How to Clean Your Xiaomi Smartphone Before Selling: The Complete Guide

Selling a Xiaomi smartphone requires not only physical transfer of the device, but also a guarantee that your personal data will not fall into the wrong hands. Even after a standard factory reset, devices with MIUI can still have traces of activity: photos in hidden folders, account data, call history or messages in messengers. This article will help to avoid leaks and prepare the phone for sale 100%.

Xiaomi is a great way to integrate with the Mi Account ecosystem, cloud services and proprietary applications like Mi Cloud, Mi Pay or Mi Home. Simply deleting files is not enough: you need to untie the device from all services, delete the associated accounts and make sure that the factory reset went correctly, and we will take every step from backup to checking the device after the reset.

1.Preparation for cleanup: data backup

Before you reset, save important data. MIUI has built-in backup tools, but they don't cover everything. For example, Mi Cloud doesn't save the history of some messengers or data from third-party apps.

What you have to copy:

• 📱 Contacts and calls: Export through Contacts → Settings → Import/Export to.vcf file.
• 📷 Photo and video: Transfer to PC or cloud (Google Photo, Yandex.Disk). DCIM/.thumbnails — There may be thumbnails of deleted photos.
• 💬 Messages: Use SMS Backup & Restore (for Backup & Restore) SMS) Or built-in export to Mi Cloud.
• 🎮 Game Save: Many games (e.g. Genshin Impact or Game Resources) PUBG Mobile) linked to accounts. Make sure progress is synchronized.

For a full backup, connect your phone to your PC and use Mi PC Suite (the official software from Xiaomi). Alternatively, ADB backup (requires unlocked debugging over USB). Importantly, the backup via Mi Cloud does not store data from some Chinese apps (for example, Mi Video or Mi Music) if they were installed from regional brand stores.

⚠️ Note: If you used Xiaomi for two-factor authentication (2FA) In banks or social networks, disable the device binding before resetting, you will lose access to your accounts if you do not save backup codes!

2. Delete accounts and uncouple from Xiaomi services

The most common mistake is selling a phone with a Mi Account attached, and the new owner won't be able to use the device without your login and password, and you risk someone accessing your data.

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account.
2. Click on your account → Delete your account. You will need to enter a password.
3. Repeat for Google, Facebook, VK and other services.

Pay particular attention to:

• 🔐 Mi Cloud: Delete all data from the cloud (photos, notes, records) via i.mi.com.
• 💳 Mi Pay: Untie your bank cards in Settings → Annexes → Mi Pay → Delete.
• 🏠 Mi Home: Remove the device from your smart home if it was connected.

If your phone was linked to Xiaomi Community or Mi Fit, check these services separately, for example, Mi Fit may have data about your activity, weight, or location.

3. Reset to factory settings: step-by-step instructions

Now, to reset, there are two ways to do MIUI: through settings and through Recovery Mode, the first is easier, the second is more reliable (especially if the phone is buggy).

Method 1: Resetting through settings

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to Erase All Data (not to be confused with Settings Reset – these are different options!).
3. Enter. PIN-code or pattern lock if requested.
4. Confirm action. The phone will restart and start cleaning (it will take 5-15 minutes).

Method 2: Reset via Recovery Mode (recommended for error-prone devices)

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power before the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data (manage volume buttons, confirmation – power button).
4. Confirm Wipe All Data → Reboot.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note) 10 pro POCO X3 Pro) files remain in the folder after resetting through the settings /data/media/0/MIUI/backup. Remove it manually through the file manager before selling it!

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If the phone asks you to enter the old Mi Account password after the reset, the account was not deleted correctly. Restore access via [this form] (https://account.xiaomi.com) and repeat the unbundle.

4. Checking the device after discharge

Don't trust a blind reset -- make sure that all the data is actually deleted.

1. Turn on your phone and go through the initial setup without connecting to Wi-Fi (so that old data doesn’t sync).
2. Check it out: 📂 Folders: Open the Files → Internal memory. There should only be standard folders (DCIM, Downloads, etc.). 📱 Contacts and calls: No entries in Contacts and Call Log. 🔍 Search: Enter your name or phone number in a global search – no results should be available.

Install a file manager with hidden file access (such as FX File Explorer) and check:

/data/data/ – Application data may remain here


/sdcard/Android/ – cache of games and programs




/sdcard/MIUI/ - System backups

If you find suspicious files, repeat the reset via Recovery Mode or use the fastboot erase userdata command (requires an unlocked bootloader).

5. Additional security measures

Even after a reset, the experienced user can recover some of the data using specialized software (for example, Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver).

• 🔄 Rewrite data: After reset, fill the phone’s memory with junk files (such as videos or photos), then delete them and reset again.
• 🔒 Encryption: Enable encryption in Settings → Additionally. → Encryption before reset, which makes it harder to recover data.
• 🛡️ PC Formatting: Connect your phone to your computer and format internal memory into FAT32 (Note: This will remove all the firmware, you will need to re-flash!).

For models with UFS-With memory (such as the Xiaomi 12 Pro or Black Shark 5), standard data recovery methods are less effective, but the risk remains. If you are selling a device with sensitive information (such as a work phone), consider physically destroying memory (not relevant for most users).

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On devices with MIUI 13+, anti-Rollback protection automatically activates after reset, which blocks firmware rollback, but does not guarantee 100% file cleanup.

Preparation for transfer: appearance and configuration

Cleaning up data is only half the battle.

• 🧼 Clean the case: Use a lilaless napkin and alcohol (no more than 70%) for the screen. For ports, a toothpick with cotton candy.
• 🔋 Check the battery: In Settings → Battery → Battery status, see the number of charging cycles. If it's over 500, put it in the ad.
• 📦 Get the equipment together:

Take a picture of the device from all sides, including the screen (no glare) and ports.

• Model and firmware version (Settings → About phone → MIUI version).
• Screen condition (scratches, chips, oleophobic coating).
• The performance of all modules (camera, speakers, microphone, NFC).

⚠️ Note: If you sell Xiaomi with an unlocked bootloader, return it to locked state via Mi Unlock Tool.Some buyers are abandoning devices with unlocked bootloader due to problems with the system. OTA-update.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced users make mistakes in preparing Xiaomi for sale.

Another common problem is the Factory Reset Protection (FRP), which is that if you drop your phone without deleting your Google account, you'll need to enter your login and password when you turn it on, which is anti-theft protection, but it also prevents the new owner from doing so, to avoid:

1. Before resetting, delete all Google accounts in Settings → Accounts.
2. If the lock is already activated, enter the details of the last linked account.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions