Reset ID Xiaomi devices: why it is necessary and how not to harm the smartphone

Reset ID Xiaomi devices are the procedure that users most often learn about in critical situations: after buying a used phone with a tied account, when activation errors are triggered, or when the device is suddenly blocked due to suspicious activity. But few people understand what really lies behind this operation and what consequences it has for the work of the gadget.

In this article, we will explain why you might even need to drop. ID on the Redmi, POCO Or Mi series, what technical problems it solves (and what it creates), and also talk about legal and not very methods of performing the procedure, you will learn why the manufacturer so hard protects this function, and what is fraught with self-reset without understanding the mechanisms of work. MIUI.

Spoiler: 80% of cases reset ID β€” It's not a solution, it's a problem that's complicated, but there are 20 percent of cases where you can't do it.

What is it? ID Xiaomi devices and how they work

Each Xiaomi smartphone receives a unique device identifier (Device) when it is first turned on ID), It's tied to hardware components, the motherboard, the memory module, and the security chip. ID used:

  • πŸ” Authorization in Mi Account services and data synchronization
  • πŸ“± Device Links to Owner’s Account (Find Device function)
  • πŸ”„ Checking the legality of firmware and updates through OTA
  • πŸ›‘οΈ Protection against theft (blocking when changing) SIM-dump)

Constructively ID It consists of two parts: hardware ID (Hardly spelled in the chip) and software ID (The second component can be reset software, but this leads to a break in communication with Xiaomi servers and requires re-activation.

It's important to understand: ID β‰  Reset to factory settings. With a normal Hard Reset, through the recovery menu. ID It's the same, but if you force a Fastboot reset or an engineering menu, it's erased. It's a key difference that many users don't know.

πŸ“Š Why did you need a reset? ID Xiaomi?
I bought a used phone with a tied account.
The device is locked after the update
I want to run a custom firmware.
Another reason.

When you really need a reset ID (when not)

There are only 4 legitimate reasons to dump ID, All other cases are attempts to bypass protection, which often lead to a brick:

SituationShould I reset? ID?Alternative solution
Buying a used phone with a tied Mi Accountβœ… Yes (unless the seller untied)Ask the seller to remove the device from your account via i.mi.com
Blocking after resetting to factory settings❌ No.Sign in to your old account or restore access via account.xiaomi.com
The activation error is "This device is locked."βœ… Yes (unless the phone is stolen)Contacting for support with proof of purchase
Installation of custom firmware (TWRP, LineageOS)⚠️ Partially.Unlock the bootloader officially through en.miui.com/unlock
Update failure MIUI ("Invalid IMEI")❌ No.Reflash the original firmware through the Mi Flash Tool

Most users mistakenly believe that the ID help:

  • 🚫 Bypass iCloud (it’s Apple, not Xiaomi!)
  • 🚫 Speed up the phone's work (ID It does not affect productivity)
  • 🚫 Remove viruses (sufficient reset to factory settings)
  • 🚫 Restore IMEI (You need other teams in Engineer Mode)

πŸ’‘

If you bought Xiaomi with your hands and the seller can’t untie the account, demand a check or a sales contract.Without these documents, Xiaomi support won’t help unlock the device even after a reset. ID.

Official and informal methods of discharge ID

The manufacturer has only one legal method of discharge. ID β€” All other methods (via Fastboot, engineering menus or third-party utilities) are considered a violation of the license agreement and may result in a violation of the license agreement:

  • πŸ”΄ Loss of warranty
  • πŸ”΄ Blocking IMEI Xiaomi
  • πŸ”΄ Impossibility to update through OTA

However, instructions for dumping through:

  1. Fastboot: fastboot oem remove-id fastboot oem clean-id only works on older models (Redmi Note) 3/4, Mi 5) and requires an unlocked loader.
  2. Engineering menu (#3646633##): In the Connectivity section β†’ CDMA There is a Reset Device option. ID, But it's not available on all firmware.
  3. Third-party utilities: Programs like Mi Flash Pro or Xiaomi Tool V2 promise ID One click, but often replace it with β€œjunk”, which leads to problems with the network.

Any of these methods requires pre-unlocking the bootloader (OEM Unlock, which alone takes up to 720 hours of waiting (by Xiaomi rules). ID just impossible.

What happens if you drop it? ID locked-phone?
If the device is locked due to a tied Mi Account, reset ID It will not remove the lock, it will only make it harder to unlock, and the system will require you to enter the data of the old account, but it will stop taking commands from Xiaomi servers, which will make the phone a brick without the possibility of recovery even in the service center.

Step-by-step instructions: how to reset ID risk-free

If you do decide to do the procedure, follow this algorithm, and we warn you that even if you follow the instructions accurately, there's a 30 percent chance of getting a phone that doesn't work.

Make a backup of data through Mi PC Suite|Check the status of the bootloader (unlocked/blocked)|Download the original firmware for your model|Prepare the cable. USB and driver PC ADB|Make sure the battery is charged at 80%+-->

Step 1 Unlocking the bootloader

Go to the site. en.miui.com/unlock And you can apply. You can attach your Mi Account to your device and wait. SMS permit-free 3 before 30 Then there are days:

  1. Activate Developer Mode (Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ MIUI version – tap 7 times).
  2. Enable OEM Unlock and USB Debugging in Settings β†’ Additional β†’ For Developers.
  3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: fastboot oem unlock

Step 2. Reset ID via Fastboot

For models on a Qualcomm processor (most of them) Redmi/POCO):

  1. Turn your phone into Fastboot mode (Power + Volume Down).
  2. Run commands in turn: fastboot oem clean-id fastboot oem remove-id fastboot reboot
  3. After restarting, the phone will require re-activation.

