Found or bought by Xiaomi with a tied account: how to untie the device from Mi Account

Did you buy Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO with your hands and the previous owner forgot to untie the device from his Mi Account? Or did you find a phone that requires login and password entry after a reset? This situation is familiar to thousands of users - the manufacturer links the devices to accounts to protect against theft, but sometimes it turns into a headache for new owners.

In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to detach Xiaomi from someone else’s account, from official methods with the consent of the previous owner to workarounds for locked devices. Importantly, not all solutions are universal – success depends on the phone model, MIUI version and account status (active / deleted / blocked).

Why Xiaomi is tied to Mi Account and what it means

The Mi Account system has emerged as a measure against theft, and after being reset to the factory settings (Hard Reset), the phone requires you to enter the account that was last on it, called FRP-locking (Factory Reset Protection), without the correct username and password, the user receives a "brick" - a device with limited functionality.

What this means for the new owner:

• 📱 Restricted access: you can not use Google services, install applications, call (on some models).
• 🔒 Blocking after update: even if the phone is working, after the update MIUI You may request your account information again.
• 💰 Loss of money: in the secondary market, such devices are sold cheaper, but unlocking from the “specialists” can cost up to 50% of the cost of the phone.
• ⚠️ The risk of blocking IMEI: In case of unsuccessful attempts of hacking, Xiaomi can block the device by serial number.

Xiaomi’s policy is that only the previous owner can officially untie the phone from the account, either through account.xiaomi.com or by contacting support.

Official method: uncoupling through the previous owner

The safest and most recommended method is to ask the old owner to delete the device from his account.

1. Visit account.xiaomi.com from your computer or phone.
2. Sign in to your Mi Account (the one that is tied to your device).
3. Go to the Devices section → Device management.
4. Find your phone (by model or IMEI) in the list and click Delete Device.
5. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

After that, you can:

• 🔄 Reset the phone to factory settings without locking.
• 📱 Log in to your account or use your device without being tied.
• 🔧 Update MIUI without asking for an old login.

If the previous owner does not remember the login data, he can restore access through:

• 📧 Email linked to an account.
• 📱 Phone number (if confirmed).
• 🆔 Passport data (if the account is verified).

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Ask the previous owner to take a screenshot of the Device Management page before deleting, which is confirmation that the phone is untied. Without it, Xiaomi may not recognize the unlock as official.

Alternative Detachment Methods Without Access to Old Account

If you can't contact the previous owner, there are still informal ways, and they fall into three categories:

1. Software bypasses (via Fastboot or EDL modes).
2. Hardware methods (flashing through testpoints).
3. Contacting service centers (official and informal).

Important: Any unofficial methods can result in a complete lock of the device via IMEI if Xiaomi detects an attempted hack, the risk is especially high on models with Qualcomm Snapdragon processors (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro).

Method 1: Fastboot Reset (for some models)

This method works on devices with MediaTek processors (for example, Redmi). 9A, POCO M3) And some older models on Snapdragon, you'll need a computer with drivers installed. ADB and Fastboot.

Install Qualcomm or MediaTek drivers|Download the Mi Flash Tool (for Snapdragon) or SP Flash Tool (for MediaTek)|Disable the antivirus (it can block the tools)|Charge your phone at least 50%|Prepare. USB-cable (original!)

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Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Down + Power to Enter Fastboot.
3. Connect the device to the PC.
4. Open the command line and type in: fastboot oem clean_all For new models: fastboot erase frp
5. Reboot your phone with the command: fastboot reboot

If the team clean_all If it didn't work, try a full flashing through the Mi Flash Tool with a clean all and lock option. But note: this will delete all data and may lead to a lockdown of the bootloader.

Method 2: Bypassing Recovery Modes (TWRP)

For devices with unlocked bootloader (Bootloader Unlocked), you can use custom recovery TWRP. This method is suitable for models like Xiaomi Mi A2 (Android One) or POCO F1.

Algorithm:

1. Install TWRP for your model (see the XDA Developers forum for instructions).
2. Boot in TWRP (usually Volume Up + Power).
3. Go to Advanced → File Manager.
4. Delete files: /data/system/gesture.key /data/system/locksettings.db /data/system/locksettings.db-wal /data/system/locksettings.db-shm
5. Reboot. Some devices will need to reset settings via Wipe → Format Data.

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Deleting files via TWRP only works on devices with an unlocked bootloader. If Bootloader is blocked, this method will not help - you need to first unlock it through the official Xiaomi tool (but this requires an account of the previous owner).

Method 3: Contact Xiaomi Service Center

Xiaomi’s official service centers can help with unlocking, but only if you have:

• 📄 Check of purchase (if the phone is purchased in the official store).
• 🆔 Documents of the previous owner (passport) + contract).
• 📱 IMEI Devices (must match the data in the Xiaomi database).

The procedure takes from 3 to 30 days, in some cases, you will need to pay (about 1,000-3,000 rubles), if the phone is found or bought with undocumented hands, the official service will refuse assistance.

An alternative is informal service centers that offer unlocking through:

• 🔧 Hardware boxes (e.g. UFi Box, EasyJTAG).
• 📡 Server methods (connect to Xiaomi database through affiliate accounts).
• 🔄 Flashing through testpoints (for devices with a locked boot loader).

⚠️ Warning: Unofficial services often use “gray” schemes that can lead to blocking IMEI. Before applying, check the reviews and request a warranty for the service (at least 30 days).

Table of compatibility of methods with popular models

Not all methods work on all devices, and here is a model summary table (relevant to MIUI 12-14):

The data is up to date for 2026. For newer models (e.g. Redmi Note 13, Xiaomi 14), most workarounds no longer work due to enhanced protection.

What to do if nothing helps: extreme measures

If all methods are exhausted, radical solutions remain:

1. Parts sales: Some services will buy the phone to use the display, battery or motherboard (price is 20-50% of the market).
2. Limited mode usage: Some models allow you to call and use Wi-Fi even without unlocking (e.g. Redmi 7A).
3. Appeal to “gray” unlockers: in Telegram and forums there are specialists who offer remote unlock for 500-2000 rubles.
4. Complaint in support of Xiaomi: If a phone is found, you can try to prove that you are not a thief by providing information about the location of the find (sometimes helps).

The most reliable way to avoid problems is to check the status of Mi Account before buying.

• 🔄 Drop your phone on you.
• 📱 Show the menu Settings → The phone. → Mi Account Status (should be "Not tied").
• 📧 Provide a screenshot from account.xiaomi.com with a remote device.

⚠️ Warning: Fraudulent schemes with unlocked phones have appeared on the market. Sellers show the device working, but after you reset it again requires the old account. Check the phone using ##4636##* (test menu) - if there are Mi Account items or items on it. FRP, fixture.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi