
In this article, we will discuss all the ways to deactivate an account, from standard methods through the settings menu to actions in the case of a forgotten password. We will also discuss security issues and explain why a forced reset without first logging out of your account will activate the activation lock.
Why you should log out of your Google account before resetting
Many users underestimate the importance of unbundling a Google account before performing a full Hard Reset.Factory Reset Protection (FRP) was introduced by Google to prevent theft.If a phone is stolen and an attacker tries to reset it to factory settings, the device will request a password from the last synchronized account.
If you sell your Xiaomi, the new owner will face a lock screen activation if you do not exit in advance, which will create inconvenience to both parties of the transaction: the buyer will have to look for you to unlock, and you risk negative feedback or returns.
⚠️ Note: Performing a reset without first logging out of your Google account will lock your device, and you can only unlock it by entering the password from the account that was synced last time.
There are several scenarios where this procedure is critical: One is selling or donating a phone; two, handing the device over to a repair service center where the masters can demand a clean system for diagnosis; and third, if you just want to change the main mailbox on the device without deleting all the data.
Preparation of the device for profile uncoupling
Before you start changing your system settings, you need to do a series of preparatory operations, which will help you avoid losing important data and it will go smoothly. First of all, make sure that your smartphone is at least 50-60% charged. Although logging out does not require much energy, suddenly turning off during the process of synchronizing the changes can cause errors in the system.
The second important step is to check if there is an active Internet connection, so to properly delete an account from Google servers, the device needs to contact them, you can use Wi-Fi or mobile network, as long as the connection is stable, and if the Internet is interrupted at the time of confirmation, the profile may remain "hanging" on the device.
☑️ Checklist of preparations
It is also recommended to remember or write your Google account password in advance. Sometimes, for security reasons, the system may request a re-authorization even when you try to log out. If you use two-factor authentication, make sure you have access to the second device to receive the confirmation code.
The standard way to exit via MIUI and HyperOS settings
The most correct and safe method of deleting an account is to use a regular settings menu, which ensures that all synchronized data is properly disabled, and the device sends a signal to the servers that it is no longer associated with your profile. The interface may vary slightly depending on the shell version (MIUI 12, 13, 14 or HyperOS), but the logic remains the same.
To start, open the Settings app on your Xiaomi. Find a section that is usually called Accounts and Sync or just Google in the list of installed services. In newer versions of firmware, this item may be at the top of the settings list, under your name and avatar.
Once you log into the account management menu, you'll see a list of all the associated services. Find the Google logo and click on it. A detailed sync page will open. Here you need to find the Delete Account or Sign Out button. The system can warn you several times that all the data associated with that profile (contacts, calendars, notes) will be deleted from the phone but will remain in the cloud.
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If you have multiple Google accounts on your phone, delete them one at a time, starting with the main one, which will help avoid confusion when syncing contacts.
Once confirmed, the device will perform a background cleaning procedure, and you may notice that Google app icons (Maps, YouTube, Play Market) have temporarily gone gray or gone, which is normal, and in a few seconds, they will either disappear completely or require you to log in to a new account when you first start up.
Deleting your account through Google Play Store
There is an alternative, less obvious way to manage profiles that works through the Play Store, which is useful if you can’t find the right section in the general settings, or if the MIUI interface has been heavily modified by the manufacturer, and allows you to manage exactly the accounts that are used to download content.
Open the Play Store app on your smartphone. In the upper right corner, click on the round icon of your profile. A pop-up menu will open, displaying your current active account and a list of other added profiles. Click on the arrow next to your name or on Account Management on that device.
You will be redirected to the system account management menu (similar to the one described in the previous section), but immediately to the desired tab. Here the algorithm of actions repeats: select an unnecessary profile and click Delete account. This method is good because it leads directly to the goal, bypassing long searches in the depth of the system settings.
| Method | Difficulty | Risk of data loss | The Necessity of the Internet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through Settings. | Low. | No (data in the cloud) | I'll be sure. |
| Through the Play Market | Low. | I'll be sure. | |
| Resetting (Hard Reset) | Tall. | Tall (no backup) | Not required for discharge |
| Through the browser (remotely) | Medium | No. | Definitely on PC. |
Remote Device Management and Security
If your Xiaomi phone is lost or stolen and you can't physically pick it up to log out, you have the option to do so remotely. Google's Find My Device service allows you not only to track location, but also to manage access to data.
You can't remotely log out of a particular account on your device without accessing it through standard settings. However, you can secure your data by changing your password from your Google account. Once you change your password on all the devices you log in, you'll need to log in again after a while, effectively blocking the attacker from accessing your data even if the phone isn't reset.
To do this, go to myaccount.google.com from any computer or other phone. Select Security and find your devices. There will be a list of all the gadgets where your login is active. You can select your lost smartphone and click Out. This will break the session, but it will not remove the FRP lock if the device is reset.
What to do if your phone is stolen?
If the device is turned off or in flight mode, the commands will be executed the first time you connect to the Internet, so changing the password is the most effective method of protection in such a situation.
Solving the problem: what to do if the account is not deleted
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the deletion button is inactive (gray) or when trying to log out, an error appears, often due to the rights of the device administrator. Some applications, especially corporate or antivirus, may require administrator rights, which blocks the change of accounts.
To solve this problem, go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Device Administrators (the path may vary slightly in different versions of MIUI). Check the list of applications. If there is something suspicious or an app that you recently installed that requested extended permissions, try disabling its administrator rights.
⚠️ Warning: Do not disable administrator rights from Google system services (e.g., Find Device or Play Protection) unless you are confident in your actions.
Another reason could be time and date desynchronization: If your smartphone has a time loss, security certificates fail to be verified, and Google's server will reject a request to change your account status. Set up automatic time determination over the network, and the problem must be resolved.
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If the delete button is grey, check the application administrator rights and the accuracy of the set time on the device.
In rare cases, clearing the cache of the Google Play Services app itself helps. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps, find Google Play Services, select Storage and click Clear Cache. Don't confuse with 'Clear All Data', although in this context this may also help, but will require reconfiguring some services.