How to Clean a Xiaomi Smartphone Before Selling: The Complete 2026 Guide

Why a simple reset is not enough: the risks of selling Xiaomi

Selling a Xiaomi smartphone is not just a matter of price, it is also a matter of security of your data. Many users mistakenly believe that a factory reset completely erases information from the device. In practice, this is not the case: modern data recovery methods allow you to extract photos, messages, passwords and even browser history from a “cleaned” phone. Especially vulnerable are models with eMMC memory chips (found in budget Redmi and Poco), where the reset does not physically erase data, but only removes links to them.

In 2023, cybersecurity experts conducted a study: Of the 50 Xiaomi smartphones purchased in the secondary market, 38% of the time managed to recover personal data of previous owners, the reasons are incomplete reset, saved copies in MIUI Cloud, or a tied account Mi Account, which locks the device after flashing, this article will help to avoid such errors and prepare the phone for sale 100%.

It's important to understand that the cleaning process depends on the model and version of MIUI. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 14, the algorithm differs from the Redmi Note 10 on MIUI 12.5. We'll look at the universal steps and nuances for different devices.

Step 1: Backing up important data

Before you erase your data, save it. Even if you plan to leave your phone empty, the backup will come in handy for transfer to a new device. Xiaomi has built-in tools for this:

• 📱 Local Copy: Go to Settings → The phone. → Backup and reset → Local backup. Select data (contacts, SMS, Notes) and save the file to memory or microSD card.
• ☁️ Cloud. MIUI: In the same menu, turn on backup in MIUI Cloud. Note that only 5GB is available for free, and for large volumes, you will need a subscription.
• 🖥️ Computer: Connect the phone to USB (in file transfer mode) and manually copy folders DCIM (Photos, Downloads, WhatsApp (if any).

What you have to copy:

• 📸 Photos and videos from the gallery (including hidden folders.thumbnails).
• 📄 Documents from Mi File Manager → Categories → Documents.
• 🔑 Passwords from Settings → Passwords and security → Password Storage (export to file).
• 🎮 Save games (use Xiaomi Game Turbo) → Cloud-based preservation or manual export).

⚠️ Note: Don’t rely on the cloud alone MIUI Cloud - once reset, access to it will be blocked unless you unplug your Mi Account in advance!

Step 2: Delete your Mi Account and unlock the bootloader

One of the most critical steps is to untie your Xiaomi account, and if you don't, the new owner won't be able to use the phone: once reset, the system will require you to login and password your Mi Account, which is all models released after 2018.

How to delete your account:

1. Open Settings → Xiaomi account.
2. Tap your profile. → Account management.
3. Select Login from your account (on some firmwares - Delete your account).
4. Confirm the action with a password.

If you do not have the option to delete your account (for example, on Poco F3 with MIUI 13), use an alternative method:

Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Factory Reset → Delete all data (including Mi Account)

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) After deleting your account, you may need to wait 72 hours before re-assigning.

Unlock the bootloader (Bootloader):

If you have ever unlocked a bootloader (for example, to install custom firmware), it must be blocked back, otherwise the new owner will not be able to update the phone via Fastboot:

• 🔓 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times to activate Developer Mode).
• Return to Settings → Additional → Developers → Unlock OEM and disable this option.
• Connect your phone to your PC, open Fastboot and execute the command: fastboot oem lock

Step 3: Completely reset (Hard Reset)

Now, to reset itself, Xiaomi has two ways: through the settings menu and through Recovery Mode, the first one is for most users, the second one is if the phone freezes or doesn't turn on.

Method 1: Through settings

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset.
2. Select Resetting (on some firmware - Delete all data).
3. Check to clear internal memory (this will delete all files, including music and videos).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-15 minutes).

Method 2: Recovery Mode (if the phone is not turned on):

1. Turn off the device.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data (use volume buttons for navigation, power for confirmation).
4. Confirm Wipe All Data and wait until it is completed.

Important: On models with eMMC chips (e.g. Redmi 9A) after resetting via Recovery, data can be recovered using programs like Dr.Fone. Use the memory wiping method (described in the next section) to clean up completely.

Deleted Mi Account|Backup of important data is made|Sync with Google is disabled|The function "Find the device" is turned off"|A sufficient amount of charge (minimum 50) has been checked%)-->

Step 4: Block Memory to Delete Data Permanently

As mentioned earlier, standard reset does not guarantee complete deletion of data. To physically erase memory, use one of the following methods:

Method 1: TWRP (for advanced users)

If you have a custom TWRP recap on your phone, follow the following steps:

1. Load to TWRP (clip Power + Volume Up).
2. Go to Wipe → Format Data.
3. Enter yes to confirm.
4. After formatting, run Wipe → Advanced Wipe and mark Dalvik, Cache, System, Data.

Method 2: Through ADB (without root)

This method works on most Xiaomi models without the need to unlock the bootloader:

1. Connect your phone to a PC with USB debugging enabled (Settings → Developers → USB debugging).
2. Open the command line and execute: adb shell dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/block/mmcblk0 bs=1M count=1024 This command will fill the beginning of the memory with zeros, making it impossible to recover data.

Method 3: Encryption before reset

If you don’t want to use ADB or TWRP, encrypt the memory before resetting:

1. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Phone Encryption.
2. Set a strong password (at least 8 characters).
3. After the encryption is complete, execute Hard Reset.

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If you sell a phone with a microSD card, format it separately in FAT32 via PC. At Xiaomi, formatting the card doesn't physically erase the data!

Step 5: Checking your phone after a reset

After cleaning, make sure the phone is ready to be handed over to the new owner.

• 🔍 No account: Once turned on, the phone must suggest creating a new Mi Account or skip this step. If a window appears asking you to enter a username / password, the reset is incorrectly performed.
• 📱 Functions: Check camera, sensors (gyroscope, compass), Wi-Fi and mobile network connection. IMEI (flip-flopping).
• 🔋 Battery Charge: Make sure the phone holds the charge (sometimes battery calibrations get lost after resetting).
• 🛡️ No locks: Go to Settings → Passwords and security → Lock the screen and make sure there are no attached fingerprints or graphic keys.

If the phone asks for a password when it first turns on, it means that the Mi Account has not been deleted.

1. Return to Recovery Mode (clip Power + Volume up).
2. Choose Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
3. After the reboot, try again to delete the account through Settings.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi models with a MediaTek processor (for example, Redmi Note 11) after an incorrect reset may activate the protection MediaTek Secure Boot, which will block the download. SP Flash Tool.

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If the phone requires a password from the previous account after reset, the only way to unlock it is to contact the Xiaomi service center with a check about the purchase.

Step 6: Preparing the phone for sale

Now that the phone is completely cleaned, it remains to prepare it externally and technically:

• 🧼 Cleaning the case: Wipe the screen and body with an alcohol wipe (do not use abrasives!). To remove stains from the camera, a soft cloth moistened in distilled water will suit.
• 📦 Package: Check for original box, cable USB-C, The box can reduce the cost of the phone by 10-15 if it was included in the charger and documentation%.
• 🔋 Charging: Charge your phone to 80-90% – enough to show the customer, but doesn’t harm the battery when stored.
• 📋 Documents: Prepare a check or a warranty card (if it's still valid) without documents, the phone loses value up to 20%.

When meeting the buyer:

• Show that the phone is turned on and goes through the initial setup without errors.
• Demonstrate the performance of the camera, speakers, microphone and sensors.
• If the phone was in repair, honestly report it (hide the information - you risk getting a negative review).

The price in the secondary market depends on the condition of the phone.

FAQ: Frequent questions when cleaning up Xiaomi before selling