Are you planning to upgrade your gadget to a newer model or just want to sell an old smartphone? Either way, it's critical to properly prepare the device so your personal data doesn't fall into the wrong hands.The sales process requires not only physical cleaning of the case, but also deep software cleaning that will return the device to a factory state.
Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO often face the nuances of the Mi Account ecosystem, locking the device after a reset if you do not follow the preliminary steps. Ignoring these steps can turn the sale into a nightmare when the new owner can not activate the phone. In this article, we will discuss all the stages of preparation, from backup to final formatting.
Don't rush to reset until you've made sure all important files are saved in the cloud or on your computer. Deleting your Mi Account before reset is a prerequisite for a successful device activation by a new owner. Let's go through the process in detail so you can be sure of the security of your data.
Backup of data: the first step to security
Before you start destroying data, you need to make sure that everything valuable is saved. The built-in MIUI and HyperOS tools offer convenient mechanisms for creating full copies of the system, you can use cloud services or on-premises storage to transfer information.
The most reliable way is to use Google Drive and sync contacts, and make sure your Google account settings are synchronized with contacts, calendar and notes, ensuring that when you log in to a new phone, your entire address book is automatically restored.
- 📸 Photos and Videos: Check upload status in Google Photos or Mi Cloud to ensure media files are not lost.
- 📱 Apps and settings: Use the built-in “Backup” feature in the About Phone section».
- 💬 Messages and call logs: often left unaddressed, but they can also be saved through system tools.
Local backup to your computer via Mi PC Suite or simply copying folders in file transfer mode is also a great option, especially if you don’t have fast internet to upload hundreds of gigabytes to the cloud. Once you’ve created the copy, be sure to check its integrity on another device.
Account unblocking and protection against blocking
The most critical point of Xiaomi’s preparation for sale is to unbundle accounts. If you don’t, Find Device’s protection will work, and the phone will turn into a “brick” for the new owner, requiring a password from your account when you first activate.
Go to the settings and find the account section, and you're primarily interested in Mi. Click on it and select the exit option, and the system can request a password to confirm the transaction, which is a normal security procedure.
⚠️ Warning: If you simply reset your settings without logging out of your Mi Account in advance, the phone will lock when you turn on.
Other authorizations must also be checked, and users often forget about their linked accounts on bank, social media or gaming apps, and while a reset will remove the apps, it is better to manually log out of critical services so that the servers forget the device as trusted.
- 🔒 Google Account: Remove your device from the list of trusted in Google’s security settings.
- 🏦 Banking Apps: Make sure the device is removed from the list of trusted ones in the bank app.
- 🎮 Gaming Accounts: Check the anchors in Google Play Games or Mi Gaming.
After successfully logging out of all accounts, you can rest assured that your device will not require your intervention in the future, which is a sign of respect for the customer and a guarantee of your digital security.
Working with SIM and SD cards: physical cleaning
Forgetfulness about physical media is one of the most common reasons for returning sold phones. SIM-card contains not only the number, but also contacts and SMS, which can be confidential. SD-card can store gigabytes of personal information.
Use a paper clip or a thin needle to remove the tray. Visually check if the card is stuck inside. If you sell a phone without a memory card, be sure to format it on your computer before selling, since simply deleting files does not guarantee their complete disappearance.
Some of the Redmi models and POCO So you have a tray that's aligned, and it's important not to mix the sides when you take it out. You need to press the tray carefully before you click, then you need to remove it smoothly. SIM-If you plan to use it in a new device.
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Selling your phone without SIM-It's standard practice to save the buyer from unnecessary questions and you from the risk of data leakage.
Complete resetting of settings through the phone menu
When all the data is saved and the accounts are untied, the most important step is formatting, which is simplified and takes a few minutes on MIUI and HyperOS.
Go to the settings menu and find the About Phone section. Scroll down to Reset. Here, the system will offer several options, but you need a full reset that will delete all files, apps and settings.
Settings → About the phone → Reset settings → Erase all dataThe system will warn you that all data will be deleted, if the phone has a screen unlock password, it will need to be entered to confirm it, and you may need a password from the akkaMi account if you forgot to log out earlier.
Once confirmed, the phone will restart and the cleaning process will begin, and the screen may go out and turn on several times, which is normal behavior, and don't interfere with the process and wait for the welcome screen to appear.
☑️ Checklist before reset
Comparison of data cleanup methods
There are several ways to get the phone back to factory status, but they vary in depth and complexity of execution. For the average user, a menu reset is optimal, but in some cases more drastic measures are required.
| Method | Difficulty | Depth of cleaning | Risk of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reset via menu | Low. | Complete (user data) | Minimum |
| Recovery Mode | Medium | Complete (systemic) | Medium. |
| Fastboot (PC) | Tall. | Absolute (flashing) | High-pitched |
Recovery only makes sense if the phone doesn't load normally, and you need to press the button combination (usually Volume Up + Power) when the phone is off, but this is redundant if the system is stable to prepare for the sale.
The deepest level is flashing through Fastboot from a computer, which completely replaces the phone's software with clean, and beginners are advised not to use this method without an urgent need, as an error can lead to the inability to turn on the device.
What is Wipe Data in Recovery?
Final inspection and packaging
Once the phone has rebooted and you see the welcome screen with your choice of language, the cleaning process is complete: Don't set up the phone to the end, don't connect it to Wi-Fi, and don't log into any accounts.
Just make sure the device is touch responsive, the screen is intact, and there are no requests for passwords from old accounts on the welcome screen, which will give the customer confidence that the phone is clean and ready for a new life.
⚠️ Warning: Do not pack your phone right away if it has warmed up during the reset process.Let it cool down so that the condensation or heat does not damage the packaging materials.
Physical cleanliness also plays a role: wipe the screen with soft cloth, remove dust from charging connectors and speakers. A neat appearance increases the likelihood of a successful sale and customer satisfaction.
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The main criterion for successful preparation is that the phone is turned on to the language selection screen and does not require a password from your Mi-account.