What do I do if I lost or broke my Redmi phone?

Losing your phone is a horrible feeling. Breaking it can also elicit the same terrible feelings. Here's what you need to know and do if you lost or broke your Redmi phone.

It is always a pain to discover that you have lost your phone, whether it is brand new or whether you have used it for a couple of months. With the Redmi phone, it is possible to find your phone and no go through the burden of buying another one. Here's how:

Using the IMEI Number

If you lose your Redmi phone, you can lock or disable it from a distance. Here is how to go about it:

1. Look for the IMEI number. The IMEI number is the unique number you find on the box used to hold the phone at purchase.
2. Once you find this number, call your Carrier and then report phone as stolen.
3. Provide the IMEI number.
4. Once this is done, your phone will be deactivated and whoever has it will not be able to use it.
5. If they try to activate it at any store, the staff will know it is stolen and the phone will be returned back to you.

By Using Gmail

If your phone was powered by Android, you can go through the recovery method differently.

1. Log into your Gmail account using a PC or a different phone.
2. Go to Play store and download the Plan B application.
3. This application will silently install on your phone wherever it is and then turn on the GPS signal.
4. After installation, you will receive an email with the exact coordinates of your device.
5. With the exact location, you can, therefore, call the Carrier and have them rack down your phone for you.

Through MI Cloud Services

If you synced your phone with your XIAOMI account, you could use your account to help you find your phone. This is however only possible you had enabled the "Find Device" option on your phone and if your phone has Wi-Fi or mobile data connection.

1. Log into your Mi Cloud account using another PC or another phone.
2. If it is the first time that you are logging into your account, click on "Got it" when prompted to accept the permissions.
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on "Find Device"
4. If you are using this function for the first time, you will not be able to see the location of your device on Google Maps. However, if it is not the first time, you will see your phone's location on Google Maps.
5. Scroll down until you see "Locate" and click on it.
6. You will then be able to see where our phone is and the history of where it has been.

Mi Cloud also has other features that can help you get your phone back:

1. If you had enabled the sound option, your phone would continuously play a sound whose volume cannot be changed using the volume buttons.
2. If Lost Mode is enabled, a message saying that your phone is lost will consistently appear on the screen. This will stop it from being sold or used.

What to Do If You Break Your Phone

The parts of your phone that mostly break are the charging port, headphone port, and the screen. Breakages create a lot of inconveniences because the most fundamental uses of charging and touch will no longer be available. You can only be sure that your charging port s broken if you use your charging cable and battery brick on another phone and they function. The same goes for the headphone port. Here are the options you have for fixing them:

1. You have to visit a Mi Authorized Service Center where your phone can get fixed and get a check-up. Visiting a center ensures that you don't spoil your phone further.
2. If you are skilled enough, you can also choose to do the fixes on your own or follow the guides on the internet.