Xiaomi smartphone users often face an intrusive notification “Activation Service” immediately after installing a new one. SIM-The system requires you to verify your phone number to be linked to your Mi Account, which is part of the manufacturer's security ecosystem, but for many device owners, this feature becomes an obstacle, especially if the phone is bought with their hands or brought from another region.
Ignoring a request can result in a device being completely locked after resetting or flashing. The activation service tightly ties the gadget to the first user's account, turning the device into a "brick" when trying to log in from another account. Understanding the mechanism of this protection and how to deactivate it is necessary for anyone who values the freedom to manage their gadget.
In this article, we will take a closer look at what this service is, why it appears, and what legal and technical methods exist to disable it, and we will look at both the standard settings on the menu, and the more sophisticated methods through the ADB and engineering menu so you can choose the right option.
What is an Activation Service and Why You Need It
Activation Service is a system component of the MIUI and HyperOS operating system designed to verify the device owner, and the main purpose of this feature is to protect against theft. If an attacker steals a phone and tries to reflash it or reset it to factory settings, the device will require the username and password from the Mi Account to which the smartphone was attached when it first turns on.
The process is as follows: after insertion SIM-The system sends the hidden card SMS-requesting Xiaomi servers to confirm the number, which may be a roaming fee, which the system usually warns of. Without successful completion of this procedure, some functions of the phone may remain unavailable, and the device itself will periodically remind you to activate the phone.
However, if you are the sole owner or bought a phone from an authorized dealer, this feature may seem unnecessary. Moreover, when buying a used device, the presence of an active link to someone else’s account creates serious risks. The blocking of Xiaomi activation is not removed by simply resetting the settings, since the information is stored on the manufacturer’s servers.
⚠️ Note: Attempting to disable the activation service on a stolen device is illegal and this instruction is intended exclusively for device owners who have a legal right to use them, but who are faced with technical limitations of the software.
It is important to understand the difference between a normal number check and a full account lock: the first can be bypassed or disabled in the settings, the second requires access to the data of the previous owner. Xiaomi has implemented this system to compete with Apple Activation Lock, providing a similar level of security for its users.
Preparation for system services shutdown
Before embarking on radical methods of disabling system components, careful preparation is needed. Mistakes can lead to unstable operating system operation or loss of data. The first step should always be a complete backup of important information: contacts, photos and documents.
You will need a stable Internet connection, preferably via Wi-Fi, to avoid the cost of mobile traffic during manipulation of network services, and also make sure that the battery is at least 50%, as the process can take time, and suddenly turning off the device while working with system processes is unacceptable.
☑️ Checklist of preparation for system modification
If you plan to use your computer to debug, install ADB and Fastboot drivers. For standard users who don't want to connect the cable, access rights inside the smartphone will suffice, but PC access is often a necessity to thoroughly clean the system of Xiaomi services.
Disconnection via MIUI and HyperOS settings
The safest and easiest way to remove persistent notifications is to turn off the feature in the standard settings menu, which requires no root rights and is safe to guarantee the device, but it may not remove the deep reset check itself, but it will eliminate daily reminders.
Go to the settings menu and find the section associated with the account. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but it usually looks like this: Settings → Mi Account → Cloud → Activation Status. Here you can try to turn off sync or find the switch responsible for finding the device.
It is also worth checking the settings. SIM-Go to the Settings. → SIM-Find the item "Use the mobile network" or "Activation services" and turn it off. This will prevent the system from sending hidden messages. SMS-message.
- 📱 Open Settings and go to the About Phone section».
- 🔍 Find the item "Status" or "General Information».
- ⚙️ Look for the “Device Activation” option and try to deactivate it.
- 🚫 If the button is inactive, the service is blocked by system rights.
Some versions of MIUI have a hidden menu available through a set of special code in the call. Try entering ##6484## to log into the engineering menu, but the functionality is limited to diagnostics and rarely includes service switches.
Using ADB to remove system packets
If standard methods don’t work, Android Debug Bridge (ADB) comes to the rescue, allowing you to manage the system at a level that is usually only available to developers, and it can “freeze” or remove the packages responsible for the activation service without violating the integrity of the firmware.
First, you need to activate the debugging mode for USB. Go to Settings. → About the phone and press 7 times on the item "Version" MIUI», until you have "You're a developer" on the screen, then in the advanced settings, turn on the USB-debugging.
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.activation
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.xiaomi.simactivate.serviceThese commands will remove the activation components for the current user.The device does not require superuser rights, but the computer must have an ADB installed. After executing the commands, the phone is recommended to restart.
What if the ADB can’t see the phone?
For example, they may stop working properly, cloud backup or phone search function, weigh the risks before executing commands.
Changing the region and resetting network settings
Often the problem with the endless activation request lies in the wrong region. Xiaomi services work differently depending on the geographic location specified in the settings. Changing the region can “cheat” the system and stop the requests.
Go to Settings → Additional Settings → Region. Try to choose a country other than your current one, such as India, the US or the UK. After changing region, the phone may need to reboot, which is normal behavior.
| Region | Impact on services | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | Standard constraints | Basic choice |
| India | Less advertising, less services | Useful for bypassing locks |
| USA | The complete set of Google services | For maximum functionality |
| China | Chinese services, no Google | Not recommended without firmware |
Also effective is resetting your network settings. This won't delete your personal files, but will return your connection settings to factory settings. Way: Settings → Advanced Settings → Recovery and Reset → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth.
After resetting the network, reconnect to Wi-Fi and insert SIM-Often, the system perceives this as a primary setting, but by changing the region or resetting the network parameters, the activation verification cycle can be interrupted.
Mi Account and device lock problems
The situation where the phone requires activation after a reset, but you don't remember the password from the Mi Account, is critical. It's not just a "service," it's a security mechanism. If the device was tied to an account, it's almost impossible to circumvent this verification without login data in official ways.
If the seller has not remotely untie the device from their account, the new owner will face a lock screen, in which case the only legal way is to contact the previous owner and ask him to remove the device from the list of trusted in the settings of his account on i.mi.com.
⚠️ Note: There are many paid services offering “unlocking” on the Internet. IMEI. Beware: most of them are fraudulent.Official Xiaomi support doesn't remove activation lock without a purchase check and box.
If you are the legitimate owner but cannot log in, use the password recovery form on Xiaomi's website, you will need access to your linked email or phone number, without which you will not be able to restore access to your account, and the device will remain locked.
To prevent such situations in the future, before selling or transferring your phone, make sure to log out completely. Go to Settings → Mi Account and click “Exit”. Only then do a data reset.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is it safe to remove the activation service through ADB?
Will the warranty disappear after the service is disconnected?
What if the phone says “Device locked”?
Can I permanently shut down the check? SIM-map?
Does the change in the region affect the work of banking applications?
💡
The most reliable way to avoid activation issues is to buy devices from authorized dealers and always untidy Mi Account before selling or resetting settings.
💡
If you change often SIM-maps, use the Guest Mode feature or create a separate user profile to test networks so that the main system account is not affected.