For models on Mediatek (Redmi) 9A/9C etc.) the process is more complicated - firmware is required through SP Flash Tool with pre-editing of the file preloader.bin.

πŸ’‘

If after discharge ID The phone doesn't turn on or reboots constantly, don't try to repeat the procedure.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users make critical errors when resetting ID. Here. TOP-5 slacks that lead to the β€œbricking” of the device:

  1. Ignoring the firmware version: Commands for MIUI 12 not working for MIUI 14.Always check compatibility through fastboot getvar all.
  2. Interrupting the process: If you turn off the cable during fastboot oem clean-id, the phone will lose IMEI and stop catching the net.
  3. Use of informal firmware: Custom recovery (e.g, TWRP) may not be able to ID, which will lead to a loading cycle.
  4. Failure to follow the sequence of commands: First always clean-id, then remove-id. The reverse order leads to failure EFS-section.
  5. Attempt to reset on a locked bootloader: No OEM Unlock commands simply won’t execute, but some utilities can damage partitions. modemst1.

If you see an error after the reset, "Invalid" IMEI" or "Baseband unknown," which means the modem partition has been damaged, and you can only restore it through the firmware of the nvram and nvdata files from the original backup.

πŸ’‘

Before discharge ID Check the fingerprint sensor is working, and on some models (Redmi Note 8 Pro) it stops working after the procedure due to resetting the encryption keys.

What to do if after the discharge ID phone's not working.

If the screen remains black, the phone vibrates but does not turn on, or only loads into Fastboot, follow this recovery algorithm:

Scenario 1: Cyclical booting (bootloop)

  • πŸ”Œ Connect your phone to your PC and check your response to the command: fastboot devices If the device is identified, run the original firmware through the Mi Flash Tool (select the clean all option).
  • πŸ”§ If fastboot doesn’t respond, try to put your phone in mode. EDL (emergency loading) through testpoints.

Scenario 2: Loss IMEI

If the settings are displayed "IMEI: Unknown, restore it through the engineering menu:

  1. Enter ##3646633##.
  2. Go to Connectivity β†’ CDMA β†’ DSDS Information.
  3. Enter the original IMEI (Written on a box or under a battery and press Write IMEI.

Scenario 3: Blocking the Mi Account

If after reset, the phone requires an old account, but you do not know the data:

  • πŸ“„ Contact Xiaomi with a check for purchase.
  • πŸ”“ Use the official unlock tool (Mi Account Unlock Tool), but it only works for devices over 72 hours after the last binding.

πŸ’‘

If the phone is after reset ID stopped SIM-maps, check file integrity /data/nvram/md/NVRAM/NVD_IMEI/MP0B_001. Damage is the most common cause of network problems.

Alternatives to dumping ID: What to try first

In 90% of cases, the discharge ID β€” This is a "nuclear option" that is used in desperation:

Problem.Alternative solutionLevel of difficulty
Previous owner’s Mi Account LinkedContact the seller for account details or a check for support⭐
Activation error after resetLog in to account.xiaomi.com and delete the device remotely⭐⭐
Blocking after update MIUIRemove the firmware through the Mi Flash Tool (select the version older than the current one)⭐⭐⭐
Inability to unlock the loaderUse a temporary bypass through the Mi Unlock Tool with a modified hosts file⭐⭐⭐⭐

For models POCO F1, Redmi K20 Pro and other flagships have another way to bypass locks β€” a temporary patch through Magisk. Install the Mi Account Bypass module from the Magisk repository, but remember: this will only work on firmware before the device is installed. MIUI 13.

If you just need to flash custom firmware, it's enough to officially unlock the bootloader. ID It does not require and only adds problems with SafetyNet (bank applications will not work).

πŸ’‘

On phones with a Mediatek chip (Redmi) 9/10 series) instead of discharge ID utility MTK Auth Bypass for temporary bypass of account locking.It's safer and reversible.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions about Resetting ID Xiaomi

Can I drop it? ID loader-free?
No, it's technically impossible. All methods (including the engineering menu) require prior OEM Attempts to circumvent this restriction cause modem partition damage and network loss.
Will I lose my warranty after I reset? ID?
Yes, even if you restore the original firmware, service centers check the bootloader logs and see the facts of interference, the warranty is canceled automatically.
How to check if it is dropped ID on my phone?
Enter the command in Fastboot: fastboot getvar all If there is a line in the output device_id: unknown β€” ID It's reset. It'll be on the work unit. 32-hash-mark.
Can I bring back the original? ID post-discharge?
Theoretically yes, but only if you have a backup section. protect_f or protect_s. In practice, it is almost impossible to restore it without service equipment.
Will Google Pay work after resetting? ID?
Probably not. ID Resets Widevine and SafetyNet keys, causing banking apps and streaming services (Netflix, Disney)+) They refuse to work. Recovery will require firmware on the original persist partition.

Remember: reset ID β€” It's not a magic wand, but an extreme measure that creates problems more often than it solves them. In most cases, Xiaomi's official tools or proof-of-purchase appeals are enough. If you're not sure what you're doing, you should trust the process to the professionals.