Changing an account on smartphones Xiaomi is a procedure that every second device owner faces. The reasons are different: selling a phone, switching to a new account, recovering from a block, or simply the desire to separate personal and work data. But if on most Android devices this takes a couple of minutes, then MIUI traditionally complicates the process due to the deep integration of services Mi Account.

In 2026, the situation was complicated by new security rules: Xiaomi tightened verification linking devices to accounts, and in some regions (for example, the EU) additional confirmations via SMS or email have appeared. This means that old instructions from the Internet may not work - especially if the phone was purchased second-hand or imported from China. In this article we will look at all current methods account changes, including bypassing common errors and working with blocked devices.

⚠️ Warning: If you buy Xiaomi from hand, be sure to check the account linking status before payment. Devices with active protection Find Device or unlinked to the previous owner may be blocked after resetting the settings. In 2026 Xiaomi began to lock such phones at the bootloader level, making them unusable without the original password.

We will review:

  • 🔄 Standard account change through settings (for unlocked phones)
  • 🔐 Bypassing binding after reset (if the previous owner did not unlink the device)
  • 📱 Features for models with MIUI 15 and new lines Xiaomi 14/14 Pro
  • ⚠️ Risks and consequences of incorrect change (IMEI blocking, loss of warranty)
📊 What Xiaomi smartphone do you have?
Redmi Note 13/14
POCO X6/F6
Xiaomi 14/14 Pro
Other (specify in the comments)

1. Preparing to change your account: what you need to do in advance

Before changing your account to Xiaomi, take several critical steps. This will protect you from data loss, device locking or synchronization problems.

First, unlink your phone from the old account through the official website Mi Account (if you have access to it). This is especially important for devices purchased secondhand. You can check the binding at: 

https://account.xiaomi.com/pass/serviceLogin

In the section Devices your phone should be displayed. If it is not there, it means that the previous owner did not remove the binding, and after resetting you will be blocked.

Secondly, create a backup all data. Even if you plan to just change your account without resetting, some settings (for example Mi Cloud or Themed wallpaper) may be lost. Use:

  • 📁 Built-in backup in Settings → About phone → Backup
  • ☁️ Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud —if they are not tied to the old account)
  • 💻 Manually copying files to a PC via MTP or Xiaomi File Manager

⚠️ Attention: If the phone was purchased in China or on AliExpress with firmware for the local market, changing your account may require unlocking the bootloader (bootloader). In 2026, Xiaomi tightened the rules: for some models (for example, Redmi K70 or Xiaomi 14 Ultra) a wait of up to 720 hours (30 days) is required after the first account linking. Check this in Settings → About phone → Version MIUI (if there is a mark CN this is a Chinese firmware).

Make sure that the phone is not on the IMEI blacklist|Check the link to Mi Account on the official website|Create a backup copy of your data|Disable Find Device (if the phone is not stolen)|Remember the login/password from the old account (in case of errors)-->

2. Standard account change through MIUI settings

If you have access to the current account and the phone is not locked, the easiest way is to change through the settings menu. This method works on all devices with MIUI 12–15, including the latest models Xiaomi 14 and POCO F6.

Step by step instructions:

  1. Open Settings (gear icon on the main screen).
  2. Go to section Accounts and synchronization (in some firmware - Mi Account).
  3. Click on the current account (usually an email or phone number is displayed).
  4. At the bottom of the screen, select Exit or Delete account.
  5. Confirm the action by entering the password for the current account.
  6. After exiting, the system will prompt you to add a new account. - select Add account and follow the instructions.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 15 (released in 2026–2026), after deleting the account, you may need confirmation via SMS or scanning QR code from another device. This is a security measure against theft. If the SMS does not arrive, check:

  • 📶 Availability of the Internet (it is better to use mobile data, not Wi-Fi)
  • 🔒 Absence blocking by the operator (sometimes SMS are intercepted by antispam systems)
  • 🕒 Waiting up to 5 minutes - servers Xiaomi may delay sending

If you are selling a phone, after deleting your account be sure to reset settings:

  1. Go to Settings → Advanced → Recovery and reset.
  2. Select Reset settings and confirm the action.
  3. Wait for the reboot - the phone will be like new.
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If the "Device is blocked" error appears when deleting your account, try disabling Find Device in the security settings. Sometimes this helps to bypass temporary restrictions.

3. Changing the account after resetting the phone (if the phone is reset). blocked)

The most common problem when purchasing Xiaomi from hands is blocking after resetting due to linking to the old account. If the previous owner did not unlink the device, you will see a screen asking you to enter the login and password from Mi AccountIn 2026, it has become more difficult to bypass this, but there are several legal ones. methods.

Method 1: Contact the previous owner

If you bought the phone from a private person, contact the seller and ask him to:

  1. Remove the device from your account on the website account.xiaomi.com.
  2. Disable the function Find Device (if it was activated).
  3. Confirm deletion via SMS or email.

After that, restart the phone - the blocking should disappear.

Method 2: Official contact with support Xiaomi

If you contact seller is impossible, contact support with proof of purchase (receipt, contract, screenshot of correspondence). In 2026 Xiaomi requires:

  • 📄 Passport scan (to confirm identity)
  • 🛒 Receipt or payment order (with date of purchase and IMEI). telephone)
  • 📧 A written explanation of the situation in English or Chinese

The appeal can be sent via: 

https://www.mi.com/global/support/contact

The review period is from 3 to 14 days. If the verification is successful, you will be sent instructions for unlocking.

Method 3: Bypass via Fastboot mode (for advanced users)

⚠️ Attention: This method is only suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader. On new models (Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13) it may lead to IMEI lock or loss of warranty.

If you are ready to take a risk, follow the instructions:

  1. Turn off the phone and hold Volume down + Powerto enter Fastboot.
  2. Connect the device to the PC and install the drivers Mi Flash Tool.
  3. Download the firmware for your model from the official website (for example, fastboot-rom for POCO F5).
  4. On the command line, run: 
    fastboot oem unlock

    fastboot flash all [firmware_name].zip

  5. Wait for the firmware to complete (10–15 minutes).

❗ After flashing via Fastboot, the phone will be completely cleaned, but the link to the old account may remain if the bootloader was not unlocked in advance.

What happens if you flash a phone with a locked bootloader?

On new devices (released after 2023), unofficial firmware will lead to blocking Anti-Rollback. The phone will stop booting and an error will appear on the screen This device is locked. This can only be corrected through an authorized service center Xiaomi (cost - from 3,000 to 10,000 rubles depending on the model).

4. Features of changing an account on new models (MIUI 15)

Version MIUI 15Released in 2026, made several changes to the account management process. If you Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or another new model, consider the following nuances:

1. Two-factor authentication by default

Now, when adding or deleting an account, the system requires confirmation via:

  • 📱 SMS to the linked phone number
  • 🔑 Code from the application Mi Authenticator (analogue Google Authenticator)
  • 🖼️ Scanning a QR code from another device (if synchronization is enabled)

If you do not have access to the old number, you can restore access only through support.

2. Limit on the number of linked devices

In 2026 year Xiaomi reduced the limit of simultaneously linked devices to one account:

Account type Maximum devices Restrictions
Free 5 If the limit is exceeded, you need to delete one of the devices
Premium (paid subscription) 10 Additionally +5 slots for family accounts
Corporate 20 Requires confirmation from the administrator domain

3. New rules for Chinese firmware

Devices with firmware for the Chinese market (CN ROM) now require linking to an account with a Chinese phone number. If you bought such a phone abroad, you can change your account only after updating to the global version (Global ROM).

⚠️ Warning: On models Xiaomi 14 Ultra and Mix Fold 3 an attempt to flash the global version on a Chinese device results in the camera being blocked (the module Leica stops working before flashing the firmware, check the compatibility on the forums XDA Developers or 4PDA.

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On new devices (2026–2026), changing an account without access to the old one may require official unlocking through a service center. Independent manipulations with the firmware often lead to loss of warranty.

5. Frequent errors and how to avoid them.

When changing an account to Xiaomi users encounter typical problems. Let's look at the most common problems and ways to solve them.

Error 1: "This device is linked to another account"

Cause: The previous owner did not delete the phone from your Mi Account.

Solution:

  • 📧 Ask the seller to remove the device via account.xiaomi.com.
  • 🔄 If contact is impossible, contact support with proof of purchase.
  • 🛠️ On some models, resetting via Recovery Mode (hold Volume up + Power with the phone turned off).

Error 2: "Too many attempts to enter the password"

Cause: The system blocked login attempts after 5 unsuccessful ones attempts.

Solution:

  • ⏳ Wait 24 hours - the lock will be removed automatically.
  • 🔄 Restart the phone in Safe Mode (hold Power → Reboot to Safe Mode).
  • 📡 Connect to another Wi-Fi network or use the mobile data.

Error 3: "The device does not support changing the region"

Cause: Phone with Chinese firmware (CN ROM) are trying to link to a global account.

Solution:

  • 🌍 Flash the global version MIUI (if the bootloader is unlocked).
  • 📱 Use a Chinese phone number to register an account (you can buy a virtual number on services like SMS-Activate).

Error 4: "Could not connect to the server"

Reason: Problems with the Internet or blocked servers Xiaomi in your region.

Solution:

  • 🌐 Try using a VPN (for example ProtonVPN or Warp).
  • 🔄 Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data or vice versa.
  • ⏳ Check the status of the servers Xiaomi on the website downdetector.com.
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If, when changing an account, the phone asks to enter CAPTCHA, but the picture does not load, clear the application cache Mi Account in the settings (Settings → Applications → Manage applications → Mi Account → Clear cache).

6. How to check whether the account has been successfully changed

After changing the account, it is important to make sure that all bindings are updated and old data is deleted in several ways:

1. Through the phone settings. data-i="246">Open

  1. Open Settings → About phone → All settings.
  2. Scroll down to the section Mi Account —the new email or number should be displayed there.
  3. Check the section Devices —the old account should not appear there.

2. Through the web version of Mi Account

  1. Go to account.xiaomi.com and log in with the new account.
  2. B section Devices your phone should be displayed.
  3. If there is an old device there, click Delete.

3. Checking synchronization

  • 📱 Make sure that contacts, notes and photos are synchronized with the new account.
  • ☁️ Go to Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Mi Cloud and enable backup.
  • 🔒 Check operation Find Device —the phone must be detected in the new account.

⚠️ Attention: If some functions stop working after changing the account (for example, Mi Pay or Themed wallpaper), this may mean that:

  • The old account was not completely unlinked.
  • The new account has restrictions by region (for example, a Chinese account on a global phone).
  • On the device There are still cache data from the old profile (resetting the settings will help).

7. Risks and consequences of incorrect account change

Incorrect account change to Xiaomi can lead to serious problems - from data loss to complete blocking of the phone. Let's look at the main risks and how to avoid them.

1. IMEI blocking

On devices with MIUI 14/15 unauthorized change of account (for example, through firmware with security bypass) can lead to blocking IMEIIn this case, the phone:

  • 📵 Stops. catch the network (calls and the Internet do not work).
  • 🔴 A message appears on the lock screen This device is blocked.
  • 💰 To unlock, you need to contact the service center (cost - from 5,000 rubles).

2. Loss of warranty

If the phone is still under warranty, any manipulations with the firmware or bootloader lead to its cancellation. This applies to:

  • 🔓 Unlocking the bootloader.
  • 📥 Installing custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience).
  • 🛠️ Using unofficial tools like Mi Flash Unlock.

3. Loss of data

When resetting the settings or flashing the firmware via Fastboot all data on the phone will be deleted, including:

  • 📸 Photos and videos (if there was no backup).
  • 📱 Messages and stories calls.
  • 🎮 Save games (if they are not linked to Google Play).

4. Problems with Xiaomi services

If the new account is from another region, some functions may not work:

Function Problem when changing region Solution
Mi Pay Does not support Russian bank cards Use Google Pay or another wallet
Themed wallpaper Not new wallpapers are loaded Install a third-party application (for example, WallpapersCraft)
Mi Video Limited movie catalog Use YouTube or Kodi

⚠️ Warning: If you are selling a phone, never transfer it to the new owner with a linked account. Even after resetting the settings, a new user can restore access to your data via Find Device or backups in Mi CloudAlways remove the device from your account. before transferring the phone.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about changing an account on Xiaomi

Is it possible to change the account without resetting the settings?

Yes, if you have access to the current account. To do this, go to Settings → Mi Account, click on your profile and select Exit. After this, you can add a new account without losing data. However, if the phone was purchased second-hand and linked to someone else's account, a reset is inevitable.

What to do if the previous owner does not answer and cannot unlink the phone?

In this case, contact support Xiaomi with proof of purchase (receipt, contract, screenshot of correspondence with the seller). If the phone was stolen, you won’t be able to unlock it - Xiaomi blocks such devices at the hardware level.

Why do some functions (for example, Mi Cloud) not work after changing the account?

This can happen for two reasons:

  1. A new account from another region (for example, a Chinese account on a global phone).
  2. Residual data of the old account in the cache. Resetting the settings or clearing the application data will help Mi Account.

Can I use the phone without a Xiaomi account?

Technically yes, but with serious limitations:

  • 🚫 Will not work Find Device (you cannot find the phone if lost).
  • ☁️ Synchronization with Mi Cloud is disabled (loss of backup copies).
  • 🔄 Some system updates may not be installed.

On models with MIUI 15 during the first setup, the system insists on linking the account. You can get around this by connecting to the Internet later or using alternative firmware (for example, LineageOS).

How do I know if the bootloader is unlocked on my Xiaomi?

Check the bootloader status:

  1. Turn off the phone.
  2. Hold Volume down + Powerto enter Fastboot.
  3. Connect the phone to the PC and in the command line do: 
    fastboot oem device-info
  4. If the response contains a line Device unlocked: true —the bootloader is unlocked.