How to Reset Xiaomi Before Selling: 7 Steps to Securely Transfer Your Phone

Selling a Xiaomi smartphone requires not only cleanliness of the case, but also complete cleaning of internal memory from personal data. Even if you delete files manually, residual information can be restored by the new owner using specialized programs. Resetting to factory settings is a mandatory procedure, but many users make critical mistakes: forgetting to log out of the Mi Account account, not removing attached devices from the Xiaomi ecosystem, or resetting the phone through informal methods, which leads to lock.

In this article, you can see step-by-step instructions taking into account all the nuances of 2026, including the features of new models (Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13, POCO F6) We'll look at how to avoid locking the device after it's reset via Mi Cloud, what data you need to save in advance, and how to check the phone before it's handed over to the customer. FRP-Factory Reset Protection on Android 12 devices+.

1.Reset preparation: what to do before data deletion

The first step is backup. Even if you plan to give your phone as is, save critical data:

• 📱 Contacts and messages: Export through Google Contacts or Mi Cloud (Sync section). SMS Use applications like SMS Backup & Restore.
• 📷 Photo and video: Transfer to PC via cable or upload to Google Photos (set up automatic backup in Settings) → Warehouse).
• 🎮 Game saves: Account-based games (e.g. Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile requires a separate backup through game menus or services like Helium.
• 📝 Notes and documents: In Xiaomi, use the built-in Notes with Synchronization application via Mi Account.

Pay special attention to two-factor authentication (2FA). If you used your phone to confirm logins to banks, social networks or crypto exchanges, disable the binding in advance. For example, on Telegram this is done in Settings → Privacy → Two-step verification. Banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff) may require a visit to the branch.

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If you're selling a phone with NFS-With a chip (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra), check if the digital keys of a car or smart home are tied to it. their removal can take up to 72 hours through the manufacturer’s application (e.g. Hyundai Digital Key).

It is equally important to delete all accounts except the main Mi Account (it is too early to delete it!). Go to Settings → Accounts and sync and delete:

• 📌 Google accounts (otherwise, the phone will require login after resetting).
• 📌 Social media (Facebook, VK, Twitter).
• 📌 Messenger accounts (WhatsApp, Viber).
• 📌 Banking and payment services (Sberbank Online, UMoney).

2.Exiting from Mi Account: Why it’s critical and how to do it right

The main mistake of 90% of sellers is to reset the phone without leaving the Mi Account. This leads to locking the device after the reboot: the new owner will see a request to enter your login and password. Xiaomi links the phone to the account at the hardware level, and simply deleting through the settings will not help.

To avoid problems, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings → Xiaomi account.
2. Slip on the profile avatar → Account management.
3. Scroll down and select Exit from your account.
4. Confirm the action with a password or fingerprint.

Make sure that the Settings → Xiaomi account displays the words “Login”

Check what in Settings → Memory → Devices your phone is not tied to your account

Open Mi Cloud on another device and remove your phone from the list of devices-->

If you have forgotten your Mi Account password, restore it before resetting at account.xiaomi.com. Once reset, it will be impossible to do so without confirmation via an old phone.

3. Reset methods: which one to choose for your model

The reset method depends on the MIUI version and the phone model, and below is a comparison of the available methods:

For most users, resetting through settings is optimal. Here's how to do it:

1. Tap MIUI 7 times to activate the developer mode (if not already activated).

It takes 5-15 minutes, and the phone will reboot and suggest that you set it up as new.

Through settings

Through Recovery Mode

Through Fastboot.

Never dropped it.-->

4. Recovery Mode Reset: When Needed

If your phone is stuck, doesn’t respond to touch, or you forget your unlock password, use Recovery Mode.This method is also useful if resetting through settings doesn’t delete all data (relevant to MIUI 14 amid user complaints about “incomplete cleanup”).

Instructions for Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons. You'll be taken to the Recovery menu (navigation with volume buttons, choice with power button).
4. Choose Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
5. Confirm the action (Confirm).
6. After completion, select Reboot.

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On some models (POCO F5, Redmi Note 12 Pro+), the Recovery menu can be in Chinese.

If the phone requires you to enter a Mi Account password after reset, you have not logged out of the account beforehand (see Section 2).

• 🔄 Try to log in to your account and exit again.
• 📧 If the phone is already in the new owner, send him a username / password from Mi Account to unlock (after that, immediately change the password!).

5. Phone Check After Reset: What Should Be Deleted

Before handing over the phone to the customer, make sure that all data is erased. Launch the phone and do the following:

• 🔍 Check Gallery, Downloads and File Manager – they should be empty.
• 📞 Open Contacts and Messages – No Records Should Be Posted.
• 🎮 Make sure that in the settings → Applications no installed games or social networks.
• 🔒 Check the Settings. → Accounts – Your profiles should not be there.
• 📡 B Settings → Wi-Fi should not be saved (especially with names like “home” or “work").

Pay special attention to hidden folders. In Xiaomi, some data is stored in:

• /storage/emulated/0/MIUI is the system file interface.
• /storage/emulated/0/Android/data is the cache of applications.
• /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails - thumbnails of the photo.

To see hidden files, use a file manager (such as Solid Explorer) with the "Show Hidden Files" option enabled.

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If you are selling an eSIM-enabled phone (Xiaomi 13, 14), delete all your profiles in Settings → Mobile Network → eSIM. Otherwise, the new owner will not be able to activate their SIM card.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced users make mistakes when resetting Xiaomi, and here are the most common:

⚠️ Note: If you reset your phone without leaving your Mi Account and the new owner is in another country, unlocking can take up to 30 days due to Xiaomi’s restrictions on international requests.

• 🚫 Incomplete discharge: On MIUI 14 Fast Reset leaves some data. Always choose Delete all data.
• 🚫 Forgotten SIM-Maps: Before resetting, remove the physical SIM They can also use eSIM profiles, otherwise they can be blocked.
• 🚫 Unremoved devices from Mi Home: If your phone was tied to a smart device (Xiaomi Robot Vacuum, Mi Band), remove it from the Mi Home app.

Another common problem is that the phone is "bricked" after being reset via Fastboot, which happens if:

• You used an unofficial firmware.
• Interrupted the reset process (for example, disconnected the USB cable).
• They tried to reset the phone with the loader locked.

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

1. Press Power + Volume down for 20 seconds for forced reboot.
2. Repeat the reset via Recovery Mode.
3. If it doesn’t help, flash your phone through the Mi Flash Tool (requires a PC and official firmware).

7. Additional safety measures for paranoids

If you sell a phone with sensitive information (like using it to handle cryptocurrency or corporate data), a standard reset may not be enough.

• 🔐 Data encryption: Before reset, encrypt your phone in Settings → Security → Encrypting the phone. It'll make it harder to recover data.
• 🗑️ Rewrite memory: After reset, fill the memory with junk files (for example, video in the file). 4K), Then throw it back.
• 🛡️ Remote erasure: If your phone supports Google’s Find My Device, use the “Erase Device” feature after transfer to the customer (in case the reset is incorrect).

For models with UFS-storage device (Xiaomi) 12T, 13 Pro) you can use the fastboot erase userdata command for low-level cleaning. However, this requires an unlocked bootloader and knowledge of commands. ADB.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions