How to Clean Your Xiaomi Phone Completely to Make It Look Like New: 3 Ways to Work

Why Xiaomi’s factory reset doesn’t always work as it should

You buy a used Xiaomi, you start to slow down after the upgrade, or you just want to sell the device — in any case, a complete data cleanup seems like the obvious solution. But many users are faced with the fact that after resetting through the settings menu, personal files remain, applications continue to send notifications, and the Mi Account account is not deleted. What's the catch?

The fact is that a standard reset via Settings → About Phone → Reset does not always delete all data without a trace. For example, files in DCIM, Downloads or Android/obb folders can remain intact. And if the phone was tied to a Xiaomi account, after a reset, you will need to enter old data to unlock - this is protection against theft. To avoid such surprises, you need to know three levels of cleaning: soft (through settings), hard (through Recovery) and full (through Fastboot).

In this article, we will discuss each method, how to prepare for a reset so that you do not lose an important one, and what to do if after cleaning the phone requires a password from an old account, and why some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro or the POCO X3 Pro) can be locked after an incorrect reset.

Preparing for Resetting: What to Do Before Cleaning

Before you reset Xiaomi to factory settings, make sure you follow all the critical steps, or you risk losing photos, contacts, or even locking the device.

Backup your data via Mi Cloud or Google Drive

Remove the link to your Mi Account (if you are selling a phone)

Remember the login/password from the Google account (required after reset)

Check the battery (minimum 50%)

Get out. SIM-card and memory card (if any)-->

Pay special attention to backup, and even if you plan to reset your phone before selling, keep a copy of your contacts, notes, and SMS, and you can transfer them to your new device.

• 📱 Use the built-in Backup app (Settings) → The phone. → Backup. It saves data to Mi Cloud or memory card.
• ☁️ Connect to Google Account and sync contacts, calendar and email (Settings) → Accounts. → Google).
• 💾 For photos and videos, use Google Photos or transfer files to your computer via cable.

If you are selling or transferring a phone to another person, be sure to untie the Mi Account link via account.xiaomi.com → Device Management, otherwise the new owner will not be able to activate the device without your password.

Once a month

Only before resetting/updating

Never did.

I'm using automatic synchronization.-->

Method 1: Mild reset via settings (suitable for most cases)

This is the easiest method to use if you want to return your phone to factory settings without deleting important files (such as photos or music), but it doesn’t delete data from internal memory entirely, just system settings and applications.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Select Reset (on some models – Reset and Reset).
3. Tap Reset settings (or Delete all data).
4. Enter. PIN-code/password if requested.
5. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

Once you restart, the phone will suggest you set it up as new.

• ⚠️ Don’t connect your old Mi Account if you’re selling a device, it will link it back to your account.
• 🔄 If you have any extra files left after reset, manually delete them through Files. → Cleanup.

💡

If after reset, the phone asks for a password from an old Google account (FRP-locking, enter the last account you had on your device, and if you don't remember, you'll have to unlock it via Fastboot (see Method 3).

Method 2: Hard Recovery Mode Reset (will remove everything, including viruses)

If a soft reset doesn't work (for example, your phone is still slowing down or infected with viruses), use Recovery Mode, which deletes all data without exception, including system files, cache and settings.

• 🦠 Removing malware that is not removed by antivirus.
• 🔄 Fixing Errors After Failed Update.
• 📱 Preparing the phone for sale (full cleaning).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up (on some models - Volume up + Volume down + Power) Hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select the language (usually English by default).
4. Go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (use volume buttons for navigation, power button for confirmation).
5. Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (may take up to 20 minutes).
6. Choose Reboot. → Reboot to System.

After the reboot, the phone will be like new – you will need to re-set.

Method 3: Complete Fastboot reset (for power users)

This is the most radical method that completely reflashes the phone, removing even hidden memory parts.

• 🔒 Phone locked after failed reset (requires password from Mi Account).
• 🤖 You need to remove custom firmware (for example, LineageOS) and return the stock.
• 🛠️ The device "brickled" (not turned on, hangs on the logo).

⚠️ Note: This method requires a computer, USB-The wrong actions can permanently bring the phone down!

What you need:

Step-by-step:

1. Install Mi Flash Tool and drivers on PC.
2. Unpack the downloaded firmware into a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\Xiaomi\ROM).
3. Turn off the phone and put it into Fastboot mode: press Power + Volume down for 10 seconds. Connect to the PC.
4. Launch the Mi Flash Tool, press Select and specify the folder with the firmware.
5. At the bottom, select Clean All and press Flash.
6. Wait for the end (10-30 minutes) and the phone will reboot automatically.

💡

Once you run it through Fastboot, it will be like new, without any link to old accounts or any trace of previous data, but it requires technical skills: if you've never worked with the command line, you better go to the service.

What to do if Xiaomi asks for an old password after reset

One of the most common problems after a reset is FRP (Factory Reset Protection) or Mi Account binding.

• 🔐 Password from the last Google account (if Find My Device was enabled).
• 📧 Login / password from Mi Account (if you do not untie the device before resetting).

Decisions:

1. For Google FRP: Enter the last account you had on your phone. If you don't remember, try to reset your password through accounts.google.com.

For Mi Account:

• If your phone is yours, enter your details.
• If you bought used, ask the seller to untie the device via account.xiaomi.com.
• If you cannot contact the seller, you will have to flash the phone through Fastboot (see Method 3).

⚠️ Note: Do not use "bypass" methods of resetting FRP This can result in the blocking of a Google account or the installation of malware. The official way to unlock is only one: entering the correct account details.

How to Check if Your Phone Is Really Clean

After a reset, many users think the phone is completely clean, but actually stay:

• 📁 Files in Download, Pictures, Music folders.
• 👤 Data from some applications (such as WhatsApp or Telegram cache).
• 🔧 Network settings (saved Wi-Fi, Bluetooth devices).

To make sure you clean up completely, do the following:

1. Check internal memory: Open the Files app and make sure that the DCIM, Downloads, and Android folders are empty. Use Settings → Storage to see the occupied space (should be 5-10 GB under the system).
2. Make sure there are no linked accounts: Go to Settings → Accounts – there shouldn’t be Mi Account or Google.

• B Settings → Wi-Fi should not be saved networks.
• B Settings → Bluetooth – No associated devices.