If your Xiaomi account verification code is not received, check three things first: whether you have hit Xiaomi's daily SMS limit, whether the country code is right, and whether the code is going to an old "security phone" you no longer use. Xiaomi's own help center lists these as the main causes. Outside mainland China you can also skip SMS entirely and create a Xiaomi Account (formerly Mi Account) with your email address.
Where Xiaomi sends your code
A Xiaomi Account can receive codes by SMS to its security phone or by email to its security email. You'll be asked for one when you sign up, sign in on a new device, or change your password or security details. If the security phone on your account is an old number, the code goes there and you'll never see it, which is the most overlooked cause of all.
Xiaomi verification code not received: causes and fixes
| Cause | Fix |
|---|---|
| Daily limit reached | Wait 24 hours after your last attempt; then use only the newest code |
| Wrong country code | Select the right country, for example +44 for the UK or +91 for India |
| Old security phone | Update it, or use "Restore security info" if you can't |
| Full inbox or low storage | Delete old messages and free up space |
| No signal, low balance or phone off | Make sure the SIM is active and has coverage |
| Dual-SIM confusion | Check which slot the SIM is in; try swapping slots |
| Carrier or phone spam filter | Check blocked senders; ask your carrier if needed |
| Strict browser settings | Reset the security level or allow third-party cookies |
The full checklist is on Xiaomi's help page on SMS verification codes.
Xiaomi's daily limit on codes
To prevent abuse, Xiaomi caps how many verification texts it sends. Its help center describes a limit of 10 SMS per day for each Xiaomi Account and for each phone number; another Xiaomi FAQ mentions 5 codes within 24 hours, so the exact figure seems to vary by region or product. Either way, once you reach it, you have to wait 24 hours from your last attempt. Requesting again during that time only resets the clock.
Sign up with email instead of a phone number
Outside mainland China, a Xiaomi Account doesn't need a phone number:
- On a Xiaomi phone, open Settings, tap Xiaomi Account and choose to create an account with your email. In a browser, use the email option on Xiaomi's account page.
- Enter your email and set a password.
- Open the verification link Xiaomi emails you. If it doesn't arrive, check your spam folder.
In mainland China, Xiaomi may still ask you to add a phone number for security. Also note that each phone number and each email address can be linked to only one Xiaomi Account at a time.
A warning about Find Device and temporary numbers
A Xiaomi Account is more than a login. If Find Device is turned on, a phone that's been reset asks for the Xiaomi Account it was linked to before it can be used again. Lose access to the account, and you may lose the use of the phone itself.
That's why a one-time number should only ever be used to receive a sign-up code, never as the account's only security phone. If you do use one, for example because your own number has hit the daily limit, add your own email or phone as security details straight away. On smsvar.com you choose Xiaomi and a country, see the price first, and the fee is refunded automatically if no code arrives within 20 minutes. Read when a temporary number makes sense before you decide, and compare countries on our prices page.
Travelling with a Xiaomi phone
If you need a code while abroad on a data-only eSIM, your home SIM must be active to receive the SMS. Keeping it on for texts while using the eSIM for data solves most cases; see our guide on receiving codes abroad. And if you use a calling app's number, expect it to be rejected: verification systems treat VoIP numbers differently from mobile ones.
Frequently asked questions
The app says the code was sent, but nothing arrives. Why?
Check which number the code went to: if your security phone is an old number, the code is being delivered there. Then check the country code, spam filters and signal. If you have requested several codes today, you may have reached the daily limit and need to wait 24 hours.
I've run out of attempts. Is there another way in?
Try receiving the code by email if your account has a security email. Otherwise, wait 24 hours. If neither your security phone nor your email works anymore, use the "Restore security info" option on Xiaomi's account pages or contact Xiaomi support.
How many Xiaomi Accounts can one number have?
One. Each phone number and each email address can be linked to only one Xiaomi Account. To use a number for a new account, remove it from the old one first.
Why does Xiaomi say I'm doing this too often?
Repeated sign-up attempts or code requests from the same device trigger a temporary block. Xiaomi suggests waiting, for example an hour, before trying again. Clicking repeatedly in the meantime only prolongs it.
Need a number for a one-off Xiaomi code? Open our virtual number page, choose Xiaomi and a country, and pay only when the code arrives. New to this? Start with how receiving SMS online works.