How to Clear History on Xiaomi: A Step-by-Step Guide for All Models

Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI They collect a huge amount of data about your activity, from websites visited to call lists and geolocations, and this information takes up space in the memory of the device, can slow down its operation and, more importantly, poses a risk to privacy. Clearing the history before selling the phone, transferring it to third parties or if viral activity is suspected is especially relevant.

Unlike iOS or “pure” Android, MIUI It has unique data collection mechanisms, including integrated Mi Cloud services, Mi Account and proprietary applications like Mi Browser or Security. Simply deleting cache through settings is often not enough – a comprehensive approach is required. In this guide, we’ll break down all the ways to clean up Xiaomi’s history, including hidden features and nuances for different versions. MIUI (12-to-14).

Important: Some methods require superuser rights (root), but most instructions will work for standard devices without modifications, POCO Black Shark – the cleaning principles are identical, as they all work on the base. MIUI with minimal differences in the interface.

1. Clearing the history of the browser (Mi Browser, Chrome, others)

The Mi Browser browser by default collects browsing history, cookies, autocomplete data and even page screenshots. Unlike Google Chrome, there is no sync with the account, but the data is stored locally and can be retrieved when you physically access the device.

To remove the story in Mi Browser:

• 📱 Open your browser and tap three dots in the lower right corner.
• 🗑️ Choose a History. → Clear the data.
• ⏳ Specify the period: "For the last hour", "For today" or "All the time" (recommended).
• ✅ Tick boxes: "History", "Cookies and Site Data", "Cached Images".
• 🔴 Click Clear the data.

For Google Chrome, the algorithm is similar, but with nuances:

1. Open Chrome, tap three dots. → History.
2. Choose Clear Data.
3. Insert “Additional" → Set the "All the time" period".
4. Please mark all items, including "Passwords and other login details" (if you need complete deletion).

⚠️ Note: If you are syncing with your Google Account, the history will be deleted from all devices. To avoid this, temporarily disable sync in your account settings before clearing.

For other browsers (such as Firefox or Opera), the path may be different, but the principle remains the same: look for the “History” or “Privacy” section in the settings menu. If the browser is not deleted by standard means, try clearing its data through Settings. → Annexes → Application management → [Browser name] → Warehouse → Clear the data.

2. Delete call history and SMS

Call logs and messages store not only numbers, but also metadata: duration of conversations, geolocation (if enabled), and in the case of a phone call log. SMS — text of correspondence. MIUI This data can be deleted both selectively and completely.

Clearing the call history:

• 📞 Open the phone application.
• 📋 Tap on three points. → Call magazine.
• 🗑️ Click on the basket icon (or Delete in) MIUI 14).
• ✅ Select individual records or click Allocate → Delete.

Removal SMS:

• 💬 Open the Messages app.
• 🔍 Tap on three points. → Settings → Clearing of messages.
• ⏳ Select the period: "Over 30 days", "Over 6 months" or All messages.
• 🔴 Confirm removal.

If you want to delete correspondence with a specific contact, open a dialogue with him, tap on three points. → Delete the chat. MIUI 13/14 There is also a “Secret Mode” feature for messages, but it hides, not deletes data.

⚠️ Attention: Remote SMS and calls can be restored using specialized software (for example, Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver) if the device has not been fully encrypted or reset to factory settings. → Memory. → Cleanup → Deep cleaning.

3. Clearing the history of applications and system logs

System system MIUI It keeps detailed logs of application activity, including usage time, geolocation, and even screen clicks, which are available in the Security section and can be exported for analysis.

How to delete the activity history of applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (like TikTok or Instagram).
3. Slip the vault. → Clear the cache and Clear the data (Warning: This will reset the app settings!).

For mass cleaning:

• 🧹 Open Security. → Cleanup → Deep cleaning.
• 🔍 Select the category "Residual files" or "App cache".
• ✅ Tag Unnecessary Apps and Click Clear.

V MIUI 14, we have a "Private Mode" feature that automatically clears the history of applications when you lock the screen. → Confidentiality → Confidentiality regime → Turn on.

To remove system logs (root or ADB):

adb shell


su




rm -rf /data/log/*




rm -rf /cache/logs/*




rm -rf /data/anr/*

⚠️ Attention: Deleting system logs can make it difficult to diagnose device problems when contacting Xiaomi Service Center.Do not clear logs if you plan warranty repairs.

