How to remove Xiaomi smart devices from the ecosystem: 5 proven ways

Xiaomi’s smart devices, from Yeelight lamps to Mi Robot vacuum cleaners, are well established, but sometimes they need to be removed from the system. The reasons are different: selling a gadget, switching to another ecosystem, resetting before repair or bugs in operation. However, simply throwing the device in the trash or giving it to a new owner without the right cleaning is fraught with problems, from data leakage to the inability to re-tether.

In this article, we will analyze all the ways to remove Xiaomi smart devices - from standard removal through Mi Home to "hard" reset through the device. ADB We will focus on hidden dependencies between devices in the MiOT ecosystem, which often cause errors such as Device is bound to another account or Unable to remove: device offline. If you are faced with “ghost” devices that do not remove for years – here you will find a solution.

1. Remove via the Mi Home app (standard method)

The most obvious way is to use the official Mi Home app (or Xiaomi Home for the European region), but even here there are pitfalls: some devices require physical confirmation (pressing a button on the case), while others can “hang” in the status of Delete... indefinitely.

Algorithm of action:

• 📱 Open Mi Home and go to Devices (or Devices) tab).
• 🔍 Find the right device in the list and tap it to open the control panel.
• ⚙️ In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select the device settings.
• 🗑️ Scroll down and select Remove Device (or Remove Device).
• ✅ Confirm the action in the dialog window.

If the device is not removed through the interface, try:

1. Reconnect to another Wi-Fi network (sometimes the lock occurs at the router level).
2. Remove and re-insert batteries (for Mi sensors) Door/Window Sensor).
3. Use Developer Mode in Mi Home (activated by a 5-fold tap according to the application version in the settings).

⚠️ Note: Deleting a device via Mi Home does not guarantee complete erasure of data from its memory. For sensors with a history (for example, Mi Temperature & Humidity Sensor), information can be stored on Xiaomi servers for up to 30 days. To clean it forcibly, after removing the device go to Profile → Privacy → Data management and request deletion.

2. reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)

If the device does not respond to commands from the app or is tied to another account, a hardware reset will be required.

After a hardware reset, the device automatically unplugs the account, but may remain on the Mi Home list as "offline".

For Zigbee devices (such as the Mi Smart Home Gateway), the reset is done by holding the Reset button for 20 seconds, and then the gateway will emit an audible signal and all sensors connected to it will also reset.

3. Delete via Mi Account (if the device is linked to another account)

One of the most common problems is that this device is bound to another Xiaomi account, which means that the device was tied to the previous owner's account and cannot be added again.

Method 1: Requesting to unlock from previous owner

If you have contacts with the previous owner, ask them to:

1. Get in at Mi Home → Profile → Device management.
2. Find the device in the list and click Untie the account.
3. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

Method 2: Appealing for Xiaomi

If it is not possible to contact the previous owner, contact the proof of purchase (check, photo of the box with the serial number) for this:

• 📧 Write to support@mi.com Unbind Device Request Theme.
• 📸 Attach a photo of the device, box and check (if any).
• 🔢 Specify the Model (model), S/N (serial number) and MAC-address.

The request is 3 to 7 days in time, and 80 percent of the time, support is able to convince you to unlock the device, but that requires proof of ownership.

4. Removal from third-party ecosystems (Google Home, Home Assistant, Apple HomeKit)

Xiaomi smart devices are often integrated into other platforms through Mi Home Skill (for Google Assistant) or plugins like Xiaomi Mi Home Integration (for Home Assistant).

Google Home / Google Assistant

To remove the device from Google Home:

1. Open the Google Home app.
2. Find the device in the list and tap it.
3. In the upper right corner, press ⋮ → Settings.
4. Select Remove the device and confirm.

If the device is not deleted, disable the connection between Mi Home and Google Account:

• 🔗 Go to the settings of connected services.
• 🔍 Find Mi Home Skill and revoke access.

Home Assistant

In Home Assistant, Xiaomi devices are removed via:

1. Settings to Settings → Devices and services.
2. Choosing Xiaomi Miio integration.
3. Press three points near the device → Delete.

If the device remains in the system, clear the integration cache:

# Through SSH in Home Assistant


rm -rf /config/.storage/miio*




restart homeassistant

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Before removing your device from Home Assistant, export your device configuration via Settings → System system → Backup: This will help quickly restore automation if you need to add it again.

5.Delete problems and errors (and how to solve them)

Even when following the instructions, users encounter errors, and consider the most common and ways to fix them:

For errors such as Server is busy or Operation timeout, changing the server region to Mi Home will help:

1. Go to Profile → Settings → Region.
2. Switch to Singapore or India (the servers are less loaded).
3. Repeat the removal attempt.

💡

If the device is not removed in any way, try linking it to a temporary Xiaomi account and then removing it from there. Create a new account, add the device manually (via Add Device) → Manually enter) and reset.

6. complete erasure of data (for sale or transfer)

If you plan to sell or transfer a device to another person, it is not enough to simply remove it from the app, but it is guaranteed that all personal data will be erased, including:

• 📍 Location history (for robot vacuum cleaners with maps).
• 🎥 Camera recordings (if the device supports cloud storage).
• 🔑 Access Tokens and Wi-Fi Passwords.
• 📊 Logs of use (e.g., temperature graphs for sensors).

Step-by-step instructions for complete cleaning:

1. Do Hard Reset (see Section 2).
2. Remove your device from all ecosystems (Mi Home, Google Home, Home Assistant).
3. Clear the app cache: On Android: Settings → Annexes → Mi Home → Warehouse → Clear cache. On iOS: Remove and reinstall the app.
4. Request deletion of data on Xiaomi servers: Go to Profile → Privacy → Data management. Select Delete Device Data and enter the serial number.

For robot vacuum cleaners (Mi Robot Vacuum) additionally:

• 🗺️ Remove saved cards through device settings → Map. → Delete all cards.
• 🔄 Reset the settings of cleaning areas and virtual walls.

⚠️ Note: Devices with Zigbee module (such as Mi Smart Home Gateway) can store data about the connected sensors after reset. To completely clean them, after Hard Reset, re-assign to the account and manually delete all sensors.

7. Alternative methods (for experienced users)

If the standard methods don't work, you can use advanced methods, which require technical skills, but they guarantee results.

Method 1: Remove via ADB (for Android)

Suitable for devices that are “hang” in the status Removal.

• 📱 Android smartphone with unlocked USB Debugging.
• 💻 Computer installed ADB.

Instructions:

Connect your phone to your PC and do:


adb shell




pm clear com.xiaomi.smarthome

This command will clear the Mi Home cache, which often helps to unlock the freezer devices.

Method 2: Editing MiOT tokens

For devices tied to the cloud, you can manually remove them through the cloud. API. For that:

1. Get Token and Device ID via MiOT Explorer.
2. Send a deletion request: POST https://api.io.mi.com/app/unbind Headers: x-xiaomi-protocal-flag-cli: PROTOCOL_TYPE Body: { "deviceId": "YOUR_DEVICE_ID", "token": "YOUR_TOKEN" }

Method 3: Firmware with Mi Flash Tool

The last way to do this is to flash a device with clean firmware.

• 🤖 Robot Vacuum (Mi Robot Vacuum).
• 📹 The camera (Mi Home Security Camera).
• 🔌 Smart sockets (Mi Smart Plug).

Instructions:

1. Download the firmware for your model from the official website.
2. Connect the device to the PC in Fastboot mode (for vacuum cleaners - through contacts on the board).
3. Sweat through the Mi Flash Tool with the Clean All option.

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Before you run the firmware, check if the software version is compatible with the region of the device, such as vacuum cleaners for China (CN) They will not work with the firmware for Europe (EU).

FAQ: Frequent questions