What will be removed on Xiaomi after resetting to factory settings: a detailed analysis

Resetting Xiaomi’s smartphone to factory settings is a radical solution to performance issues, viruses, or getting the device ready for sale, but many users fear the procedure, not knowing what data will be permanently deleted and what will remain intact. This is especially important for Redmi owners, POCO and the Mi-series, where MIUI Stores some data in the cloud, and some locally.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the exact list of everything that will disappear from your Xiaomi after a hard reset, including hidden files, system settings, and application data. You’ll learn how resetting through settings differs from recovering through Fastboot, which data can be recovered after a reset, and which can never be recovered, and we’ll also give a checklist to save important information before the procedure.

1.What data is guaranteed to be deleted when Xiaomi resets

Any reset to factory settings on Xiaomi (regardless of model – Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 Mi 11 erases all user information from internal memory:

• 📱 All installed applications (including system updates if resetted via Fastboot)
• 📷 Photos and videos in the gallery (even if they were hidden or archived)
• 🎵 Music and audio files uploaded to the phone’s memory (including ringtones)
• 📄 Documents (PDF, Word, Excel, downloaded or created on your device
• 🔑 Local passwords (from Wi-Fi, applications saved in the browser)
• 📱 Screen settings (wallpaper, brightness, reading modes, always on display)
• 🔧 Personal settings MIUI (themes, fonts, gestures, control panel)
• 📡 Saved Wi-Fi networks and data about Bluetooth connected devices

Pay special attention to the data of messengers, WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber will disappear after the reset:

• 💬 Chat history (if there was no backup)
• 📎 Investments (photos, videos, documents) downloaded in instant messengers
• 🔔 Notification and Priority settings for contacts

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi has enabled data encryption (optional in Settings) → Security, and after resetting via Recovery, it will be impossible to recover files even with the help of specialized programs like Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver. Encryption converts data into an unreadable format without a key, which is erased when reset.

2.What will remain after the reset: exceptions and nuances

Not all data on Xiaomi is stored locally, some of the information is synchronized with cloud services and will remain available after the reset.

Also on the device will remain:

• 📱 Files on a memory card (microSD) if it has not been formatted as internal memory
• 🔄 Updates to firmware, if the reset was carried out through the settings menu (when the Fastboot-reset firmware will roll back to the factory version)
• 🔒 Data in secure folders (if you used the Safe Folder app from Xiaomi and synchronization was enabled)

It's important to understand that not all cloud services work the same way, like Google Photos only saves original photos when you have paid for storage, and Mi Cloud only stores thumbnails by default. Check your sync settings before reset!

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Before resetting, open Settings → Xiaomi accounts → Mi Cloud and check what data is synchronized. especially pay attention to the items "Gallery", "Notes" and "Contacts".

3.Difference between reset via Settings, Recovery and Fastboot

The way the data is reset directly affects what data is deleted. Xiaomi has three main methods:

📱 Reset via the Settings menu (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting settings)

The safest way. It removes:

• All user data (photos, videos, documents)
• Installed applications and their data
• System settings and MIUI

But it doesn't affect:

• Current version MIUI (updates remain)
• Files on the memory card (if it was not integrated as an internal one)

🔧 Reset via Recovery (Loudness)+ + Nutrition → Wipe Data)

Deeper cleaning, in addition to user data, can delete:

• Cache system and Dalvik cache (sometimes solves problems with hanging)
• Some system settings that are not reset via the menu

⚠️ Danger: If you use Recovery incorrectly, you can accidentally format your internal memory (Wipe All), which will lead to complete loss of data, including files on the internal memory. SD-map".

🖥️ Reset via Fastboot (fastboot erase userdata)

The most radical method used when you run a firmware or unlock a bootloader is to remove:

• All user data (as in a normal reset)
• Returns firmware to the factory version (rolls back all updates) MIUI)
• Could erase section data. /vendor and /system, if unofficial firmware was used

This method is often used in:

• Install custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience)
• Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool
• Correcting critical system errors

4.How to prepare Xiaomi for reset: a step-by-step checklist

To avoid losing important data, follow these steps before resetting:

Backup through Mi Cloud (Settings) → Xiaomi accounts → Mi Cloud → Backup)

Copy photos and videos to a PC or external drive (check folders) DCIM, Pictures, Download)

Export contacts to file VCF (annex Contacts → Management → Exports)

