How to completely clean your Xiaomi phone: 5 ways to reset to factory settings

A complete cleanup of Xiaomi’s smartphone is not just about deleting files, but returning the device to its original state, removing all user data, apps and settings – a reset that may be required before selling the phone, if critical system failures occur, or if you want to get rid of the “digital garbage” that has accumulated over the years of use. However, an improper procedure can lead to the loss of important data or even a “brick” of the device if it involves firmware manipulation.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to completely clean Xiaomi, Redmi and other phones. POCO — From standard reset via settings to radical methods via Fastboot and EDL-We'll focus on the unique nuances. MIUI, You'll also learn how to check if data is deleted without recovery, and what to do if the phone doesn't turn on after cleaning it up.

1.Preparation for complete reset: what to do before cleaning

Before you start resetting, make sure you don't lose critical data. Even if you plan to sell your phone, some files may come in handy, such as call logs, messages from your phone. OTP-codes or application settings that are not synced to the cloud.

Here is the checklist before cleaning:

Pay special attention to the Mi Account. If you forget the password from it, and the phone is tied to the account, after resetting you may encounter a block activation (Mi Account Lock). In this case, unlocking the device without account data will be extremely difficult - you will need to contact Xiaomi with proof of purchase.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with MediaTek processor (e.g. Redmi Note) 11T 5G, POCO M4 Pro) may be erased after being reset via Fastboot IMEI. This will make the phone unusable for calls!Be sure to keep a backup of the partition before such manipulations. NVRAM.

2. Method 1: Standard reset via MIUI settings

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in reset feature in the settings menu. It's suitable if the phone is turned on, you have access to the lock screen, and you don't plan to remove the firmware.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Reset settings.
2. Select “Erase all data” (not to be confused with “Reset settings” – this will only delete the settings, not the files!).
3. If required, enter a password from the lock screen or PIN-code SIM-map.
4. Confirm action. The phone will restart and start the cleaning process (5-15 minutes).

After the reboot, you will see the screen of the initial setup, as after the purchase. However, this method does not delete the data completely - it can be restored using special programs (for example, Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver).

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If you sell a phone, fill up the memory with junk data after a standard reset (like downloading a big movie), and then reset again, making it difficult to recover your files.

3. Method 2: Hard Reset via Recovery Mode

If the phone doesn’t turn on, is stuck on the MI logo, or you don’t have access to settings (for example, because of a forgotten pattern lock), use Recovery mode.This method works on all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO F3, Mi 11 and older devices.

How to get in to Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds if it freezes).
2. Press the power button + volume button and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons. In a few seconds, you'll see the Recovery menu (maybe in Chinese - see translation below).

Further action:

• 🔹 Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.
• 🔹 Select the Wipe Data option (or in Chinese).
• 🔹 Confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data (or ).
• 🔹 Wait until the phone is automatically rebooted).

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) After resetting via Recovery, you may still be linked to your Mi Account, even if you have untied it before cleaning it. To avoid blocking, delete your account in the settings before resetting: → Accounts. → Mi Account → Delete the account.

4. Method 3: Complete cleaning through Fastboot (for experienced)

The Fastboot method is the most radical one, and it completely overwrites all memory partitions, including system partitions, which ensures that data cannot be recovered, USB-Cable and basic knowledge of working with the command line.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS and installed drivers ADB/Fastboot.
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (don’t use cheap Chinese cables – they can interrupt the process!).
• 📱 Phone with unlocked bootloader (if not - see spoiler below).
• 🔧 Firmware archive for your model (download only from official sources!).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your phone and press the power button + volume down button to enter the Fastboot (a screen with a rabbit and the words Fastboot).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line (Win + R → cmd).
3. Check the connection command: fastboot devices If the phone is determined (its serial number will appear), continue.
4. Run a full cleanup of all sections: fastboot erase boot fastboot erase system fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot erase recovery
5. Sweat the clean firmware (replace it) flash_all.bat File from the archive: fastboot flash all flash_all.bat

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The fastboot erase userdata team deletes all user data, including photos, videos and apps, without the ability to recover, which is the most reliable way to clean up before selling a phone.

5. Method 4: Resetting through EDL-regime (for bricks")

If the phone doesn't respond to any buttons, doesn't load into Recovery or Fastboot, the last chance is Emergency Download Mode (EDL), which allows you to flash the device even in the "brick" state, but requires special equipment.

What you need to know:

• 🔧 For the entrance EDL You need a testpoint (closing contacts on the board) or an authorized cable (for example, Deep Flash Cable).
• 💻 Software for firmware - Mi Flash Tool (official utility from Xiaomi).
• ⚠️ The risk of damaging your phone if you do the wrong thing is high.

Instructions:

1. Download the Mi Flash Tool and firmware for your model (for example, tucana_global_images_... For the Redmi Note 8 Pro).
2. Turn off your phone, press the power button + volume button and connect the Deep Flash Cable (or close the testpoint).
3. In the Mi Flash Tool, select the downloaded firmware and press Flash.
4. Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 10 minutes).

⚠️ Attention: Firmware through EDL on models with a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor (for example, POCO X3 Pro, Mi 10T) Without it, the program will give an error "Flash is not allowed in Lock State".The solution is to unlock the bootloader in advance (see Method 3).

Method 5: Cleaning through service codes (hidden functions)

Few people know, but MIUI has hidden service codes that allow you to reset without clicking on the menu, a method that is useful if the touch screen is not working, but the phone is turning on.

List of working codes for resetting:

• 📞 ##7780## - soft reset (removes settings and applications, but leaves media files).
• 📞 *2767*3855# — Hard reset (removes everything, including photos and videos!).
• 📞 ##4636## → Storage → Factory Data Reset – an alternative route to reset.

How to use:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code as if you were dialing a number.
2. Confirm the action (a password may be required).
3. Wait for the reboot.

Warning: *2767*3855# does not require confirmation - reset will start immediately after you enter!

7.How to verify that data has actually been deleted

Even after the reset, the data can remain in memory and can be recovered with special software, and if you're selling a phone, it's important to make sure that the information is permanently deleted.

Methods of verification:

• 🔍 Connect your phone to your PC and use DiskDig or Recuva to scan your memory. If your files are located, the reset was incomplete.
• 📱 Install Storage Analyzer after reset and check if there are junk files with your data in your memory.
• 🔧 To ensure that you delete it after resetting, fill your phone’s memory with “junk” (such as a large video) and then reset again.

If you use Fastboot or EDL, the data is deleted at the physical layer (partition rewriting), so recovery is impossible. However, with a standard reset via settings, the files remain and can be restored.

8. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When cleaning Xiaomi phones, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

If the phone doesn’t turn on or hangs on the logo after reset, try:

1. Charge the phone (sometimes the battery is discharged during cleaning).
2. Repeat reset via Recovery.
3. Swipe your phone through Fastboot or EDL (see Methods 3–4).

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If the phone requires a password from a previous Google account after resetting (FRP-locking, you need to enter the last associated account, without which you can unlock the device only through the service center.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions