How to Clean Your Xiaomi Smartphone Before Selling: 7 Steps to Complete Security

Selling a Xiaomi smartphone requires not only external preparation of the device, but also a thorough cleaning of personal data. Even after a standard reset, there may be traces of your activity on the phone, from photos in hidden folders to tied accounts of Google and Mi Account. According to a study by Avast (2023), more than 60% of used smartphones contain recoverable data from previous owners – passwords, correspondence and even banking information.

In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions based on the MIUI firmware (including the MIUI 14/15), as well as ways to avoid common errors, such as when a phone asks for a password after a reset, and we will discuss how to delete data irrevocably (including internal memory and a SIM- card), what settings to check in Find My Device, and why it is not enough to simply format your device through a menu.

We will focus on models with a locked bootloader (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro, etc.), where an incorrect reset can lead to a “brick”, and you will learn how to check if your data is left on the phone after cleaning – using standard Xiaomi tools and third-party utilities.

Why routine dumping isn't enough: hidden threats

Many users believe that choosing Resets on Xiaomi’s menu completely erases information.

• 📁 Files in the MIUI/Backup folder. The system stores backups of settings and application data even after resetting. They can be restored via File Explorer.
• 🔑 Authorization Tokens. Applications (such as WhatsApp or VK) can leave temporary data files for automatic login.
• 📱 Data eMMC/UF Some models (Redmi 9A, POCO M3) use cheap memory that doesn't overwrite sectors when formatting, so you can extract the information with special programs.
• 🌐 Cache browsers. Mi Browser and Chrome store browsing history and cookies in protected sections that are not always cleared.

In 2022, experts from Kaspersky Lab demonstrated how to restore deleted photos and messages to Xiaomi after a standard reset using Autopsy, the problem is exacerbated if you used the Second Space feature – its data often remains intact.

⚠️ Warning: If you sell a phone with a damaged screen or a broken touchscreen, resetting via Recovery Mode may be the only option, but it is not possible to guarantee that data will be deleted from the /data/media/0 partition where user files are stored.

Step 1: Backup your important data

Before cleaning, keep:

• 📸 Photos and videos – use Google Photos or transfer to PC via MTP (file transfer mode).
• 📱 Contacts – sync with Google Account or export to.vcf file.
• 💬 Correspondences – on WhatsApp, back up to Settings → Chat → Backup.
• 🎮 Game Save – Link your Google Play Games or Mi Game Center accounts.

For convenience, use the built-in Local Backup in Settings → About Phone → Backup. However, remember: this backup is not encrypted and can be restored by a new owner!

Transfer photos/video to PC or cloud |Export contact list | Make backup correspondence in messengers |Save passwords from Mi Browser or Chrome |Untie cards from Google Pay/Mi Pay

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If you have used Second Space, you need to back it up separately – the second space data is not included in the shared backup.

Step 2: Unplug all accounts and services

An undeleted Mi Account or Google Account can lock the phone for a new owner through Find My Device (MIUI) or Factory Reset Protection (Google) to avoid problems:

Deletion of Mi Account

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account.
2. Click on the profile icon → Account Management → Exit.
3. Confirm the action with a password.
4. Return to Settings → Memory → Cleanup and select Clear Mi Account Data.

Important: If your phone is linked to your account via Find My Device, turn off this feature in Settings → PaSSWORD & SECURITY → Find My Device.

2.2 Deletion of Google Account

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Select your account → Delete the account.
3. Confirm removal.

If Factory Reset Protection is enabled on your phone (FRP), After the reset, you will need to enter the data of the last Google Account associated. FRP:

1. Go to Settings → Google → Security.
2. Find My Device and turn it off.
3. Delete all Google accounts.

⚠️ Warning: Xiaomi models with MIUI Global (e.g., Redmi Note 12 Pro+) may still be linked to Mi Cloud after deleting your account. Check this in Settings → About Phone → All settings → Settings Reset → Delete all Mi Cloud data.

Buying a new smartphone|Not happy with productivity|Broken screen/battery|Other-->

3 step: Clean internal memory and SIM- cards

Even after deleting files, you can restore them using programs like DiskDigger or Recuva to eliminate this possibility.

3.1 Formatting internal memory

1. Go to Settings. → Memory.
2. Select Cleanup. → Deep cleaning.
3. Click Clean and wait until it is completed.

For complete data overwriting (if the phone is not locked):

1. Download SD Maid from Google Play.
2. Run CorpseFinder (File Residue Search) and SystemCleaner.
3. Use the Overwrite free space function to tidy up the free space with zeros.

3.2 Cleaning SIM- Card and eSIM

• 📱 Remove the physical SIM- card and destroy it (unless you plan to use it further).
• 🔄 For eSIM: Go to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → eSIM and delete the profile.
• 📞 Check if numbers are saved in Settings → Applications → Contacts → Memory (sometimes duplicated).

Tip: If you’re selling a dual-SIM phone, make sure both slots are empty – new owners often forget to check the second slot.

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Before extracting the SIM- card, disable mobile internet and calls to Settings → SIM- cards and mobile networks to avoid incidental billing costs.

Step 4: Reset to factory settings

Now, to reset itself, Xiaomi has two options: through the settings menu and through Recovery Mode, the first one being preferred, as it allows you to clean up the data more thoroughly.

Method 1: Through the settings menu

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Delete all data.
3. Enter your password (if required).
4. Click Reset settings and wait for the reboot.

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

1. Turn off the phone.
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).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.

⚠️ Warning: On the POCO F3, Xiaomi 11T and later, after a reset via Recovery, Mi Account may remain attached. In this case, the new owner will see a request to enter a login/password on the first turn on. To avoid this, only use the reset menu.

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If after resetting, the phone asks for a password from the old account, it means that the Mi Account was not untied correctly Solution: return the phone to its original state via Fastboot using the Mi Flash Tool.

Step 5: Checking your phone after a reset

Before giving the phone to the customer, make sure that:

• 🔍 No accounts in Settings → Accounts and Sync.
• 📂 The DCIM, Downloads and MIUI/Backup folders are empty.
• 📱 In Settings → Applications do not have your programs (e.g. banking).
• 🌐 The browser has no history or saved passwords.

For a thorough check:

1. Install a file manager (e.g. FX File Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
3. Check the folders: /storage/emulated/0/Android/data – the residues of application data. /data/media/0/MIUI/Backup – backups. /data/system – system settings (should be reset).

If you find suspicious files, repeat the reset or use the Fastboot method (see the next section).

Step 6: Additional Security Measures (for Paranoids)

If you’re selling a phone with sensitive information (like a Xiaomi worker), consider these steps:

6.1 Flashing through Fastboot

This will ensure that all data is deleted, including hidden partitions.

• Computer with Mi Flash Tool installed.
• Official firmware for your model (download from Xiaomi website).
• USB Type-C cable (original)

Instructions:

1. Unpack the firmware in a folder on the PC.
2. Turn off the phone and turn to Fastboot mode (clip Power + Volume down).
3. Connect to your PC and start the Mi Flash Tool.
4. Select the firmware folder and press Flash.
5. Wait until the end (10-15 minutes).

Warning: Continuous power is critical, and if the process is interrupted, the phone can turn into a brick.

Physical destruction of data (for extreme cases)

If you’re selling a phone with particularly valuable information (like using it for cryptocurrency or business), consider:

• 🔨 Disassemble the phone and remove the memory chip (eMMC/UFS).
• 🔥 The heater of the chip (temperature 300°C+ destroys memory cells).
• 💾 Use of a demagnetizer (for HDD, but ineffective for flash memory).

These methods make data recovery impossible, but the phone will become unusable.

Step 7: Preparing the phone for transfer to the buyer

After cleaning:

• 📦 Pack your phone in the original box (if any).
• 🔋 Charge the battery to 50-70% is the optimal level for storage.
• 📄 Prepare a check or a sales contract (if you are selling officially).
• 🔄 Reset the battery counters (in Settings → Battery → Reset statistics).

When transferring the telephone:

1. Ask the customer to turn on the phone and check the basic features (calls, camera, sensors).
2. Make sure it can log into Settings without asking for your password.
3. If a customer uses Mi Account, suggest that they link their phone to their account right in front of you.

Important: Do not hand over the phone with a SIM- card installed or a SD- card installed - even if you have cleaned them, it is better to remove them.

FAQ: Frequent questions when cleaning up Xiaomi before selling