4. Resetting location history and geodata

Xiaomi collects your location data even when you are in the GPS It's turned off, via Wi-Fi networks and cell towers, and it's used for targeted advertising, for optimizing Mi Cloud and services like Mi Fit.

How to delete geolocation history:

• 📍 Go to Settings. → Confidentiality → Location history.
• 🗺️ Tap on three points. → Delete the story.
• ⏳ Select a period or press Delete Everything.

To disable the collection of geodata:

1. Open the Settings. → Location.
2. Turn off the switch Exact location.
3. In the Application Permissions section, disallow geolocation access for unnecessary programs (such as Mi Video or Themes).

If you use Google Maps, clear the history there separately:

• 🗺️ Open Google Maps. → tap on the avatar → Your chronology.
• 🗑️ Press three points. → Settings and privacy → Delete location data.

To completely remove geotags from photos and videos:

• 📸 Open the gallery, select the file → Details.
• 📍 If you have coordinates, click Delete Location Data.
• 🔄 For mass processing, use applications like EXIF Eraser.

💡

Before traveling to heavily censored countries like China, disable Mi Cloud and delete geolocation history, and in some regions, collecting this data can be used to track foreigners.

5. Clear History in Mi Account and Mi Cloud

Mi Account syncs data between devices, including browser history, notes, contacts and even Mi Band entries, and if you don’t plan to use these services, it’s best to clear or disable them.

How to delete data from Mi Cloud:

• ☁️ Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
• 📋 Select a category (for example, "Notes" or "Gallery").
• 🗑️ Tap on three points. → Delete all data.
• 🔄 Repeat for all categories.

To delete your account completely (if you are selling your device):

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Account management.
2. Scroll down. → Delete the account.
3. Confirm. SMS email.

⚠️ Note: Deleting Mi Account will result in loss of access to all Xiaomi services, including Mi Home, Mi Fit, and cloud storage!

If you want to unplug your device from your account (without deleting your account):

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Mi Account.
• 🔗 Tap on three points. → Exit from account.
• 🔐 Enter a password to confirm.

For devices with MIUI 12+ Guest mode is also available, which temporarily hides personal data without being completely deleted. → user icon → Guest).

6. Complete reset to factory settings

If you sell or transfer a device, the only reliable way to delete the entire history is to reset to factory settings, which erases all data, including hidden system files, but requires prior preparation.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data.
3. Enter your password (if installed).
4. Confirm the action. It'll take 5-15 minutes.

After discharge:

• 🔄 The device will reboot and offer a setup as new.
• 🚫 Don’t connect your old Mi Account, it will bring back some of your synchronized data.
• 📱 To check the cleanliness of the system, open Settings → Memory – space should be minimal (3–5 GB for the system).

If the reset doesn’t help (for example, there are “ghost” files left), use Fastboot mode for full flashing:

fastboot erase userdata


fastboot erase cache




fastboot flash system system.img

⚠️ Note: On devices with a blocked bootloader, a reset via Fastboot can result in a "brick" (inoperability.

7.Additional measures: encryption and secure deletion

Even after the reset, you can recover the data with specialized equipment, and if you are working with sensitive information, consider the following measures:

Encryption of the device:

• 🔐 Go to Settings. → Security → Encryption of the telephone.
• 🔑 Set a strong password (at least 8 characters, with numbers and special signs).
• ⏳ It'll take 30 to 60 minutes, and once it's encrypted, all the data will be protected.

Safe removal through ADB:

For guaranteed erasure, use the command:

adb shell


su




dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/block/mmcblk0 bs=1M

⚠️ This command will completely destroy all data, including firmware! Use only if you plan to reflash the device.

Alternative methods:

• 🔄 Use secure removal applications such as Secure Erase or iShredder.
• 📱 To physically destroy data (for example, before recycling), remove the flash memory and magnetically expose it.

If you are selling a device, it is recommended that:

1. Make a reset to factory settings.
2. Fill the memory with junk data (e.g. download a large file and delete it).
3. Repeat the reset.

💡

Encryption + discharge + filling memory with junk data is the only way to guarantee the removal of data from flash memory without the possibility of recovery.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up history on Xiaomi