Error “In storage another device Xiaomi”: causes and ways to eliminate

You try to log into Mi Account on your Xiaomi smartphone, but instead of accessing cloud storage, you see a cryptic message: "In storage another Xiaomi device"? This error blocks the synchronization of contacts, photos, notes and other data associated with the account. What is the reason and how to regain control of your storage — let's figure out in order.

The problem most often occurs when you change your device, reset your settings, or after a long period of inactivity. Xiaomi uses a security mechanism that links cloud storage to the last active gadget. If the system detects that you are trying to access from an “unknown” device, it can block synchronization. In some cases, the error appears due to failures of Mi Cloud servers or data conflict between devices.

It's important to understand that it's not a virus or an account hack. It just doesn't recognize your current smartphone as a trusted one. The decisions depend on whether you have access to the previous device tied to the storage or not. Below are step-by-step instructions for both scenarios, and tips for preventing similar problems in the future.

Why does the error “In storage another device” appear?

The message “In storage another Xiaomi device” is a Mi Account security mechanism that works in several cases:

• 🔄 Resetting settings on the current smartphone without decoupling from the Mi Cloud.
• 📱 Connecting a new device to an account while the old one is still active in the system.
• ⏳ Long-term lack of synchronization (more than 6 months).
• 🔧 Manually remove device from trusted list in Mi Account settings.
• 🌍 Change your account region (e.g. from China to the global version).

The most common reason is device binding conflict: Mi Cloud allows you to sync data to only one main device at a time. If you sold an old smartphone but didn't delete it from your account, the new device may be blocked, and an error occurs when you restore a backup on another phone, the system "thinks" that the data belongs to another gadget.

Less often, technical failures are to blame:

• 🔌 Problems on Xiaomi servers (usually temporary).
• 📡 Unstable Internet connection during synchronization.
• 🛠️ Mistakes in firmware (especially on customized ones) ROM).

How to check which device is tied to the storage

Before trying to fix the error, you need to find out which gadget is considered “main” in your Mi Account.

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. In the menu, select Devices → Device management.
3. Check out the list of connected gadgets. The one next to the Cloud icon is the current host of the storage.

If your current smartphone isn’t on the list, you need to add it manually, and if your old device is still there but you don’t have access to it (sold, broke), you’ll have to remove it through Xiaomi support.

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If the device list shows a model you never had, change the Mi Account password immediately and enable two-factor authentication!

How to fix the error (if you have access to the old device)

If you have a previous smartphone that is tied to the storage, you can solve the problem in 5 minutes:

Turn off Wi-Fi and mobile data

Enter the Mi Account

Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud

Turn off synchronization for all data

Remove the device from your account-->

Step-by-step:

1. On the old smartphone, open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn off sync for all categories (contacts, photos, notes, etc.).
3. Return to Account Settings and select Device Management.
4. Find the current smartphone in the list and click Delete.
5. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

Then connect a new device to your account:

1. On your new smartphone, log in to Mi Account (if not already logged in).
2. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
3. Turn on synchronization for the desired data.
4. Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 10 minutes).

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If the error persists after you delete the old device, try logging out on both smartphones, restarting them and logging in again.

What to do if the old device is not available?

This is complicated if the previous smartphone is lost, sold or broken, and there are three options:

1. Delete the device via the web version of Mi Cloud

Sometimes the system allows you to remove the gadget directly from the site:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Go to the Devices. → Device management.
3. Find the old device and click Delete.
4. Confirm the action through a code from SMS or email.

If the Remove button is inactive, proceed to the next method.

2. Appeal in support of Xiaomi

This will require:

• 📝 IMEI old device, if any, if).
• 📧 Email or phone linked to your account.
• 📄 Check or confirmation of purchase (if saved).

Support may be contacted:

• via the official website (Contact Us section).
• In the chat room Mi Community (registration required).
• By phone hotline (numbers for different countries here).

3. Account reset (extreme case)

If other methods don't work and access to data isn't critical, you can create a new Mi Account.

⚠️ Attention! You will lose: All data in Mi Cloud (photos, contacts, notes), connected devices of the smart home (Mi Home), licenses for purchased themes and applications!

How to reset your account:

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com.
2. Log in to your profile and find the Account Management → Delete your account.
3. Follow the instructions (confirmation by SMS/email is required).
4. After deleting, create a new account and link your current smartphone to it.

How to Prevent a Problem in the Future

To avoid a repeat of the situation, follow these rules:

• 🔄 Before selling or resetting, always untie your device from Mi Account via Settings → Xiaomi account → Device management.
• 📱 Synchronize data regularly (at least once in a while). 2-3 The system does not “forget” your smartphone.
• 🔐 Use two-factor authentication to protect your account from unauthorized access.
• 📋 Save it. IMEI Devices (can be found in Settings) → The phone. → General information or on the box).

It is also useful to back up data on a third-party service (Google Drive, Yandex Disk) or locally on your computer.

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB.
2. Enable File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. Copy the DCIM (photo), Downloads (downloads) and Miui (settings) folders to your hard drive.

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Store screenshots of the device list in the Mi Cloud (once every six months) to help restore access quickly if something goes wrong.

Frequent mistakes in solving the problem

Users often make things worse with the wrong actions.

• ❌ Reset your smartphone to factory settings without detachment from your account – it can block it forever (activation lock Mi Account).
• ❌ Trying to hack an account through third-party services is a high risk of losing access forever.
• ❌ Ignore two-factor authentication – without it, account recovery is almost impossible.
• ❌ Delete your account from your device through Settings → Accounts (only via Mi Cloud!).

Also not worth it:

• 🔄 Changing your account region (from China to Global and back) can reset all your data.
• 📲 Install unofficial firmware in the hope of bypassing the lock - this will lead to the loss of warranty.

⚠️ Attention! If you bought a used smartphone with a previous owner's Mi Account tied, you can only return access to the cloud through it. Appealing for Xiaomi in this case is useless - they will not help with someone else's account.

Alternative ways of accessing data

If you can’t restore access to Mi Cloud, but you need to get files urgently, try these methods:

For deep recovery (if the smartphone is on hand, but blocked) can be used ADB-For example, to copy files without unlocking them:

adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/ C:\Backup\Photos


adb pull /sdcard/Download/ C:\Backup\Downloads

But this method requires enabled debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – 7 times press to unlock the developer mode).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions