How to fully format Xiaomi phone: 3 proven ways

Formatting a Xiaomi smartphone is a radical way to return the device to factory performance, fix software failures or prepare the gadget for sale. However, not all users know that simply deleting files through a conductor is not equivalent to a complete reset.

In this article, we will discuss all the current formatting methods for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones, from standard reset via the settings menu to low-level cleaning through Fastboot. We will pay special attention to the nuances for devices with a locked bootloader, and also tell you how to minimize the risks of losing important data. If your smartphone began to slow down, spontaneously reboot or “hang” on the logo, these instructions will help bring it back to life.

Why Xiaomi should be formatted: 5 good reasons

Many users mistakenly believe that formatting is an extreme measure to be used only in critical failures, and that routine cleaning can actually solve a number of problems:

• 🐢 Slowdown: Even after deleting applications, their residual files and cache take up space and slow down the OS.
• 🔄 Cyclical reboots: If Xiaomi’s phone is constantly going into reboot, conflicting system processes are often the cause.
• 🔒 Preparation for sale: simply deleting photos and accounts does not guarantee security, only a complete reset deletes data without the possibility of recovery.
• 📱 Failures after the update: if the firmware "broken" functionality (for example, Bluetooth stopped working or the software stopped working). NFC), Resetting often helps to return to work.
• 🚨 Viruses and malware: some Trojans are embedded in system files. Formatting is the only way to guarantee that they are deleted.

It is important to understand the difference between soft reset (removal of user data) and hard formatting (full flashing). The first option takes 5-10 minutes and runs through the menu, the second requires a connection to a PC and can take up to an hour. The choice of method depends on the goal: to eliminate lags, soft reset is enough, and to remove root rights or custom firmware will require a hard clean.

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi is locked through Find My Device, formatting via Recovery or Fastboot will not remove the block.

Method 1: Formatting through the settings menu (soft reset)

The simplest and most secure method that works for most situations is that it requires no additional tools and runs directly on the phone, all data will be deleted, but the firmware itself will remain intact, and it works on all models, including the Xiaomi 13T, Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset.
2. Select Resetting (on some models – Reset all data).
3. The system will ask you to enter a pattern lock or PIN-proof-code.
4. Click Delete Everything and wait until the process is complete (usually 3-7 minutes).

Once you reboot, the phone will start with factory settings, and you just have to go through the initial setup, like after you buy it, and this method doesn't remove MIUI updates, because the firmware version will remain the same as before the reset.

Save Contacts in Google Account

Copy photos and videos to PC or cloud

Record data from accounts (logins, passwords)

Make sure your phone is at least 50% charged

Disable Find My Device (if you plan to sell)

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If the phone still brakes after reset, the problem may lie in the hardware (for example, worn flash memory) or in the damaged firmware, in which case a deeper cleaning will be required.

Method 2: Hard Formatting with Recovery Mode

This method is used when the phone is not turning on, getting stuck on the Mi logo or not responding to touch. Recovery Mode is a service mode built into the firmware that allows you to perform low-level operations without downloading Android. Importantly, new Xiaomi models (released after 2021) may need to unlock the bootloader.

How to log in to Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone (if it freezes, press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press the combination of Loudness up + Power and hold for 5-10 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons and you will see the Recovery menu (in English or Chinese).

Further action:

• Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.
• Select Wipe Data (or Clear Data on Chinese firmware).
• Confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data.
• Once completed, go back to the main menu and select Reboot.

If you don't have Wipe Data in the Recovery menu, you have custom firmware installed (like LineageOS). → Wipe Dalvik/ART Cache and then Format Data.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi 12, Redmi) K50) After resetting via Recovery, you may need to re-assign your Mi Account. If you don't remember the login details, the phone will turn into a brick. Before the procedure, make sure you have access to the linked number or email.

Through the settings menu

Through Recovery Mode

Through Fastboot/EDL

Never formatted.

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Method 3: Complete Fastboot Cleanup (for power users)

Fastboot is the most radical and effective method, but it requires a computer connection and basic command line knowledge.

• 🔧 You need to remove the custom firmware and return the stock MIUI.
• 🔒 Phone locked after failed update.
• 📱 Recovery Mode is unavailable or damaged.

The work will require:

• Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers (you can download on the official website).
• USB cable (preferably original).
• Mi Flash Tool (for firmware) or ADB/Fastboot (for cleaning).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your phone and put it in Fastboot mode: Press Volume Down + Power.
2. Connect the device to a PC. The device must appear in the Device Manager Android Bootloader Interface.
3. Open the command line (Win + R → cmd) and enter: fastboot devices If the phone is determined (its serial number will appear), continue.
4. For complete cleaning, run commands in turn: fastboot erase boot fastboot erase system fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache
5. Reboot your phone with the command: fastboot reboot

After this cleaning, the phone will start in "clean" bootloader mode without firmware. To work, you will need to flash the stock MIUI through the Mi Flash Tool. This method is recommended only for advanced users, since the wrong commands can finally "kill" the device.

Frequent Formatting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

If you're not sure what you're doing, you should go to a service center, for example, IMEI recovery is a complicated procedure that, if done wrong, can permanently shut down your phone, and unlocking the bootloader is the same: on new Xiaomi models, it requires official permission from the manufacturer.

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Before any formatting, check the battery status. If the charge is below 30%, connect the phone to charge. Interrupting the process due to discharge can damage the firmware.

How to Recover Data After Formatting

If you have not made a backup, the chances of returning deleted data depend on the formatting method:

• 📱 Soft reset via settings: data can be recovered using programs like Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver, but only if no new files are written to the phone.
• 🔧 Recovery Mode: chances are minimal as the userdata section is overwritten.
• ⚡ Fastboot: No recovery is possible – data is deleted at a low level.

For future cases, we recommend:

• 🔄 Set up automatic backup in Settings → Google → Backup.
• ☁️ Use Mi Cloud to sync contacts, notes and photos.
• 💾 Regularly copy important files to a PC or external drive.

If you need to recover data after a soft reset, proceed as follows:

1. Install DiskDigger or Recuva on your PC.
2. Connect the phone in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. Select the userdata section and start the scan.
4. Save the files found on your PC (not your phone!).

⚠️ Warning: Do not install recovery software on the phone that deleted the files, which will overwrite memory sectors and make recovery impossible.

Formatting specific models: nuances for Redmi, POCO and Black Shark

While the general formatting principles are the same for all Xiaomi devices, some series have features:

For devices with a MediaTek processor (for example, Redmi 10A or POCO C50), you may need a special utility SP Flash Tool instead of Mi Flash Tool. Also, these models often have problems with drivers when connecting to a PC – we recommend using the MTK Driver Auto Installer driver pack.

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On Xiaomi phones with a Snapdragon processor (such as the Redmi K60 or Xiaomi 12T), you need to link your account to the device via the Mi Unlock Tool to unlock the bootloader.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions