Modern Xiaomi smartphones running on the shell of MIUI or the new HyperOS, over time begin to accumulate significant amounts of system debris, temporary files and residual data from remote applications. Users often notice that the device, bought a year ago and worked perfectly, today begins to slow down, open applications for a long time or suddenly discharge. This is not always a sign of hardware failure, most often due to overflow of internal memory and fragmentation of the file system.
Complete cleaning of the gadget can be required in various situations: before selling the device to a new owner, when transferring by inheritance or simply to radically solve software errors. There are two main approaches to this procedure: software cleaning through standard system tools without losing user data and hard reset to factory settings, which erases absolutely everything.
In this detailed guide, we’ll take a look at all the available ways to clean up Xiaomi completely, with a focus on your data security and proper order of action. Failing to do some steps incorrectly can result in the loss of important contacts or photos, so follow the instructions carefully. We’ll look at the regular cleaning tools, hidden menus, and recovery mode.
Preparation of the device for the cleaning procedure
Before you start taking drastic measures, you need to take a number of preparatory steps that will secure your data and ensure the stability of the process. Backup is the most important step, ignoring which can cost you all the family archives and work documents. Even if you plan to just vacate space, the risk of accidental deletion of excess is always present.
Mi Account and Google account owners are more fortunate because contacts, calendars and notes are synchronized automatically in the background, but photos, videos, downloaded files and app installations require special attention. It is recommended to use cloud services or transfer data to the computer through the USB-cable.
- 🔋 Charge the battery to minimum. 60-70%, The phone doesn’t turn off at a critical moment.
- ☁️ Check the sync status in your Google account settings and Mi Cloud.
- 💾 Remove the memory card. SD, If it is installed so as not to erase the data on it.
- 🔓 Remember or write down the password from your Mi Account and the screen unlock code.
Special attention should be paid to the function "Find the device." If you plan to sell the phone, be sure to untie the device from your Mi Account. Otherwise, the new owner will face an activation lock and will not be able to use the gadget.
⚠️ Note: If you forget your Mi Account password after resetting, unlocking your phone without a purchase check or support will be almost impossible.
Once you've made a copy of the data and checked the battery, you can move on to the cleaning method, and there are several levels of depth of cleaning, each of which solves its own problems.
Use of the built-in "Security" application
The easiest and safest way to free up space and delete temporary files is to use the regular Security app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones.This tool is designed specifically for working with the MIUI file system and allows you to delete cache, remnants of deleted programs and duplicate files without risking damage to system partitions.
To get started, open the app and click on the Cleanup button, and the system will quickly scan and prompt you to remove the garbage. However, for a deeper cleanup, Deep Clean is recommended, which analyzes large files, rarely used apps and similar photos, allowing the user to manually select what to delete.
- 🗑️ Remove Social Media Cache That Often Takes Gigabytes of Space.
- 📸 Check the folder with similar photos before deleting, so as not to lose the originals.
- 📦 Deinstall apps you haven’t used in the last 3 months.
It is important to understand the difference between cleaning the cache and cleaning the application data. Cache cleaning is secure and only deletes temporary files, speeding up the program. Data cleaning returns the application to a post-installation state, removing your logins, settings and game progress. Be careful when choosing actions in the App menu → Application Management.
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Telegram, WhatsApp cache is better cleaned through the settings of the applications themselves in the Data and Storage section, since the system cleanup may not see all temporary media files.
Regular use of these tools helps keep the system clean and avoid the need for a complete reset, however, if the phone is infected with a virus or is not functioning stable after an upgrade, these measures may not be enough.
Resetting settings via the phone menu (Soft Reset)
If surface cleaning doesn’t work, you need to reset completely through the system menu, a method often called Soft Reset that returns the software part of the smartphone to factory status, removing all user data, accounts, and installed applications, while reinstalling the operating system from the hidden partition.
To start the process, go to Settings. → The phone. → Reset. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see the "Delete all data" button, and the system will alert you that all files will be destroyed. PIN-a code or pattern lock, you will need to enter it to confirm the operation.
The process takes 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the memory capacity and the speed of the processor, at which time the Mi logo or animation of the Android robot can be displayed on the screen.
☑️ Checklist before resetting through the menu
⚠️ Note: After resetting the phone can take a long time (up to the end) 10-15 It's normal because it optimizes applications and rebuilds databases. Don't panic if the screen goes out and lights up again.
There is also an extended reset menu available through an engineering menu or special codes, but for most users, the standard path through settings is quite enough.This method is effective when selling a device or when selling software failures when the system boots normally.
Complete cleaning through Recovery (Hard Reset)
In situations where the phone is not turning on, stuck on the logo or locked with a forgotten pattern lock, the Hard Reset method is used through Recovery mode. This is a low-level cleanup that ignores the operating system's state and works directly with memory partitions. This method guarantees that all data, including those that could be hidden from a normal reset, is deleted.
To enter Recovery mode on a phone that is off, press both the volume button and the power button. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power, but keep the volume until the menu appears. This menu is controlled by volume buttons (up/down), and the power button selects.
From the menu, select the language (if available) or immediately go to Wipe Data. Next, select Wipe All Data. The system will require confirmation, usually select Confirm and press the power button. After cleaning, select Reboot → Reboot to System.
What to do if the Recovery menu is in Chinese?
This method is the most radical and effective tool to combat deep system errors, and it also completely removes the Data partition, where most of the user information is stored.
| Parameter | Soft Reset (Menu) | Hard Reset (Recovery) |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Phone needs to be turned on | It works even on the off. |
| Difficulty | Low. | Medium |
| Deletion of data | Complete. | Full (deeper) |
| Risk of error | Minimum | Medium (human factor) |
Deletion of accounts and protection against blocking
A critical aspect of Xiaomi’s preparation for clearing or selling is account management.Mi and Google FRP (Factory Reset Protection) are designed to ensure that the stolen phone cannot be used after a reset. If you don’t log out before a reset, the device will request the previous owner’s password on the first activation.
To turn off the protection, you need to manually delete your accounts from the system. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync. Here you will see a list of all the associated services: Google, Mi, Exchange, social networks. When you click on each account, select the option "Delete account" or "Sign out." Only then you can reset the data.
- 🔒 Deleting Google Account Disables Protection FRP.
- 📱 Deleting Mi-account removes activation blocking.
- 📡 Device uncoupling in i.mi.com web version also helps.
If the phone is already reset and requires an account, and you do not remember it, you can only restore access through the password recovery procedure on the manufacturer's website. Bypassing these protections with software methods (bypass) is a complex procedure, often requiring paid software and skills, and does not guarantee the stable operation of the device in the future.
⚠️ Warning: When buying a used Xiaomi phone, always check if it is reset to factory settings and does not require entering someone else's Mi Account when you first set up.
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Complete cleaning of the phone is possible only after pre-deleting all accounts from the settings menu, otherwise protection against theft will work.
Cleaning Hidden Partitions and DNS Cache
For advanced users who want to clean the phone in as much detail as possible, there is the option of clearing the DNS cache and temporary files through a debugging menu or special commands.This can help if there are problems with connecting to Wi-Fi or certain applications are not working properly even after reinstall.
One way is to clean the cache. DNS Enter ##4636##. If the menu opens, select "Information about phone" and find the "Flush" button. DNS" (Clean up DNS). This will reset network settings and domain name cache.
Also worth paying attention to the /data/local/tmp folder if you have root rights, but for ordinary users it is safer to limit yourself to cleaning the cache through Settings → Advanced Settings → Privacy → Special features (the path may differ depending on the version of MIUI).
adb shell pm trim-caches 999999999This command for ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to force the cache of all applications to a minimum if you connect to your phone from a computer. It is a powerful tool, but it requires on debugging over USB and installed driver on the PC.