Save. SMS (Use applications like SMS Backup & Restore)

Record or photograph important passwords (from Notes, browser, password manager)

Remove the memory card (if it is used as a portable storage)

Untie your device from your Google Account (if you plan to sell your phone)

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For backups via Mi Cloud:

1. Open the Settings. → Xiaomi accounts → Mi Cloud
2. Select Backup
3. Click Backup Now and Wait for the Complete
4. Check that the list has ticks opposite "System settings", "Applications", "SMS" and "Call magazine"

⚠️ Warning: Free Mi Cloud account only provides 5GB of storage. If you have a lot of photos or videos, use alternatives:

• 🖥️ Google Drive (15 GB free)
• 📁 Local copying on PC through MTP (Windows Explorer)
• ☁️ Cloud services like Yandex Drive or Mega

For owners. POCO Redmi with unlocked bootloader: check before reset whether your Mi Account is linked to the device. After reset, you may need to enter a login / password to unlock (Mi Account Lock).

5.What to do after reset: data recovery

Once the reset is complete, your Xiaomi will turn on as new. Here's what to do first:

1. Connect to Wi-Fi (networks will be forgotten after reset)
2. Sign in to Google account – this will restore contacts, email and some settings
3. Sign in to Mi Account – it will return synchronized data from Mi Cloud
4. Restore backup (if you did backup via Mi Cloud or Google Drive)
5. Install critical applications (messengers, banking applications, 2FA-authenticator)

To recover data from Mi Cloud:

1. Go to Settings. → Xiaomi accounts → Mi Cloud
2. Select Restore and specify the required backup copy
3. Confirm recovery and wait until completion (may take up to 30 minutes)

⚠️ Important nuance: If you restore data to another Xiaomi model (for example, with the Redmi Note 10 on the other hand). POCO X5), setup MIUI They may not work properly, so you'd better selectively reconnect only the contacts, SMS Photos and system settings to reconfigure.

To recover photos from Google Photos:

• Install Google Photos from Play Market
• Sign in to your Google account
• In the application settings, enable Backup and Synchronization
• Photos will start uploading automatically (if backup was enabled before reset)

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Even if you back up, some data can’t be recovered: call history (unless synced with Mi Cloud), saved passwords in the browser (unless you used a password manager), specific application settings (for example, Instagram filters or saved games in emulators).

6. Frequent errors in resetting and how to avoid them

Many users experience problems after a reset due to wrong actions, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

Another common problem is the loss of access to two-factor authentication (2FA). If you used apps like Google Authenticator or Authy and didn’t back up, you’ll lose access to all accounts that were enabled after a reset. 2FA. Decisions:

• 🔑 Use Authy with enabled sync through your account
• 📄 Save backup codes from all services (they are issued when configured) 2FA)
• 🔄 Transfer the tokens to another application before reset (e.g., to Bitwarden or to the other application). 1Password)

If after reset Xiaomi does not turn on or stuck on the logo MI:

1. Try to enter Recovery (Loudness)+ + Food) and make a Wipe Cache
2. If it doesn’t help, run the device through the Mi Flash Tool (you will need a PC and original firmware)
3. For models with unlocked bootloader, you can try custom recovery (TWRP)

7. Alternatives to a complete reset: when can you do without it

Before you do a hard reset, check whether you can solve the problem with less radical methods:

• 🐢 Phone's slowing down. → Clear the cache in Settings → Warehouse → Clear the cache or disable unnecessary apps in Settings → Annexes
• 🔋 The battery goes down fast. → Check the expense in Settings → Battery, turn off background activity for unnecessary apps
• 📶 Network problems → Reset network settings in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings
• 🛠️ Mistakes in applications → Reinstall the problem app or clear its data into Settings → Annexes → [Annex] → Warehouse → Clear the data
• 🔒 Forgot the pattern lock. → Try to unlock using Find My Device (Google) or Mi Cloud (if your account is linked)

If the virus is the problem, try:

1. Install an antivirus (Malwarebytes or Dr.Web)
2. Run the scan to Security → Scanning (built-in antivirus) MIUI)
3. Remove suspicious apps (check administrator rights in Settings) → Passwords and security → Administrator rights)

For Xiaomi models with unlocked bootloader, you can try reflashing only the system partition without losing user data.

fastboot flash system system.img

But this method requires experience and can cause the device to fail in case of errors.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Reset